Central Abaco

Central Abaco is the commercial and boating hub of the Abaco Islands, a chain of islands and cays in the northern Bahamas. Its main settlement, Marsh Harbour, is the largest town in the Abacos and the third-largest in the country, serving as the main gateway for sailors, anglers and visitors exploring Great Abaco and the surrounding cays.

The Abacos were settled by British Loyalists in the 1780s, and that heritage is still visible in New England-style clapboard homes, the candy-striped Elbow Reef Lighthouse at Hope Town and the boatbuilding traditions of Man-O-War Cay. Around Marsh Harbour, sheltered marinas and a working harbour anchor a region where sailing, fishing and maritime craft remain central to daily life.

Beyond Marsh Harbour, settlements such as Dundas Town, Murphy Town, Spring City and Cherokee Sound offer a quieter view of Abaco life. Short ferry rides connect visitors to Elbow Cay's Hope Town, Man-O-War Cay and Guana Cay, while Treasure Cay's long white-sand beach, Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park and the bonefish flats of the Marls attract beachgoers, divers and anglers.

Marsh Harbour functions as the Abacos' business and services centre, with shops, banks, marinas, boatyards and the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport linking the islands to Nassau and Florida. The area was hit hard by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and much of the town has since been rebuilt. Fresh conch, grouper and lobster anchor a relaxed food scene of dockside restaurants and beach bars.

For leisure travellers, Central Abaco combines boating, fishing, island hopping and beach time within easy reach. For business and marine-industry travellers, it is the logistical centre of the Abacos, with the airport, marinas, boatyards and services concentrated in and around Marsh Harbour.