The Darby Islands are privately owned and managed. They total five separate islands accessible only by boat or airplane. They are located in the Exuma Cays in the southeastern part of the Bahamas. In the Bahamas, the Exumas are considered remote and are often referred to as the "Out Islands".

Unlike much of the Bahamas, the topography of the Exumas is bluffy with interesting caves and sinkholes. The James Bond film Thunderball was filmed in such a cave on Staniel Cay, Exuma.

The Darby Islands sit between the deep indigo blue waters of the Exuma Sound to the east and the emerald green waters of the Great Bahama Bank to the west. The waters sparkle with hues of bright blue to subtle turquoise, with pristine coral reefs so clear they defy description.

Location and History

The Darby Islands are individually called Little Darby, Big Darby, Goat Cay, Guana Cay, and Bette Cay. They are located in the middle of the Exuma chain in the Bahamas approximately 286 miles southeast of Miami, Florida and 96 miles south of Nassau, Bahamas.

The twins, Little and Big Darby, lie in close proximity to each other with Big Darby just to the west. This arrangement has created our beautiful natural harbour. This still and protected water is a favourite anchorage for passing sailboats and yachts. Most of our facilities are located on Little Darby which encompasses approximately 250 acres. A series of roads traverse the island from end to end; from the dock and caretakers' home to the main house to the different beaches and airstrip.

Big Darby, a former plantation built by Sir Baxter in 1938, encompasses approximately 550 acres. It was once the largest employer in the Exumas, with hundreds of workers building stone walls by hand. These great walls traverse the island both east to west and north to south. This work force constructed the largest man made structure in the area, the legendary "Darby Castle". Big Darby was a working plantation with goat, cotton, palm oil and fruit as its products. It operated during the Second World War and still harbours many tales and legends about the Englishman, his mistress, why he built the castle and whose side was he on during the great World War.

The Darby Islands have historically been purchased over the last 100 years as a set of five islands. The current owners plan to keep them pristine and beautiful for guests to visit and enjoy for years to come.

Ecology

The Exumas are coral islands topped with tropical shrubs, hardwoods, and palm trees. They are surrounded by shallow reefs in which water clarity often exceeds 100 feet. Each island sits atop a "lens" of fresh water, but this is not sufficient to meet local demands. Therefore all fresh water for drinking and bathing is rainwater or converted ocean water which has been collected and stored in cisterns.

The underwater scenery is nothing short of spectacular. Most of the reefs are pristine and teeming with tropical fish, rays, and spiny lobster. Grouper, snapper, and queen triggerfish (turbot) are the local eating fish. Conch cover the grass beds and form a large part of the protein in the Bahamian diet. Bonefish are numerous in the shallows, whereas kingfish, mackerel, amberjack, tuna, and dolphin may be caught in the Sound.

The Darbys are a bird sanctuary. Hummingbirds often join us for breakfast and many species of wading and shore birds found nowhere else in the world are seen year round. Native orchids and bromeliads (air plants) cover the island. Red and black mangroves are numerous, as are silver buttonwood, native seven year apple, anon (sugar apple), and gumbo limbo (sunburn) trees.

Accommodations

The main house sits atop an 80-foot bluff with a spectacular 360-degree ocean view. This unique house was designed to collect and store rainwater. Hidden beneath the foundation are three freshwater cisterns with a capacity of storing 125,000 gallons of water. The house supports both wind and solar electrical generation interphased through a state of the art inverter system. Diesel generators supply all backup power if needed.

The architecture of the main house begins with a 4,000 square foot great room. Within the great room is a sunken living room, formal dining area, pool table area, bar, breakfast nook, powder room and the kitchen. Surrounding the great room is a screened-in walk around porch with an open sundeck and veranda on both the front and back sides of the house. The four suites are connected to the great room by out door skywalks 8 feet above the ground. These elevated suites have private baths, sitting areas, porches and spectacular views. Generally, guests socialize and dine in the great room, then retire to their suite for privacy and rest. The accommodations are modern with hot water, air conditioning and queen size beds.

Cellular phone and marine VHF radio are the primary means of communication.

