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 you’ll be strolling the quiet streets of towns that were first settled hundreds of years ago.
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. Anchor off in Fisher’s Bay and enjoy a beautiful sunset, or head to shore for some of the popular refreshments like the blaster in Grabbers or the Nipper on the other side of the island.
Mooring
Moorings are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Settlement Harbor. Orchid bay Marina is found at the same place, with all facilities. The best anchorage is in Fisher’s Bay. Just North of Settlement Harbour. Bakers bay in the North has a great anchorage, but the activities are restricted to the beach, as the rest of property inland is private.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Fisher’s Bay.
Things to do
Dive Guana is a full-service dive shop that also rents out bikes. There are several restaurants, including the famous Grabbers Bar & Grill, or Nipper’s. From Baker’s bay, venture to Spoil Cay with a dinghy for shell collecting and exploring.
Facilities
Dockage is available at Orchid Bay Marina on the south side of Settlement Harbor. Provisions are available in town.
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 which can be reached by a short dinghy ride. Explore the mangroves while you are here and take in the marine life as fish and turtles surround you. You can even witness sharks and stingrays on the northernmost cove of the Cay.
Mooring
There are no mooring balls here, but it is a safe place to anchor on the west side of the Cay.
Things to do
Snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, seeing the stingrays and sharks
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 main harbour is White Sound.
Mooring
There are moorings available in White Sound, as well as marina facilities – Green Turtle Club and Bluff House marina. Anchorages exist off of New Plymouth and outside of White Sound and Cocoa bay. Holding is poor in Black Sound, but there are mooring buoys and a marina available.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
The Green Turtle Club in White Sound is highly recommended. New Plymouth is great for sightseeing, museum visiting and restaurants.
Facilities
Dockage, fuel, water, ice, showers, provisions, and are available. Rent gold carts or bicycles, visit museums.
Hope Town
Elbow Cay has much to offer cruisers, including historic Hope Town, White Sound, and Tahiti Beach. Snorkelling, scuba diving, 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 marina slips can be reserved in advance of your arrival. Mooring balls in Hope Town are first come- first served. No anchorage is available in Hope Town Harbor, but due West of the Lighthouse between Elbow Cay and Pirate Cays. Marina dockage will be 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 and some restaurants, including Cap’n Jacks. At White Sound, you’ll find the modern Firefly Resort and Abaco Inn.
Facilities
Dockage is available in Hope Town and White Sound. Fuel, water, ice, provisions, Internet access, and golf cart rentals are available in Hope town.
Little Harbour
If there ever was a place that time seems to have forgotten, it’s the picturesque and secluded cove of Little Harbour on Great Abaco. A narrow spit separates the harbour 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.
Mooring
Mooring balls are available and recommended. Anchoring is encouraged outside of the basin.
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 harbour, 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 jewellery. Pete’s Pub serves casual fare, quite appropriate for the setting, including hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, chicken, and fish.
Facilities
No facilities for yachts are available.
Lynyard Cay
This long skinny cay is a perfect place to drop anchor safe from the ocean waves of the Atlantic and east winds. 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 on the west side of the island.
Things to do
Due to the cay being undeveloped, this is one of the perfect places to spend some time in solitude and enjoy stargazing.
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 favour 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
Mooring balls are available in Man-O-War Harbour, while the marina remains inoperable. No anchorage is allowed in the harbour.
Dinghy dockage: NO
Things to do
Renowned sailing canvas shop and the Albury brothers boat building factory.
Facilities
There are no facilities on this cay for yachts.
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. Anchor off in Fisher’s Bay and enjoy a beautiful sunset, or head to shore for some of the popular refreshments like the blaster in Grabbers or the Nipper on the other side of the island.
Mooring
Moorings are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Settlement Harbor. Orchid bay Marina is found at the same place, with all facilities. The best anchorage is in Fisher’s Bay. Just North of Settlement Harbour. Bakers bay in the North has a great anchorage, but the activities are restricted to the beach, as the rest of property inland is private.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Fisher’s Bay.
Things to do
Dive Guana is a full-service dive shop that also rents out bikes. There are several restaurants, including the famous Grabbers Bar & Grill, or Nipper’s. From Baker’s bay, venture to Spoil Cay with a dinghy for shell collecting and exploring.
Facilities
Dockage is available at Orchid Bay Marina on the south side of Settlement Harbor. Provisions are available in town.
Spanish Cay
Spanish Cay yachting is the essence of luxury at this private resort island. There are many amenities and three great beaches.
Mooring
Marina and anchorages available
Dinghy dockage: No dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
Full-service marina.
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, sheltered only from the north-westerly winds.
Dinghy dockage: No dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
The snorkeling off the east end of Moraine Cay is spectacular over coral gardens teeming with colorful tropical fish, and there’s a beautiful beach at the anchorage ideal for swimming and beach combing.
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 main harbour is White Sound.
Mooring
There are moorings available in White Sound, as well as marina facilities – Green Turtle Club and Bluff House marina. Anchorages exist off of New Plymouth and outside of White Sound and Cocoa bay. Holding is poor in Black Sound, but there are mooring buoys and a marina available.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
The Green Turtle Club in White Sound is highly recommended. New Plymouth is great for sightseeing, museum visiting and restaurants.
Facilities
Dockage, fuel, water, ice, showers, provisions, and are available. Rent gold carts or bicycles, visit museums.
Treasure Cay
Treasure Cay was developed as a resort in the 1950s, the first of its kind in the Abacos. Famous for its beautiful crescent-shaped, white-sand beach ideal for swimming and sunbathing.
Mooring
Mooring balls are available, anchorage space is limited.
Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.
Things to do
The 3-plus-mile white-sand beach is the main attraction at Treasure Cay, where you can swim, or sunbathe. There is a local restaurant on the north end of the beach.
Facilities
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 your charter.
Mooring
Mooring balls are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Settlement Harbour and there is the Orchard Bay Marina. You can anchor in Fishers Bay.
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 & 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. Other restaurants worthy of a visit are Orchid Bay Restaurant, and Grabbers Bar & 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. Snorkeling, and fine dining are all popular pastimes. Yachting in Tahiti Beach waters is a highlight of cruising to Elbow Cay.
Mooring
Mooring slips in marinas in Hope Town are available and can be reserved in advance of your arrival. No anchorage is available in Hope Town Harbour. 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, On Da Beach Restaurant, Firefly Bar and Grill and Bridget’s Rum Bar & Restaurant. 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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