If you’re looking for a destination in the Bahamas that paints an authentic picture of all that makes the country what it is, head to the Great Abaco Islands.
Located in the northeastern part of the country, Abaco Bahamas is part of a group of islands called the Out Islands. Stretching for 120 miles and featuring some of the top attractions in the country, the area is a fantastic destination to explore.
While flights to Great Abaco with Bahamas Air Tours make it easy to reach the region, what can you expect to see once you’re there? Read on to find out!
Great Abaco Islands: What to See on Abaco Bahamas
Great Abaco
The Abacos are home to blue holes, beaches, and more.
The main island in the chain, Great Abaco is the first stop on most excursions to Great Abaco Islands. Home to two international airports, the island accommodates travelers from different parts of the country and region.
While the island serves as an entry point for many of the nearby attractions, Great Abaco features stunning beaches, national parks, different settlements, and prime access to the surrounding azure water. All of that makes it a great first stop on an island-hopping journey through the region.
Great Abaco Islands Horses
Horses in the Bahamas (and the Americas, in general) have an interesting history. Despite not being native to the region, explorers like Christopher Columbus brought them over on their voyages. In many areas, they adapted to their new habitats and became members of the local ecosystem.
Flights to Great Abaco Island let you learn about the Spanish Colonial horse.
On the Great Abaco Islands, Spanish Colonial Horses once had a population of more than 200 individuals. However, their numbers dwindled over the years, and the horses became extinct on the islands in 2015.
Today, different organizations hope to restore the breed, with some turning to cloning as a potential solution. Regardless, the horses’ historical impact on the local area remains clear.
Blue Holes
The Great Abaco Islands are one of the best destinations in the world for snorkeling and diving. However, besides just housing coral reefs, the water around the islands is also home to several blue holes.
Ralph’s Cave is one of several blue holes on Great Abaco Islands.
These geological features are openings to underwater caves. Their names come from the deep blue color that appears when viewed from the sky. However, while the surface water is often a dark color, the water beneath is crystal clear. Inside the blue holes, you can find mesmerizing collections of crystals, stalactites, and stalagmites.
Ralph’s Cave, Dan’s Cave, Donker’s Blue Hole, Basin Harbour Creek, and Tennakie Blue Hole are some of the crystal caves scattered throughout the Great Abaco Islands.
Treasure Cay
If there’s one destination that holds true to its name, it’s Treasure Cay. Part of Great Abaco Islands, Treasure Cay features some of the most beautiful vistas in the world.
Its crown jewel, Treasure Cay Beach, stretches for over three miles and features the sugary white sand and turquoise water you dream of. However, despite ranking as the top beach in the Caribbean, it remains largely under the radar. As you explore the beach, you won’t find the crowds of tourists you find in other parts of the country.
Besides the beach, Great Abaco Islands Treasure Cay also has a large marina, as well as several Abaco Islands resorts. Likewise, the area is also home to lots of history. The Carleton Settlement Ruins, for example, are the remains of a Loyalist settlement constructed in 1783. While a hurricane destroyed the town two years later, it remains a well-preserved and worthwhile historical attraction to explore to this day.
Flights to Great Abaco Island make reaching the Abaco Islands resorts, marina, and historic sites a breeze.
Treasure Cay Golf Course
The Treasure Cay golf course is a highlight of Abaco Bahamas.
Great Abaco Islands Treasure Cay also features a beautiful and expansive golf course. Designed by Dick Wilson, a famous golf course architect, the course stretches for nearly 7,000 yards and features 18 holes. Golf carts make the course easy to traverse, while rentable clubs ensure you won’t have to lug your own on flights to Great Abaco Island.
With sand traps, lush vegetation, and various water features, the golf course is as challenging as it is beautiful.
Man-O-War Cay
Another location in the Great Abaco Islands that offers insight into the history of the Bahamas is Man-O-War Cay. Just two-and-a-half miles long, the island was originally populated by Loyalists. Today, the town resembles a New England coastal town, albeit with a tropical breeze and palm trees.
Interestingly, the town is one of the most conservative places in the country. Many of the residents are religious, with the community being alcohol-free.
Man-O-War Cay has a long history with boat building.
The island’s oldest industry is boat-building. Known as the boat-building capital of the Bahamas, many believe that the original Loyalist population influenced the Man-O-War Cay build-building trade. This knowledge was then passed down from generation to generation.
Joe’s Studio
The Albury family is one of those that have practiced boat-building for generations. All of this is on display at Joe’s Studio, in the seaside town of Man-O-War Cay in the Great Abaco Islands.
Joe’s Studio sells an assortment of different goods.
Joe Albury, the shop’s owner, began creating and selling his creations in the 1970s. His work included ribbed and solid models of dinghies that he made with his father, who was also in the trade. He eventually received the Cacique Award as a testament to his work.
As his business grew, Joe expanded his shop to include additional rooms. Today, these house products from other local vendors and include goods like ceramics and jewelry.
Hope Town on Elbow Cay
One of the settlements in the Great Abaco Islands you’ll want to visit is Hope Town. Located on Elbow Cay, one of the smaller nearby islands, the town is easy to reach via Treasure Cay flights.
As of 2010, Hope Town had a population of less than 500 residents. Likewise, there are no cars on the island, and all of the buildings exhibit the colorful colonial architecture found throughout the Bahamas. Those features make Hope Town a quaint and charming settlement to explore.
Hope Town is home to a historic lighthouse.
Hope Town is also home to a 120-foot-tall red and white lighthouse, the Hope Town Lighthouse. Built in 1862, the structure is one of the last remaining kerosene-operated lighthouses in the world. While a recent hurricane severely damaged it (along with the town, as a whole), Hope Town undertook various restoration efforts over the past couple of years. Today, the lighthouse remains standing and is a great historic site to visit.
In addition to the lighthouse, travelers can also learn about local history at Wyannie Malone Historical Museum. With exhibits on the Lucayan people (the original residents of the Bahamas), boat building, and the British Loyalists that contributed so heavily to the country’s development, the museum is a fun and informative place to tour.
Abaco Bahamas: Hope Around the Beautiful Islands
With beautiful beaches, charming historical towns, and mysterious blue holes, the Great Abaco Islands are a must-see part of the Bahamas. All of the islands in the Abaco Bahamas chain offer travelers insight into the true beauty of the Bahamas.
Flights to Great Abaco Island from Nassau, other parts of the Bahamas, and even South Florida make it easy to reach the area. Whether you’re hoping for a day excursion or plan on finding accommodations, Bahamas Air Tours makes chartering a plane a breeze.
Contact us to learn more about a private air charter today!
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