After your arrival, we will meet early evening at the hotel for a pre-trip safety briefing in which the week’s plan will be discussed in detail. If time permits, we will head out for an acclimatisation swim before returning for a welcome drink and meeting.

Today we stay local. After breakfast at the hotel, we make our way out on the boats to begin exploring the Bahamas by water. We complete a coastal swim in the morning before a relaxing lunch, enjoying the white sandy beach before continuing our day with a second swim in the afternoon.

We return to the hotel where you can relax or explore the island further before finding somewhere for dinner.

After breakfast, we head out to the neighbouring locations to discover other coasts and reefs, looking out for the local marine life. After lunch, we explore our first crossing of the week, situated along the reef between the Abaco Islands. We may take the opportunity to head to CocoCay to see the wild turtles as well. We then return to the hotel where you can relax before dinner.

Today you can explore more of the Abaco islands as you have a free day to yourselves. Our local suppliers will be able to assist with any other activities you wish to take part in, such as a land tour, snorkelling or even scuba diving. For adventures further afield, you could also hop back to Marsh Harbour and catch a 30-minute ferry over to Hope Town, Elbow Cay - home to the Wyannie Malone Museum, which showcases its diverse and rich history and the iconic striped lighthouse, standing proudly above the reef.

We return to a full day of swimming with a morning swim on the other side of the island, followed by lunch on the beach. The afternoon sees us complete the day with a second swim, led by the wind and conditions of the ocean that day. Today, we are treated to the traditional beach cookout at Mun Jac Cay - the perfect way to end a salty day of swimming!

We finish our week off with a final day exploring the waters of the Abacos, drifting in and out of the reefs. We have a lunch and afternoon swim before returning to the hotel. In the evening, we get together for an evening meal and take the opportunity to reminisce on the week in paradise.

We have a final morning swim before breakfast to end our week in the Bahamas before saying our farewells.

We have given this trip a ‘Moderate’ grading. Most swimmers comfortable in the open water will be able to take part and enjoy one of these trips.

Swimming Distances

*Please note that these swims are an example of what may take place during your trip and should be used as a guide only. Actual swim locations and distances will vary according to local weather and swim conditions.

Swimming Conditions

Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience, however you should be aware that certain marine life such as sea lice, jellyfish, sea urchins and coral could be present during the swims. In all cases we will work on reducing your contact with these creatures, however if you suffer from anaphylaxis, please consult the office prior to booking.

Walking Conditions

While there aren’t any significant planned walks, any walks that we do undertake will take place on recognised paths and tracks, however there may be cases where we walk along trails or other unsealed surfaces and care should be taken in these areas.

Temperatures

*Please note that these temperatures are indicative and should be used as a guide only.

Weather Caveat

For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out our swims. Therefore, open water swimming holidays require a certain degree of on-trip flexibility which can result in changes to the planned itinerary. These changes often add a touch of uniqueness to your trip and will be communicated to you by your SwimTrek guides as quickly as possible.

Group Size

This trip has a maximum group size of 12. The group will be split into a maximum of three groups, based on speed, with each group being accompanied by their own safety vessel/escort. 

Boat Support

Boat support on this trip varies each day depending on the type of swim but will include one main vessel and two support kayaks with local pilots and your SwimTrek guides. Please note that this boat support is subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed.

Equipment Checklist

For your basic, essential packing list, please visit our Packing List page on the website. There are no additional, specific items required for this location.

As SwimTrekkers come from all over the world, and join our swimming holidays in numerous destinations, we don’t currently offer flights as part of our SwimTrek packages. We do however want to do as much as we can to ensure that our guests get the best deals when travelling to one of our trips so check out SwimTrek's tips to help you get the best deals for your flights page on the website.

To get to Green Turtle Cay, you’ll need to travel to The Abaco Islands. Great Abaco has two international airports Treasure Cay International Airport (TCB) or Marsh Harbour International Airport (MHH). Alternatively you can fly to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau and catch onward travel to Abaco.

Travel from Treasure Cay Airport (TCB)

Once you have landed you will need to catch a 5 minute transfer to Treasure Cay Ferry Dock before taking a ferry over to Green Turtle Cay. Taxis are easy to come by at all airports.

