Things to do in Abaco
31 places and activities across 10 areas: beaches, reefs, caves, settlements, food and the outings worth a boat or a long drive.
Match ferry docks and departure times to each cay. South Abaco mainland outings need a vehicle and substantial driving time.
Everything here is a real place or a real local activity, checked against local sources. Photographs are used with permission and credited below, and appear only where one exists for that exact place or activity. We do not show star ratings from other platforms. Each entry says how you reach it, roughly how long to allow and what to confirm locally, because access on the Out Islands changes with tides, weather, private ownership and the season.
Great Abaco mainland - north and central
Beach
Treasure Cay Beach
Walk the long crescent of pale sand.
- Where
- Treasure Cay
- Getting there and time
- Car · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm the current beach approach and facilities.
Sailing
Sea of Abaco sailing day
Sail between nearby settlements and offshore cays.
- Where
- Marsh Harbour waterfront
- Getting there and time
- Charter / reservation · About 7 hours
Confirm access locally. Agree the cays and landing permissions with your skipper.
Culture
Marsh Harbour waterfront and local dining
Explore the island's main service town and waterfront.
- Where
- Marsh Harbour
- Getting there and time
- Car / walk · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Check which waterfront businesses are operating.
Shopping and nature
Abaco Neem visit
Learn about locally produced neem goods.
- Where
- Marsh Harbour
- Getting there and time
- Car / appointment · About an hour
By arrangement. Confirm shop and tour arrangements.
Green Turtle Cay
Museum
Albert Lowe Museum
Explore the island's historic house museum.
- Where
- New Plymouth
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / admission · About an hour
Confirm access locally. Opening hours vary weekly. Check the museum's notice.
History
New Plymouth heritage walk
Explore the settlement's historic homes and harbour.
- Where
- New Plymouth
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / walk · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Combine with the museum and sculpture garden.
Birdwatching
Black Sound Cay birdwatching
Observe birds around the protected mangrove cay.
- Where
- Black Sound
- Getting there and time
- Guided boat · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Landings and routes require local advice.
History
Loyalist Memorial Sculpture Garden
See the outdoor memorial sculptures.
- Where
- New Plymouth
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / walk · Under an hour
Confirm access locally. A short stop within a wider village walk.
Manjack Cay
Boat excursion
Manjack Cay nature and beach day
Explore the uninhabited cay's beaches and sheltered water.
- Where
- Manjack / Nunjack Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / reservation · About 5 hours
Confirm access locally. Treat wildlife encounters as observations, not guarantees.
Great Guana Cay
Beach
Guana Cay Beach
Walk the long Atlantic-facing beach.
- Where
- Atlantic shore
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / walk · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Reef and surf conditions vary.
Culture
Great Guana Cay village visit
Explore the small island settlement and waterfront.
- Where
- Great Guana Cay
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / boat · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Check ferry timings for the return journey.
Man-O-War Cay
Culture
Man-O-War boatbuilding heritage walk
Explore the cay's maritime craft tradition.
- Where
- Man-O-War village
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / walk · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Working boatyards require permission to enter.
Shopping
Albury's Sail Shop
Browse locally sewn canvas bags and goods.
- Where
- Man-O-War village
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / walk · About an hour
Confirm access locally. Confirm shop hours before crossing.
Art
Joe's Studio and local woodcraft
See locally made woodcraft and island art.
- Where
- Man-O-War village
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / appointment · About an hour
By arrangement. Ask ahead about access to the working studio.
Beach
Man-O-War ocean beach
Spend time on the cay's Atlantic shoreline.
- Where
- Atlantic shore
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / walk · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Ask locally for the current public path.
Elbow Cay and Hope Town
History
Elbow Reef Lighthouse
Visit the striped lighthouse overlooking Hope Town.
- Where
- Hope Town
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / short boat transfer · 1 to 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm visiting access and return transport.
Beach
Tahiti Beach
Explore the beach and exposed tidal sandbar.
- Where
- South Elbow Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / cart plus walk · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Time the visit to the tide.
Culture
Hope Town village and harbour walk
Explore the narrow lanes and waterfront settlement.
- Where
- Hope Town
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / walk · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. A separate boat may be needed for the lighthouse side.
