Am I doing two much for one Trip

[MHK]

I am new on the board and would love to get some views on my first trip to Abaco that I just planned for next week.

i will be taking my wife and two daughters on our boat from Miami, stopping for one night to Old Bahama Bay in the West End and then heading over to Abaco. My current game plan is to spend two nights at the Bluff House on Green Turtle Cay, head down to Cape Town and spend one night there (working on finding a Marina), head back up to Great Guana Cay and spend three nights at Orchid Bay, then head back to the West End as a stop over before crossing the Gulf Stream.

Since it is our first time over, I would like to see as much as possible in order to get a feel for the various islands (in anticipation for our next trips over), but I am somewhat worried that I might be rushing it a bit.

Any thougths from experienced travels to Abaco would be greatly appreciated.

[NeedH2O]

Having stayed for lengths of time that vary for 3 days to two weeks, I can tell you that you never feel like you have enough time. I don't see a problem with what you have planned as a way to get a multiple places in and build some plans for future dates. The one thing I would do is have contingency plans laid out in case of bad weather.

[bellavista2]

That's a lot to do, but no more than lots of folks do on day trips in rental boats.
Suggest Seaspray Marina for place to stay on Elbow Cay--just below Hopetown.

[MHK]

I would very much like to stay at SeaSpary, that was my original thought, but they do not take advanced reservations. Any other suggestions?

[Our Girl]

I took my wife and three sons to Abacos for the first time in late June for a ten day trip. Crossed to Spanish, then two days each on Guana, Elbow, Boat Harbour and Green Turtle. At the time, it did not seem too rushed and we got a flavor of how to spend our next trip over. Looking back, I am not sure there will ever be enough time!!

P.S. Not to be too critical, we stayed at Club Soleil on Elbow since they would take reservations, SeaSpray did not have anything available. I would just as soon stay on the hook then go there at this time as the place has never gotten over hurricane damage and the amenities are abysmal.

[tspecter]

If you miss Treasure Cay you will be missing the most beautiful beaches in all of abaco and one of the top ten beaches in the world.

[R]

If you miss Treasure Cay you will be missing the most beautiful beaches in all of abaco.
Pretty - yes, the best in Abaco - ?
There are beautiful beaches all over the Abacos.

Regards,
R.

[R]

MHK,

I hope you meant Hope Town, and not Cape Town - if not you need more time.:D

R.

[bostonjules]

Be sure to try Miss Love's food on Guana (take out, Bahamian style -- no comparison to US) and go on a dive trip with Dive Guana.

[MHK]

Ooops, I meant Hope Town....

On another note, I just found out that I can not get back to Old Bahama Bay for my return. Need to get back through Freeport.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what the southernmost marina to stay at would be in Abaco before I make my way back to Freeport? Alternatively, has anyone stayed at chubb Cay in the Berry Islands?

[abacomah]

If you're staying three nights on Guana you could always run over to Treasure Cay beach for the day and check it out. That way you'll know what to consider when you plan your next trip. We usually stay on Treasure and run over to Guana for the day all the time.

You can anchor close to the beach, have lunch at the Coco Beach Bar and walk into town to check it out.

There is also the Treasure Cay marina if you want to spend a night there.

R is right there are a lot of beautiful beaches in the Abacos.

Have fun next week. We'll be looking for a trip report!

[MHK]

Treasure cay is a terrific idea! Certainly will add it to the list.

[big fish]

You don't mention the type of boat you have or your cruise speed, but I have an alternative suggestion to Old Bahama Bay if you like. I like to anchor out at Great Sale Cay on the way over or back. It is a very quiet and pretty anchorage, and well protected. Old Bahama Bay is very busy and expensive, and feels like Florida to me. You can clear at Green Turtle or Treasure Cay or Guana the next day. You'll love Abaco. There's nothing like it in my book. Enjoy!

Bruce

[MHK]

I have a 52 foot powerboat. It sounds like an excellent idea. I plan to stop at Great Sale Cay on the way back to Florida.

[Alan Brown]

If OBB is not available, head around to Port Lucaya. Call the Yacht Club to see if they have any slips available. The hotel's fair, but you can walk to some of the cheapest restaurants in the Bahamas, plus a casino.

I've been to Chub Cay several times in the past, but not since they've reopened. If you plan to use this as a stopover on the way back to FL, it's somewhat out of your way and offers no hotel services.

If you're looking for an alternate way back to FL, you could go around Hole in the Wall, the southernmost point on Great Abaco, then head NW to Port Lucaya. If the wind's from the east-north, this could be a pretty smooth ride.

Another way is to cross from Hole in the Wall to Great Harbour Cay. There's a nice, reasonably priced, and well-protected marina across from the condos in Bullock's Harbour. From there you've got about a 60 mile run to Bimini and then another 60 miles to south FL.

The southernmost marina in the Abacos is Sea Spray, although Lighthouse Marina and Hopetown Marina aren't too far away. If you're thinking about taking a southern route and are up for anchoring, I suggest you head down to Little Harbour and anchor off Pete's Pub. From there you've got about 28 miles to Hole in the Wall, then about 81 miles to Port Lucaya, or about 45 to Great Harbour Cay.

As you are returning to Miami, I would suggest taking a southern route home, either via Chub Cay to Bimini or Cat Cay, or Great Harbour Cay to Bimini. This route will give you the most direct route across the Gulf Stream to Miami. I've taken both routes and enjoyed each of them.

Make sure you have a good set of charts and and a GPS. If you've got time to get a Dodge Guide to the Abacos, do so. ALSO, plan for bad weather! If you get none, great. If you do, don't let your time constraints force you to take unnecessary risks.

You will love the Abacos!

[MHK]

Great advice re Dodge and the charts. I have read Dodge inside and out at this point. Also, as it turns out, I got an opening at OBB. Given that I have made that crossing on numerous occassions (both to Lucaya and West End), I am comfortable going that route instead of taking the south route. I reviewed the charts and it appeared to me (if I did my math right) that taking the southern route actually adds more distance to the trip than going up around the West end.

[MHK]

Alan,

I just did some research on Great Harbor Cay, it looks like the area is being redeveloped. Do you know if the Marina is open? If it is, it does look like it could make for an interesting stop over.