Abacos, Bahamas

The brilliant water, pristine white and pink sand beaches, and easy sailing make the Bahamas famous. Moving between islands and cays is fun and low-stress using just line-of-sight navigation. The gentle tides make challenging currents and significant depth changes rare. There are shallows, but the water is so clear you can easily identify them. And the weather is pleasant year-round, with consistent breezes from the trades to keep you comfortable and sailing fast.

While the Abacos are easy to reach, they’ve got a blissful tranquility that settles on you when you step off the plane. Everything’s slightly scaled back, slower, and more natural than some busier islands. If you’re seeking natural beauty, this is your place.

Once on charter, most people head for the cays, which offer protected anchorages, stunning beaches and barrier reefs, fantastic snorkeling, and diving. Elbow Cay is only five miles out of Marsh Harbour, and anchoring off Hope Town is a popular stop. Follow the chain of cays north to Man ‘o War Cay with its community of boat builders. It’s a quieter place with fewer restaurants and no bars. Great Guana Cay has moorings in Settlement Bay and Fisher’s Bay. New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay is a quaint village toward the top of the island chain and a fun visit for shops, a museum and dining. For a quirky afternoon, take a swim with Noname Cay’s pigs.

Several national parks in the Abacos welcome visitors, and moorings are strategically placed near the best dive and snorkel locations to safeguard the reefs and enhance boater access. 

Direct flights from several Florida cities are the easiest way to the Abacos. For those coming from Europe or other areas not served by connections through Florida, flying to Nassau and taking a local connector is a good option.