Living in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco: A Local's Guide

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Green Turtle Cay is a small island off the northeastern coast of Great Abaco, in the Bahamas' Abaco Islands. Unlike Treasure Cay, it has no road connection to the mainland — access is by ferry, typically from the Treasure Cay ferry dock, a ride of about 10–15 minutes.

The settlement

The island's main town, New Plymouth, was settled by Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution in the 1780s and retains much of that history — narrow lanes, pastel clapboard cottages, and a historic feel that's rare in the Bahamas. Golf carts, not cars, are the primary way to get around the island; New Plymouth itself is largely walkable.

The beaches and harbours

• Coco Bay, on the Atlantic side, is known for calm, clear water and resident sea turtles that come close to shore
• Gillam Bay / Baker's Bay area and the ocean-side beaches offer more open Atlantic swimming
• White Sound and Black Sound, on the protected (Sea of Abaco) side, are the island's two main harbours, home to most of the marinas and dockage
• Settlement Harbour, fronting New Plymouth, is calmer and used mainly for smaller boats and the ferry dock

Housing types

• Waterfront homes on White Sound or Black Sound, generally with dock or community dockage access — popular with boat owners
• Beachfront homes and cottages on Coco Bay, many with strong vacation-rental histories given the beach's reputation
• In-town cottages in or near New Plymouth, often historic in character, for buyers who want walkability over water frontage
• Vacant land, both waterfront and inland, for new construction — Green Turtle Cay has seen steady demand for concrete, hurricane-code builds since Dorian

Amenities

• A handful of boutique hotels, restaurants, and bars, concentrated in New Plymouth and around White Sound
• Several marinas offering slips, fuel, and provisioning for boaters
• A small grocery store and basic supplies in New Plymouth; larger shopping trips mean a ferry to Treasure Cay and a drive from there
• No airport on the island itself — the nearest is Treasure Cay Airport (TCB), a short drive plus ferry combination, or Marsh Harbour Airport (MHH) for more flight options

Who lives here

Green Turtle Cay has a close-knit, largely car-free community of Bahamian residents, longtime expat homeowners, and seasonal visitors. It's known as one of the more historic and tight-knit settlements in the Abacos, with a strong boating and sportfishing culture.

Rebuilding since Hurricane Dorian

Green Turtle Cay sustained damage in Hurricane Dorian (2019), and rebuilding has continued steadily since, with many owners upgrading to concrete construction and hurricane-impact windows and doors. Waterfront and Coco Bay properties in particular have held demand, with buyers favouring newer or renovated homes built to current codes.

Is Green Turtle Cay a good fit for you?

It suits buyers who want:

• An historic, walkable settlement rather than a planned community
• Strong boating access via White Sound or Black Sound
• A slower, more insular island pace — even by Abaco standards

It's less suited to buyers who want a car, a large selection of shops and restaurants, or same-island air access — for those, Treasure Cay or Marsh Harbour are better bases.

Talk to someone who knows the island

Nicole Fair, based in Treasure Cay, works with Maison Bahamas Real Estate Ltd. and handles listings on Green Turtle Cay as well as throughout North Abaco, including waterfront homes and vacant land.

Contact: nicole@movetotheabacos.com | Call/text/WhatsApp: 242-424-2513