Getting Around Inagua: Flights, Rental Cars, Boats & Local Transportation
INTRODUCTION
Transportation in Inagua requires more advance planning than in Nassau, Grand Bahama or other major visitor destinations in The Bahamas. Great Inagua is a large, lightly developed island, while Matthew Town on the southwest coast is its only populated settlement.
Most visitors arrive through Inagua International Airport (IGA) near Matthew Town. Official Bahamas tourism information also identifies weekly mail boats from Nassau as another way to reach Great Inagua, while Little Inagua is uninhabited and accessible only by boat.
Once on Great Inagua, visitors should not expect the extensive taxi networks, public buses or ride-hailing options found in larger destinations. The Bahamas National Trust specifically advises that there are no taxis in Inagua and that ground transportation outside its national-park transfers must be privately arranged.
This guide focuses specifically on getting to and around Inagua. For accommodations, attractions, dining, wildlife and broader trip planning, use the Ultimate Inagua Travel Guide as the destination's main planning resource.
HOW TO GET TO GREAT INAGUA
Flying is generally the most practical option for visitors.
Inagua International Airport serves Matthew Town and domestic connections within The Bahamas. The official Bahamas tourism flight directory currently lists Bahamasair service linking Matthew Town with Nassau and Mayaguana, but flight schedules are subject to change. Travelers should therefore verify their exact dates directly with the carrier before finalizing accommodations or tours.
For international travelers, this usually means reaching Nassau first and then connecting onward to Inagua on a domestic flight.
Because services to remote Out Islands can operate less frequently than routes to major Bahamian destinations, build flexibility into your itinerary.
INAGUA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Inagua International Airport (IGA) is located at Matthew Town and provides the island's principal air connection.
Its proximity to Matthew Town makes arrival relatively straightforward once ground transportation has been arranged.
Before flying, confirm:
Do not assume that taxis will be waiting outside the airport.
Instead, contact your accommodation, vehicle provider or guide beforehand and establish how you will travel from the airport.
ARE THERE TAXIS IN INAGUA?
According to the Bahamas National Trust's Inagua visitor information, there are no taxis in Inagua. Transportation around Matthew Town and elsewhere must therefore be privately arranged.
This is one of the most important differences first-time visitors should understand.
Rather than arriving and deciding how to get around afterward, organize transportation before or immediately upon arrival.
Depending on your itinerary, this may mean using:
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A rental vehicle
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Transportation arranged by your accommodation
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A local guide
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Bahamas National Trust transportation for a park visit
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Prearranged boat transportation for marine excursions
The appropriate option depends on how far beyond Matthew Town you intend to travel.
RENTING A CAR ON GREAT INAGUA
A rental vehicle can be one of the most useful transportation options for independent visitors, particularly those staying several days.
The Bahamas National Trust notes that its Inagua wardens can provide recommendations for vehicle rentals.
Having your own vehicle provides greater flexibility for reaching different areas around Matthew Town and exploring Great Inagua without depending on repeated private transfers.
However, a rental car does not eliminate the need for local planning.
Before longer drives:
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Ask about current road conditions.
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Confirm fuel availability.
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Carry drinking water.
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Keep a charged phone with you.
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Avoid unfamiliar remote roads after dark.
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Tell someone where you are going.
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Allow extra time for unpaved or less-developed routes.
For remote wildlife areas, local knowledge can be more valuable than simply having a vehicle.
GETTING AROUND MATTHEW TOWN
Matthew Town is the transportation and service center for visitors to Great Inagua.
It is the island's only populated town and sits on the southwest coast.
Some locations within the settlement may be manageable without a vehicle depending on where you are staying, but travelers should not plan an entire Inagua vacation around walking.
Heat, sun exposure and the distances involved in reaching attractions outside town make motorized transportation important.
One prominent attraction near Matthew Town is the Great Inagua Lighthouse at Mortimers Hill. The 113-foot all-white lighthouse overlooks Matthew Town and its surrounding coastline.
