Raccoon Cay is a remote, largely undeveloped cay in the Jumentos Cays and Ragged Islands chain of the southern Bahamas. Positioned north of Hog Cay and Ragged Island and south of the Low Water Harbour area, it is primarily visited by cruising sailors and private boaters exploring one of the least developed island chains in The Bahamas. Waterway Guide identifies a principal Raccoon Cay anchorage at approximately 22°21.280′ N, 75°48.800′ W.
Raccoon Cay is particularly useful to boaters because several bays along its western shoreline provide protection from prevailing easterly winds. Waterway Guide reports anchoring depths of approximately 8–12 feet at its listed anchorage, with excellent holding in sand. When winds shift toward the north or northeast, Spanish Wells and House Bay can provide more limited alternatives.
The cay also offers more than anchoring. Cruising accounts document long undeveloped beaches, snorkeling, beachcombing, salt ponds, historic ruins, and remains associated with former salt production. One account describes exploring a large inland salt pond and old sluiceways that once controlled seawater entering the pond, along with a small ruined structure whose masonry incorporated local shells.
Marine exploration is another important reason to visit. Immediately around the Raccoon Cay area, reefs and cuts support snorkeling, while Waterway Guide specifically describes the reefs between Raccoon and Narin Cay as excellent for snorkeling at slack water.
There are essentially no conventional visitor services on Raccoon Cay. The wider Jumentos and Ragged Islands have very limited shore infrastructure, requiring cruisers to arrive well provisioned and prepared for independent travel.
KEY FACTS
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Destination Name: Raccoon Cay
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Category: Islands & Destinations / Nature & Wildlife
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Destination Type: Remote Cay / Boating Destination / Nature Attraction / Snorkeling Destination
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Location: Jumentos Cays and Ragged Islands, southern Bahamas
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Island Group: Jumentos Cays and Ragged Islands
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Anchorage Coordinates: Approximately 22°21.280′ N, 75°48.800′ W
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Known For: Remote beaches, anchorages, snorkeling, salt ponds, historic ruins, and undeveloped coastal landscapes
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Best For: Boaters, sailors, snorkelers, photographers, beachcombers, nature lovers, and adventure travelers
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Nearby Destinations: Narin Cay, Johnson Cay, Hog Cay, Buena Vista Cay, Low Water Harbour Cay, Ragged Island
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Reported Anchorage Depth: Approximately 8–12 feet
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Holding: Excellent sand at the principal Waterway Guide anchorage
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Wind Protection: Primarily from prevailing easterly winds
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Notable Bays: House Bay, Spanish Wells, Man-O-War Bay
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Transportation Access: Private boat or cruising yacht
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Ferry Access: No verified scheduled passenger ferry
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Airport Access: No airport on Raccoon Cay; regional air access is through Duncan Town Airport (DCT/MYRD) on Ragged Island
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Accommodation Availability: No verified conventional accommodations
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Dining Availability: None
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Ideal Length of Stay: One to several days, depending on weather
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Infrastructure Level: Essentially undeveloped
DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS
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Several anchorages along the western side provide shelter from the prevailing easterly winds.
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Principal Waterway Guide anchorage has reported depths of approximately 8–12 feet.
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Sandy bottom provides excellent holding at the documented anchorage.
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House Bay provides an additional anchoring option on the lee side of Raccoon Cay, although wraparound swell can develop when winds shift.
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Spanish Wells can provide limited protection when north-to-northeast winds are forecast.
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Man-O-War Bay at the southern end of Raccoon Cay is documented by cruisers as one of the regional anchorages considered during cold fronts.
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Reefs in the cut between Raccoon and Narin Cay offer particularly good snorkeling at slack water.
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Cruisers have documented excellent snorkeling directly from beaches around Raccoon Cay.
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Long undeveloped beaches provide opportunities for walking, beachcombing, shelling, and photography.
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A large inland salt pond provides evidence of the cay's natural and historical landscape.
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Historic sluiceways associated with controlling seawater entering the salt pond remain visible.
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Ruined structures documented by cruisers incorporate locally available shell and limestone materials.
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Cruising accounts describe extensive natural salt deposits created through evaporation in former salt-production areas.
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The absence of resorts, roads, restaurants, and commercial attractions preserves the cay's remote character.
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Raccoon Cay forms a natural island-hopping stop between the northern Jumentos and destinations closer to Duncan Town.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Best Time to Visit: Weather and marine conditions should determine the timing of a visit. Most anchorages throughout the Jumentos and Ragged Islands primarily protect vessels from easterly conditions, while winter cold fronts can introduce winds from less protected directions.
Suggested Visit Duration: One to three days provides time for beach exploration, snorkeling, salt-pond walks, and boating around the cay when conditions remain favorable.
Accessibility: Raccoon Cay is essentially accessible only by boat. There are no conventional roads, public transportation services, or developed passenger facilities.
Transportation Options: Cruising yachts, sailboats, private vessels, and dinghies are the practical ways to explore the cay.
Anchorage Depth: Waterway Guide reports approximately 8–12 feet at its principal Raccoon Cay anchorage.
Anchorage Protection: Bays along the western shoreline generally provide protection from prevailing easterlies. Conditions can vary considerably when winds shift north, northeast, southeast, or west.
House Bay: House Bay offers lee-side protection under suitable conditions, but cruising experience shows that changes in wind direction can introduce wraparound swell.
