The most easterly island of The Bahamas, Mayaguana still has its original Indian name. The island was uninhabited until 1812, after which it was gradually settled by people from the nearby Turks Islands. This unspoiled, mostly undiscovered slice of The Bahamas is a favorite stopover for yacht enthusiasts, offering a peaceful, quiet and relaxing vacation and miles of unspoiled beaches for swimming, scuba diving and shelling enthusiasts. 

The waters off Mayaguana afford excellent sports fishing. Fish frequently surface and peer out of the water causing a distinctly eerie sensation of being watched and taunted. The terrain on-island is woody, the soil fertile and aptly suited to agriculture. Farming and fishing are the chief occupations of its inhabitants, who live the quiet life of most Out Islanders. Typical scenes are homespun dwellings guarded by goats and an occasional small cottage doing double duty as a "petty shop" (a small general store). 

The mailboat is the main form of external communication on this sleepy island, which stirs once a week on the grand occasion. Many of the inhabitants never venture from their paradise, choosing instead to let the world come to them. Don't be surprised if, upon arrival, the friendly people warmly embrace you, take you by the hand and bring you to their home, as if you are an old friend.