Abacos Cruising Itinerary
A Bahamas cruising itinerary will take you north and south of bustling Marsh Harbour to explore the nearby islands and cays on an adventure ideal for the entire family in the sheltered Sea of Abaco. One day you’ll be anchored off an uninhabited cay to snorkel on coral reefs in crystal clear water with excellent visibility, and the next day you’ll be strolling the quiet streets of towns that were first settled hundreds of years ago (see Bahamas maps). And, of course, the chartering is superb.
Great Guana Cay
Known for its expansive white-sand beach on the Atlantic side, Great Guana Cay is sparsely populated with few stores or restaurants. It’s an incredibly scenic island, one that will inspire you to return for more fun. Cruising in Bakers Bay, the prettiest anchorage in the vicinity, is a great way to end the day.
Mooring
Moorings are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Fishers Bay and Settlement Harbor at the south end of the cay. Both of these harbours are near the village and the few stores and restaurants. The best anchorage is in Bakers Bay at the northern end of the cay.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Fisher’s Bay.
Manjack Cay
Let the ocean waves brushing the white sand beaches on this uninhabited island lull you into a relaxing state while you explore. This cay has plenty of activities to keep you busy for the day starting with snorkeling the nearby reefs. These are some of the healthiest reefs in the area and they are bursting with marine life. There are also two well-known hiking trails on this cay that are marked with signs. Explore the mangroves while you are here and take in the wildlife as fish and turtles surround you.
Mooring
There are no mooring balls here, but it is a safe place to anchor on the west side.
Things to do
Snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, sightseeing, hiking
Facilities
There are no facilities for yachts here.
Green Turtle Cay
New Plymouth, the quaint village on Green Turtle Cay, is the epitome of Bahamian charm with its narrow streets, white picket fences, and brightly painted buildings. First settled in 1783, at the end of the American Revolution, it grew into the second largest city in the Bahamas by the 1800s. Now it’s known for its shops, restaurants, and historic sites popular among boaters, making New Plymouth yachting a delight. The two main harbors are White Sound to the north and Black Sound to the south.
Mooring
No moorings are available, but Green Turtle Cay has a number of excellent full-service marinas, some with resort privileges. There are anchorages in Bluff Harbour and Cocoa Bay. Holding is poor in Black Sound. White Sound has space for anchoring and good holding.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
Popular restaurants include Plymouth Rock, and Pineapples Bar and Grill. The Green Turtle Club in White Sound is highly recommended.
Facilities
Dockage, fuel, water, ice, showers, laundry facilities, provisions, and taxi service are available.
Hope Town
Elbow Cay has much to offer cruisers, including historic Hope Town, White Sound, and Tahiti Beach. Snorkeling, scuba diving, watersports, shopping, and fine dining are all popular pastimes. Yachting in Tahiti Beach waters is a highlight of cruising to Elbow Cay, this spot offers a great anchorage and access to a tidal sand bar and beach. Many guests also enjoy exploring Elbow Cay by land via Golf Carts.
Mooring
Moorings in Hope Town are available and can be reserved in advance of your arrival. No anchorage is available in Hope Town Harbor. Anchorage is available north of the harbor off Eagle Rock. Dockage is available at White Sound, and there’s an anchorage off Tahiti Beach.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available in Hope Town.
Things to do
The Wyannie Malone Museum is named for Hope Town’s founder, Wyannie Malone, who fled her home in South Carolina because of the American Revolution. She began the settlement of Hope Town with fellow refugees in 1785. The museum is a fascinating homage to this turbulent time in British and American history, which helped give the Bahamas part of its unique character. Naturally, a climb to the top of Elbow Reef Lighthouse is a must; the views are extraordinarily beautiful. There are a number of eclectic shops. Some restaurants include Cap’n Jacks, Firefly Bar, and Bridget's Rum Bar and Resturant. At White Sound, you’ll find the casual elegance of the Abaco Inn and the Boat House Restaurant.
Facilities
Dockage is available in Hope Town and White Sound. Fuel, water, ice, provisions, Internet access, and golf cart rentals are available.
Little Harbour
If there ever was a place that time seems to have forgotten, it’s the picturesque and secluded anchorage at Little Harbour on Great Abaco. A narrow spit separates the harbor from the Atlantic – the surf booms and the balmy trade winds gently sweep across the white-sand beach. The abandoned lighthouse perched on the spit stands as a lonely sentinel, a vestige of the past. Best known for the internationally acclaimed artist, the late Randolph Johnston, who established an art colony at Little Harbour with his wife, Margot, in the 1950s, the arts still flourish in this idyllic place. Yachting in Little Harbour waters transports you back to a time when the Bahamas remained an undiscovered paradise
Mooring
Moorings are available. The anchorage is well protected and holding is good.
