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Ragged Island Range

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Relief

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The Ragged Island Range is a 130-kilometer-long arc of small cays and islands forming the southern edge of the Jumento Banks in the Bahamas. This relief is characterized by its remoteness and the extremely shallow waters surrounding the archipelago, which complicates navigation for larger vessels. The history of the island chain is closely linked to salt production in the 19th century, when Duncan Town was established as the only permanent outpost. Geographical isolation has resulted in the natural environment remaining largely untouched, hosting a rich marine biodiversity. The relief consists primarily of limestone formations, partially covered by thin vegetation, providing nesting sites for various seabirds. In modern times, the Ragged Island Range primarily serves as a retreat for sport fishermen who appreciate the pristine coral reefs and fishing grounds. Due to its proximity to Cuba, the archipelago also holds strategic importance for the Bahamas Coast Guard. The residents of Duncan Town maintain a traditional lifestyle to this day, heavily influenced by the sea and fishing. Despite the challenges posed by tropical hurricanes, the island chain remains a symbol of Bahamian maritime endurance.

Location: Bahamas
Nearby: George Town (Exuma) (36 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan–Mar.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	25	25	25	26	27	28	29	29	29	28	27	26
Rain mm	38	29	35	56	144	146	109	137	156	191	100	45

📋 Practical info

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Getting there

The highly isolated island chain is primarily reached via chartered boats, private sailing yachts, or somewhat irregularly scheduled mailboats departing from Nassau, which inherently makes highly detailed and long-term maritime travel planning absolutely essential.

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Best season

The absolute safest and calmest time for sea travel is usually between December and April, when the risk of devastating hurricanes is minimal and the reliable trade winds actively provide for pleasant sailing conditions in this remote part of the Bahamas.

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Terrain & paths

Visitors can fully expect rugged, jagged rocky shorelines, pristine untouched sandbars, and an extremely barren, largely undeveloped landscape with no marked trails; exploring on land strongly requires sure-footedness on the sharp, uneven limestone rocks.

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What to bring

Due to the total isolation, all vital supplies must be brought along, strictly including enormous quantities of drinking water, food, robust water shoes for sharp rocks, strong sun protection, and a highly comprehensive medical and nautical emergency kit.

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Parking

Since there are virtually no roads or significant land infrastructure here, 'parking' refers entirely and exclusively to securely anchoring boats in naturally protected coves or utilizing rare local mooring buoys, vastly far away from any kind of car traffic.

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Safety

This region is extremely remote and medical help simply cannot be reached quickly in an emergency; utmost caution is heavily mandated when navigating through shallow reefs, climbing over sharp coastal rocks, and dealing with occasionally fierce ocean currents.

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Time needed

A journey to this incredibly remote island world is almost always a multi-day nautical adventure or a much longer, meticulously planned sailing expedition, as the considerable travel time is simply far too long to practically accommodate brief day trips.

Geography

Coordinates

22.20000, -75.75000

Facts

Duncan Town is the only inhabited settlement in the chain.
The Ragged Island Range is located about 110 kilometers north of Cuba.
The Jumento Banks are known for their extremely shallow water depth.
Salt was the main export product of the region in the 19th century.
The island chain stretches across an arc of 130 kilometers.
Duncan Town was named after its founder, Duncan Taylor.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Duncans2 km · NExplore →

Guardalavaca31 km · WExplore →

Playa Esmeralda33 km · SWExplore →

Banes34 km · WExplore →

George Town Marina36 km · EExplore →

Playa Pesquero36 km · SWExplore →

Stocking Island36 km · EExplore →

Stewart Manor37 km · EExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

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Overnight stops

Vehicle

Only stops with (optional): 💧 Water ♻️ Disposal 🔌 Power 🚻 Toilets 🚿 Shower

Sights in the town Ragged Island Range (1)

Ragged Island, Bahamas📍 landmark

Ragged Island is a small, sparsely populated island in the Bahamas, known for its untouched beaches and quiet island life.

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

What is the Ragged Island Range?

It is a long chain of small, mostly uninhabited islands in the southern Bahamas.

Is it difficult to get there?

Yes, it is one of the most remote regions and requires a private boat or charter.

Do people live on the islands?

Only Duncan Town on Great Ragged Island is permanently inhabited.

What makes the area attractive for sailors?

The absolute solitude and pristine fishing grounds are unique.

Are there mountains there?

There are only low hills, rarely higher than 30 meters.

Ragged Island Range: where is it located?

Ragged Island Range is located in Bahamas.

Ragged Island Range: when is the best time to visit?

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Mar.

Ragged Island Range: why is it worth visiting?

The Ragged Island Range is a 130-kilometer-long arc of small cays and islands forming the southern edge of the Jumento Banks in the Bahamas.

View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →