Prices:
$900 = $1800 condo/2 families
$1150 = $2100 boat/2 families
$ 540 = 30gal/day * $6/gal * 6 days
$250 = $500 van/2famlies
$2280 airfare for 4
$5120 total trip (plus groceries, taxes, parking, luggage, souvenirs, etc)
boat rentals, $600/day for a 33 ft donzi. $350/day for a 27' Mako . Marsh Harbour. http://www.abacodoradoboatrentals.com/rates.html
$1650 one week 26 Dusky Guana Cay. http://www.diveguana.com/boatrentals.html
Van rental $425/week + 7.5% tax http://www.aandpautorentals.com/vans.html
flights:
$3200/week, 3brm, sleeps 6, beach front http://www.vrbo.com/436816 option to rent 13 ft boston whaler, canal allows deep water access irrelevant of tides.
$1000/week, 3brm, sleeps 6, not beach front http://www.vrbo.com/616595
$1800/week, 4brm, sleeps 8, beach front http://www.vrbo.com/294697
Things to do in The Abacos:
Abaco National Park, home to Bahamian Parrots: http://www.bnt.bs/The-National-Parks-of-The-Bahamas/Abaco-National-Park
Manjack Cay: Located about 30 boat-minutes north of Green Turtle Cay and dotted with a half-dozen superb beaches and secluded coves, Manjack is a virtually uninhabited island (as of August 2001 a total of just two very friendly foks live mostly full time on Munjack) full of charm, beauty and secrets ... and some of the most picturesque beaches in all The Abacos. Of all the Cays we really liked hanging around Manjack Cay. It is completely unpopulated and is maintained as a bird sanctuary, and it has some of the most beautiful beaches of all the Cays. It also had a wonderful pier that made visiting a breeze. Manjack is also home to a huge population of lizards. They are everywhere you look, and everywhere you don't look.
As it turned out, Treasure Cay had precious little to offer save for views of concrete condos and lots of pricey yachts.
Abacos' barrier reef is the 3rd largest in the world.
http://www.snorkelingonline.com/best-snorkeling-abacos-bahamas/
Hopetown Reef, Mermaid Reef, Marsh Harbour, Elbow Cay, etc.
Sandy Cay Anchor on the west of Sandy Cay during the day; from here you can access the reefs on the eastern side of the cay by dinghy. As part of the Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park these reefs are teeming with fish, plant and animal life that is all under protection. Known as the 'Most Photographed Island in the World,' this gorgeous 3 acre island off Nassau provided the backdrop shot for Gilligan's Island.
Abacos Parrots: Abaco parrots. The only ground-nesting parrot species in the Bahamas. In the world, in fact. The flocks of parrots are incredibly noisy. Sometimes they split into two or three groups, close together, and seem to compete in raucousness. Around 5.00 pm seemed to be the noisiest time.
Turtles: The Bahamas has breeding populations of 5 of the world’s 7 sea turtle species – Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Leatherback and Kemp’s Ridley turtles (the other two are Olive Ridley – occasionally found in the Bahamas – and Flatback turtles).
The Bahamian species of Hutia is endemic to the Bahamas. It is listed as a vulnerable species. Its natural habitats are moist forests, dry shrubland and rocky areas. Hutias are a nocturnal species, remaining underground during the day.
Bahamas is a little more challenging than BVI but in Lots more places to go. If you hang around Marsh Harbor, it's similar to BVI in that there are lots of destinations with bars and moorings. Further south, it gets more remote.
Man-o-war Cay is a "dry island", no alcohol sold. Has a
The more popular rentals are 17 foot center consoles, but the weather we were able to handle on our daily trips to the various Cays exceeded what would be reasonable in a 17 footer. While the reefs are protective of the crossings at low tide and especially with a west wind, at high tide with an east wind the ocean just rolls right over the reefs, and if the weather is bad in the ocean it'll be at least that bad between Cays.
You can figure on getting about 3 miles a gallon in a 22 footer with single engine. If economy dictates you are to be land locked during your stay, you'll probably have the most flexibility staying on Green Turtle or Elbow Cay. Both have limited shopping, beautiful beaches, many suitable for snorkeling and lots of places to eat and stay. Pick up at least a 22 footer in Marsh Harbour upon arrival. We use Rainbow Rentals as they are at the harbours edge, making for a quick shout out of Dodge. We then trek north the 30 miles for Green Turtle for a few days then south to Hope Town for a few more using each as a base to see the surrounding cays.
