Treasure Cay

The Beach That Made Treasure Cay Famous

Treasure Cay Beach stretches for three and a half miles along the eastern coast, a gentle crescent of powdery white sand that slopes gradually into calm, crystal-clear water. The shallow shoreline and protected position make it ideal for swimming at any skill level, while the length of the beach ensures you can always find a quiet spot even during peak season.

The northern end of the beach is home to Coco Beach Bar and Grill, a thatched-roof gathering spot serving grilled seafood, Bahamian specialties, and rum cocktails with unobstructed ocean views. This is the kind of beach where you can spend an entire day doing nothing more than floating in the turquoise shallows and watching pelicans dive for fish.

Marina and Boating

Treasure Cay Marina is one of the largest and most capable facilities in the Abacos, with over 150 slips accommodating vessels up to substantial lengths. The deep-water marina provides fuel (diesel and gasoline), electrical hookups, fresh water, and full amenities including showers, laundry, and wireless internet.

For charter guests arriving by sea, mooring balls are available in the harbor, though anchorage space can be limited during busy periods. Dinghy dockage provides easy access to the beach, restaurants, and resort facilities. The marina also serves as a popular base for sportfishing tournaments throughout the year.

Golf, Dining, and Island Life

The Treasure Cay Golf Course, designed by renowned architect Dick Wilson and completed in 1968, offers 18 holes that wind through coastal terrain with ocean views. The par-72 layout stretches nearly 7,000 yards from the back tees and presents a genuine challenge when the trade winds pick up. No tee times are required, matching the unhurried Out Island pace.

Dining options range from casual beachfront fare at Coco Beach Bar to more refined dishes at Spinnaker Restaurant and Lounge, which overlooks the marina and serves locally caught seafood with a Caribbean flair. The settlement also has a small grocery store, bakery, and shops for provisioning.

Activities and Excursions

The waters around Treasure Cay offer exceptional opportunities for bonefishing in the nearby flats and marls, with local guides available to lead both novice and experienced anglers. Deep-sea fishing charters target billfish, wahoo, and mahi-mahi in the offshore waters, and the marina hosts several tournaments each season.

Snorkeling and diving sites are within easy reach, including reef systems teeming with tropical fish and the occasional sea turtle. From Treasure Cay, day trips by dinghy or ferry can reach Green Turtle Cay and its historic settlement of New Plymouth, Whale Cay, and other northern cays that make up this cruising paradise.

Approach and Anchoring

Approaching Treasure Cay from the Sea of Abaco, you will spot the entrance channel markers from the south or southeast. A flashing green and flashing red light, accompanied by a series of wooden stakes, guide you into the basin. Once past the initial marks, prepare for a long, sweeping turn into a straight dredged channel leading to the marina and anchorage area.

The entrance can be shallow at low tide, so time your arrival with the tide tables if you draw more than five feet. Inside the basin, depths range from six to nine feet with good holding in sand and grass. Anchorage along the beach itself is not recommended because the easterly trade winds create a lee shore; instead, settle into the protected basin or pick up a mooring if available. Note that a cable boom system closes the channel entrance north of the fuel dock between 11pm and 5am.

For vessels that find the basin crowded, anchoring just outside the harbour entrance offers slightly less protection but better access to nearby snorkeling reefs. The fuel dock at the channel entrance remains operational and is a convenient stop before continuing north toward Green Turtle Cay or south to Marsh Harbour.

What It's Like Ashore

Stepping off the dinghy at Treasure Cay, the famous crescent beach unfolds before you in an unbroken sweep of powder-white sand stretching nearly three and a half miles. The shallow turquoise water slopes gently for dozens of yards, making this one of the most swimmable beaches in the Out Islands. Even on busier days, you can walk far enough along the strand to have a stretch entirely to yourself.

The settlement maintains a relaxed Out Island pace, with golf carts outnumbering cars and the occasional sound of a distant outboard the only interruption to the quiet. Winter residents and visiting boaters mingle at the marina and beach, creating a convivial atmosphere without the crowding of Nassau or Freeport. The resort area sustained damage from Hurricane Dorian and has been gradually rebuilding under new ownership, so expect ongoing improvements to facilities.

Where to Eat and Drink

Coco Beach Bar and Grill occupies prime real estate at the northern end of the beach, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your feet in the sand. The menu leans casual with burgers, fish tacos, conch fritters, and spring rolls with an Oriental twist. Wednesday brings a popular kabob special at twenty dollars, including unlimited salad and baked potatoes. The thatched-roof bar stays open until 11pm most evenings.

Bahama Beach Club offers a slightly more refined option within walking distance of the harbour, serving fresh-caught seafood and Caribbean-inspired dishes with beachfront views. For provisioning, a small grocery store and bakery in the settlement can handle basic needs, though serious provisioning is best done in Marsh Harbour before heading north.

Activities Beyond the Beach

The Dick Wilson-designed golf course remains one of the few championship layouts in the Out Islands, stretching nearly 7,000 yards through coastal terrain with ocean views. The par-72 course becomes a genuine test when the trade winds pick up, and the no-tee-time policy fits the unhurried local rhythm.

For anglers, the Marls—a 300-square-mile labyrinth of mangrove cays and flats on the western side of Great Abaco—offer some of the finest bonefishing in the Bahamas. Captain Joe Pritchard has guided these waters for over thirty years and can put you on fish averaging two to four pounds, with larger trophies in the five-to-eight-pound class for patient stalkers. The flats average three to four feet deep and fish productively regardless of tide or wind.

Getting to Green Turtle Cay

The Green Turtle Cay ferry departs from the Treasure Cay ferry dock throughout the day, with crossings taking between twelve and twenty minutes depending on conditions. The fare runs fifteen dollars per person each way. Ferries leave Treasure Cay at 8:30am, 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, and 5:00pm, though schedules can shift seasonally.

Green Turtle Cay rewards the short crossing with the pastel colonial streets of New Plymouth, the laid-back beach bars of White Sound, and the chance to provision at small local shops. Many charter guests use Treasure Cay as their base for multiple day trips to the northern cays, returning each evening to the famous beach.

Getting there

Treasure Cay is accessible by private yacht charter through the Sea of Abaco, with a well-marked approach to the protected harbor. The settlement lies on Great Abaco Island approximately 30 miles north of Marsh Harbour. By air, Treasure Cay Airport receives flights from Florida and Nassau, with the resort just a short taxi ride from the terminal. From Marsh Harbour, a 35-minute taxi ride reaches the Treasure Cay ferry dock, which also serves as the departure point for the 15-minute ferry crossing to Green Turtle Cay.

Frequently asked questions

Is Treasure Cay an island or part of Great Abaco?

Treasure Cay is a settlement and resort community located on Great Abaco Island itself, not a separate cay. It sits on the eastern shore of Great Abaco in the North Abaco district.

What makes Treasure Cay Beach so famous?

The 3.5-mile stretch of powder-white sand and calm, shallow turquoise water has been recognized by National Geographic as one of the top ten beaches in the world. The beach is ideal for swimming and the gradual slope makes it particularly suitable for families with children.

Can you reach Green Turtle Cay from Treasure Cay?

Yes, the Green Turtle Cay Ferry departs from the Treasure Cay ferry dock on Great Abaco and crosses the Sea of Abaco to New Plymouth in approximately 15 minutes. This makes Treasure Cay a convenient base for exploring the northern cays.

What is the channel depth at Treasure Cay entrance?

The dredged entrance channel can be shallow at low tide, with some areas dropping below five feet. Time your arrival for mid-tide or higher if you draw more than five feet, and watch for the flashing red and green lights plus wooden stakes marking the channel.

Is the Treasure Cay Marina fully operational after Hurricane Dorian?

The marina and resort sustained significant damage from Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and have been rebuilding under new ownership. The fuel dock at the channel entrance is operational, but some marina facilities remain limited. Contact the marina directly for current slip availability.

Can I hire a bonefishing guide from Treasure Cay?

Yes, experienced guides like Captain Joe Pritchard operate out of Treasure Cay and can take you to the world-class flats of the Marls on the western side of Great Abaco. The Marls cover over 300 square miles of pristine bonefish habitat with fish averaging two to four pounds.