Island Life on Abaco
Island Living in Abaco
Ever wanted to quit the rat race and move to a place where stress and crime are at a minimum? Where the climate is mild? The surroundings beautiful and the people friendly?
The Island of Abaco, in The Bahamas is such a place. Just a hop away from Florida, Abaco was settled by the Loyalists who left the British colonies of North America during the War of Independence. It was named Abacoa by the Lucayan Indians who inhabited it before the arrival of the Spaniards.
The second largest of the Bahamian Archipelago, Abaco offers hundreds of miles of shoreline bordering the Sea of Abaco to the East, the Atlantic Ocean to the South and the North and a shallow area to the West, called the “Marls”. Its East cost is lined with a string of jewels: smaller islands called “Cays”, the first to have been inhabited by the settlers, still keeping the remnants of Loyalist and Victorian architecture.
Boating Paradise
Swept by a breeze most of the year, Abaco is a sailor’s and fisherman’s paradise. There are sail boats bobbing with the tide in the marinas and the ports throughout the island. The diversity of its shores makes Abaco a fisherman’s heaven, whether for competitive or recreational fishing. Bonefish tournaments take place on the “Flats” in winter. Catch and Release “Big Bill” deep sea tournaments are held in Spring and early Summer. They include a category for catching edible large fish such as the praised mahi-mahi, yellow fin tuna and wahoo.
On Abaco the recreational fisherman will enjoy hooking a grouper, the base of many great Bahamian recipes, a delicate snapper, a turbot or a grunt, easily prepared into a delicious meal. Conch and lobster also abound. Please check with the local Department of Marine Resources for restriction on catching these delicacies.
The numerous reefs lying offshore are praised by divers who come from far to enjoy the pristine underwater scenes of Abaco. The under-ground cave systems located in South Abaco are so incredible and unique that they caught the attention of National Geographic Magazine. Obviously, diving can be a dangerous sport, so be sure to enroll the services of one of our local experienced dive masters.
More to do
Other island activities include bird watching to observe the native Abaco Parrot in the National Park or Piping Plovers at the beach and the multitude of migrant birds that make the island their home in winter. Of course, enjoying the sun, the deserted white sand beaches and swimming still remain popular island activities. As well as the year around gardening, should you decide to make Abaco your second home. Interested in Bahamas Birding click here.
Day Trip
When you want to get away for the day, there are many settlements that dot Abaco from North to South. Each offers unique attractions. In particular, you can participate in or watch a Regatta in Marsh Harbour or one of the Cays. Or, attend the Hope Town Junkanoo Festival on a Summer night. Spend a relaxing weekend afternoon at Pete’s Pub in Little Harbor. Enjoy fresh fish at Nancy’s in Sandy Point. Take a ferry to Hope Town for lunch on the harbour or the Box Car Derby. Visit Green Turtle Cay (home of the”Goombay Smash”) for the Island Roots Heritage Festival. Take a trip to Crown Haven to sample delishas native Bahamian dishes, stopping on the way in Cooper’s Town or Fox Town for home cooking and fresh fish. Because there are many possibilities for the whole family you will never have time to get bored.
- The combined population (including outer cays) of Abaco is approximately 15,000.
- Largest town in Abaco – Marsh Harbour
- Island Size: 120 miles long, 10 miles wide.
- Area: 650 sq. miles.
- Highest Point: 134 ft. …
Abaco Island Real Estate
Abaco real estate offers a wide variety of properties. Click on the links below to visit each category of real estate on Abaco.
Beautiful Abaco Bahamas