The islands are located to the south of Great Abaco and about forty miles north-northwest of Nassau, the Bahamas capital.

The Berry Islands' chain has seven miles (11  km) of oceanfront beaches that include isolated enclaves, caverns, and open expanses.

Great Harbour Cay underwent a period of intense and successful development in the late 1960s when famous persons such as Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks, Brigitte Bardot[citation needed] and the Rat Pack vacationed there along with Telly Savalas who had his own landing pad (Kojak) for his helicopter.

F. Lee Bailey frequented with his helicopter and spent early mornings at the beach hut enjoying a cup of coffee.

Considering the circumstances & attempts made in the late 1970s into the early 1980s to revitalize Great Harbour Cay; these were overshadowed by drug and weapons trafficking in 1983, resident 79-85 source (Book: Drugs, Law Enforcement And Foreign Policy - Report by the Committee on Foreign Relations, US Senate), and the island has been quiet since.

Certain actions in recent years, including repaving of the airport and all major roads, have led to increased interest in the island.

The planned renovation of the water supply has not occurred, but has not had a major impact due to the large aquifer under the island and the widespread use of wells.

There is only a small hotel on the island, catering principally to Bahamians, meaning lodging for tourists is limited to rental townhouses and single-family homes.