Abaco Islands

The Abacos are a 120-mile chain of cays in the northern Bahamas, built around Marsh Harbour and its international airport, one of the easiest Bahamas destinations to reach directly. Hurricane Dorian hit this chain hard in 2019, but by 2026 the marinas at Marsh Harbour, Hope Town, and Green Turtle Cay have been rebuilt, in several cases with upgraded docks and facilities that now handle larger yachts than before.

We recommend the Abacos for guests who want island-hopping between genuinely distinct stops, a candy-striped lighthouse at Hope Town, a boat-building village at Man-O-War Cay, a five-mile beach and Nippers at Great Guana Cay, without the long open crossings the Exumas sometimes require.

Why Charter the Abacos

Easy to reach. Marsh Harbour International Airport puts you on a yacht faster than most other Bahamas charter areas.
Genuinely distinct stops close together. Hope Town, Man-O-War Cay, and Green Turtle Cay each have their own character, all short hops apart.
Recently rebuilt infrastructure. Post-Dorian reconstruction means newer marinas and docks at Marsh Harbour, Hope Town, and Green Turtle Cay than you’ll find in some other Bahamas cruising grounds.
Swimming pigs here too. No Name Cay has its own resident pigs, so you don’t need the Exumas for that particular photo.
Real reef protection. Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park and Fowl Cays National Park keep some of the best snorkeling off-limits to fishing.

Getting to Your Abacos Yacht Charter

Marsh Harbour International Airport (MHH) – the standard embarkation point, with direct flights from several US cities, and the shortest transfer of any major Bahamas charter area.

Most charters base out of Marsh Harbour and work north to Green Turtle Cay or south to Little Harbour over 4-7 days, rather than trying to cover the full 120-mile chain in one trip.

We don’t recommend combining an Abacos charter with the Exumas in the same week – see the comparison below.

Where You’ll Go: The Abacos

Marsh Harbour

Marsh Harbour is the hub of the Abacos, home to the airport, the biggest marinas, and most provisioning. It’s rebuilt well since Dorian, Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina among the upgraded facilities, and it’s where most charters start and end.

Hope Town, Elbow Cay

Hope Town is the postcard shot of the Abacos: a candy-striped lighthouse over a harbour lined with pastel cottages. There’s no real anchorage in the harbour itself, most charters pick up a mooring or anchor off Tahiti Beach nearby. Don’t miss climbing the lighthouse at sunset, it’s one of the last hand-cranked kerosene lights left in the world.

Red and white candy cane striped lighthouse on Elbow Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, Hope Town. Storage shed with small boat are in the foreground. Copy space available in the clear blue sky

Man-O-War Cay

Man-O-War Cay has been a boat-building community for generations, and it still feels like one, no cars, preserved architecture, and working boat yards you can actually walk through. A quieter, more local stop than Hope Town.

Green Turtle Cay

Green Turtle Cay centers on New Plymouth, a Loyalist settlement with real history to it, and the Green Turtle Club marina makes it a comfortable stop for a night or two at the northern end of a charter.

Great Guana Cay

Great Guana Cay has a five-mile beach and Nippers, the beach bar that anchors most people’s idea of an Abacos afternoon. Fisher’s Bay is the usual anchorage, an easy dinghy ride from the beach.

Treasure Cay

Treasure Cay’s beach has made National Geographic’s top-ten lists more than once, three and a half miles of genuinely excellent sand, and Treasure Cay Marina gives you a solid provisioning stop if your route runs further north.

William Mc Nally Charter Broker, Associate CYBA Member

A 4-7 Day Abacos Itinerary

Day 1: Marsh Harbour → Green Turtle Cay – settle in, New Plymouth
Day 2: Green Turtle Cay → Great Guana Cay – beach day, Nippers
Day 3: Great Guana Cay → Hope Town, Elbow Cay – the lighthouse, Tahiti Beach
Day 4: Hope Town → Little Harbour – final night, back to Marsh Harbour

Extend to 7 nights and add Walker’s Cay at the top of the route.

See the full 7-day Abacos itinerary →

Abacos or the Exumas?

Clients often ask whether to combine the two. We don’t recommend it: the Abacos sit roughly 110 nautical miles from the Exumas, and support along that stretch is limited if a yacht needs mechanical help underway. Sailing the Exumas from Nassau is the more practical pairing if you want both.

As a rule of thumb: choose the Abacos for easy island-hopping between distinct towns, newer marinas, and the shortest flight in. Choose the Exumas for the classic remote, postcard Bahamas, more open anchorages and fewer settlements.

10 Good to know

Frequently asked questions.

What’s the best time to charter the Abacos?

The Abacos follow the same Bahamas-wide dry season as the rest of the archipelago – December through April, with April standing out for calm seas and lighter crowds. See our full month-by-month Bahamas timing guide for the details.

Have the Abacos recovered from Hurricane Dorian?

Yes. Marsh Harbour, Hope Town, and Green Turtle Cay have all rebuilt their marinas, in several cases with upgraded docks and facilities that handle larger yachts than before. By 2026 the Abacos are in a genuine upswing, with new beach clubs and restaurants alongside the rebuilt infrastructure.

Can I combine the Abacos with the Exumas in one charter?

We don’t recommend it. The two cruising grounds sit about 110 nautical miles apart with limited support in between. If you want to experience both, we’d suggest two separate charters rather than one long crossing.

Where can I see swimming pigs in the Abacos?

No Name Cay has its own resident pigs, so you don’t need to add the Exumas to your itinerary just for that stop.

How much should I budget for an Abacos yacht charter?

See our full guide to Bahamas yacht charter costs, APA, and taxes for a complete breakdown, then tell us your guest count and dates and we’ll give you a realistic range for the Abacos specifically.