A few years back, I went on a fabulous friend’s trip to the Abacos in the Bahamas where we stayed on Elbow Cay. I had honestly never heard of this area until the trip, but it is very popular with families in Charleston (where I’m from). It is so accessible from the southeast coast – you can be on white sand beach in only a few hours! It was easy to understand the draw to this magical place.
I fell in love with the boating capital of the Bahamas! We had the best time sipping painkillers, taking boat cruises, fishing, and relaxing on our front porch that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to visit the Abacos and all about our time in Elbow Cay in this travel guide!
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What are The Abacos?
The Abacos are a chain of islands in the Bahamas spanning 120 miles of closely knit islands and cays. It’s divided into North, Central and South Abacos.
We stayed in Elbow Cay which is central and a convenient location for boating from one island to the next. Elbow Cay is located right across from Marsh Harbour and is home to Hope Town and the iconic Elbow Reef Lighthouse. It is accessible only by private boat or ferry.
How to Get to The Abacos and Elbow Cay
You will want to book your flights into Marsh Harbor (MHH) to reach the Abacos and Elbow Cay. We booked Silver Airways from Jacksonville, but our flight got cancelled at the last minute. Alternatively, we booked a small charter flight from Daytona so that is an option as well.
From the airport, you’ll want to arrange for a taxi to take you to the marina to pick up a boat rental or to the ferry to reach Elbow Cay (or any other island).
Best Private Transportation (airport cars)
How to Get Around the Islands
The best mode of transportation is by boat. You will most likely want to island hop so this is going to be the most convenient.
We chose to rent a boat for the week so we could easily get around. If you are not comfortable driving a boat, then hopefully you are traveling with a friend that is.
I also recommend a golf cart so you can easily drive around the island you stay on to visit restaurants, sightsee, grocery shop, etc. It is the main form of transportation on these islands.
Best Boat Rentals in the Abacos:
- Private Yacht 60′
- We used CJ’s Abaco Dorado Boat Rental – we did a 24′ Dusky for 6 people.
- Abaco Yacht and Charter
Golf Cart Rentals in Elbow Cay:
Where to Stay in Elbow Cay
We went with a group of friends so we rented a house. There are tons of great vacation homes to rent in Elbow Cay. We stayed at the Wynne Rae via Elbow Cay Properties and it was the perfect beach house for the week. It also had a dock which was perfect since we had a boat as transportation. It came with a golf cart too so we could easily explore the island!
Leisurely tip: Make sure your vacation home has AIR CONDITIONING if going spring/summer. We knew ours didn’t at the time, but thought it would be fine in May with the trade winds. While there was definitely a breeze and we loved it, sleeping was another story. It was just a bit uncomfortable to sleep when it’s too warm. They have since installed A/C at the Wynne Rae though!!
Best Vacation Homes in Elbow Cay & The Abacos
I recommend renting a house while in the Bahamas especially if going with a group or family. If it is a couple, then a hotel could be nice. Here are some of my favorite vacation homes in Elbow Cay.
Best Hotels in Elbow Cay
Alternatively, there are also a few hotel options on the islands.
Firefly Sunset Resort
The Firefly Sunset Resort is a gorgeous place to stay! We visited often to enjoy their outdoor bar area. The resort features several cottages and villas along with an onsite restaurant and bar. It is great for groups and families. There is plenty to do with dock access, pools, kayaking, snorkeling and more.
After the hurricane hit in 2021, they have renovated the property so you can benefit from all of the updates they have completed and help support recovery.
Fun fact: this was created by the owners of Firefly Distillery in Charleston! They are famous for their sweet tea vodka which you MUST try mixed into your pina colada – seriously the best!!
Abaco Inn
Abaco Inn is such a great spot to call home for the week. I mean just look at this photo! We went for dinner/drinks one night and it was a great property. Stay in one of their 12 units – I suggest the ocean side villas. They have 8 of these with king bed, living room, kitchenette, deck, and beach access.
Things to do in the Abacos
Here are a few of the amazing things to do in the Abacos and Elbow Cay!
Island Hop via Boat
The number one thing is definitely to enjoy being on the water. Rent a boat for the week or just the day and island hop to the various Cays that make up the Abacos.
Boat Rentals in the Abacos:
- Private Yacht 60′
- We used CJ’s Abaco Dorado Boat Rental – we did a 24′ Dusky for 6 people.
