The Abaco islands are located 168 miles east of West Palm Beach and 75 miles north of Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. The island is 130 miles long and is shaped like a boomerang. Many smaller islands and cays abound around the mainland. Together they comprise approximately 50 square miles of land making Abaco the second largest and most northern of the Bahamian islands.
Marsh Harbour is the bustling commercial hub of Abaco located near the centre of the mainland and is well situated to service the smaller islands. The town has a sheltered harbour which draws snowbirds and summer boaters. The harbour is an oasis of sailboats and motor yachts on a year round basis.
The village atmosphere in Marsh Harbour delivers a New England charm with waterfront restaurants and quaint island stores. Visitors have often compared this serene setting to that of Cape Cod and Nantucket. Rental boats and sailboats are available with or without a captain.
Treasure Cay, located 25 miles north of Marsh Harbour, has a spectacular beach which National Geographic has classified as ‘one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world’. The golf course has been recognized by “Golf Digest” as one of the best golf courses in the Bahamas.
The Abacos have hidden treasures mainly wide Atlantic Ocean beaches, primarily located in the southern portion of the mainland. A new residential community, with a world class Scottish style ‘tropical links’ championship golf course at the Abaco Club, located at “Winding Bay”, has recently opened to rave reviews.
“Mickey Mouse” has established a foot hold in the south of Abaco as Disney has acquired an island 6 miles west of Sandy Point and created Castaway Island. Several thousand Disney cruise ship passengers land at Castaway Island weekly for day trips.
The island has a 20,000 acre National Forest Reserve. The Bahamian Government has set aside this zone to protect the Abaco Parrot. More recently, 600 aces have been allocated to protect the 12 remaining Abaco Barbs, an endangered breed of horses originally from Spanish descent dating back 500 years.
The Abacos are the sailing capital of the Bahamas. Small harbours and protected waters on the Sea of Abaco allow sailors the safety of sailing within a confined coastline. The gin-clear water and the spectacular aqua colour of the sea are breathtaking.
The mainland has high land elevations and one of the largest fresh water reserves in the Bahamas.
Abaco has the third largest barrier reef in the world. These reefs provide scuba divers delight as the islands are lined with magnificent coral. The Abacos are renowned for their deep sea fishing and record catches of blue and white marlin.
Abaco has a population of 14,000 and, during the winter, second home residents swell the numbers to 18,000. Marsh Harbour is the third largest town in the Bahamas. There are daily scheduled flights to Marsh Harbour from Nassau and Florida.
The Bahamian Government has invested substantially in the Abacos. They have electrified the mainland from north to south, constructed new highways, installed fibre optic cable for telephone, internet and cable T.V., cell phone relay towers and most recently, a new $11M Port facility. Currently under review is a new airport terminal and tower.
If one is looking for a favourite spot for tranquillity, serenity and friendliness, the Abacos should be first on the list. A ferry boat to Hope Town is highly recommended.
Guana Cay, one of Abaco's beautiful islands, has just received Government approval for a $400 million mixed-used development.
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to view some of the beaches and locations mentioned and refer to our 
