Guana Island

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 18 Jan 2010 21:48
Guana Island
 

 

One of the few remaining privately-owned islands in its part of the world, Guana has seven white powder-sand beaches and 850 acres of tropical forest, mountains, hills and valleys. The island is mostly natural preserve and has a small upscale resort. There are some buoys available but we wanted to get to Jost Van Dyke. The Island is in the 1000 places book. An idyllic but VERY expensive get away from it all holiday destination featured in the 1000 places............................. book.

 

History

In the 18th century, two Quaker families came to Guana as part of what was called "the Quaker Experiment" which lasted for about forty-five years in the BVI’s. They used African slaves and cultivated sugar cane. When they were recalled to the US and England, they left behind two cannons still on Guana today. Archaeologists have extensively studied the Quaker ruins and have also unearthed older artifacts that give insight into Guana's earlier Amerindian history.

Beth and Louis Bigelow of Massachusetts purchased Guana in 1934. With the help of local men they built six stone cottages and developed a reputation as creative pioneers. Their guests - professionals, intellectuals and world travelers - came for months at a time, attracted to the simple but rich life.

 

 

 

 

Current

Henry and Gloria Jarecki bought Guana in 1975 and began improving accommodations and other facilities with the goal of maintaining the island's historic style and ambiance. An interest in conservation led them to establish a long-term restoration program to protect the island's flora and fauna and bring back once-common species.

Scientists say that Guana has more flora and fauna than any island of its size yet studied in the Caribbean and possibly the world. The restoration program has brought extirpated species back to Guana and other Virgin Islands. The stout iguana had survived only on Anegada but now flourishes on Guana and lives on other islands as well. Other plant and animal species that have been restored and protected include the red-legged tortoise, the Bridled Quail-dove, the Caribbean flamingo, the White-crowned Pigeon, Egger’s mallow, the Virgin Islands euphorbia, Hohenberg's ground bromeliad and a unique bromeliad found nowhere else.

Guana also has three reef areas. White Bay is a set of parallel patch reefs in shallow water, where there are no strong waves or currents. The reefs are home to about one hundred tropical reef fishes, fan corals and the various species of hard corals. Muskmelon Bay is a deep bay with reefs at sixty to eighty feet. Large, oceanic fishes like tuna and king mackerel may be seen there. North Bay is a windward, rough-water bay with deep reefs and wrecks.

 

 

 

 

ALL IN ALL A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND - VERY MUCH HOW YOU PICTURE THE CARIBBEAN