Hatchet Bay Cave — Attraction in Central Eleuthera

Hatchet Bay Cave – A Journey Into the Underground

Exploring Hatchet Bay Cave felt like stepping into another world—dark, silent, and surreal. The first sublevel was eerily quiet, with no echoes, just the crunch of footsteps and whispers of the past etched into the walls. Graffiti and name carvings dating back to 1898 gave the cave a haunted sense of history. With a black light headlamp, hidden neon-like mineral markings came to life, glowing mysteriously in the darkness.

Deeper in, massive 10 to 15-foot stalagmites and stalactites loomed overhead, like stone sculptures frozen in time. The path led to a large, square-cut exit—an unexpected portal to the surface. A short climb up a hill, followed by a ladder ascent, brought me back into the sunlight, emerging in a remote, overgrown area kilometers away.

The lowest level of the cave, accessible only at the right tide, hinted at water rising up to 4–5 feet—untouched, hidden, and alive with the rhythm of the sea. A true natural wonder with a touch of mystery...

This is apparently the largest cave that has yet been discovered on Eleuthera. To get there, turn off the main road on the road right next to the sign that says Hatchet Bay Cave. The road wasn't smooth, but passable for most cars up until the first cave entrance. After that, the road gets pretty bad, but I imagine that the road takes you around to another cave entrance.

This first entrance is not very assuming, but I just added a picture of the wooden board with spray paint that marks it. Right next to that sign is a staircase and railing that takes you into the opening chamber. You won't get much further without a flashlight - I recommend a head lamp. Head back to the right and you'll come across a hallway-size opening with some stairs carved out of it, which in turn lead you to an old rusty ladder that is missing a rung.

Tied to this ladder is a string that is supposed to be you through the cave to another exit. I didn't make it all the way this time, but hope...

Good stop if you're in the area and feeling a little adventurous. The entry has quite a bit of graffiti which is disappointing. But if you follow the stairs down and to the right the cavern opens up a little and a carved set of stairs is revealed. At the bottom of the stairs is a ladder that is missing several rungs. If you descend be prepared for a little scramble to get back up. There is an old tattered rope to guide you through the rest...