Meals are served three times a day or on whatever schedule the guests desire. Local fish, conch and lobster combined with personal requests and traditional western fare are served in the main house. Most culinary requests can be accommodated and menu discussions are always handled on a personal basis prior to your arrival.

The Darby Islands possess some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The sand is the colour and texture of sifted flour. There are at least ten separate beaches on Little and Big Darby alone. A.J. Beach, on Little Darby, faces the blue waters of the Exuma Sound. It has a half moon crescent shaped shallow bay, crystal clear water with a beach over one quarter mile long. In its backdrop are coconut palms and Australian Pines with hammocks and a chickee cabana. A.J. Beach has been designated one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world according to Beach Magazine.

The size and privacy of the islands allow our guests the ability to do many things from water activities to exploring the castle and large caves that dot Big Darby to just relaxing in a hammock under the shade of the palms with a good book. Day excursions to nearby settlements such as Farmers Cay can be arranged by request.

Getting There

The preferred method of transportation to and from the Darby Islands is aboard our private charter nine passenger Islander aircraft. Little Darby Island has its own airstrip, dock and roads.

Your adventure begins in Ft. Lauderdale where you board our aircraft and enjoy a low scenic flight over the blue and green waters of the Great Bahama Bank and the Exuma Island chain. Our aircraft lands on Little Darby and taxis right up to your island home.

Alternatively, if small planes are too adventurous for you, commercial flights directly into Exuma International Airport and a short scenic boat ride can be arranged.

Caveats

No matter how hard we try, nature, salt, and sand may conspire against us in our attempt to bring you our idea of a perfect tropical island paradise. We have backup equipment for all essential services, and in general any inconvenience is short lived.

The weather has, on very rare occasions, prevented us from landing or departing on our intended day. We strongly suggest that you leave an extra day for travel at the end of your stay and do not make non refundable reservations or tight airline connections.

The pristine and remote location of the Darbys are what draw many of our guests. This unique setting requires that one use common sense and not overextend physical limits or take unnecessary risks. We have some limited medical supplies on the island and there are means of evacuation in the event of serious illness.

Some simple water conservation measures may be necessary at certain times of the year to prevent shortages or exceeding our fresh water generating capacity. These will be explained by the staff if needed.

Almost all of the potential problems we encounter are short lived. If you can survive minor inconveniences with a little good humour, you will be rewarded with an unforgettable and quite unique vacation.

Adventures

Because Darby Island is a true tropical island, accessible only by boat or plane, our guests enjoy the privilege of being catered to on a very personal basis. Prior to your arrival, you will be apprised of the many activities and excursions Darby Island and the Exumas offer. Activities include snorkelling, fishing, beaching and exploring. Some guests just want to relax in their private island paradise with family or friends.

A favourite snorkelling dive spot is our harbour nestled between Big and Little Darby. This dive guarantees sightings of our friendly Eagle or Leopard Rays. Families of these beautiful stingrays regularly glide through the crystal clear waters that flow between the islands. Another favourite dive spot on the opposite end of Little Darby boasts a shallow coral reef teaming with exotic sea life and many types of beautiful coral.

The local waters provide deep-sea fishing in Exuma Sound or flats fishing on the Great Bahama Bank. Billfish, Dolphin, Wahoo, Grouper and Bonefish are just a few of the local species inhabiting these waters.

The beaches that dot the Darby Islands are nothing short of spectacular. If you want privacy, even from family or friends, there are enough beaches to go around. There you will find snow-white sand, sparkling clear water and hammocks hung under shady palms and hardwoods. A.J. Beach on little Darby will probably be the most beautiful beach you have ever seen. Cookouts featuring fresh fish and lobster are a favourite pastime among our guests.

For the adventurous, local caves on Big Darby and surrounding islands provide opportunity to explore the rural beauty of the Exuma Islands. Many caves offer well-lit large cathedral ceilings that you can actually walk through. Other areas such as Normans Pond and thunderball cave offer additional venues for their natural beauty and proximity to local settlements such as Farmers and Stanial Cay. These settlements offer local Bahamian fare such as straw markets, woodcarvings and local restaurants.

Whatever level of adventure you seek from swimming with the rays and sharks to relaxing at the beach with a good book, the Darby Islands offer guests a private tropical retreat most people can only dream about.