Boats and charters
Crewed yachts, bareboat sailing in the Abacos and Exumas, day boats with a captain, and fishing charters across the islands.
Request boats and charters on AbacoThe Abacos
The Abacos are a 120-mile chain in the north of the country, built around Great Abaco and a string of barrier cays that shelter the Sea of Abaco between them. That protected, island-dotted water has made the Abacos the boating and sailing centre of The Bahamas, with marinas, bareboat charters and cay-to-cay ferries knitting the whole chain together.
Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco is the commercial hub, with the airport, the largest marina district and the ferry dock for the cays. The cays each have their own character. Hope Town on Elbow Cay is known for its candy-striped lighthouse, one of the last hand-wound, kerosene-burning lighthouses in the world. Man-O-War Cay is a quiet boat-building community with a strong Loyalist heritage. Great Guana Cay has a long Atlantic beach and a famously relaxed beach bar culture. Green Turtle Cay, further north, has the historic settlement of New Plymouth.
Hurricane Dorian struck the Abacos in September 2019 as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record and caused catastrophic damage, particularly in Marsh Harbour and on the cays. Recovery has been substantial but uneven, and some businesses and services have reopened in new forms or locations. We encourage travellers to confirm current details directly with the places they plan to visit.
The Abacos suit travellers who want to be on the water: sailors, boaters, anglers and divers, and anyone happy to hop between small settlements by ferry. Treasure Cay, on Great Abaco north of Marsh Harbour, has one of the longest beaches in the chain.
Great Abaco's south is largely pine forest. Abaco National Park protects the nesting ground of the Bahama parrot, which here nests in limestone holes in the ground, and the road ends near the Hole-in-the-Wall lighthouse at the island's southern tip. Little Harbour, south of Marsh Harbour, is home to a bronze foundry and gallery founded by the sculptor Randolph Johnston in the 1950s and to a beach bar that has become an institution among cruising sailors.
Getting there
Routes change by season. We describe how arrivals work and leave schedules and fares to the carriers.
- Marsh Harbour (MHH) has flights from Nassau and direct flights from several Florida airports. Treasure Cay (TCB) also serves the chain.
- From Marsh Harbour, scheduled ferries run to Hope Town, Man-O-War Cay and Great Guana Cay. Green Turtle Cay is reached by ferry from a dock near Treasure Cay.
- Many visitors rent a boat for the duration of their stay, which is the most flexible way to move between the cays.
What we can arrange on Abaco
Stays
From large resorts on Paradise Island to beach cottages on Eleuthera and villas in the Exumas, matched to the island that suits your trip.
Request stays on AbacoTours and experiences
Swimming pigs, reef snorkelling, blue holes, fishing, cultural tours and Junkanoo: the experiences that define a Bahamas trip, arranged with trusted operators.
Request tours and experiences on AbacoTransport
How to get between the islands and around them: domestic flights, fast ferries, mailboats, rental cars, taxis and airport transfers.
Request transport on AbacoPlanning a trip to Abaco?
Send us your dates and what you have in mind. We will come back with real options for this island and honest advice about what fits.
Questions about Abaco
Has Abaco recovered from Hurricane Dorian?
Much of the tourism infrastructure has been rebuilt since 2019, but recovery has been uneven and some businesses have changed. We recommend confirming current details with your accommodation and any operators before travelling.
Do I need to sail to enjoy the Abacos?
No. Ferries connect Marsh Harbour with the main cays, and small powerboats are widely rented. But the Abacos are at their best from the water, so plan for at least some time on a boat.
Related guides
4 min read
Which Bahamas island is right for you?
An honest comparison of Nassau, Paradise Island, Exuma, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Abaco, Grand Bahama, Andros, Bimini and the Out Islands.
4 min read
How to get around The Bahamas: flights, ferries and island transport
A practical guide to moving between and around the islands of The Bahamas: domestic flights, fast ferries, mailboats, rental cars, golf carts and taxis.
Often planned with Abaco
Grand Bahama
Freeport and Lucaya, the Lucayan National Park's caves and Gold Rock Beach, West End fishing villages, and the shortest flights from Florida.
Eleuthera
A long, thin island of pink-sand beaches, pineapple fields and small settlements, with the Glass Window Bridge where the Atlantic meets the bank.
Nassau and New Providence
The capital and main gateway: colonial streets, Cable Beach, Junkanoo, and the easiest connections to every other island.