Eco-Bike & Hike
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Port
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
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Activity Level
Strenuous
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Excursion Type
Biking,Hiking,14,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$44.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 1½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
After a safety briefing, set out with your guide on a bike ride that shows you the 'back of the house'. This behind-the-scenes glimpse of Half Moon Cay takes you past the staff housing units, offices, reverse-osmosis water plant, electrical generator, incinerator, bilge water processing plant, recycling center, maintenance and fabrication shop.
Pass Half Moon Cay Marina and the dining pavilion on the way to Pegasus Ranch, where you will take a brief rest.
Remount your bike for a short ride to the seaplane landing area for refreshments.
Leave your bike behind as your hike begins here. Keep an eye out for birds that are occasionally seen here, such as the Bahamas mockingbird, wood dove, white crown pigeon, tobacco dove, Cuban finch, banana bird, poor Joe and burrowing owl.
Climb the ridge, which boasts a first-stage lookout with an awesome view of Bone Fish Lagoon, Stingray Park and the Water Sports Rental Center.
You'll find yourself standing on the foundation ruins of a limestone dwelling from the 1700s. The vegetation in this area is trees of Madeira bark, pigeon plum, wild tamarind, Bahamian hardwoods, sapodilla, camalamy bark, seven-year apple, silver buttonwood, love vine and sisal cactus. The latter is used for rope making.
Cross over a dividing wall that is hundreds of years old. On the far side, you will pass additional ruins en route to the eastern lookout. See magnificent views of the eastern tip of Half Moon Cay, Goat Cay, Long Rocks and Cat Island, some 18 miles away.
Wind your way back westward on the north face of the ridge. There are two ponds here, one brackish and one saltwater. Early settlers worked the salt pond to harvest salt for trading. Follow the path down to a freshwater well used by pirates. You'll step through a patch of lovely native orchids.
Continue to the main area of ruins where remnants of many limestone structures lie. The western tip of the island can be seen from here. The view includes the island of Eleuthera and your cruise ship.
Step through a cactus patch leading down a narrow footpath back to the lagoon.
Notes:
Minimum weight is 80 lbs; maximum weight is 225 lbs. Minimum age is 10 years; maximum age is 80 years. Minimum height is 5 feet; maximum height is 7 feet. Wear shorts, a t-shirt and aqua shoes, sneakers or sandals. Locker rental included during the time of activity.