Bahamas Family Vacation

2007-07-06T00:45:00.000-07:00

The largest town in the Abacos, and the third largest in The Bahamas, Marsh Harbour lies on Great Abaco Island and is the major gateway to this island group.

Planning Trip

Marsh Harbour is also a shipbuilding center, but tourism accounts for most of its revenues: A number of good inns are here. Although the town doesn't have the quaint New England charm of either New Plymouth or Hope Town, it does have a shopping center and various other facilities not found in many Out Island settlements. Good water-taxi connections, too, make this a popular place from which to explore offshore cays, including Man-O-War and Elbow. Several hotels will also rent you a bike if you want to pedal around town.

Marsh Harbour is the most easily accessible point in the Abacos from the U.S. mainland, with daily flights from Florida.
Getting Around
You won't need a car to get around the town itself, but if you want to explore the rest of the island on your own, you can rent a car, for $70 a day or $350 per week (be prepared for bad roads, though). In Marsh Harbour, call A&P Rentals at tel. 242/367-2655 to see if any vehicles are available.
Rental Wheels of Abaco at Marsh Harbour (tel. 242/367-4643) will rent bikes at $10 a day or $45 a week, and also mopeds at $45 per day or $200 a week.
Visitor Information
The Abaco Tourist Office is at Queen Elizabeth Drive in the commercial heart of town (tel. 242/367-3067). It's open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Fast Facts
There's a First Caribbean International Bank on Don MacKay Boulevard (tel. 242/367-2152), plus several other banks and a post office (tel. 242/367-2571).
For medication, go to the Chemist Shop Pharmacy, Don MacKay Boulevard (tel. 242/367-3106), open Monday through Saturday 8:30am to 5:30pm.
Dial 911 if you need the police.
Special Events
In July, Marsh Harbour hosts Regatta Week, the premier yachting event in the Abacos, attracting sailboats and their crews from around the world. It's held sometime around the U.S. and Bahamian Independence Days (July 4 and July 10). Many of the yachters participating in this event stay at the Green Turtle Club. For registration forms and more information, write to Regatta Time in Abaco, P.O. Box AB20551, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, The Bahamas, or call David Ralph at tel. 242/367-2677