There is a place in the world that seems like a little piece of paradise fallen to earth. Islands – all commonly called by a single name although each one has its own – that are a true wild dream and have remained practically intact. The place in question is called Andros, considered by many to be a wonderful corner of Greece in the Bahamas.
What do the Bahamas have to do with Greece?
It is right to ask this question, also because the sheer beauty of the Bahamas certainly has nothing to envy of the equally exceptional Greece. Yet somehow, their stories are intertwined. In Greece, in fact, there is an island with exactly the same name as this paradise in the Bahamas and, therefore, according to some theories the name Andros derives precisely from sponge fishermen coming from Greece, who settled here many years ago for a long period.
However, this is not the only hypothesis. Many claim that the name Andros is in honor of Mr. Edmund Andros, commander of His Majesty's forces at Barbados in 1672 and later governor of New York, who was notable for his role in the collapse of the New England dominion.
However, according to other hypotheses, the island may have taken its name from the inhabitants of the island of Sant'Andrea (also called Sant'Andrea or San Andrés) off the coast of Honduras because 1.400 immigrants reportedly settled there. in Andros. in 1787.
There is no clear information, therefore, why this corner of the Bahamas is called that, but what is certain is that right here, between 1841 and 1938, people from Greece settled there to practice sponge fishing, and then emigrated in the 30s when the sponges were wiped out by an infestation. Surely, therefore, Andros also preserves some small details of Greek culture.
What to expect
Andros is not just any archipelago: it is the largest in the Bahamas, and in fact it consists of a total of three islands, namely North Andros, Mangrove Cay and South Andros, and many small uninhabited islets. As you can imagine, it is a strip of land with dream beaches, a sea that seems to shine for its clarity, and also a piece of the world with one of the longest coral reefs in existence.
But it doesn't end there, because this fairy-tale place is also the cradle of lush vegetation and is the perfect habitat for many ornithological species.
A place that has remained practically intact and offers countless adventures for lovers of outdoor life.
What to see
Yes, Andros is the largest archipelago in the Bahamas, but you may have never heard of it because they are the least visited islands in the country. The reason, certainly, does not lie in the fact that they are less beautiful than others, because it is precisely their size that represents a "problem": being particularly large, they are not exactly comfortable for movements that, in some circumstances, can They are also done by plane, even on the same island.
And it's a shame, because it really is full of wonders that are not easy to find elsewhere. An example of this is the town of red bays which is located in the northwest corner of northern Andros. It is a place inhabited by the descendants of the Seminole Indians and slaves who escaped from Florida in the 17th and 18th centuries and who still transmit to us habits and customs from a time that no longer remains. Do you know how they make a living? Weaving the straw, an activity that, if catapulted to our continent, would seem to be light years away.
It's definitely fascinating conch sound, a blue hole that is a breath-taking geological wonder and turns out to be the optimal place for snorkeling lovers. Certainly not an exception Morgan's bluff, cave and refuge of the feared pirate Morgan where, according to folklore, there is a treasure buried in the darkness, between bats and stalagmites. It is worth pointing out, however, that historians have never confirmed that this cave was the hideout of the most fearsome pirate in the Caribbean.
In the surrounding area there are, among other things, wonderful little-known beaches, those jewels of nature that only the inhabitants can point out to visitors.
Other extraordinary blue holes emerge inIsland of Cayo Mangrove and there are many: about twenty, some hidden in the mountains and others just a step away from the coast. But after all, right here on Andros is the largest concentration of these incredible marine sinkholes in the world.
Andros is also the territory of charming national parks such as, for example, the Central Andros National Parks, located right on Mangrove Cay. In addition to the blue holes, a colorful coral reef survives here, the third longest in the world at 306 kilometers, and numerous mangrove forests. Animal lovers, however, will be able to spot Bahamian iguanas, many species of butterflies, and some rare snakes.
Close your eyes and think about the sky, the image will appear in your mind. Congo Beach, without you knowing it. It is a beach of silver colors and bathed by surprisingly turquoise water.
Lastly, you can't miss a stop at Crab replenishment reserve, a national park that covers an area of 40.000 acres and is home to millions of crabs.
Curiosities and legends
Andros is wonderful, but also full of curiosities and legends. The mysteries, in fact, are not only linked to the origin of its name or the possible presence of one of the most feared pirates of all time. Many unresolved questions are also related to its discovery: it is said that the first man to explore this island was Amerigo Vespucci, but in reality it is still unclear whether this fact is the fruit of popular imagination or not.
Furthermore, this seems to be a land inhabited by extraordinary creatures, such as chicks, that populate the numerous and beautiful pine forests in the area. Half birds and half men, they possess powers that would help them protect this island from evil. Not in vain, they are considered the lucky charm of the entire Bahamas.
Then there are the calls luska, dragon-like creatures that spend their time in the ocean's magnificent blue holes. But be careful because, unlike the Chickcharnees, the Lusca are not good at all: they are monsters capable of sucking their victims into that deep underwater lair.
Between folklore and wonder, Andros should be a destination to include on your bucket list.
