DESTINATIONS andros getting-here-and-around-205

TRAVEL TIPS

Getting Here and Around

Air Travel

There are four airports on Andros. San Andros airport (SAQ) is in North Andros, closest to Nichols Town and Stafford Creek. Andros Town airport (ASD) in Central Andros serves Fresh Creek, Small Hope Bay, Staniard Creek, and Kamalame Cay. Thirty miles south is Mangrove Cay airport (MAY) and then a farther 10 miles south lies Congo Town airport (TZN) on South Andros serving Tiamo Resort. From Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Watermakers Air flies four days a week to San Andros, Fresh Creek, and Congo Town. From Nassau (NAS) twice daily, LeAir flies to Andros Town and Mangrove Cay, Western Air flies to San Andros and Congo Town, and Glen Air flies to Congo Town and San Andros. Flamingo Air flies daily from Nassau to Mangrove Cay. For thrills, charter Safari Seaplanes from Nassau or Miami Seaplanes from Key Biscayne. Visit each resort's website for more options.

Contacts

Andros Town Airport. 242/368–2134.

Congo Town Airport. 242/369–2270.

Mangrove Cay Airport. 242/369–0270.

San Andros Airport. 242/329–4401.

Ferry Travel

Andros is divided by water into three parts: Central/North Andros (combined), Mangrove Cay, and South Andros. Only Central/North Andros has a ferry service from Nassau. (Note: ferries and mail boats are different types of vessels. Ferries from Nassau are large, with comfortable air-conditioned lounges and snack bars, can transport cars, and are more regular. Mail boats are smaller, native cargo vessels, only take small cars, and sail mostly once a week and sometimes less frequently.) Bahamas Ferries runs the comfortable Sealink ferry twice or three times a week, depending on season. Check schedules and buy tickets online. They leave Nassau Harbour's Potter's Cay Dock, off East Bay Street, located under the exit bridge from Paradise Island (). Note that once on Andros, there is no service that connects Central/North Andros to its sister landmasses, Mangrove Cay and South Andros.

For those with more time (and patience) and who want a true Bahamian "down-home" adventure, you can take old-fashioned mail boats from Potter's Cay. Always consult the Dockmaster’s Office there for information on mail-boat schedules: many websites have out-of-date sailing days and times. Extraordinary for these times, the office has no Internet or access to email. Note that mail boats sometimes have sporadic service and you may be marooned for days until the next mail boat arrives. To reach Morgan’s Bluff, sail on the M/V Lady Rosalind that leaves Nassau on Wednesday and returns on Thursday. To reach Driggs Hill in South Andros or Mangrove Cay (Lisbon Creek) sail with either the M/V Lady Katrina that leaves Nassau on Wednesday and returns Tuesday, or with the M/V Captain Moxey that leaves Nassau on Monday and returns Sunday. Note that both mail boats sail to Driggs Hill, then Mangrove Cay, then back to Driggs Hill, and finally to Nassau. The trip between Nassau and Driggs Hill takes five hours and costs $35 one way. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions or occasional dry-docking.

Once on Andros, it’s not possible to reach Mangrove Cay or South Andros from Central/North Andros. However, it is possible to cross between Mangrove Cay and South Andros. A free government ferry makes the half-hour trip between Mangrove Cay and South Andros twice daily. It departs from Driggs Hill, South Andros at 8 am and 4 pm and from Lisbon Creek, Mangrove Cay at 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, but schedules are subject to change. Call the Commissioner's Office for information.

Contacts

Potter's Cay Dockmaster's Office. New Providence Island. 242/393–1064. Weekdays 8 am--5 pm.

South Andros Tourist Office. Mangrove Cay, Andros Island. 242/369–1688.

Taxi Travel

Taxis meet airplanes and ferries and are available for touring around the islands. You can arrange for pickup with your hotel. Rates are around $1.50 a mile, though most fares are set. Always agree on a fare before you set foot in a taxi. Tour rates vary: for five passengers and up they start from $50 per person for a half day and $100 per person for a full day.

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