Abaco Honeymoon, the Bahamas

Escape to the uncrowded cays, white-sand beaches and slow pace of life on the tranquil Abaco Islands for the perfect secluded honeymoon holiday.

Things to do and see
With its 200km-long coastline fringed by pencil-thin cays, cerulean lagoons and crystal clear waters surrounding the world’s third-longest barrier reef, the Abaco Islands offer some of the best snorkelling, diving and deep-sea fishing in the Bahamas.

Boasting favourable trade winds, the Abaco Islands are also known as the sailing capital of the Bahamas.

Explore the nearby cays and often unnamed beaches by rental boat. On Great Abaco Island, snorkel the clear, warm waters off Elbow Cay and Mermaid Reef or scuba dive the undersea caves and seemingly endless coral reefs at Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park.

With underwater visibility stretching further than 30m, it’s easy to explore caverns, blue holes, coral reefs and underwater coral gardens filled with huge tube and barrel sponges, fields of stag and elkhorn coral, as well as a choice of old shipwrecks.

The island group is highly rated for some of the best deep-sea fishing in the Bahamas: hook up a charter at Treasure Cay or Walkers Cay to chase down barracuda, bonefish, grouper, amberjack, yellowtail, snapper, tuna, blue marlin, dolphin fish and wahoo.

On land, visit Hope Town where you can stroll picturesque streets lined with silver grey and pastel-painted houses and marvel at the photogenic, 36m-high, candy-striped lighthouse.

Accommodation
Although less visited than some of the more glamorous islands, the Abacos nonetheless offer excellent resort accommodation options to suit all budgets. On Great Abaco, choose from the Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour at Marsh Harbour, the luxurious Treasure Cay Hotel Resort and Marina or the family friendly Bahama Beach Club, both at Treasure Cay.

On Elbow Cay, try the Hope Town Harbour Lodge or the Sea Spray Resort & Marina. And for laid-back luxury on Green Turtle Cay, discover the Green Turtle Cay Resort & Marina.

Best time to visit Abaco?
The best time to visit Abaco is from November to April, when temperatures average a balmy 24°C with cooling trade winds. Temperatures average 28°C during the rest of the year, with the temperature dropping about 5°C after dark.

Summer, from May to October, is the rainy season. June through to November marks the official hurricane season (probably best avoided). For more climate info: Bahamas Weather Guide

Location – The Abaco Islands are in the Out Islands, about 121km north of Nassau and 322km east of Miami.

Getting there – By air, Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island receives daily flights from Miami and Nassau. A regular ferry service links Nassau with Great Abaco Island. How to get to Abaco . . .