Abaco Island, Bahamas The Abaco islands are the second largest of
the Bahamas' Out Island groupings. The major islands are Great
and Little Abaco.
Unlike the rest of the Bahamas, Tourism in the Abacos is at its peak
during summer yachting months. [Bahamas
Map]
Location: 106 miles northeast of Nassau Size: 649
square miles Population: 13,170 Currency: Bahamian dollar Language: English Tourism info: Call Abaco Islands Visitor Information
at 242-367-3067. Getting there from Nassau: Fly with Abaco Air, Bahamasair,
Cat Island Air, Southern Air or private air charter. Bahamas Ferries
provides high-speed ferry service to Sandy Point. The Mailboat costs
$40 one way and takes seven hours.
Attractions
The Pelican Cay National Park is an underwater preserve;
or, the Abaco National Park, a 20,000 acre site in southern Abaco
encompassing the nesting area and habitat of the Abaco Parrot.
Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island is the third
largest town in the Bahamas, after Nassau and Freeport. Despite the
commercial activity, it still retains the laid-back style of the Out
Islands.
The sparsely inhabited cays east of Great Abaco
form the protected cruising grounds of the Sea of Abaco, dubbed "the
sailing capital of the world." The Sea of Abaco is the site of
summer fishing tournaments and regattas that see local and visiting
yachtsmen competing in ocean racing and fishing derbies.
Castaway Cay, seven miles off the tip of Sandy Point,
is Disney Cruise Lines’ private island where
the Disney
Magic, visits twice weekly.
Treasure Cay, 25 miles north of Marsh Harbour, boasts
a world-class 31/2-mile beach and an 18-hole golf course.
Peter de Savary’s Abaco Club at Winding Bay
is an exclusive 600-acre sporting preserve and residential complex.
It has the Bahamas’ only tropical links-style golf course and
a 21/2-mile beach. Large beachfront and waterfront lots in this pristine
island sellg for an average of $1 million an acre.
Getting around
Nearby settlements include: Hope
Town, with its picture postcard candy-striped lighthouse; Man O War
Cay, famed for boat building, sail making and the Wyannie Malone Museum;
Guana Cay, with excellent fishing; and Green Turtle Cay, with New
England-style architecture and a 150-year-old residence housing the
Albert Lowe Museum.
Inter-island Bahamas
mailboats depart from Nassau and run weekly roundtrip to and from
all islands.
Taxi service is available. Although metered rates vary by island,
they are reasonable and are fixed by law. Bicycles are also available
for rent at most popular tourist centers.
Rental cars are also available. You can use your home driver’s
license for up to three months, but remember, when you take to the
road, British rules apply, so keep to the left.
Pedestrians should remember to look right before
crossing streets.
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Web links
Bahamas.com
Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Bahamas
Cruises at the official Web site. CIA
Factbook -- Bahamas, The
The CIA factbook says the Bahamas are a stable, developing nation
with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking
