The Abaco Islands of the Bahamas are a laid-back Caribbean getaway located close to Florida in perfect settings for tranquil beach holidays. In addition to the lovely beaches, the Abacos are offering historical villages and excellent opportunities for sailing, diving, fishing and kayaking as well as golf courses. The Abacos are also home to a variety of attractions from coral reefs and national parks to a private resort island of the Disney Cruise Line.
The Abacos are a chain of islands on the northeast of the Bahamas, east of Florida. The main islands in the group are Great and Little Abaco, Elbow Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Moore’s Island and Walker's Cay. Marsh Harbour is the main town on the Abaco Islands and hosts most tourism facilities, but you can find small villages and resorts all around the islands. Originally inhabited by Lucayan Indians in the ancient times, the first European settlers to the Abacos were British loyalists fleeing the American Revolution that arrived in 1783. Today, half of the population of the islands is of European and half African descent. Abaco Islands have several small beach resort areas and marinas, and tourism is the mainstay of the local economy.
Small colonial towns on the Abacos are well worth exploring as they include an interesting mix of New England and Caribbean architectures. Marsh Harbour, the third largest town on the Bahamas, is a commercial and tourism center of the Abaco Islands with many shops and restaurants, while the smaller New Plymouth and Hope Town are known for their old New England architecture. Hope Town on Elbow Cay is famous for its old center where cars are not allowed and for its historical lighthouse.
Small island attractions. Treasure Cay is a great place to play golf on Abacos and it has plenty of beach condos available, while Guana Cay hosts one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the Bahamas. You might also visit the privately-owned Castaway Cay that is the exclusive port for the Disney Cruise Line ships, developed into a sort of a Disney theme park for the cruise ship passengers.
The Abacos are a chain of islands on the northeast of the Bahamas, east of Florida. The main islands in the group are Great and Little Abaco, Elbow Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Moore’s Island and Walker's Cay. Marsh Harbour is the main town on the Abaco Islands and hosts most tourism facilities, but you can find small villages and resorts all around the islands. Originally inhabited by Lucayan Indians in the ancient times, the first European settlers to the Abacos were British loyalists fleeing the American Revolution that arrived in 1783. Today, half of the population of the islands is of European and half African descent. Abaco Islands have several small beach resort areas and marinas, and tourism is the mainstay of the local economy.
Sights and activities on Abacos: sailing, diving, historic towns, fishing & golf courses
Abaco Islands are known as a popular destination for sailing, and yachters from all over the world come to visit the calm waters of the islands to experience the joys of sailing on Abacos. In addition to sheltered marinas and coves, the Abacos also host many beautiful beaches that make the islands a great destination for beach holidays. Deep-sea fishing on Abacos is also excellent, and you can try a variety of water sports from kayaking to jet skiing. Snorkeling and diving on Abacos are also well worth trying as the islands’ coral reefs are among the best in the Bahamas. The Abaco Islands are home to four nature reserves with large forest areas that are good for hiking and birdwatching.Small colonial towns on the Abacos are well worth exploring as they include an interesting mix of New England and Caribbean architectures. Marsh Harbour, the third largest town on the Bahamas, is a commercial and tourism center of the Abaco Islands with many shops and restaurants, while the smaller New Plymouth and Hope Town are known for their old New England architecture. Hope Town on Elbow Cay is famous for its old center where cars are not allowed and for its historical lighthouse.
Small island attractions. Treasure Cay is a great place to play golf on Abacos and it has plenty of beach condos available, while Guana Cay hosts one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the Bahamas. You might also visit the privately-owned Castaway Cay that is the exclusive port for the Disney Cruise Line ships, developed into a sort of a Disney theme park for the cruise ship passengers.
Photo: Steve Beger, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
Abaco Islands travel information and practical tips
Abaco Islands enjoy a warm marine climate with trade winds and pleasant temperatures around the year. The summer months on the Abacos are a bit warmer than the winters, when there are occasional cooler periods. There is a rainy season on Abacos with occasional rainfall and rare hurricanes roughly from July to October.Traveling to the Abacos is done by air or by sea. The islands have two airports, located in Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay, receiving small plane flights to the Abacos from Florida and Nassau. There are also ferries to the Abacos from Nassau and Grand Bahama. You can also travel to Abaco Islands by charter or private boats or planes. Public transportation on the Abacos is available with several ferries between the main islands. Boat, motorbike or car rental on the Abacos is a good way to get around. Taxis, charter ferries and charter buses are also available on the islands.
Beach resort hotels on the Abacos are mainly small resorts scattered throughout the islands, including some private island resorts as well as local hotels and inns in the main towns. Restaurants on Abacos can be found in hotels and main settlements throughout the island group. Marsh Harbour offers the largest amount of restaurants on the islands. There are bars and some other nightlife options both in Marsh Harbour and in the largest resort hotels. The Abacos are a safe, small English-speaking destination with no major crime problems.