Snorkelling
Elbow Cay reef snorkelling
Snorkel reefs off the island's ocean side.
- Where
- Off Elbow Cay
- Getting there and time
- Guided boat · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Your captain should choose the site for conditions.
Nature
Byrle Patterson Memorial Garden
Visit the community memorial garden.
- Where
- Hope Town
- Getting there and time
- Ferry / walk · Under an hour
Confirm access locally. A short stop while exploring the village.
Fowl Cays and Pelican Cays
Snorkelling
Fowl Cays National Park snorkelling
Explore the protected reef and shallow marine habitat.
- Where
- Fowl Cays / off Scotland Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / local guide · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. Agree the exact launch point with your operator.
Snorkelling
Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park snorkelling
See reef life around the protected cays.
- Where
- Sandy Cay / Pelican Cays
- Getting there and time
- Boat / local guide · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. A calm day improves visibility and comfort.
South Abaco mainland
Art and dining
Pete's Pub and Gallery
Combine Bahamian art with a waterfront meal.
- Where
- Little Harbour
- Getting there and time
- Car / boat · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Check the pub and gallery schedules.
Fishing
Cherokee Sound bonefishing
Fish the extensive shallows south of Marsh Harbour.
- Where
- Cherokee / Casuarina Point flats
- Getting there and time
- Local guide / reservation · About 7 hours
Confirm access locally. Choose a local guide familiar with the tide.
Birdwatching
Abaco National Park birding
Search for Bahama parrots in the pine forest.
- Where
- South Abaco pine forest
- Getting there and time
- Car / birding guide · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. Use a guide to find suitable current routes.
Art
Johnston foundry visit
Learn about bronze casting at the working foundry.
- Where
- Little Harbour
- Getting there and time
- Appointment · 1 to 2 hours
By arrangement. Arrange a foundry tour before visiting.
Culture
Cherokee Sound village and Long Dock
Walk the fishing village and visit its long dock.
- Where
- Cherokee Sound
- Getting there and time
- Car · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Check the dock's condition and access locally.
History and nature
Hole-in-the-Wall Lighthouse expedition
Explore the remote lighthouse landscape.
- Where
- Southern tip of Great Abaco
- Getting there and time
- Suitable vehicle / local guide · About 7 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm road condition. This is a substantial remote outing.
Geology
Sawmill Sink research and geology visit
Learn about the sinkhole's fossil discoveries.
- Where
- South Abaco interior
- Getting there and time
- Permission / specialist guide · About 2 hours
By arrangement. Access must be arranged. This is a research site.
Cruise-access offshore cay
Cruise destination
Disney Castaway Cay beach day
Spend a cruise day on the island's beaches.
- Where
- Castaway Cay
- Getting there and time
- Eligible Disney itinerary · About 6 hours
Cruise guests only. Access is tied to a visiting Disney cruise.
Northern Abaco offshore cays
Fishing
Walker's Cay sportfishing base
Fish the northern grounds from the reopened marina.
- Where
- Walker's Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / marina arrangement · About 7 hours
Partly open. Marina open. Operator says lodging, restaurants and public facilities unavailable during construction.
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Photo credits
- Unattributed photographs: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, used with permission.
- Albert Lowe Museum: tripadvisor.co.uk
- New Plymouth heritage walk: caribjournal.com
- Loyalist Memorial Sculpture Garden: abacosun.com
- Black Sound Cay birdwatching: tourtravelworld.com
- Manjack Cay nature and beach day: yachtwarriors.com
- Joe's Studio and local woodcraft: uncommoncaribbean.com
- Man-O-War ocean beach: tripadvisor.com
- Hope Town village and harbour walk: rollingharbourlife.uk
- Elbow Cay reef snorkelling: abacoyachtrentals.com
- Fowl Cays National Park snorkelling: islands.com
- Johnston foundry visit: rollingharbour.com
- Cherokee Sound village and Long Dock: abacosun.com
- Cherokee Sound bonefishing: onlinehuntingauctions.com
- Sawmill Sink research and geology visit: eurekalert.org
- Disney Castaway Cay beach day: thepointsguy.com
- Walker's Cay sportfishing base: walkerscay.com
Back to the Abaco travel guide, or see every island in the islands overview.