Brief History & Activities

Ever wanted to quit the rat race and move to a place where stress and crime are at a minimum, where the climate is mild, the surroundings beautiful and the people friendly?

The Island of Abaco, in The Bahamas is such a place. A hop away from Florida, Abaco (named Abacoa by the Lucayan Indians who inhabited it before the arrival of the Spaniards) was settled by the Loyalists who left the British colonies of North America during the War of Independence.

The second largest of the Bahamian Archipelago, Abaco offers hundreds of miles of shoreline bordering the Sea of Abaco to the East, the Atlantic Ocean to the South and the North and a shallow area to the West, called the “Marls”. Its East cost is lined with a string of jewels: smaller islands called “Cays”, the first to have been inhabited by the settlers, still keeping the remnants of Loyalist and Victorian architecture.

Swept by a breeze most of the year, Abaco is a sailor’s paradise, as demonstrated by the many sail boats bobbing with the tide in the marinas and the ports throughout the island. The diversity of its shores makes Abaco a fisherman’s heaven, whether for competitive or recreational fishing. Bonefish tournaments take place in the “Flats” in winter. Catch and Release “Big Bill” deep sea tournaments are held in Spring and early Summer. They include a category for catching edible large fish such as the praised mahi-mahi, yellow fin tuna and wahoo.

On Abaco the recreational fisherman will enjoy hooking a grouper, the base of many great Bahamian recipes, a delicate snapper, a turbot or a grunt, easily prepared into a delicious meal. Conch and lobster also abound: check with the local Department of Marine Resources for restriction on catching these delicacies.

The numerous reefs lying offshore are praised by divers who come from far to enjoy the pristine underwater scenes of Abaco. The under-ground cave systems located in South Abaco are so incredible and unique that they caught the attention of National Geographic Magazine. Diving is still a dangerous sport, so be sure to enroll the services of one of our local experienced dive masters.

Other activities such as bird watching to observe the native Abaco Parrot in the National Park and the multitude of migrant birds that make the island their home in winter. Of course enjoying the sun, the deserted white sand beaches and swimming still remain popular island occupations as is year around gardening should you decide to make Abaco your second home.

When you want to get away for the day, the many settlements that dot Abaco from North to South, each offers unique attractions: participate in or watch a Regatta in Marsh Harbour or one of the Cays, attend the Marsh Harbour Junkanoo Festival on a Summer night, spend a relaxing weekend afternoon at Pete’s Pub in Little Harbor, enjoy fresh fish at Nancy’s in Sandy Point, take a ferry to Hope Town for the Box Car Derby, visit Green Turtle Cay (home of the”Goombay Smash”) for the Island Roots Heritage Festival or take a trip to Crown Haven from where you can take a ferry to Grand Bahama, stopping on the way in Cooper’s Town or Fox Town for home cooking and fresh fish. So many more are the entertainment possibilities for the whole family that you’ll never have time to get bored on Abaco.

The combined population of Abaco is approximately 15,000

Largest town in Abaco – Marsh Harbour

Island Size: 120 miles long, 10 miles wide.

Area: 650 sq. miles.

Highest Point: 134.5 ft. …