Dinghy dockage: A dinghy dock is available.
Things to do
Apart from the natural beauty of the beach and the caves on the west shore of the harbor, Pete’s Pub is the major attraction. The owner, Pete Johnston, a son of Randolph and Margot, includes an art gallery in his waterfront restaurant and bar. In the nearby foundry, open to the public, he makes life-sized bronze statues of marine creatures and other objects, as well as intricate jewelry. Pete’s Pub serves casual fare, quite appropriate for the setting, including hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, chicken, and fish. There’s good snorkeling on the nearby reef.
Facilities
No facilities for yachts are available.
Lynyard Cay
This long skinny island is a perfect place to drop anchor safe from the ocean waves of the Atlantic and east winds. Dingy ashore for a quick walk across the cay to the Atlantic side for pristine beaches and views. This quiet and remote spot is ideal for a long walk on the beach or a relaxing sunbathing session.
Mooring
No mooring balls are here but it is a safe place to anchor.
Things to do
Sunbathing, walking, exploring, swimming, hiking
Facilities
There are no facilities on this cay for yachts.
Man-O-War Cay
Man-O-War Cay is a quiet community of roughly 200 residents, many of whom earn a living in the boatbuilding trade, which dates back about a century. The original settlers, who first came to the cay in 1820, farmed the land, but they eventually gave it up in favor of crafting vessels from wood, such as the famous Abaco dinghy. In keeping with tradition, no alcohol is sold anywhere, but cruisers are welcome to enjoy sundowners aboard their yachts. Exploring the village on foot is a delight, taking you into some unique shops or to one of the casual restaurants for conch fritters. The white-sand beaches on the Atlantic side are stunning, making Man-O-War Cay yachting an unforgettable experience.
Mooring
No moorings are available. The most protected anchorage is in Man-O-War Harbour.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
Take a walk and browse the canvas wares at The Sail Shop, the wooden handicrafts at Joe’s Studio, and the intricate half-model boats at Emerson’s Shop. If you’re hungry, check out the Hibiscus Café. Golf cart rentals are available from Water Ways Rentals.
Facilities
Dockage, fuel, ice, water, and provisions are available.
Great Guana Cay
Known for its expansive white-sand beach on the Atlantic side, Great Guana Cay is sparsely populated with few stores or restaurants. It’s an incredibly scenic island, one that will inspire you to return for more fun. Cruising in Bakers Bay, the prettiest anchorage in the vicinity, is a great way to end the day.
Mooring
Moorings are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Fishers Bay and Settlement Harbor at the south end of the cay. Both of these harbours are near the village and the few stores and restaurants. The best anchorage is in Bakers Bay at the northern end of the cay.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Fisher’s Bay.
Spanish Cay
Spanish Cay yachting is the essence of luxury at this private resort island. There are many amenities and three great beaches.
Mooring
No moorings or anchorages are available at Spanish Cay, but the marina facilities are first-rate.
Dinghy dockage: No dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
The marina complex features an air-conditioned bar and restaurant, four tennis courts, a freshwater pool and Jacuzzi, and golf cart rentals for touring this small island and to get you to the beaches. Swimming and snorkelling is popular. The resort has a runway as well, so that guests can easily reach the island by air. The snorkelling and scuba diving in this entire area is absolutely superb.
Facilities
Dockage, full electric hook-ups, and fuel are available.
Moraine Cay
Cruising in Moraine Cay waters takes you out beyond Great Abaco Island to the incredibly beautiful cays and reefs north of Little Abaco. It’s isolated, scenic, and serene in this tropical paradise. Moraine Cay is perched atop the reef system and is vaguely reminiscent of the South Pacific. You’ll definitely get a good sense of the “Out Islands” and why they are so popular.
Mooring
No moorings are available. The only anchorage is in a small nook at the south end of the island. The reef offers protection from northeasterly winds, and the cay blocks northwesterlies. This anchorage is exposed to southerlies.
Dinghy dockage: No dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
The snorkelling off the east end of Moraine Cay is spectacular over coral gardens teeming with colourful tropical fish, and there’s a beautiful beach at the anchorage ideal for swimming and beachcombing. The scuba diving in this area is excellent.
Facilities
No facilities for yachts are available.
Green Turtle Cay
New Plymouth, the quaint village on Green Turtle Cay, is the epitome of Bahamian charm with its narrow streets, white picket fences, and brightly painted buildings. First settled in 1783, at the end of the American Revolution, it grew into the second largest city in the Bahamas by the 1800s. Now it’s known for its shops, restaurants, and historic sites popular among boaters, making New Plymouth yachting a delight. The two main harbors are White Sound to the north and Black Sound to the south.
