Bahamas trip to Marsh Harbour and the out islands in March, 2007

We had been to Marsh Harbour before, the last time about five years ago, but just wanted to go back and nose around to see how things had changed.  Since our last trip, there had been a couple of hurricanes and much new growth.  We saw no indication of any damage from the hurricanes, but new buildings and homes everywhere we went. 

Technically, we were in the Abacos, which is the northern archipelago of the Bahamas chain of islands and in our opinion where the people and islands are the best.   What follows is a four day tour of Marsh Harbour, where we flew into, then three of the barrier islands to the east of Marsh Harbour, which we visited by inter-island ferry.  The islands in the order we visited are Marsh Harbour, Man-O-War, Hope town, and Guana Cay.  The hotel where we stayed was the Abaco Beach Resort.

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Marsh Harbour

Marsh Harbour was where we stayed and toured the first day, walking the Eastern Shore,  and dinner on the water at sunset.  There are lot of places to shop and pretty good restaurants along the waterfront near the Abaco Beach Resort where we stayed.  Curly Tails, Wally's, and the restaurant at the hotel are the only places we ate.  There is a nice bar to watch sunset up stairs at Curly Tails and that  is where you catch the ferry to Guana Cay too.  All the other Ferries leave from the docks on the road to the Eastern Shore.  Buy your tickets cheaper at the ferry office rather than on the boat or at Curly Tails dock.  We stayed at a private residence on the Eastern Shore road called 'Mountain Top' the last time we were here about five years ago.

Map of Marsh Harbour area showing the marina where we stayed at the bottom of the map.

Man-o-War and Hope Town Islands

There isn't much to see or do on Man-O-War, so we took the ferry over first thing in the morning and then returned to head over to Hope Town, where many more people live.  There are restaurants and lots to see on Hope Town, including the light house on the harbor.  If you have time, rent a golf cart down on the water front.  There' lots of places to see and to shop if that's what you like to do. 

If you've ever seen books with photos of the 'doors' of a town like Santa Fe, well...we have photos of the Bahama shutters of the Islands.

These islands were settled in the 1700's by British sympathizers who left the northeast of America at the time of the colonies rebelling against the Crown. 

The kids ride the ferry back and forth to school at Marsh Harbour, where a standard school bus picks them up. 

Guana Cay

The third day, we took  the  ferry over to Guana Cay and basically spent four hours walking on the beach, eating at Nipper's up on the high dunes, and chilling out.  The color of  the water is just unbelievable as is the color of the pink sand. Nipper's food was great. But, there isn't much else to do except swim or snorkel.  Truly paradise.

Marsh Harbour International

We flew in on Continental's feeder airline, Gulfstream, which uses 20 seat prop-jets.  It took 50 minutes out of Ft. Lauderdale International, and is about 200 miles off the Florida eastern shore.  Yes, you do not want to spend one minute longer than necessary at the airport and be warned, you HAVE to be there no less than an hour early to get checked-in.  Don't cheat on the time. 

The out islands are where people who know, go in the Bahamas.  There is no glitz like Freeport or Nassau and Paradise Island.  If you want laid back beaches, diving, big game fishing, hanging out at sunset, and super nice people, do the Abacos and the out islands including Green Turtle.  For the rest of you...Miami or Paradise Island will be your piece of cake.