The northernmost of the Bahamian islands, THE ABACOS are sometimes called the "isles of the old-time Loyalists" because of their association with Tory expatriates fleeing the American Revolution. Located two hundred miles east of Miami and 75 miles north of Nassau, the Abacos stretch some two hundred miles in length, though they are rarely more than four miles wide at any point. Even so, they remain the most accessible of all the Bahamian Out Islands, making them the chain's most developed, visited, and affluent.

The mainland is actually composed of Great Abaco and Little Abaco , two distinct islands separated by a tiny gap. In the far north, a group of smaller cays begins with Walker's Cay and runs southeast to Cherokee Sound - a lengthy chain well worth visiting for its superb diving, snorkelling and fishing. Most visitors, however, prefer to concentrate on the areas near Great Abaco's main town, Marsh Harbour , and the old-English charm of nearby Elbow Cay, Green Turtle Cay and Treasure Cay , which provide not only glimpses of early Loyalist settlements, but also enchanting coastlines, radiant bays and inlets, and terrific aquatic sports.

The pine-covered Abacos have a temperate-to-subtropical climate , with cool winters and mild, windy summers, and an average yearly rainfall of 50-60 inches. Sailors may find ideal yachting in the shallows of the western coast, a fascinating landscape of mangrove islands, rocks, and cays known collectively as The Marls . On the east side, fringing reefs and several deep canyons offer excellent diving, with most choice locations just north of Marsh Harbour.