Good For You

Proof that going green doesn't mean sacrificing creature comforts can be found at Tiamo, an exclusive beachside resort on the beautiful South Andros Island in The Bahamas.

This unique island hideaway is at the forefront of ecotourism in the region but is as dedicated to providing guests with a luxury experience as they are saving the world. There are just eleven beach bungalows set on 12 acres of Caribbean paradise and each room comes with an enormous king-sized bed and private, wrap-around veranda. With 35 staff members on call guests will find that they are pleasantly outnumbered and the service is second to none.

The days drift casually by on South Andros and while some visitors content themselves with lying on the beach or relaxing in the main lodge others choose to indulge in the natural beauty of the island. The setting itself is stunning, surrounded by coconut palms and gumbo limbo trees, but there is much more to explore and Tiamo organises guided tours both on dry land and underwater.

Good For The Bahamas

Numerous hotels are calling themselves 'eco' these days but Tiamo has always been ahead of the trend. Since they opened in 2001 their innovative sustainable tourism practices have received numerous accolades, and rightly so.

In addition to 'standard' sustainable practices such as working with the local community, employing local staff and using clean energy, the resort has some more unusual ecotourism practices. This includes asking guests to return to their hometown with a clean and neatly packaged bundle of plastic that they can recycle in already established recycling systems (there are no available means to recycle plastic on the island).

The resort also offers guests a "Behind the Scenes" tour of their 'green' operations which includes the solar field, solar water heaters, water well and more.

Rooms

Food

Features & Facilities

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Library
• Guided tours and activities
• Board games

Local Info & Activities

South Andros Island is the authentic Bahamas vacation experience. Virtually untouched by time, this Caribbean paradise harkens back the golden age of travel.

Andros Island is the largest of the Bahamian Islands, and yet the least commercially developed. This virtually untouched archipelago of sand and sea is home to an incredibly diverse collection of wildlife as well as crystal clear waters and dazzling white sands. Andros Island is divided by the North Bight in the north and the South Bight in the south, requiring travel by boat or plane between three distinct landmasses.

Nature Walks

Tiamo organises daily guided eco-exploration trips which are planned according to the weather, wind and tide of the day. These usually include snorkelling trips or kayaking adventures as well as hiking tours into the Bahamian bush through several different ecosystems.

Snorkelling

Rarely will you find such a diversity of ocean life and marine geological features all within a ten-minute boat ride. Both first-time snorkellers and seasoned snorkellers will enjoy the guided trips to unique snorkel sites. There are amazing Blue Holes, deep underwater caverns that are all connected and extend down hundreds of feet. Explored by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970s, they are unique geological treasures that are surrounded by gardens of coral and teeming with a plethora of ocean life. Marine life you might encounter include angelfish, stingrays, butterfly fish, barracuda, parrotfish, lobster, huge schools of jacks and French grunts and an occasional nurse shark or sea turtle.

Sailing

Sailing the Caribbean is something that evokes a wonderful sense of freedom and relaxation. Enjoy sailing trimarans - wonderfully designed sailboats that will not flip over so guests can safely navigate the protected waterways of the South Bight without a worry. Lessons are provided.

Kayaking

Enjoy the marine life and birds of the South Bight as you paddle your way along the waterways. Guided kayak trips take guests to a number of unique snorkelling sites where you can swim or snorkel in a wonderful lagoon.

Guests can also arrange an additional kayak trip that takes you on an 18 mile boat ride through the South Bight wilderness to the West Side of the island where you will kayak along the salt water creeks to view animals like water birds, sea turtles, saw fish, sharks and big silver rolling tarpon.

Nature Walks

Tiamo’s remote location is deep within the lush Bahamian bush, so a guided nature tour is perfect way to see the wild side of South Andros Island. Several self guided nature trails start right from Tiamo and you can pick up a copy of a trail map in the main lodge along with some plant and bird guide sheets to lead you through the diverse ecosystems found nearby. Marked plants and trail guides allow for self exploration, to see colourful orchids and bromeliads, giant cacti, land crabs, Bahamian boas and the endangered Andros Rock Iguanas.

Tiamo's guided trip is a 45-minute trek winding up at a tidal inland lake called Buttonwood Pond where, with the help of a Nature Concierge Team member, you'll gain an appreciation for the natural beauty of South Andros Island.

As an additional activity, there is an excellent tour offered by a local guide that takes you into the interior of the island to see the Blue Holes that occur on land – you even get to take the plunge into the cool clear water and sample freshly picked tropical fruits.