For short stays concentrated around town, accommodation transfers combined with guided excursions may reduce the need for a full-time rental vehicle.
GETTING TO INAGUA NATIONAL PARK
Transportation to Inagua National Park should be arranged as part of your park visit rather than treated as an independent drive-by attraction.
The Bahamas National Trust asks visitors to confirm their planned park dates before arriving on Inagua. Trust vehicles are used to transport visitors to the park, while other travel around Matthew Town and Great Inagua must be arranged separately.
This makes the park relatively straightforward to incorporate into an itinerary when arrangements are made beforehand.
When booking, provide information such as:
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Travel dates
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Flight schedule
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Length of stay
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Number of visitors
The national park is one of the island's primary reasons for visiting, particularly for travelers interested in West Indian flamingos, birdwatching and wetland ecology.
USING LOCAL GUIDES FOR TRANSPORTATION
Hiring a local guide can combine transportation with access and interpretation.
This is particularly useful for travelers interested in:
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Birdwatching
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Inagua National Park
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Wildlife photography
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Island sightseeing
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Fishing
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Snorkeling
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Remote coastal areas
Officially listed Great Inagua Tours offers island tours that can incorporate the national park, birding, wildlife, caves, the salt-production area, lighthouse and museum, as well as snorkeling and fishing activities.
For first-time visitors, guided transportation can therefore eliminate much of the logistical uncertainty associated with reaching unfamiliar locations.
CAN YOU WALK AROUND GREAT INAGUA?
Walking is practical for limited exploration within Matthew Town, but not as the primary method for seeing Great Inagua.
The island's attractions and natural environments are spread across a much larger area than the settlement itself.
Heat and sun exposure also make long-distance walking impractical for many travelers.
Use walking for:
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Short trips within Matthew Town
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Exploring the immediate settlement
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Nearby waterfront areas
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Short distances from accommodations
Use a vehicle or guided transportation for:
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Inagua National Park
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Remote beaches
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Birdwatching locations
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Salt ponds
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Longer island tours
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Distant coastal areas
This combination provides a more realistic approach to getting around Inagua.
GETTING TO INAGUA BY MAIL BOAT
Visitors who are not traveling on a tight schedule can investigate mail-boat transportation.
Official Bahamas tourism information states that weekly mail boats from Nassau serve Great Inagua.
Mail boats form part of the traditional transportation network connecting Nassau with Out Island communities and transport passengers as well as supplies.
For most vacation travelers, flying will be significantly more practical.
Mail-boat travel may appeal more to:
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Slow travelers
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Travelers interested in local transportation
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Visitors with flexible schedules
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People transporting additional supplies or cargo
Schedules can change, so verify departure and arrival information before building a trip around mail-boat service.
GETTING TO LITTLE INAGUA
Little Inagua requires an entirely different transportation approach.
Unlike Great Inagua, it has no settlement, airport, roads or visitor transportation network. Official Bahamas tourism information describes Little Inagua as uninhabited and accessible only by boat.
The island is protected as Little Inagua National Park, making it more appropriate for carefully arranged nature and marine excursions than independent transportation.
Visitors considering a trip should arrange an experienced boat operator and account for:
Little Inagua should therefore be treated as an optional specialist excursion rather than routine transportation from Matthew Town.
TRANSPORTATION FOR SNORKELING AND FISHING
Marine activities generally require local boat transportation.
Great Inagua Tours is officially listed as offering reef snorkeling and deep-sea fishing in addition to island and wildlife tours.
Travelers arranging a marine excursion should confirm whether the quoted trip includes:
Weather can affect boat trips more significantly than land transportation, so keep some flexibility in your schedule.
See the Inagua Snorkeling & Diving Guide and Fishing in Inagua Guide for activity-specific planning.
HOW MUCH DOES TRANSPORTATION COST IN INAGUA?
There is no single transportation budget that applies to every visitor because costs depend heavily on the itinerary.
A traveler staying mainly in Matthew Town and taking organized tours may spend less on independent transportation than someone renting a vehicle for several days.
Potential transportation expenses include:
Ask what is included before accepting a tour or transfer price, particularly whether fuel, vehicle costs and guide services are separate.
The Bahamas National Trust, for example, notes that its published national-park visitor fees do not include vehicle rental or fuel.
TRANSPORTATION TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS
The most important rule is simple: do not leave transportation planning until you arrive.
Before traveling to Great Inagua:
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Confirm your flight.
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Arrange airport pickup or a rental vehicle.
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Confirm accommodation transportation.
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Reserve Inagua National Park arrangements.
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Book specialized tours in advance.
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Ask about road and weather conditions locally.
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Confirm how you will return to the airport.
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Leave flexibility for weather-related changes.
Visitors following an Inagua Sample Itinerary should organize transportation around major activity days rather than trying to arrange each trip separately at the last minute.
INAGUA TRANSPORTATION FAQS
IS THERE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN INAGUA?
Visitors should not expect a conventional public bus or transit network. Transportation is primarily handled through private arrangements, rental vehicles, accommodations and guides.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND GREAT INAGUA?
A rental vehicle provides flexibility, while guided transportation is useful for Inagua National Park and remote nature areas. Visitors staying mainly around Matthew Town may be able to combine walking with prearranged transfers.
WHERE DO FLIGHTS TO INAGUA ARRIVE?
Flights arrive at Inagua International Airport (IGA) in Matthew Town. Official Bahamas tourism information currently lists domestic Bahamasair connections involving Nassau and Mayaguana.
CAN YOU RENT A CAR IN INAGUA?
Vehicle rentals can be arranged locally. The Bahamas National Trust states that its wardens can provide recommendations for rental vehicles.
ARE THERE TAXIS IN GREAT INAGUA?
The Bahamas National Trust states that there are no taxis in Inagua, so travelers should arrange transportation privately.
HOW DO YOU GET TO INAGUA NATIONAL PARK?
Arrange your visit with the Bahamas National Trust beforehand. BNT vehicles transport visitors to the park.
CAN YOU Take A Boat To Little Inagua?
Yes. Little Inagua is uninhabited and accessible only by boat, so visits require appropriate marine transportation and advance planning.
HOW EARLY SHOULD I ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION IN INAGUA?
Arrange important transfers, vehicle rentals and guided excursions before arrival whenever possible, particularly if your itinerary includes Inagua National Park or remote locations.
EXPLORE MORE INAGUA GUIDES
LOCAL & DESTINATION CONTEXT
Matthew Town is the transportation hub of Great Inagua, connecting Inagua International Airport with accommodations, local services and routes into the island's undeveloped interior. From the settlement, privately arranged vehicles and guides provide access to Inagua National Park, salt ponds, wildlife areas and coastal environments, while boats extend travel into surrounding Bahamian waters and toward Little Inagua. Nassau serves as the primary domestic air and mail-boat connection, placing Inagua within the wider Out Island transportation network of The Bahamas.
CONCLUSION
Getting around Inagua is relatively straightforward when transportation is arranged in advance. The key is understanding that Great Inagua does not operate like a major resort island with readily available taxis, buses and frequent visitor transfers.
Most travelers arrive through Inagua International Airport and use a combination of rental vehicles, accommodation transfers and local guides. Bahamas National Trust transportation facilitates visits to Inagua National Park, while boat transportation is necessary for Little Inagua and marine excursions.
For first-time visitors, organizing airport transfers, park visits and major excursions before arrival creates a far smoother trip and leaves more time for birdwatching, wildlife, beaches and coastal exploration.
Continue to the Ultimate Inagua Travel Guide for accommodations, attractions, dining and complete destination planning.
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Updated as of August 2026.