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| - CISTERN CAY is one of the hundreds of beautiful islands and Cayes existing in the famous Berry Islands, Bahamas. Cistern Cay is located less than a minute by boat from Bullocks Harbour docks, and couple minutes from the Marina of Great Harbour Cay, the most populated island in the Berries. Most people think that Great Harbour Cay and Bullocks Harbour is one island, but even if the bridge is only a few meters long, it is in fact two separate islands. Bullocks Harbour is the part of the island where are located stores, schools, restaurants, bars, medical clinic, dentist office, post office, etc. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION Cistern Cay is surrounded by islands of all type, Governmental and private islands and Cayes. Only 160 miles from Miami, 45 minutes away from Florida by plane, 4 to 6 hours by private boat, 45 minutes away from Andros, the 4th largest island in the Caribbean, where only 5,000 inhabitants live from mostly agriculture. Nowadays the Berry islands are more and more connected to the world. Easy to access from Nassau which is only fourteen minutes away with over six daily direct scheduled flights to and from Great harbour Cay airport called also GHC. The International airport of GHC offers also 3 to 5 direct weekly scheduled flights to and from Fort Lauderdale executive airport. Cistern Cay is right around the corner with also Coco Cay and Great Stirrup Cay on the north side. Grand Bahama and Nassau are half way from Cistern Cay. Great Harbour Marina is one of the best hurricane hole of the Berries, and is every secured place for docking boats in the event of hurricane alerts. DOCK & DELIVERIES Every Wednesdays the mail boat is delivering all kind of food and goods from Nassau to Bullocks Harbour docks, from Fresh, Frozen, dry and canned food to all kind of building materials, cars, anything people need can be delivered on site. These purchases are usually ordered by all inhabitants of Great Harbour Cay and of course Cistern Cay, which is facing Bullocks Harbour. Bullocks Harbour receive also twice per month 20' and 40' containers from Miami. Great Harbour Cay has one of the most beautiful beach of the Bahamas, a pure blinding white sand beach called Sugar Beach, which is 11 miles long. FISHING The Berry islands are commonly known for bone-fishing and are a real paradise for activities like conking, hunting lobsters, diving, skinny deeping, snorkeling and deep see fishing. DRUG SMUGGLING HISTORY Great Harbour Cay is separated only by a small channel from Cistern Cay, a private island with a landing strip that gained notoriety as a drug smuggling base in the 1970s. Robert Vesco, a fugitive American financier, bought Cistern Cay in 1978 for $180,000. Vesco, who had been charged in 1976 with stealing $224 million from a mutual fund, became a figure in the Watergate scandal after it was revealed that he had illegally contributed $200,000 to the 1972 Richard Nixon reelection campaign. Vesco is also alleged to have assisted Carlos Lehder, an infamous Colombian drug smuggler, in laundering money through Nassau banks.
