InaguaOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

From Lucayan Settlement to Salt Empire

Inagua, the southernmost district of the Bahamas, has a history shaped by its location and natural resources. The original inhabitants were the Lucayan people, a subgroup of the Taíno, who arrived between 500 and 800 CE, navigating from Hispaniola or Cuba in dugout canoes. The Spanish later referred to the larger island as Heneagua, possibly meaning 'water is to be found there', or Inagua, meaning 'Small Eastern Island'.

Inagua's reefs made it a common site for shipwrecks between 1500 and 1825, including Spanish galleons like the Santa Rosa in 1599 and the Infanta in 1788. Salt production began as early as the 1600s, with Bermudians establishing the first commercial operations in 1803. Matthew Town, the island's only settlement, was permanently established between 1844 and 1849 and named after Bahamian Governor George Buckley-Mathew. By 1882, Matthew Town was known as a place of opportunity, attracting laborers from across the Bahamas.

The Rise of Morton Salt

The modern industrial era of salt production began in the late 1930s when the American Erickson brothers founded the West India Chemical Company in 1935. They mechanized the process, building canals and using pumps to flood Lake Windsor (now Lake Rosa) with seawater. In 1954, the Morton Salt Company acquired this operation, transforming it into one of North America's largest solar saline facilities. Today, the Morton Salt Company's operations cover approximately 300,000 acres and produce over a million tons of salt annually, making it the island's primary industry and a major employer. The island's dry climate and consistent trade winds are suitable for solar salt production.

• —Old Administration Building — This building in Matthew Town shows the island's past governance and architecture.
• —Main Street, Matthew Town — As the primary thoroughfare of Matthew Town, Main Street is where local life and traditional Bahamian architecture can be observed.
• —Great Inagua Lighthouse — Standing 113 feet (34.44 meters) tall, built in 1870 by the British Imperial Lighthouse Service, this all-white lighthouse offers views of Matthew Town and the Caribbean Sea from its spiral staircase. It was one of three kerosene-burning lighthouses in the Bahamas, now automated.
• —Matthew Town Harbour — This natural harbor has been a point of entry and trade for Inagua.
• —View of Morton Salt Pans — These salt ponds are a feature of Inagua's landscape, where sun and wind evaporate seawater to produce salt. They show the island's main industry.
• —St. Philip's Anglican Church — This church serves as a community hub in Matthew Town, reflecting local life and heritage.
• —Flamingo Observation Point (roadside) — Located within the Inagua National Park, this point offers opportunities to observe the colony of West Indian flamingos, which is the national bird of the Bahamas.
• —Matthew Town Central Monument or Square — This central area in Matthew Town is a focal point for the community and a place to experience the local atmosphere of the island's only populated settlement.

The best time to visit Inagua is from November through June. During these months, the weather is cooler and drier, with temperatures typically ranging from 24-27°C (mid-70s to low 80s Fahrenheit). This period is suitable for birdwatching, wildlife photography, and exploring Inagua National Park. March through May is the breeding season for the West Indian flamingos, offering views of large concentrations of these birds. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the highest risk from August through October; avoid these months.

To reach Inagua, most travelers fly through Nassau to Inagua International Airport (IGA) in Matthew Town. Bahamasair offers direct flights from Nassau and Mayaguana. Allow at least 1.5 hours to clear immigration and customs in Nassau if connecting from an international flight.

Getting around Inagua requires advance planning as there are no public taxis or buses. Transportation around Matthew Town and for exploring the island must be privately arranged, often through rental vehicles, accommodation transfers, or local guides. The Bahamas National Trust can provide recommendations for rental vehicles. Walking is an option for some areas within Matthew Town, but distances, heat, and road conditions should be considered for longer excursions. Little Inagua is uninhabited and only accessible by boat.