Abaco

Abaco is a group of islands in the Bahamas located 180 miles east of South Florida. A chain of small islands, called “cays,” stretch for more than 100 miles from boomerang-shaped Great and Little Abaco where the main town, Marsh Harbour, features several marinas, small resort hotels, waterfront restaurants and a wide variety of shops and stores. The off-lying cays are separated from the mainland by the protected Sea of Abaco, which is ideal for sailing, cruising, fishing, snorkeling and swimming. Ferry services connect Great Abaco with the outer cays, where rental homes, resorts, and beautiful beaches on islands such as Elbow Cay (Hope Town), Great Guana Cay, Green Turtle Cay and many others offer great vacation spots for those who love sea, sand and sun.

The mild climate of Abaco makes it superb for outdoor activities of all kinds. The turquoise waters of the Sea of Abaco invite you to jump in! Swimming, snorkeling and diving are popular sports in the warm Caribbean waters. Live coral and beautiful tropical fish are abundant, and dolphins swim nearby. On the Atlantic side, a barrier reef protects miles of sandy beaches. Occasional breaks in the reef create spectacular locations for surfing!
The Abacos are a sailing paradise - with 120 miles of islands and cays to explore, you can spend a lifetime discovering beautiful, private beaches and small villages with friendly people. You can also rent a power boat for island-hopping or fishing. Bonefish are plentiful on the flats, tuna, wahoo, dolphin, sails and marlin a short distance out, and there's terrific reef fishing. Try your hand at lobster in season, too! If you prefer to just watch the fish, visit Sandy Cay and Pelican Cay National Park underwater preserves.
When visiting these beautiful islands, you're rarely far from a beach. Therefore, you have plenty of options, whether your choice is a beach with lots of activity or a secluded beach where you feel as if you are alone on a deserted island. Favorite activity beaches include Ocean Beach at Treasure Cay and the beach front that belongs to the notable Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour. Tahiti Beach, located on the end of Elbow Cay and accessible by foot or bicycle only, is known for being one of the best remote beaches. Another secluded beach with little foot traffic is the sugary beach that lines Cocoa Bay; it's located about 5 minutes from the Green Turtle Club

ATTRACTIONS:

Nippers Beach Bar & Grill is located on Great Guana Cay, the largest of the cays in the chain of islands off the shore of Great Abaco, Bahamas.  Nippers Beach Bar & Grill is one of the most famous all-ages hot spots in all of the Abacos. Every Sunday it is THE place to be.
Perched high upon a forty-foot dune, Nippers overlooks the Great Abaco Barrier Reef.   Beach entry is only a few stair steps away, allowing snorkelers and scuba divers some of the very best access in all of the Abacos to this well-developed reef system that starts less than fifty feet from shore, and rises from a depth of about forty feet to within inches of the surface.

The visibility of the turquoise seas will astound you along with the more than seven miles of powder-soft pinkish sand and clear aqua water.  And if the beach doesn't beckon, enjoy a leisurely float in Nippers' two-level swimming pool and pool bar, and the company of great music and good friends and even a bit of shopping.
Enjoy your day in a hammock and read a book, rent a boat and head off on your own on a calm, protected sea for reefs, deserted beaches, island settlements or fishing grounds, snorkel on a coral reef, browse through shops and galleries in a picturesque village and swim in a deserted cove - all in one day.
You can enjoy billfish tournaments and yacht regattas, the challenging 18-hole championship golf course at the Treasure Cay Resort is another alternative, as well as the four-mile beach there. Good roads allow you to explore the 100-mile-long mainland by rental car. Along the way, you can see villages immersed in  history, photograph island architecture and take a hike in a forest preserve with a population of protected wild parrots.
You can also count dolphins swimming the Sea of Abaco, climb the steps of the historic 1863 lighthouse in Hope Town, and collect shells on the beaches. Oh yes, the beaches -- wide, deserted, palm-fringed, soft, warm, casuall, unlimited and unbelievable. No peddlers or hawkers. Meeting the people is also a highlight. Their decedents date back to 1783, when loyalists and slaves founded the place. They were pushed out of the Carolinas, New York and elsewhere in the colonies after the American revolution having sided with England. They are industrious, church-going people; prosperous and self-reliant people who enjoy their artistry and craft making.

HOW TO GET THERE:
Six major airports in The Bahamas are served by various international airlines, including Delta Airlines http://www.delta.com , Carnival Airlines, AOM, British Airways, Air Jamaica, and American Eagle, US Air, and Air Canada, allowing direct flights to and from key destinations in Europe, North and South America and the Caribbean, with connections around the globe.  Travel from Nassau, New Providence Island via Bahamasair to Treasure Cay or Marsh Harbor; flights are also available from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Orlando, Florida.
USAir Express..................................................800-562-7661
American Eagle................................................800-433-7300
Bahamasair.....................................................800-423-7714
Gulfstream International Airlines..........................305-871-1200
Island Express.................................................305-359-0380


ATTIRE:

All you need on Abaco is a bathing suit (maybe 2), shorts, t-shirts, 1 pair long cotton pants, one windbreaker or light rain jacket and a cover-up for the sun. Wear Tennis/Boat shoes and bring sandals for the feet. In the winter bring a set of sweats or a light sweater. If you're staying at one of the clubs or resorts, women may want one simple dress for a night out. If you're into tennis or golf bring appropriate attire for those sports.  Divers might bring their own mask and regulator, but its easier to rent everything else than haul it.  Packing light is the best advice for this destination.