Travel from Marsh Harbour (MHH)

Marsh Harbour airport is a 35-minute cab ride to the Treasure Cay Ferry Dock before taking a ferry over to Green Turtle Cay. Taxis are easy to come by at all airports.

Ferry from Treasure Cay Ferry Dock to Green Turtle Cay (Bluff House)

The Ferry ride from Treasure Cay Ferry Dock to Green Turtle Cay and Bluff House takes around 20 minutes and costs approximately $25. Please note that the Ferry only accepts cash payments. The ferry captain will be able to drop you at Bluff House dock which is our accommodation for this trip.

Due to the nature of the islands, flight and ferry times can change depending on weather conditions so ensure you allow enough time between connections. Don’t be surprised if local on island transport is via 4-person golf carts as they are a standard method of transport around islands.

Our accommodation for this trip is the Bluff House Resort with its own white sand beach, located on 12 tropical acres of palms and pines, which stretch from White Sound to the Sea of Abaco. Bluff House was the first and is now the oldest resort in the Bahamas’s Out Islands.

For more information about our accommodation in Green Turtle Cay, please visit our Accommodation: Bluff House Resort page on our website.

Food and Drink

All Breakfasts and Lunches (except on the free day) are included in your trip price (swimmers only). Dinners are at your own expense. This gives you a fantastic opportunity to explore the menus and experience the local restaurants of your choice over the course of your trip.

For more information, please visit our food and drink page on the website.

For more information on any of the following sections please visit the Travel Advice page of our website.

Money, Extra Expenses and Tipping

The currency in the Bahamas is the Bahamian Dollar (B$). US dollars ($) are accepted as currency on the island. Some establishments accept major credit cards, but smaller businesses only accept cash. Please note that the ferry from Treasure Cay Ferry Dock to Green Turtle Cay only accepts cash payments. There are no ATMs on Green Turtle Cay so please ensure you bring enough cash with you.

You should bring extra money with you to cover items such as meals not already included in your package, drinks, entertainment, souvenirs, etc.

In some countries, tipping (gratuities) is not part of the culture - in others it has become an expected norm. We believe that tipping is done entirely at your own discretion. If you have been provided with excellent service it may be something you wish to do. Your SwimTrek Guides can advise on local norms for service providers like boat crew, waiters or taxis. Nothing is expected for your SwimTrek Guides but many groups like to present something to the Guides at the end of the trip.

Responsible Travel

SwimTrek is conscious of the importance of protecting the world’s natural wonders. We are acutely aware of our responsibility to not only take care of the natural environments which we are lucky enough to explore, but also to educate our guests about the importance of conservation efforts and responsible tourism. It’s for this reason that we have worked so closely with our partners to ensure that our trips are conducted in the most responsible and sustainable way possible, working tirelessly to minimise the impact of our presence on local marine life and the natural habitat.

For more information, please visit our Responsible Travel page on the website.

Passports and Visas

US citizens must have a passport that is valid at the time of entry and throughout the duration of stay, with evidence of a return ticket. UK citizens can travel to the Bahamas without a visa for up to 30 days, on a passport with an expiry date of at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave. If you arrive from the USA, your time in the Bahamas will count towards your ESTA.

Please note that visa regulations are subject to change and it is important that you check your own visa requirements prior to travel.

Travel Insurance

We consider comprehensive travel insurance to be essential, and we strongly recommend that you purchase insurance which includes, but is not limited to, cover for illness, accident, emergency repatriation, ambulance, air ambulance, helicopter rescue services, cancellation, lost luggage and delays. Your travel insurance should also cover you for open water swimming and any other activity listed in your trip itinerary (including races and competitions, where applicable). Please read your policy details carefully and remember to take them with you on your trip for your own reference.

For further information, please visit our Travel Insurance page on the website.

Health Information and Recommended Vaccinations

Here at SwimTrek, we pride ourselves on our focus on safety and the well-being of all our guests. As we operate in some beautiful and remote locations medical facilities are not always easily accessible. SwimTrek Guides, and many staff working for our local partners, are first aid trained. However, we ask that you read our Travel Health page to ensure that you are informed about general Travel and Swim Health precautions.

Travel Plugs & Electricity

There is free Wi-Fi throughout the common areas of the hotel and rooms

For a useful source of information on the different electrical outlets, electrical plugs, and electric sockets, please visit www.worldstandards.eu.