Just north of Russell Island, off the northern tip of Eleuthera, is a fantastic little island on offer at one of the best prices in the Bahamas. What’s more, it’s blessed with one of the most desirable locations in the region and centuries of fascinating history—not to mention all the fresh crawfish you could ever desire.

Golding Cay is 3.4 acres of lush vegetation, good elevations, and a beautiful white sand beach with coconut trees, all surrounded by gorgeous turquoise waters spotted with excellent diving reefs. A mere 10 minutes away by boat is the historic fishing village of Spanish Wells, giving you quick and easy access to whatever supplies you may need, as well as delicious dining options.

In the years following the discovery of fresh well water at Spanish Wells during the age of European exploration, the island became an important safe harbor for the Spanish as they transported their riches back to the Old World from the New. In the mid-17th century, a group of English settlers called the Eleutheran Adventurers fled persecution in Bermuda to establish a permanent new settlement here. More than a century later, after the American Revolution, many British Crown Loyalists came here seeking refuge from the newly independent United States. Descendants of these small waves of settlers still live at Spanish Wells, giving the village its distinctive character and its quaint, Caribbean-pastel-infused New England-style architecture.

Though still small with about 1,500 residents, today Spanish Wells is one of the top fishing ports in the area, especially known for its superb crawfish—which you’ll find on ample offer at the town’s many eateries. North Eleuthera Airport is just a few miles away, offering regular direct flights to several cities in the southeastern U.S. All of this will be at your very doorstep in beautiful Golding Cay—one of the Bahamas’ most affordable and satisfying slices of tropical island paradise.