General 2 — Vital Cays

Unspoiled beauty in the heart of The Bahamas.

The Location

VITAL CAYS ECO RESORT PROPOSED project is made up of 3 islands or cays (pronounced “keys”), Lignum Vitae Cay, Cistern Cay and Bullocks Harbour Cay, all located just to the west of populated Great Harbour Cay (GHC) at the northern portion of the mostly uninhabited Berry Island chain. Initial development will focus on Lignum Vitae Cay while further expansion will include Bullocks Harbour Cay and parts of Cistern Cay.

The Berry Islands are located 150 miles east of Miami and 60 miles NW of Nassau. Great Harbour Cay has the largest population in the Berry Island chain with an estimated 700 inhabitants. The population and tourists enjoy air service with daily flights available to and from its International Airport.

Great Harbour Cay enjoys many amenities including restaurants and bars, beach club, grocery store, and marina. The area is renowned for both bill and bone fishing with a Bill Fishing Tournament held from the Great Harbour Cay Marina each winter. The Berry Islands have a rich history and are believed to have been first settled in 1836 when Bahamas Governor William Colebrook established a settlement of emancipated slaves at Great Stirrup Cay. Great Stirrup, now a destination cruise ship port is a short distance north of the proposed project.

The Berry Islands

The Berry Islands are a chain of islands and a district of the Bahamas covering about thirty square miles of the northwestern part of the Out Islands. The Berry Islands consist of about thirty islands and over one hundred small islands or cays, often referred to as "The Fish Bowl of the Bahamas."

The Berry Islands are still relatively undeveloped, with two small international airports and a few hotels. There are a number of townhouses and beach villas for rent for visitors. Most of the islands are uninhabited but are strikingly beautiful. During the winter season the islands are visited by out-of-town guests and second home residents, but the difficulty of reaching most of the Berry Islands and the lack of infrastructure keeps things low-key.

Due to seasonal residents, the Berry islands can say that they have more resident millionaires per unit area than any other place in the world.

The main attraction is big game fishing. Some of the fish that can be found there are billfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, grouper, tiger fish, yellowtail snapper, wahoo, king mackerel, and many more. In May, Great Harbour Cay is packed with visitors and fishing captains such as Habana Joe who go there for the annual fishing tournament. There are also great spots for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Great Stirrup Cay

Great Stirrup Cay is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and is used for similar purposes.

Great Harbour Cay is the most northern and the largest of the Berry Islands. It is eight miles long and one and a half miles wide. The largest port of the Berries is on Great Harbour Cay. It is served by Great Harbour Cay International Airport.

Great Harbor Cay

Chub Cay, site of Chub Cay International Airport, is the second largest island in the chain and is known an "the billfish capital of the Bahamas.”

Chub Cay

Little Stirrup Cay is leased by Royal Caribbean International, which calls it Coco Cay, and acts as a private island for tropical activities engaged in by visitors on its cruise ships of the Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises labels.

Little Stirrup Cay

Little Whale Cay a private island that was developed as residence by Wallace Groves in the 1930s. It is served by the Lt. Whale Cay Airport.

Little Whale Cay

The Vital Cays

600+ Acres | 133 nm / 38 min flight from Miami or 1083 nm / 2:30 min flight from Austin

Great Harbour Cay International airport is located just a few minutes away by car and boat. It has a 4,526-foot runway
with scheduled flights from Nassau and Bahamas Customs & Immigration facilities.

121 Acres
There are several small beaches on the north western section of the island.

Island runs in a north/south direction and is 1.3 miles long and 0.23 miles wide at its widest point.
The island rises to a height of between 40-85 feet with amazing views in every direction.
The island is heavily wooded with a wide variety of tropical trees.
There are over 3 1/2 miles of good hiking trails around the perimeter of the Cay.
A mangrove forest with a dividing creek covers the southern side of the cay dividing it from the north end of Cistern Cay.

Lingumvitae Cay

280 Acres

This island is reported to have been a haven for drug smuggling during the 70’s and into the 80’s, until shut down by the DEA in the late 80’s
Fully platted island with roadways and an older paved 2500’ runway that may be brought back into use once the island is active again.
There are a number of homes that were left untouched since the 80’s that were purportedly built and occupied by smugglers that are now in various stages of decay, hidden in the woods.
Heavily wooded in most areas with over 6 miles of opened roadways for biking or hiking.
Mangrove forests occupy much of the western side of the cay and most of the southern end as well. There are a number of estuaries accessible by small boat, kayak or paddle board through the mangroves.

Cistern Cay

234 Acres
Surrounded by pristine mangroves and tidal creeks

Adjacent to the Bullocks Harbour settlement on Great Harbour Cay in The Berry Islands.
Heavily wooded with over 5 1/2 miles of newly built hiking trails.
Several stone foundations from the past centuries have been found, hidden in the forest.

Bullocks Harbor Cay

Resort Access

Great Harbour Cay (GHC) and Bullocks Harbour Cay are located conveniently due east of all three Cays of the proposed resort. The Cays are separated only by small tidal streams and mangroves.

GHC will be the main entry point and departure point for all guests. The international airport has customs officials on site as needed and is located approximately 5 minutes from Great Harbour Cay Marina by car. The initial Vital Cays Resort proposed location is on Lignum Vitae Cay, approximately10-15 minutes from Great Harbour Cay Marina by boat.