Kamalame Cay: Private Island Luxury on the Andros Barrier Reef

Kamalame Cay is a secluded private island off the eastern coast of Andros, where three miles of white sand meet the turquoise waters of the Andros Barrier Reef. Spread across roughly 97 acres of palms and tropical gardens, the cay combines the natural wilderness of Andros with one of its most refined resort experiences. For yacht charter guests, it offers a rare opportunity to move directly from remote Bahamian cruising into beachfront dining, spa treatments and private island hospitality.

The Andros Barrier Reef lies only about a mile offshore, placing Kamalame Cay within immediate reach of exceptional snorkeling and scuba diving. Coral gardens, reef walls and abundant marine life can be explored with the island's PADI dive team, while the surrounding flats and mangrove creeks offer some of the Bahamas' celebrated bonefishing. Kayaking, paddleboarding and quiet beach days provide an equally appealing alternative for guests who prefer to stay closer to shore.

What separates Kamalame Cay from many Andros charter stops is its balance of seclusion and luxury. The island is home to beachfront villas, restaurants and The Bahamas' only overwater spa, yet it remains intimate and accessible only by sea or air. A yacht can spend several days here before continuing north toward Morgan's Bluff or south toward Fresh Creek and Central Andros, making Kamalame Cay a natural addition to a longer Andros yacht charter.

Kamalame Cay sits just offshore from Andros near Staniard Creek and has its own private marina for visiting vessels. The official marina accepts yachts up to 65 feet and publishes a buoyed approach with depths that vary significantly with the tide. At the shallowest published waypoint near the first set of buoys, depth is approximately five feet at low tide, so vessel draft and tidal timing are important considerations when approaching the island.

Larger charter yachts that cannot enter the marina should plan their arrival carefully and may need to remain in suitable deeper water while guests transfer ashore by tender. The surrounding coastline is typical of Andros, with reef structures, shallows and changing depths requiring current charts and attentive visual navigation. Kamalame Cay does not provide customs clearance or fuel, with Morgan's Bluff identified by the resort as the nearest location for both.

Kamalame Cay is primarily a marina and tender destination rather than a conventional deep-water anchorage. The private marina provides the most convenient option for yachts within its size and draft limits, with shore power, water, provisioning, ice and tie-up assistance available. Advance reservations are required, and access to the resort is controlled because Kamalame Cay is a private island.

For larger yachts, anchoring offshore may be preferable when depth, seabed, wind and sea conditions allow, followed by tender access to the cay. Captains should take particular care to avoid anchoring on coral associated with the nearby Andros Barrier Reef and should select only appropriate sandy bottom. Because the exposed eastern side of Andros can be affected by ocean swell, an offshore position should be chosen according to the forecast rather than treated as an all-weather anchorage.

Kamalame Cay is a family-owned private island resort known for understated luxury rather than large-scale development. Guests arriving by yacht can arrange marina stays or day access, with resort facilities including the beach, swimming pool, tennis court, kayaks and paddleboards. The island's Overwater Spa is especially distinctive, extending above the sea and offering treatments surrounded by open views of the Bahamian water.

Dining and wellness are an unusually important part of the experience for an Andros yacht charter stop, but the setting remains closely tied to the surrounding wilderness. Within minutes of leaving the cay, guests can be diving the Andros Barrier Reef, fishing the flats or exploring quiet mangrove waterways, making Kamalame Cay one of the best locations for combining luxury with the natural side of Andros.