* CISTERN CAY was a long time ago used as a base for heavy drug shipments to the US, where Roger W. Nelson owned one of his house. Many infrastructures were created during the drug smuggling times on the island, such as beautiful paved roads, a ramp used back in the days for seaplane, better yet a 3000 feet AIRSTRIP, which is still today in very good shape, but was shut down finally by the DEA and the Bahamas Government. Today the airstrip is on its way to be reopen, as many real estate investors and private rich owners bought many lots on the island of Cistern Cay, and many of them own their one planes coming from Florida, only minutes away. CISTERN CAY On the entire southeast part of the Island, facing Bullocks Harbour, you will be able to find a cute beach, but unfortunately due to the Atlantic wind, this beach is not very welcoming, as it is very shallow and full of rocks, and the current coming from Great Harbour Cay brings to this beach all types of dead seaweeds, plastics, woods, etc., but it is where you can located 100 yards away, a famous plane wreckage. On the other end, located on the west side of Cistern Cay, you will be able to enjoy the most beautiful beach, right passed the south cap of Cistern Cay and going north, located on the quiet and very protected Bay facing Florida this famous beach [350' long] is part of two unspoiled crystal cleared lagoons. That is where all tourists, coming by Jet Skis from Coco and Great Stirrup Cayes are tour guided each and every day, admiring the serene location, pure, clean and so exotic. Who own these private islands? Most of lots on Cistern Cay have been sold out in 2011, and when going north, a small channel is separating Cistern Cay from an island called Lignumvitea Cay, where one private owner built a nice home, looking at to Coco and Great Stirrup Cayes, but also close from Goat Cay, a private island actually for sale. We count today a dozen of lucky owners on Cistern Cay who are sharing this private island. The Bay side, facing Florida is the most protected area with quiet waters and where of course you will find the most beautiful beaches. Minutes away from there, two famous private islands, one called Coco Cay [private island owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line] and the other one called Great Stirrup Cay [private island owned by Norwegian Cruise line] are located. These two private islands are spending millions as we speak to increased the beach areas, Coco Cay has budgeted to spend $25M in 2012. Norwegian Cruise line is of course imitating their neighbor and the area is becoming more and more a Paradise for tourists and rich people who are buying properties on the surrounding islands.
* AIRSTRIP 3000 FEET long, this airstrip is still in great shape, built back in the 70's by the Drug smugglers living on the island, this beautiful airstrip use to land DC3 and private Jets. Also a ramp was build for seaplane and still existing on Cistern Cay, connecting by many huge roads to the main airstrip. Closed in the 80's with a common accord between the US and the Bahamas Governments for obvious reason, today The Bahamas Government would be soon giving the right to reopen the airstrip, as soon as few homes will be complete and build on Cistern Cay. Already two new homes are on the way to be constructed, only 30/45 minutes away from Florida, with a private airstrip and located next to Great Harbour Cay, which counts more than 700 inhabitants all year around, giving to the lucky dozen of owners sharing Cistern Cay, access to a huge marina, the best hurricane hole of the Berry Islands, a 9-holes Golf course, many bars and restaurants, a dental and a medical clinic, 4G wireless internet and cellular phone tower, Cistern Cay real estate will be for sure an expensive paradise.
* ROADS Beautiful roads are still existing ALL over the island, like a small town with bunches of arteries running through the entire island. These roads are in excellent conditions, some better than Great Harbour Cay, connecting to the main airstrip.
* WATER & ELECTRICITY Cistern Cay has been called "Cistern" for the obvious reason of its huge aquifer which provides plenty of fresh water with wells which are only between 16' to 25' deep. Some says that Cistern Cay has the best fresh water in the Berries. Osmosis reverse system are commonly used for filtering the water, or better yet watermakers for unlimited drinking water supplies. Solar is the best alternative for electricity on the island, but of course a backup generator is also recommended. Wind generator could be also used, especially on the lots facing the Atlantic.
* BEACHES & LAGOONS Cistern Cay is today a harbour of peace and beauty, with gorgeous crystal clear lagoons and white sand beaches, the most beautiful beach is located on the bay side, near the south point of the island. These two lagoons are the most visited sites of the island, and many residents of Great Harbour Cay come on a regular basis to this wild untouched beach, which has the reputation to have abundance of fish, conch, manta rays and of course the best white sand beach of this private island of Cistern Cay.
* WILDLIFE A long time ago, Cistern Cay was used for hunting, many Bahamians released plenty of various animals. Today, Cistern Cay has lots of existing wildlife, such as wild pigs, deers, chickens and roosters, birds of all kinds, no poisonous creatures in the Bahamas, s maybe few snakes, but very inoffensive and discrete. Cistern Cay has a great future, and if you are coming by Cruise ships, visiting Coco or Great Stirrup cayes, you would be able to see it from close and personal. Jet ski rentals and guided tours bring from these two private islands hundreds of tourists every days. Most of them can admire these magnificent beaches and lagoons, taking back home pictures of this incredible private island called Cistern Cay, a wild private island full of history & charms.
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