Elbow Reef Lighthouse and Hope Town’s Loyalist architecture reveal two sides of Central Abaco’s history. The area also has coastal spots, each with its own character: at Tahiti Beach, a sandbar shapes the view at low tide, while Great Guana Cay is known for its long white-sand beach and coral reefs. You can shape your discoveries around history, the coast or craftsmanship.

Lighthouse and History in Hope Town

Elbow Reef Lighthouse was built in 1862. It is manually operated and the last of its kind in the Bahamas. Visitors can climb its spiral staircase to the top. The light station is open to the public Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; check the opening hours before your visit, as they may change.

Hope Town was co-founded by Wyannie Malone in 1785. Pastel-colored wooden houses and shops are examples of Loyalist architecture. The Wyannie Malone Museum exhibits and preserves the town’s varied history through memorabilia, artifacts, old photographs and documents. Hope Town’s architecture and the museum’s historical materials offer different impressions.

Hope Town’s preserved historical features also include a cholera cemetery. You can pick up a brochure with information about its location and some historical facts at Vernon’s Grocery Store. Printed materials may not always be available; ask about them locally if you are interested. Cars are prohibited in the town center, where visitors get around on foot or by bicycle.

Sandy Beaches, Reefs and the Coast

Tahiti Beach lies at the southern tip of Elbow Cay. At low tide, an endless sandbar forms there. The beach is accessible only by bicycle, boat or on foot. This restriction is part of planning your visit: consider which of the three options suits your outing.

Great Guana Cay offers a different coastal experience. A five-mile-long white-sand beach stretches along the island, which is surrounded by rich coral reefs. Great Guana Cay is also a popular destination for snorkelers. Those who want to experience different coastal scenery will find a different focus here than at tide-shaped Tahiti Beach: a long sandy beach and reefs rather than a sandbar at the southern end of Elbow Cay.

Boatbuilding and Craftsmanship

Craft traditions also give Central Abaco its own cultural identity. Man-O-War Cay is considered the boatbuilding capital of the Bahamas and one of the earliest Loyalist settlements in the Abacos. Its residents are known for woodcarving, sailing dinghies and canvas goods. In Hope Town, the building of Abaco dinghies is preserved as part of local history; these boats can be seen at regattas in the Bahamas. The references to craftsmanship and history complement one another: here, the boat is both the subject of a living craft tradition and part of the area’s inherited history.

Hope Town Canvas offers another connection between materials and design. The company designs bags made from recycled sails, each one unique. Together with the sailing dinghies and canvas work on Man-O-War Cay, this shows the different ways sail materials and boatbuilding are embraced in these communities.

Getting There and Getting Around

Leonard M. Thompson International Airport is located in Marsh Harbour. From there, Elbow Cay can be reached by private boat or a regularly scheduled ferry. Ferry schedules may change, so check them before traveling. The full-service marinas in Marsh Harbour offer berths for private boats, as well as liveaboard sailboat and motorboat rentals.

When planning your trip, it is worth keeping the differences between the communities in mind: Hope Town combines architecture and history, Man-O-War Cay is associated with boatbuilding and craftsmanship, and the coastal features described at Tahiti Beach and Great Guana Cay differ. This can help you choose which aspects of Central Abaco interest you most on your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Cherokee, South Eleuthera, South Andros, Acklins, Mangrove Cay, Exuma, Cat Island, Crooked Island And Long Cay.

For the main travel overview: Bahamas.