Why the Abacos are the most underrated islands in the Bahamas

Known as the boating capital of the Bahamas, the Abaco Islands really are a dream destination for a superyacht charter. Discover the Bahamas most underrated island archipelago here.

With more than 700 islands and uninhabited cays in the Bahamas to choose from, the opportunities and choices for cruising may seem overwhelming, but both nature and practicalities will help narrow down your choice of archipelago. Each of the island chains that lies within the Bahamas has its own distinct character – from the cosmopolitan New Providence Island and Nassau, to the popular Exumas lying like a string of pearls, and the scalloped bays of the Abacos, the cruising possibilities are actually quite varied. Choose to combine the Exumas and Abacos in a two-week itinerary, or as a stand-alone week long charter.

About the Abaco Islands

Often referred to as the ‘top of the Bahamas’, the Abacos are a small, boomerang shaped archipelago made up of Great Abaco, Little Abaco and a sprinkling of cays spanning 120 miles across the Sea of Abaco. A world apart from Nassau, this is the place to head to switch off, relax and rejuvenate this holiday season, ready for the year ahead, or with year-round temperatures between 20°C and 28°C, you could always head here for a summer charter when the crystal-clear waters are a balmy 30°C. Speaking of waters, the shallow waters here are not suitable for yachts with deeper draft, but that also means there is a distinct lack of cruise ships. However, the Sea of Abaco is protected from the wild Atlantic by a chain of barrier islands and offers the waterborne sheltered cruising and peaceful anchorages.  

Highlights of the Abacos  

If you are looking for a cruising ground that feels off the beaten path, then the Abacos are definitely for you. To really experience the islands, you need to venture beyond the well-known Great Abaco and Little Abaco to discover tiny islets, uninhabited cays, turquoise flats and of course jump in the water to discover the stunning underwater world that lies beneath the surface.  

Great Abaco 

As its name suggests, Great Abaco is the largest island in the archipelago and the main embarkation point for yacht charters through the Abacos. With two international airports, it serves as the 'mainland', separated from the Atlantic by the string of barrier islands. Marsh Harbour is the largest settlement of the outer Bahamas and offers a selection of restaurants and bars where you can enjoy Bahamian fare – fish, conch, rock lobster, land crabs, to name just a few of the local seafood varieties available. Head to the Treasure Sands Club on the famous Treasure Cay Beach to join locals and snowbirds alike, or enjoy harbourside dining at Curly Tails Restaurant and Bar at the Conch Inn Hotel and Marina, in Marsh Harbour.  

Elbow Cay  

From the main town of Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco, cruise across to Elbow Cay and step ashore in Hope Town. There are just two narrow streets here, charmingly named ‘Up Along’ and ‘Down Along’, along with the town’s famous clapboard, pastel-coloured houses surrounded by white picket fences. This is also the place to head if you want to see one of the most iconic landmarks in the Bahamas: the red and white candy cane striped Elbow Reef Lighthouse. Built in 1862 and still manually operated, it is the last kerosene-burning lighthouse in the world. It is not open to visitors at the moment but will be in the near future.

After a morning discovering Hope Town and the surrounding area head back on board for lunch and spend the afternoon on Tahiti Beach. Stay until the famous sunset, the best views of which are from the sandbar that appears as the tide goes out. Alternatively, head to the laid-back bar On Da Beach for sundowners – the sands in front are known to be a spot for nesting turtles.  

Man-O-War Cay

A short hop across the water from Great Abaco is Man-O-War Cay. Step back in time on this sandy island, which has a long tradition of boat building that has been passed down for centuries. Take an afternoon stroll around the pretty settlement or head beneath the surface and explore the inland blue holes, coral reefs and underwater gardens, along with marine reserves and ancient shipwrecks that can be found to the east of the archipelago.  

Green Turtle Cay

Spend the afternoon at Green Turtle Cay. Often referred to as the jewel of the Abacos, this tiny island is surrounded by deep bays and vast stretches of golden beach, while the interior is rich with forests and gentle hills that can be enjoyed during a short hike. Visit historical New Plymouth – just one of the towns where British Loyalists displaced by the American Revolution settled. Their influence can be seen throughout the colonial-style homes and picturesque streets. Anchor at The North End and watch the rays and fish that play around at sunset, or jump in to discover one of the Bahamas top dive sites – The Catacombs. Lying just off the cay, the coral garden offers snorkelers and divers a visual feast of tropical fish, eagle rays and turtles, all at an accessible 10m.  

Great Guana Cay

Join anglers from all over the world as you fish for blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, kingfish, dolphinfish, sailfish, grouper and wahoo in the waters around Great Guana Cay. Just a few minutes offshore, the Sea of Abaco plunges 1,500m into the Atlantic, attracting deep sea fishermen looking for a prize catch. Those preferring to explore ashore will find a five-mile white sand beach, reputed to be the most beautiful beach in all the Abacos.  

Five reasons to visit the Abacos Islands  

With so much on offer for the waterborne, you will be spoiled for choice while on a yacht charter in the Abacos. Burgess charter experts recommend their top five reasons to visit the Abacos Islands. 

The sandbars of Leeward Beach

The Bahamas is full of untouched sandbars surrounded by clear waters teeming with sealife. Take the tender ashore to explore the sandbars of Leeward Beach at Treasure Cay at low tide, when one particularly shallow sandbar opens up to deliver all those ashore a wonderful display show of shells and sea life.  

Abaco cocktails

The historical New Plymouth is located on the tiny, three-mile Green Turtle Cay. One of the most charming towns in the whole of the Bahamas, it is home to what was Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar, where the famous Bahamian cocktail, the Goombay Smash, was first created. The Bahamian national drink is crafted with local rum, coconut and pineapple juice. Other favourite Abaco cocktails include the Tipsy Turtle, Reef Wreck and Bahama Breeze, all of which can be found at any of the rum shacks and bars around the Abacos.  

The Great Guana Cay Barrier Reef

The water depths around the Abacos archipelago rarely exceed 10m and are home to coral gardens that teem with marine life, making this a great spot for snorkelling. The Great Guana Cay Barrier Reef, for example, is one of the largest in the western hemisphere, and is certainly the most beautiful and bountiful coral reef in the Abacos. The reef borders a protected bay and wrap-around beach that hosts a complete marine ecosystem, with a mangrove estuary, beaches and dunes, and the barrier reef itself.  

Exploring the Mangrove Forests

Red Mangrove forests abound in the Abacos, and they play a vital role in the marine ecosystem, nursing the coral reefs and other marine habitats. Rich in life themselves, they are worth exploring (by foot or kayak, rather than any motorised method).  

National Parks

With several national parks providing habitats for a wide variety of flora and fauna, the Abacos provide a haven for nature enthusiasts, divers and snorkellers. Some of the most famous parks include the Black Sound Cay National Park, the Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park and the Abaco National Park. Step ashore and you might even spot the endangered Bahama Parrot (also known as the Abaco Parrot) and flocks of brilliantly coloured Bahama Amazons.

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