Kamalame Cay

This family run boutique hotel located on its own private island, is a rustic-chic place for getting away from it all.

• Arriving via seaplane right at your beachside bungalow
• Exploring the three-mile cay on coral-colored bikes
• The hands-on owners who live on property and mingle with guests
• The fact that there's no WiFi except in one spot, allowing visitors to really unplug

Even though it's been open to guests for nearly twenty years, Kamalame Cay still feels like an undiscovered gem. The 96-acre cay a short ferry ride from northeastern Andros, was purchased by the Hew family in the 1990s and slowly developed into a dreamy island retreat. You can see influences of other laid-back beach havens — a bit of the barefoot-chic aesthetic of the Maldives’ Soneva Fushi, a dose of Mexican Tulum bohemia, a dash of Harbour Island flair — but Kamalame Cay is also an incredibly personal testament of one family’s love for the Bahamas.

For one, the tropical landscapes are glorious. Arriving via the short ferry across the bay, guests can barely make out a manmade structure in the lush jungle of palms, casuarina and seagrape trees, which are laced by bright pink bougainvillea and frangipani. The main guest hubs are the Pineapple House (which is also the only spot on the island with WiFi access) and the Great House, the large living room-cum-restaurant that opens onto a large al fresco dining deck.

By design, Kamalame is the type of place where you meet your fellow guests and often new-found friends choose to have lunch or dinner together. And there’s never a lot of you. Guests stay either in four Marina Suites, which are simple but comfortable rooms overlooking the bay and the mangroves, or in six Beach Villas, which are larger, cottage-style structures tucked into the palms right near the beach. The Villas range from one-bedroom, open floor plan houses to larger three-bedrooms (which can be taken over or shared). Most sumptuous are the Residences, which range from three- to six-bedrooms and were designed with a lot of tropical style with great open living rooms, outdoor showers and direct access to the beach. The most unique home is the owners' own: Kamalame Cove, a 7,500-square-foot, four-bedroom extravaganza that sits on an ultra-private islet and whose rooms have stunning 360-degree views (it also has its own pool and private beaches).

The vibe at Kamalame is decidedly laid-back and perfect for travelers who enjoy a barefoot, castaway vibe. There’s a small pool and the beautiful beach, as well as a lovely spa, with simple but memorable treatment rooms directly above the turquoise water. More active types take advantage of the area’s excellent bone fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving and deep-sea excursions (the world’s third largest barrier reef is just a mile off its pristine shore). The PADI certified dive center can organize trips for any level of diver. Those who prefer to explore above ground can plan day trips to the mainland, which remains largely undeveloped and full of stunning wildlife. And, of course, there’s fishing galore: bone and deep-sea fishing are what draws anglers to this part of the Bahamas.

Even when Kamalame is fully booked, you never see many of your fellow guests thanks to the generous layout and the fact that there are lots of beautiful corners where you can hide out with a pile of books and a cocktail. On some, the Kamalame magic works instantaneously; others may take a bit longer to adjust to the simplicity of it all. The best part of a visit is discovering the hidden corners slowly, as if by magic: a small cove with kayaks and paddle boards for exploring the mangroves. A far-flung beach at the very end of the cay for privacy seekers. A dock with two pink Adirondack chairs positioned just so for sunset watching. Fresh-baked cookies delivered to your room in the afternoon.

During a stay, most guests will meet the owners' son, David Hew, and his partner (soon-to-be husband), Michael, who live on property and run the resort. Smart warm, funny and incredibly invested in the next chapter of Kamalame, David and Michael have an easygoing way of making everyone feel like extended family. Suffice it to say that during my visit in early February, every single first-time visitor I spoke to was already making plans for a return trip — me included.

Avid bone fishermen and –women. Laid-back couples and groups of friends who want a place where they can truly unplug and recharge. This is the place where you bring books you’ve been meaning to read, where you start your novel, where you sit and stare at the sea. If you bring the kids, know that you will be the one entertaining them.

Travelers seeking marble bathrooms, super-sleek design, a pool scene and non-stop, seamless service. This is not the Aman and the Four Seasons, and it doesn’t want to be. Also, older travelers might be concerned with the eco-low lighting at night – some of the paths are virtually unlit.

Not easy – of course – but not as tricky as some other castaway resorts. Guests fly to Nassau (a 2.5 hour flight from New York). From Nassau, it’s best to charter a sea plane or helicopter and arrive right at Kamalame. You can also charter a private prop plane to connect to the Andros Airport. From there, it’s a 30-minute taxi ride (down a badly paved road) to arrive at the Kamalame dock. The ferry ride takes 4 minutes.