Fishing

Tiamo is perfectly suited to those wanting the perfect bone fishing experience. Fishing guides accompany a maximum of four anglers at any one time and, in keeping with Tiamo's environmental commitment, guests are asked to abide by the resort's "catch and release" policy. Deep-sea fishing is also available.

INSIDER TIP/S

If you wish to tip the staff then 10% of your room and drink bill is recommended.

Tiamo is closed August - September and December 16-25 annually.

Sustainability

Tiamo is at the forefront of ecotourism in The Bahamas and has successfully proven that 'luxury' and 'eco' can go hand in hand.

Community Involvement

Tiamo believes that this is a critical element for the true success of the resort. Staff members are educated and trained, and have agreed to an environmental code of ethics as representatives of Tiamo. They are encouraged to participate in local community cleanup efforts and implement practices they use at work in their own homes.

Tiamo regularly participates in local trash clean-up projects, donating staff time, vehicles and fuel to aid in this process. They have begun to work with local schools on ecotourism, clean community projects, reef and fish protection classes, iguana/turtle protection classes and will greatly expand this involvement over the next year with the help of a number of organisations; Reef Relief, Shedd Aquarium, The Wildlife Conservation Society and The Bahamas National Trust.

Sustainable Tourism Construction

The site clearing for Tiamo was done by hand using machetes and chainsaws to preserve the existing vegetation. All transport of materials to the Tiamo site was done by hand, using small shallow draft boats to reduce the likelihood of the dredging that a larger vessel might do. All wood used in construction of Tiamo was pre-cut in one area, then moved by hand to each building site and assembled with light power tools.

A prototype building was constructed in Indiana, U.S., prior to ordering materials in order to ensure the least possible waste during construction. Scrap materials were saved and have been used to make furniture and other items. A good deal of construction was done utilising electricity generated entirely by the solar power system. The construction crew consisted of a local South Andros Island crew. Up to twenty locals were employed at one point during construction with only three non-Bahamians as part the construction management team.

Ecotourism: Building Design

Tiamo Resorts building design incorporates three major objectives:

• Minimum site impact

• Passive-cooling

• Energy efficiency

Each building is elevated using simple columns for minimum site impact and cooling purposes. No land alteration was needed, minimising erosion. Buildings at Tiamo use several passive-cooling techniques: wraparound porches (to keep direct sun from main living areas); white reflective roofs; high-pitched ceilings; and an open design for maximum airflow. Each beach bungalow has been situated according to its pre-existing surroundings, placed within indigenous trees and vegetation for both an optimum view of the water and also for privacy during your vacation. The buildings of Tiamo are wood frame structures constructed of non-toxic treated pine harvested from sustainable forests.

Ecotourism: Guest Education

People are attracted to South Andros Island in the Caribbean because they are offered an appealing and comfortable nature vacation experience. A major aspect of Ecotourism is education. Tiamo wants guests to be just as enlivened by the island as they are and they believe that the best way to introduce guests to South Andros Island is through the personalised service of their Nature Concierge Team. These professional biologists are employed to teach guests about the wonders of The Bahamas in the ultimate classroom: Snorkelling the numerous blue holes and Coral Reefs; Hiking through various ecosystems; or kayaking through The South Bight.

Tiamo also offers guests a “Behind the Scenes Tour” that shows how eco-friendly the resort really is. Guests are shown the solar field, solar water heaters, water well and more.

Ecotourism: Operations

Tiamo’s sustainable performance is based on four major functions: Power Systems, Wastewater Treatment, Construction Design and Solid Waste.

Solid waste is one of the most challenging aspects of operating an Earth-kind Caribbean resort. There are no recycling facilities in The Bahamas. Tiamo are continually looking for creative and cost effective means of dealing with waste. The following are some examples of what they are doing to minimise our solid waste:

Purchasing

The best method to deal with solid waste is to purchase items that have minimal amounts of material. Tiamo considers packaging in bulk when they make a purchase. Doing this from South Andros Island, Bahamas, is an even greater challenge because of limited suppliers and shippers. They purchase as much as possible from local suppliers and are beginning to grow their own produce for even greater environmental efficiency.

The office purchases recycled paper for general office use and banana-fibre paper for letterhead and correspondence.

Composting

All food waste is composted and is used later as fertiliser in the gardens.

Paper Waste

Paper products and packaging that is not reusable is burned and the ashes are kept for fertiliser.

Plastic

Plastic is Tiamo's most challenging waste product. There are no available means to recycle plastic, so they've become extremely creative. First they try to reuse plastic bottles, bowls and containers where possible. The second, and particularly innovative method, involves Tiamo's guests. Tiamo asks guests to take clean and packaged bundles of plastic with them after their vacation to recycle in their home town where recycling systems are already in place.

Metal Waste

Metal is an easier product to recycle. Tiamo tries to reuse metal items whenever possible. Items that must be discarded, specifically tin and aluminium cans are crushed and donated to the Cans for Kids program in Nassau.

Glass

Glass, while easier than plastic to recycle, still presents some challenges. The biggest culprits on this island are beer bottles. Tiamo only purchases beer in bottles that are bought back by the brewer. They have found a creative short-term solution for glass recycling; any bottles that cannot be returned are crushed and used in place of gravel in the mixing of cement for additional construction.

Tiamo also employs a range of other methods to ensure that their impact is kept to a minimum. This includes using four stroke boat engines, carefully planning boat runs for less fuel consumption, using the clothes line instead of the clothes dryer and using simple cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar instead of chemicals.

The Power Behind Sustainable Tourism

Tiamo has its own electricity generating system, a large solar field, which generates all the resort's electricity. The solar field has a daily electricity generating capacity of over 130,000 watts and a battery storage facility totalling 4,075 amp hours. Tiamo is the first full service resort utilising 100% alternative energy for its electrical needs, including a commercial kitchen. This system was designed by the Real Goods Corporation of California and installed by the Tiamo team, composed mainly of local South Andros Island citizens.

Ecotourism: Waste Water Treatment

Grey water waste undergoes a natural treatment process. All of the wastewater from the showers, sinks and laundry is filtered for large particles and sent through a dirt, sand and rock filter system for cleansing. They also use biodegradable, phosphorous free soaps for further protection of the land and water resources on South Andros Island, The Bahamas.

Black water waste (one of the most detrimental wastes to near-shore tropical aquatic ecosystems) is dealt with by using low-flush composting toilets. These are normal toilets - a nice ceramic bowl using a one-pint, low-flush system. Composting toilets take advantage of the natural talents of micro-organisms as they break down waste into a healthy organic peat.

Ecotourism: Hot Water

All the hot water in the resort is created using thermal hot water heaters - no electricity or gas is used. Each two-person beach bungalow is fitted with a 30-gallon heater; the commercial kitchen utilizes two 50-gallon heaters.

AWARDS

International Hotel Restaurant Association Environmental Award (2nd place), 2004

Islands Magazine/ Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Annual Sustainable Tourism Award, 2004.

National Geographic Traveller and Conservational International World Legacy Awards Honourable Mention, 2002

British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Highly Commended Winner, 2002

Getting There

Congo Town Airport on South Andros Island is only a 60 minute flight from US Shores and a 20minute hop from Nassau, the capital city of The Bahamas.

From Fort Lauderdale, Florida

If you want to avoid Nassau (and typically save a day of travel), fly to Fort Lauderdale and use a private charter service to fly directly to South Andros Island (MYAK), where you can clear customs and immigration. This 90-minute journey takes you across the Gulf Stream and over the brilliant azure waters of the Bahamas.

Lynx Air now flies direct to South Andros Island three days a week from Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Flight time to South Andros Island is about one hour and flights depart on Saturdays, Wednesdays and Sundays.

From Nassau, The Bahamas

For the ultimate introduction to paradise, you can charter a seaplane with Safari Seaplanes in Nassau to fly directly to Tiamo on Andros, Bahamas (in the Out Islands).

You can also fly commercially into Congo Town, South Andros Island (TZN) or to Mangrove Cay (MAY). Western Air is a reliable airline with two flights daily to Congo Town departing Nassau at 7am and 3pm, or to Mangrove Cay departing Nassau at 8AM. Return flights leave Congo Town at 7:30AM and 3:30PM and Mangrove Cay at 8:30AM.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

All prices are in US Dollars ($) per person per night (full board - all meals and activities).

January 2 - May 15 2008

Double Occupancy $415.00

Single Occupancy $515.00

May 16 - July 31 2008

Double Occupancy $315.00

Single Occupancy $415.00

• Rates are per room, per night
• iRates include accommodation, three meals a day, all snacks, morning coffee delivered to your bungalow, daily maid service, use of kayaks, sailboats, snorkelling equipment, and a daily biologist-guided tour. Rates also include all (land and water) local airport transportation.
• Rates do not include alcohol, a $14 per night per person hotel tax.

booking & cancellation policy

A 50% deposit is required to confirm your reservation.

Cancellations made up to 45 days prior to your arrival will be refunded 50% of the original deposit subject to a 7% processing fee.

Cancellations made less than 45 days before your arrival, the deposit subject to forfeiture.

Cancellations made 30 prior to your arrival, the remaining amount of your stay will be charged and is non-refundable.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.