Farquharson Beach takes its name from a prominent Bahamian family with historical ties to Great Inagua, the Bahamas' third-largest island and southernmost inhabited landmass, located just 55 miles from Haiti. The beach occupies Great Inagua's northern coast near Smith Sloop Point, approximately 10.5 miles north of Matthew Town, the island's capital settlement named for Governor George Matthew who laid out the town during his tenure as Governor of the Bahamas from 1844-1849. The island's name derives from the Spanish word 'heneagua' meaning 'water is to be found there,' or possibly from the Lucayan Taíno indigenous term 'Inagua' meaning 'Small Eastern Island,' referring to the freshwater sources crucial for survival in this arid landscape. Lucayan people (Taíno) originally settled Great Inagua between 500-800 CE, crossing in dugout canoes from Hispaniola and Cuba. Spanish colonization tragically enslaved the entire Lucayan population by the early 1500s, leaving the island virtually uninhabited for centuries. Salt production dominated Great Inagua's economy from the 1600s, with extraction becoming a thriving business by 1803, though competition after World War I drove small producers out by 1918. The Erickson brothers from Massachusetts revived the industry in 1935, but a violent 1937 riot resulted in an employee's death and forced their departure. Morton Salt Company purchased the facility in 1954, transforming it into North America's second-largest salt producer, generating 1 million tons annually from vast evaporation ponds visible from space.
Farquharson Beach stretches approximately two miles along Great Inagua's northern coastline, characterized by powdery white sand derived from crushed coral and shells mixed with calcium carbonate particles typical of Bahamian beaches. The beach forms a secluded cove with crystal-clear turquoise waters ideal for swimming and sunbathing, offering tranquil conditions protected from the stronger ocean currents affecting the island's eastern Atlantic-facing shores. The remote location ensures minimal crowds, providing an authentic escape from developed tourism areas found on more accessible Bahamian islands. The beach offers no commercial facilities—no restrooms, lifeguards, food vendors, or shade structures—requiring visitors to bring all necessary supplies and practice strict leave-no-trace principles. Free parking exists at the entrance, though spaces remain limited. The surrounding landscape features native vegetation including buttonwood, sea grape, and coconut palms that have adapted to the island's dry climate averaging just 30 inches of annual rainfall. Nearby Inagua National Park protects 287 square miles of wilderness and Lake Rosa, a 12-mile-long hypersaline lake serving as breeding grounds for the Caribbean's largest West Indian flamingo colony, numbering over 80,000 birds. Ironically, Morton Salt's crystallizer ponds benefit the flamingos by concentrating brine shrimp populations as water evaporates, creating abundant feeding opportunities. The park also hosts Bahama parrots, roseate spoonbills, and reddish egrets among its diverse avian species.
Dining options on Great Inagua remain extremely limited, reflecting the island's population of approximately 900 residents concentrated in Matthew Town. Big 'O' & Angie's Place at Victoria Street serves traditional Bahamian cuisine with cracked conch and peas n' rice for 4, grilled grouper with coleslaw for 8, and Wednesday-Thursday luncheon specials featuring oxtail stew for 6, operating 7:00 AM-11:00 PM. The Lighthouse Grill offers casual dining with fried snapper and plantains for 5, conch fritters with dipping sauce for 0, and Kalik beer—the Bahamas' national lager—for . The Bahamian Kitchen specializes in local favorites including oxtail stew with dumplings for 7, fried chicken with mac and cheese for 3, and conch salad with fresh lime and pepper for 2. Anyee Bread provides fresh-baked goods including cinnamon rolls for and Bahamian johnny cakes for , with delivery service available. Several small takeaway spots operate informally, including Dell's Jerk Spot serving jerk chicken with rice for 2, Albertha's Kitchen offering breakfast plates with eggs and grits for , and S & L Bar & Lounge providing burgers and fries for 1. Visitors should ask locals for directions to these establishments, as formal addresses and signage remain minimal on an island where everyone knows each other and GPS coordinates often prove more reliable than street names.
