Andros has always been the outlier in The Bahamas. It’s bigger than all the other islands combined, largely undeveloped, threaded with mangroves and blue holes, and surrounded by some of the most intact reefs and flats in the region. That difference is exactly why Small Hope Bay Lodge works the way it does. This is an adventure resort that just so happens to be all-inclusive. Not the other way around.
Small Hope Bay Lodge, which dates back to 1960, sits on a quiet stretch of beach, with low-key beachfront cabins and a central lodge that naturally becomes the heart of the day. The atmosphere is casual, social, and unforced. Meals are shared, conversations carry from the dining room to the bar, and the schedule bends around what the weather and water are doing rather than the other way around.
I remember my first visit here vividly — it was immersive, exciting, and filled with bucket-list experiences. In other words, this is not your average resort.
A Very Different Idea Of All-Inclusive
Most all-inclusive resorts are built around containment. Restaurants are part of a circuit, activities are scheduled, and the experience is meant to feel complete without ever leaving the property. Small Hope flips that model. The all-inclusive here is about removing friction so you can spend more time doing things.
Meals and drinks are fully included, including alcoholic beverages, without qualifiers. Kayaks, paddleboards, bicycles, and snorkel gear are part of the stay, not add-ons. Even an introductory scuba or snorkel experience is included, which says a lot about what the lodge values. The idea is simple: once you arrive, the island opens up.
That changes the psychology of the trip. You don’t hesitate before heading out for an afternoon paddle or a spontaneous snorkel. You don’t check prices before ordering another drink at sunset. The experience feels less like a resort stay and more like being temporarily folded into the rhythm of the place.
Adventure Is The Point
Small Hope is best known as a diving lodge, and it shows. Days are organized around getting guests into the water efficiently, whether that’s for reef dives, snorkeling, or learning for the first time. The surrounding reefs are close, healthy, and varied, making it easy to build full days around the sea without long transits or complicated planning.
Beyond diving, Andros itself becomes the playground. The island is legendary for bonefishing, with expansive flats that draw anglers from around the world. Guided fishing trips are available for guests who want to explore that side of Andros, while others gravitate inland, where mangroves and blue holes create a completely different landscape from the typical Bahamian beach scene.
The key difference is that none of this feels packaged. You’re not herded from one experience to another. You decide what the day looks like, and the lodge quietly supports it.
The Stay And The Social Side
Accommodations are intentionally simple, keeping the focus on location rather than spectacle. Cabins are steps from the beach, designed for comfort and breeze rather than excess. What you trade away in polish, you gain back in immediacy. You’re close to the water, close to the action, and close to the people you’re sharing the experience with.
Evenings tend to be communal. Dinner is a shared event rather than a reservation race, and the bar becomes a place for recounting dives, comparing fishing stories, and planning what tomorrow might bring. It’s the kind of setting where guests actually talk to one another, and where repeat visitors are common.
Who This Place Is Really For
Small Hope Bay Lodge is ideal for travelers who want their all-inclusive to feel purposeful. Divers, snorkelers, anglers, and anyone who prefers exploration over spectacle tend to click with it quickly. It also works well for couples and families who value authenticity and ease over constant stimulation.
This is not the right fit for travelers looking for nightlife, large pools, or curated entertainment schedules. The appeal is quieter and more elemental. You come here to touch Andros. Not to stay inside.
Prices at Small Hope
The value is strong here; you can get rooms in January for as low as $413 per night right, according to rates we found on the hotel’s website.
How To Get There
Andros remains one of the more approachable out-of-the-way islands in The Bahamas. The lodge assists guests with arrival logistics, helping make the transition from mainland to out-island feel smooth rather than complicated. Once you arrive, everything slows down in the best way.