Man-O-War Bay: Located toward the southern end of Raccoon Cay, this anchorage is among several sites cruisers use or consider when stronger fronts move through the region.
Swimming Suitability: The cay's beaches and protected bays can provide swimming opportunities during calm conditions, but there are no lifeguards or managed swimming areas.
Snorkeling Suitability: Snorkeling is one of Raccoon Cay's strongest recreational activities. Cruising accounts describe good snorkeling directly from the beach, while reefs around the Raccoon-Narin cut are specifically recommended at slack water.
Beachcombing: Raccoon Cay's undeveloped beaches are well suited to walking and shelling; one cruising account specifically identifies its beaches and shelling among the reasons the cay became a favorite stop.
Historic Exploration: Visitors can encounter ruins, salt ponds, and surviving sluiceways connected with earlier activity on the cay. These are undeveloped historical remains rather than interpreted archaeological attractions.
Accommodation Availability: No conventional hotel, resort, or guesthouse is documented on Raccoon Cay. Visitors normally stay aboard their vessels.
Dining Availability: There are no conventional restaurants or food concessions.
Supplies: Visitors should arrive self-sufficient. The Jumentos and Ragged Islands have almost no shore facilities outside the small community around Duncan Town.
Photography Opportunities: Undeveloped beaches, shallow turquoise water, salt ponds, historic ruins, limestone terrain, reefs, and anchored sailing vessels provide varied subjects.
Infrastructure Level: Extremely limited. Raccoon Cay should be approached as a wilderness-style boating destination rather than a conventional tourist island.
FAQ
WHERE IS RACCOON CAY IN THE BAHAMAS?
Raccoon Cay lies within the Jumentos Cays and Ragged Islands chain of the southern Bahamas. It is north of Hog Cay and Ragged Island and forms part of the approximately 75-nautical-mile cruising corridor extending through this remote island chain.
WHAT IS RACCOON CAY KNOWN FOR?
Raccoon Cay is known for remote beaches, protected easterly anchorages, snorkeling, salt ponds, historic ruins, and largely undeveloped surroundings. It is primarily visited by cruising sailors rather than conventional resort travelers.
IS RACCOON CAY A GOOD ANCHORAGE?
Yes, under appropriate conditions. Waterway Guide reports 8–12 feet of depth, excellent sandy holding, and protection from prevailing easterlies at its listed anchorage, while several western bays provide additional anchoring choices.
CAN YOU SNORKEL AT RACCOON CAY?
Yes. Cruising accounts document good snorkeling around Raccoon Cay, and Waterway Guide specifically recommends the reefs in the cut between Raccoon and Narin Cay for snorkeling at slack water.
ARE THERE BEACHES ON RACCOON CAY?
Yes. Raccoon Cay has multiple undeveloped beaches, and cruising accounts specifically highlight its beaches, shelling, and snorkeling. There are no developed beach clubs or conventional tourism facilities.
ARE THERE HISTORIC RUINS ON RACCOON CAY?
Yes. Cruisers have documented a small house ruin, a large inland salt pond, and old sluiceways that once controlled seawater entering the pond. These remains provide evidence of earlier human activity and salt-related land use on the cay.
HOW DO YOU GET TO RACCOON CAY?
Raccoon Cay is primarily reached by private boat or cruising yacht while traveling through the Jumentos Cays and Ragged Islands. There is no airport or verified scheduled passenger ferry serving the cay.
TRAVELER EXPECTATION SUMMARY
Travelers typically value Raccoon Cay for its combination of quiet anchorages, undeveloped beaches, snorkeling, shelling, salt ponds, historic remains, and isolation. The experience is fundamentally boat-based and self-sufficient, with no conventional accommodations or visitor services. For cruisers exploring the Jumentos and Ragged Islands, the cay provides both practical anchoring options and opportunities to explore natural and historical features ashore.
LOCAL AND DESTINATION CONTEXT
Raccoon Cay occupies an important position in the central-to-southern Jumentos Cays and Ragged Islands cruising route. Nearby Narin Cay is separated from Raccoon Cay by a reef-filled cut known for snorkeling, while Low Water Harbour Cay and Buena Vista Cay lie farther north. To the south, boaters encounter Johnson Cay, Double Breasted Cay, Hog Cay, and eventually Duncan Town on Ragged Island, the chain's principal inhabited settlement. Together, these cays form one of the least developed island-hopping regions of The Bahamas, characterized by shallow banks, coral reefs, natural anchorages, beaches, salt ponds, and limited shore infrastructure.
RELATED DESTINATIONS
Raccoon Cay, Raccoon-Narin Cay, Narin Cay, House Bay, Spanish Wells, Man-O-War Bay, Johnson Cay, Low Water Harbour Cay, Buena Vista Cay, Double Breasted Cay, Hog Cay, Duncan Town, Ragged Island, Jumentos Cays, Ragged Islands, Ragged Island District, southern Bahamas, The Bahamas, Bahamas cays, remote islands, natural anchorage, cruising anchorage, sandy anchorage, easterly wind protection, beaches, salt ponds, historic ruins, salt production, sluiceways, coral reefs, reef cut, shallow banks, snorkeling, swimming, shelling, beachcombing, sailing, cruising, boating, anchoring, fishing, photography, island hopping, marine exploration, nature travel, adventure travel, boating travel