Mooring
No moorings are available, but Green Turtle Cay has a number of excellent full-service marinas, some with resort privileges. There are anchorages in Bluff Harbour and Cocoa Bay. Holding is poor in Black Sound. White Sound has space for anchoring and good holding.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
Popular restaurants include Plymouth Rock, and Pineapples Bar and Grill. The Green Turtle Club in White Sound is highly recommended.
Facilities
Dockage, fuel, water, ice, showers, laundry facilities, provisions, and taxi service are available.
Treasure Cay
Treasure Cay was developed as a resort in the 1950s, the first of its kind in the Abacos. It has since grown into a thriving tourist destination famous for its beautiful crescent-shaped, white-sand beach ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and all kinds of water sports. Treasure Cay cruising is a must during any charter in the Sea of Abaco.
Mooring
Treasure Cay Marina has ample dockage. Moorings are available for a fee. Anchorage space is available and holding is good.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
A stretch of white-sand beach more than three miles long is the main attraction at Treasure Cay. You can swim, sunbathe, or enjoy any number of water sports. Book a scuba diving excursion, play a round of golf at the 18-hole championship golf course, or schedule a game of tennis at one of several first-rate tennis courts. A visit to Treasure Cay wouldn’t be complete without stopping for drinks at the appropriately named Tipsy Seagull bar. The Spinnaker Restaurant is located near Treasure Cay Marina.
Facilities
Dockage, fuel, showers, laundry facilities, and provisions are available.
Settlement Harbour
Cruising in Settlement Harbour waters brings you to the southern end of Great Guana Cay, where you’ll find a number of attractions within an easy walk from your luxury yacht that you can’t easily reach from Bakers Bay at the northwest end of the island. Although it is still a sleepy hamlet, Settlement Harbour has undergone development in recent years, boosting its popularity as a great place to visit during a Bahamas luxury yacht charter.
Mooring
Moorings are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Fishers Bay and Settlement Harbour at the south end of the cay. Both of these harbours are near the village and the few stores and restaurants. You can anchor in Settlement Harbour and Fishers Bay. The best anchorage at the island is in Bakers Bay, but it puts you a fair distance from the village.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available in Fishers Bay and there is a public dock in Settlement Harbour.
Things to do
A popular attraction of Settlement Harbour cruising is the chance to dine out at one of the restaurants. Nipper’s Beach Bar and Grill is just a short walk from your yacht. Perched on high sand dunes on the ocean side of the island, the views from Nipper’s are truly spectacular as you watch the swells break on the outer reef. There’s also good snorkelling to the south at High Rocks, where the barrier reef is close to shore. Other restaurants worthy of a visit are Orchid Bay Restaurant, Docksiders, and Grabbers Bar and Grill. They all serve good food. Dive Guana is a full-service dive shop and offers bicycle rentals, so you can take a tour of the island to see the sights.
Facilities
Dockage is available at Orchid Bay Marina on the south side of Settlement Harbour. Some provisions are available in town.
Elbow Cay
Elbow Cay has much to offer cruisers, including historic Hope Town, White Sound, and Tahiti Beach. Snorkelling, scuba diving, water sports, shopping, and fine dining are all popular pastimes. Yachting in Tahiti Beach waters is a highlight of cruising to Elbow Cay.
Mooring
Moorings are available in Hope Town and can be reserved in advance of your arrival. No anchorage is available in Hope Town Harbour. Anchorage is available north of the harbour off Eagle Rock. Dockage is available at White Sound, and there’s an anchorage off Tahiti Beach.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available in Hope Town.
Things to do
The Wyannie Malone Museum is named for Hope Town’s founder, Wyannie Malone, who fled her home in South Carolina because of the American Revolution. She began the settlement of Hope Town with fellow refugees in 1785. The museum is a fascinating homage to this turbulent time in British and American history, which helped give the Bahamas part of its unique character. Naturally, a climb to the top of Elbow Reef Lighthouse is a must; the views are extraordinarily beautiful. There are a number of eclectic shops. Restaurants include Cap’n Jacks, Club Soleil, Harbour’s Edge, Hope Town Harbour Lodge, Munchies Take Away, and Rudy’s Place. At White Sound, you’ll find the casual elegance of the Abaco Inn and the Boat House Restaurant.
Facilities
Dockage is available in Hope Town and White Sound. Fuel, water, ice, provisions, Internet access, and golf cart rentals are available.
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