ABACOS
Great Guana Cay // Manjack Cay // Green Turtle Cay // Hope Town // Little Harbour // Lynyard Cay // Man-O-War Cay
DAY ONE
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.
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.
DAY TWO
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.
Manjack Cay is great for snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, seeing the stingrays and sharks in the most pristine and crystal clear waters in the world.
DAY THREE
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.
The Green Turtle Club in White Sound is highly recommended. New Plymouth is great for sightseeing, museum visiting and restaurants.
DAY FOUR
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.
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.
DAY FIVE
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.
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.
DAY SIX
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.
Due to the cay being undeveloped, this is one of the perfect places to spend some time in solitude and enjoy stargazing.
DAY SEVEN
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.
Visit the renowned sailing canvas shop and the Albury brothers boat building factory.