Powell Cay

Trails and Bluff Views

Two established hiking trails invite exploration on Powell Cay. The Bluff Trail is a short tenth-of-a-mile climb through native vegetation to the island's highest point, where panoramic views stretch across the northern anchorage and Sea of Abaco. The Ocean Beach Trail runs about a quarter mile through dense jungle-like growth to reach the Atlantic shoreline, passing Warri Trees whose Nicker Nuts have long been used throughout the Caribbean for medicinal and ornamental purposes.

Both trails are manageable in sandals, though the bluff edges lack guardrails, so careful footing is required near the cliffs.

White-Tailed Tropicbirds

Powell Cay's rocky Atlantic bluffs provide critical nesting habitat for a colony of white-tailed tropicbirds, elegant seabirds known locally as longtails. From March through May, roughly twenty pairs perform dramatic aerial courtship displays along the cliff faces before laying a single egg in rocky crevices.

These graceful birds spend most of their lives at sea and return to Powell Cay only to breed, making a springtime visit especially rewarding for birders and wildlife photographers.

Anchorage and Marine Life

The Sea of Abaco side of Powell Cay offers a protected lee anchorage in calm turquoise water over a sandy bottom. Depths are shallow, and cruisers should consult tide tables and approach carefully, but the clarity is exceptional: starfish, nurse sharks, green sea turtles, and schools of silver baitfish are visible from deck level.

A sandbar extends southwestward toward Bonefish Cay, and a shallow-water shipwreck nearby provides additional snorkeling interest. Reef exploration is best on calm days, when the Atlantic side reveals the full extent of the offshore coral formations.

Beaches and Solitude

More than four miles of white-sand shoreline fringe Powell Cay, with the Atlantic northern beach offering rolling surf and dramatic ocean colors, while the lee-side beach provides calm conditions ideal for swimming and kayaking. Beachcombing and shelling are popular activities, particularly along the southern stretches.

Because the cay is uninhabited and sees only modest cruising traffic, visitors often enjoy complete solitude, an increasingly rare experience in the Bahamas.

Getting there

Powell Cay is accessible only by boat and is a popular stop on Abaco cruising itineraries. Charter yachts typically approach from Marsh Harbour (about 15 nautical miles south) or from nearby Spanish Cay, which has a marina and private airstrip. The anchorage on the Sea of Abaco side provides good holding in sand, though depths are shallow and tide-dependent. Coopers Town on Great Abaco, three miles to the southwest, offers provisions and fuel for those exploring by dinghy or tender.

Frequently asked questions

Can you stay overnight on Powell Cay?

There are no accommodations or facilities on Powell Cay. Visitors anchor offshore and stay aboard their vessel. The lee-side anchorage is well-protected from prevailing easterly winds and suitable for overnight stays in settled weather.

When is the best time to see the tropicbirds?

White-tailed tropicbirds nest on Powell Cay's cliffs from March through May. During this period, you can observe their spectacular aerial courtship flights along the bluffs, particularly in the morning hours.

Is Powell Cay good for snorkeling?

Snorkeling conditions vary with weather. On calm days, the reef on the Atlantic side offers good visibility and marine life. The lee-side anchorage provides easier access for casual snorkeling, with sea turtles, starfish, and reef fish commonly spotted in the clear shallows.