With its 200km-long coastline fringed by pencil-thin cays, cerulean lagoons and crystal clear waters surrounding the world’s third-longest barrier reef, the Abaco Islands offer some of the best snorkelling, diving and deep-sea fishing in the Bahamas.
What to do and see in the Abaco Islands
Boasting favourable trade winds, the Abaco Islands are also known as the sailing capital of the Bahamas.
Explore the nearby cays and often unnamed beaches by rental boat. On Great Abaco Island, snorkel the clear, warm waters off Elbow Cay and Mermaid Reef or scuba dive the undersea caves and seemingly endless coral reefs at Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park – just perfect for adventurous honeymoon couples.
With underwater visibility stretching further than 30m, it’s easy to explore caverns, blue holes, coral reefs and underwater coral gardens filled with huge tube and barrel sponges, fields of stag and elkhorn coral, as well as a choice of old shipwrecks.
The island group is highly rated for some of the best deep-sea fishing in the Bahamas: hook up a charter at Treasure Cay or Walkers Cay to chase down barracuda, bonefish, grouper, amberjack, yellowtail, snapper, tuna, blue marlin, dolphin fish and wahoo.
On land, visit Hope Town where you can stroll picturesque streets lined with silver grey and pastel-painted houses and marvel at the photogenic, 36m-high, candy-striped lighthouse.
Best Beaches in the Abaco Islands
Elbow Cay, located about 20 minutes via service from Great Abaco’s Marsh Harbour, offers some of the best beaches. Its east shore just one long wave-lashed stretch of sugar-white sand.
Tahiti Beach
(Elbow Cay) – Unwind on one of the Bahamas’ best beaches – a secluded, 400m-long stretch of sugar-white sand that curves around a dense palm-fringed shoreline facing crystal clear waters that are perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
There are no facilities here so you may need to pack a picnic. Access to the beach is by boat, foot or bike from Hope Town.
Tahiti Beach is located at the southern tip of Elbow Cay Island, just a short walk or bike ride from the Sea Spray Resort & Marina.
Treasure Cay Beach
(Great Abaco) – Pick your own spot to relax on this uncrowded, 5.5km-long, soft white-sand beach that shelves into an alluring turquoise sea and is probably one of the top 10 beaches in the Bahamas.
Located on Great Abaco’s east coast, the beach boasts the luxurious Treasure Cay Beach Marina & Golf Resort as well as the Bahama Beach Club Resort (photo), where you can be pampered with a range of creature comforts.
Green Turtle Cay Beach
(Green Turtle Cay) – Dig your toes into the soft white sand of this gorgeous kilometre-long beach that stretches along the eastern shore of Green Turtle Cay – a stunning island of forest-clad hills that sweep down to secluded inlets and deep water coves.
With coral gardens teeming with colourful sea life and water depths seldom exceeding 6m, Green Turtle Cay offers superb snorkelling.
Visit the island by boat on a day trip or stay longer in style at either the Green Turtle Cay Resort & Marina or the Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina.
Green Turtle Cay is located just 5km off Great Abaco’s east coast.
Where to stay
Although less visited than some of the more glamorous islands, the Abacos nonetheless offer excellent resort accommodation options to suit all honeymoon budgets.
On Great Abaco, choose from the Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour at Marsh Harbour, the luxurious Treasure Cay Hotel Resort and Marina or the family friendly Bahama Beach Club, both at Treasure Cay.
On Elbow Cay, try the Hope Town Harbour Lodge or the Sea Spray Resort & Marina. And for laid-back luxury on Green Turtle Cay, discover the Green Turtle Cay Resort & Marina.
