Hanging Out at Manjack Cay [Bahamas]

Our next stop is one of our favorite islands in the Abacos, Nunjack Cay ala Manjack Cay. We stayed a couple days here because there are so many fun things to do and the wildlife is always entertaining. 

Anchorages at Manjack Cay

There are multiple anchorages along Manjack Cay that are all decent depending on the wind and waves. The northern anchorage has good protection from the South but is open to the ocean’s swells. The next anchorage is a decent spot near Manjack Beach with shallower depths but great holding in sand. This anchorage is a bit more secluded. The main anchorage at the bight between Manjack and Crab Cay is our favorite. It is the most popular by far and is typically where we will drop our hook due to the proximity to dinghy exploring, beaches, hiking trails, and ocean access. It will typically have other boats anchored already so if you are looking for privacy, this is not the best spot for you. We’ve seen 2-20 boats depending on the weather and time of season. 

 

Things To Do Around Manjack Cay

This island has plenty of things to keep you busy for a day and could easily keep me entertained for a week or two. There are no restaurants or places to buy things at all so come prepared and make sure to leave only footprints. 

Beach Daze

Manjack Cay has a few residents who maintain the island and throw small get-togethers  from time to time. At the main anchorage, they’ve set up a nice area for coconut shuckers and beach dwellers. There is space for plenty of dinghies to park for the day and a great bonfire pit to enjoy on less windy evenings. This is the beach at the main anchorage and are always inviting to cruisers to come ashore. Keep your dogs on a leash as there are chickens and other animals roaming around. The tide comes up pretty far so make sure to put out a stern anchor and keep your belongings inside your dinghy to be sure nothing floats away! 

In addition to this main beach, more secluded beaches are located north on the island. I’ve found that these are the best beaches for collecting Sea Biscuits and dried Urchins. 

If you head towards Ocean Beach via a nature trail or through the crab cay cut, you’ll see plenty of marine life all around and enjoy a beautiful array of blue Bahamian water. It’s best to visit this area at high tide so that you can get through the cut carefully. Be sure to have a calm day for cruising around the ocean a bit too!

The bugs are pretty bad in any area of the island (unless it’s windy) so be sure to wear bug spray and pack extra. 

Snorkeling the Reefs

If you’ve got time, these are some of the healthiest reefs you can snorkel in the Abacos. You can get to the reef by taking the cut between Manjack and Crab Cay or the cut between Crab Cay and Fiddle Cay. The reef extend a long stretch across these Abaco islands but the area from Manjack to Green Turtle Cay easily allows you to access them via dinghy. More about this great snorkeling on a later post!

Hiking Trails

There are two well known nature trails on Manjack Cay and a third was completed at our last visit. They are all well maintained by the residents of the island and showcase decorated pieces along the path to lead you towards different points on the Ocean Beach. Each trail is accessible by the beach at the main anchorage. They are all relatively easy hikes but the northern most trails are .75 to 1.25 miles long depending on the route you decide on . There are signs to show you the start of each trail but if you’d like more guidance, use the map above. Typically I track the trails I hike but forgot to do so for this trail so these are approximate paths. 

Exploring the Mangroves

We always appreciate nature and learned quickly that this island is thriving when it comes to wildlife. You can access the path of mangroves beside Manjack Cay at high tide. When dinghy exploring through these mangroves you’ll see fish are plentiful, nurse sharks are lurking nearby, and turtles are everywhere. It is a great place to go spearfishing for different kinds of Snapper and a really fun place to kayak through. Be careful to know the tides because dinghies can easily get stuck in the area and sometimes the current is a bit strong to paddle in. 

We LOVE Manjack Cay and know you will too. Enjoy 🙂 

Cheers and thanks for reading!

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