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Treasure Cay: Ever
expanding Treasure Cay is one of the most frequently visited
places in Abaco. Although Treasure Cay, is more like a peninsula
than a cay. Abaco has it's share of a lot of Cays/Islands
and Islets. Treasure Cay has a public golf course, one of
the most beautiful beaches in Abaco, many new houses, time
share units and condominiums, and many old villas and run
down houses. Treasure Cay is ever expanding it's housing
and marina. The Cay is self sufficient with it's own grocery
store, restaurant, post office, etc. Once you are there,
you won't have to leave.
Elbow Cay contains
Hope Town: Elbow Cay is the most visited of the Cays
with Hope Town as it's main town. The island has no cars
(unless you have a working permit) and having a golf cart
is a necessity to travel the island. You can catch a ferry
in Marsh Harbour to get to Hope Town Cay. Elbow Cay has
a beautiful beach with white powdery sand.
Hope Town is famous
for it's candy stripped lighthouse. 118 ft high
Marsh Harbour:
pop. 4000. Marsh Harbour is now the 3rd largest settlement
in the Bahamas. It is not only the capital of Abaco but
also the main hub of activity.
New Developments:
There is a new golf course development called Abaco Club
on Winding Bay on the east side of Abaco. This private development
has a guarded gate for its 543 acre peninsula. Each lot
has more than 200 feet of beach, golf course or ocean frontage.
Priced from $1 to $4 million. The Abaco Club on Winding
Bay is managed by the Ritz - Carlton.
Population of Abaco: 13170 (census 2000)
Capital: Marsh
Harbour
Language: English
Geography: Abaco
lies 200 miles southeast of Nassau, New Providence.
Time Zone: Eastern
Standard Time
Currency: The
legal tender is the Bahamian dollar (B$1), which is equivalent
in value to the US dollar. Both US and Bahamian dollars
are accepted interchangeably throughout the islands. Travelers
Checks and Credit Cards (credit cards not accepted at gas
stations) are also accepted. There are ATM's available at
the banks in Abaco.
Economy:
This island is the most self sufficient of the Bahamas islands
and the most industrious. Fishing and boat building and
repair are very popular here as employment as well as serving
the tourist industry.
Nationality: Bahamian
Medical:
There is one San Salvador Medical Clinic north of Club med.
Entry Requirements:
Passports required.
Driving:
Bahamian's drive on the left side of the road (remember:
right is left). There is one main road that runs all the
way around the island.
Electricity:
120/240 volts, suitable for all US appliances.
Medical:
There is a medical clinic on the island, There is a little
poison oak on the Bahamian islands.
Getting
to Abaco
Airports: Three Airports: Marsh Harbour (the main
one), Treasure Cay and Walker's Cay. Take American Eagle,
Continental Connection and Twin Air also from in from Florida
locations.
Mailboats:
Mia Desa and Champion II $60 one way.
Where to
stay: There are many accommodations in Abaco including
small hotels, time shares and villa's. Treasure Cay being
the most visited. If you want to get away from it all, Treasure
Cay is NOT the place to go. It is lively with activities.
Drinking
Water: Most homes have cisterns which collect rain water
in a tank underground or above ground when it rains. Most
cisterns are made of cement or plastic. It's always good
to conserve the use of water when staying in the Bahamas
as it can run out if it does not rain for awhile.
Weather
in Abaco: Click here for weather in the Bahamas
Highest Point of Abaco: 120
feet
Area (Sq. Miles) of Abaco:: 649
sq. miles
Marinas:Abaco
Beach Resort and Boat 190 slips.
Bluff House Beach Hotel and Yacht Club 45 slips.
Conch Inn Marina 75 slips.
Green Turtle Club and Marina 40 slips.
Marsh Harbour Marina 67 slips.
Spanish Cay Marina 81 slips.
Treasure Cay Marina
with 150 slips with a max. dept of 12 feet. On shore accommodations
such as showers, fuel, shops, restaurant, Laundromat and
satellite TV.
Treasure Cay Marina Shown Above
Parks: In 1994, the Bahamian
government set aside 20,500 acres in Abaco to protect the
northern breeding area of the Bahamas parrot (an endangered
species). There are 4 national parks, including Pelican
Cay's Land and Sea Park.
Sites to See:
- The Albert Lowe Museum
- Elbow Cay - Hope Town - Elbow
Cay candy striped lighthouse built in 1863.
- Wyannie Malone Museum and Garden
- Dr. Evans Cottman House
is a small castle-like building on top of a small hill
in Marsh Harbour. This late doctor wrote a couple of books
in this castle.
Festivals:
- Annual Island Roots Heritage Festival
(May)
- Sandy Point Homecoming fest (June)
- Annual North Abaco Summer Festival
and Power Boat Race (June)
- Junkanoo Summer Festival (June-July)
- Christmas Festival (December)
- Harbour Island (April) Briland
Back yard Festival
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