- Abaco Yacht and Charter
Fishing
We had the best day fishing with Ira Key. He’s a 9th generation Bahamian and was so kind! I grew up fishing with my dad so am pretty well versed. We all took turns whenever we hooked a fish, when it was my turn I was so excited. After a bit of a fight, the captain said “maybe we should let a guy a handle this one”. Well, I definitely proved them all wrong and reeled in my first white marlin! It was such a memorable day. We loved Ira and highly recommend a fishing trip!
Tahiti Beach
Tahiti Beach is a special place. This was one of my very favorite days. The beach is technically on Elbow Cay, but is only accessible by foot, bike, or boat! Make sure to go at low tide to get the most magical experience at this beach that looks like it’s in Tahiti (not 2 hours from Florida).
Elbow Reef Lighthouse
Elbow Reef Lighthouse is the only lighthouse of its kind still burning kerosene. Unfortunately, you can no longer go inside, but it’s quite iconic and fun to see.
Swimming with the Pigs
If you’ve done any research, you have probably seen people swimming with the pigs. You can find them on Big Major Cay and nobody knows how they got there exactly. It’s in Exuma so you would want to take a power boat to reach it for a day trip.
Best Tours to Swim with Pigs
- 3 Islands, Snorkeling, Pig Beach , Turtles & Lunch Boat Trip
- Swimming Pigs, Turtles, Pink Sand Beaches & Snorkeling
Diving at the Catacombs
The Abacos is a great place for snorkeling and diving with coral reefs and shipwrecks making homes to turtles, reef sharks, and more. The Catacombs are one of the top dive spots at 40ft below the surface making it easy to reach diving. It is located near Green Turtle Cay.
Admire the Colonial Architecture
The colonial architecture and bright colors make the Bahamian islands so charming!
Shop
There are many cute little shops to peruse on the mainland and in Hope Town.
Where to Eat and Drink in the Abacos
Some of the best places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks. From cute coffee shops to beachside restaurants, you’re going to love these options!
Firefly Bar and Grill
A great place to watch sunset and have dinner and drinks while listening to music. Be sure to try the sweet tea vodka in your pina colada – the BEST tropical drink!
Very family friendly too with kids menu and all.
Nipper’s Bar
Nippers Beach Bar & Grill is a must visit. This place can get WILD so maybe don’t take your kids if traveling as a family. We took the boat over to Great Guana Cay and loved grabbing drinks and enjoying them on the beach/in the water. They are known for their strong drinks like the Nipper Juice – be warned it is potent!
Hope Town Coffee House
Hope Town Coffee House was voted a top coffee bar in the Bahamas by Conde Nast so you know it is good! Enjoy breakfast, lunch and desserts in their charming seaside spot!
The Abaco Inn Restaurant
The Abaco Inn Restaurant has a laid back vibe serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Expect fresh fish, salads, steaks, and tasty sides at dinner time. And of course, gorgeous sunset views! We went for dinner/drinks one night and it was a great property with fun outdoor atmosphere.
Must Know Abacos Travel Tips
Things we are glad we did and lessons learned! Do as I say, not as I do 🙂
- First, pack your own food and liquor from home! This seemed to be what everyone does. You can check a cooler just like you would a bag – we packed meats (frozen!) for meals at home and our liquor. It was much cheaper to bring it for a group staying a whole week! We ate out and supported local, but it was nice to have things for a few meals at home. Breakfast, some lunches, and a couple dinners.
- Make sure your accommodation has A/C if you plan a trip in spring/summer. The ocean breeze was great during the day, but we were uncomfortable trying to sleep.
- Hurricane season is in full swing September and October. You can receive a discount for booking in this period, but definitely get travel insurance! We used World Nomads on our last trip and really liked it!
- Grocery shop in Marsh Harbour after you land. The grocery store on Elbow Cay was quite small so be sure to pick up a grocery order at the big store before heading to your destination! Our driver dropped the girls off to shop and the guys went to pickup the rental boat in the meantime.
What to Pack for a Trip to the Bahamas
The weather in the Bahamas is going to be hot most likely. If you are visiting during winter, temps will be warm, but much more pleasant. Summer will be very hot so plan to spend lots of time in the water. You will want to pack plenty of sun protection, hats, flowy clothing, and swimwear!
It is very casual and laid back in Elbow Cay so you don’t need to go overboard. Some cute swimwear for the day and sundresses for dinners!
Here are some great options I’m loving.
Click any image to shop – these all come in multiple tropical colorways!