The Abacos

The boomerang-shaped Abacos chain is the second-largest land mass in the country and comprises Abaco (the main island) and the Abaco Cays, a necklace of dozens of smaller cays. The Sea of Abaco, the protected waters in the cays' lee, is a hot spot for yachters, and the chain has earned the nickname 'The Sailing Capital of the World.' Abaco technically consists of Great Abaco, the lower part of the island, and Little Abaco, its northwestern extension. Most folks live in Marsh Harbor (the largest town in the Abacos) or on one of the four Loyalist Cays (the name comes from these cays' early settlers, who arrived here after fleeing persecution during and after the American Revolution). Instead of large, showy hotel resorts, the Abacos boast homey cottages and inns on talcum-fine beaches or alongside the many marinas. Walker's Cay, on the edge of the Gulf Stream, is one of The Bahamas' prime sport-fishing sites. Coral reef gardens fringing the Atlantic beckon divers and Snorkelers. Ashore, most of Abaco is smothered with scrub and pine forest, good for bird watching and nature hikes.

Elbow Cay, east of Marsh Harbor, is a scrub-and-pine-covered islet favored by lizards and feral cats, with a solitary hamlet called Hope Town. It's a quaint place that appears pinned to the ground by a candy-striped lighthouse. Although the town is one of the most visited places in The Bahamas, it has taken care to minimize the effects of tourism, boasting nearly 100 well-preserved, gaily painted old homes and all of two narrow, car-free lanes circling the village. You can wander around and enjoy the quiet, or climb the 100 steps of the lighthouse and take in the picture-perfect view. There are several museums in town, including the Wyannie Malone Museum, with displays on Lucayan Indians and Loyalist settlers; and the Cetacean Museum, a tiny place devoted to whales.
 

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Last modified: 06/09/08

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