Boat rental info from http://www.abacoescape.com/Boating/BoatRentCharter.html: Marsh Harbour - Chances are you'll arrive hear anyway, so save the water taxi fare to Hope Town, Man-O-War or Guana and rent a boat here. I usually rent from Rainbow Rentals the closest to the airport and because of the size and variety of his fleet. 242-367-4602. The owner is Wade Collins recently moved his operation just up the street -closer to the harbour entrance making for a quick getaway to the cays and avoiding the inner harbour no wake zone. They have a fleet of 22 footers, their staple, with full bimini tops to cover all seated not just a tee-top. They come equipped with two anchors, fresh water shower and VHF radio. It will pound a bit in a heavy chop. So for a smoother ride, they also provides Catamarans. If you can afford the extra price and an extra engines gas - go for it. They have the ability to slice through a choppy sea and smooth out your ride considerably. Rich's Rentals242-367-2742, has been in Marsh Harbour longer than I can remember and offers 21 and 26 foot boats which you'll see everywhere. Another very popular boat rental agency is Sea Horse Rentals right at the Boat Harbour Marina in Marsh. They also have facilities in Hope Town 242-367-2513. They offer a great variety of boats to choose from. It's owner is Capt. Stafford Patterson, of Captain Plug Adventures acclaim. Blue Wave Rental's boats are another common site in and around the Hub of Abacos. They are located at new facilities at The Harbour View Marina downtown and offer a fresh water swimming pool, bar & grill 242-367-3910. The newest agency you will find downtown in restaurant row is Abaco Dorado Boat Rentals 242-367-1035, a relatively new company offering Dusky 22's & 26's.
Man-O-War - If you are planning to stay on this cay you might want to look into Water Ways Boat Rentals owned and operated by Jay and Samantha Sands. They offers complimentary pick up from Hope Town to Marsh Harbour to Guana Cay in one of their Albury Bros. boats. And they can assist you with a rental property also. 242-365-6143.
Elbow Cay (Hope Town) - Just 5 min. outside of Hope Town Harbour on Parrot Cay is Island Marine Boat Rentals 242-366-0282. They will come pick you up anywhere on the Cay. And, they might ask you to take them home (it's not far). They have a large fleet of the Man-O-War Albury Bros. boats and boast to be the first rental boat company to offer them. 242-366-0282. Oh, the owner Dave Gale, has a fascinating story to tell -it's here. Already mentioned, Sea Horse Rentals has an office in Hope Town 242-367-2513. And finally there is the small fleet of new boats for rent at Cat's Paw Rentals run by Elbow Cay native Harold Malone 242-577-0517.
Bareboat itineraries in Abacos : http://www.boatbookings.com/yachting_content/bareboat_bahamas_itinerary.php
Literature: Steve Dodge's Cruise Guide to the Abacos: http://www.amazon.com/The-Cruising-Guide-Abaco-Bahamas/dp/0932265936
Explorer Charts are the only ones to use. Hands down better than any other.
EXUMAS:
Exumas Land and Sea Park is even further North of Great Exuma, is a 22 mile chain of cays. it is 80 miles from Cat Island, 78 miles from Great Exuma.
Things to do in the Exumas as told by Fodors:
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3856.html
- 1/2 day tour from Great Exuma to the Pig beach $150/person: http://www.exumawatersports.com/tours.htm#oceansafari
Can rent a 3brm house with a 26ft boat for c$5944 which is $4833 USD. The house is immaculate and on a very scenic beach. http://www.vrbo.com/3319932ha
We were looking at $1750 for a 5 brm house in Eleuthera http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalReview-g2156345-d2072076-or6-Parlay_At_Sunset_A_Bahamian_Beach_House-Tarpum_Bay_Eleuthera_Out_Islands_Bahamas.html#REVIEWS. Can't find a boat yet.
$2651 for a 3 brm house in Georgetown with an 18 ft boat with an 85hp yamaha. http://www.vrbo.com/986327ha
$6450/week or $1200/day FOUNTAINE PAJOT SUMMERLAND 40' POWER CATAMARAN http://www.cruiseabaco.com/#!rates/cyg
27 Ft contender $1000/day, 23 ft Contender $600/day Free boat delivery is to Compass Cay, Sampson Cay, Foul Cay, Staniel Cay, Black Point and Big Majors Spot. http://www.exumavacation.com/#!boat-rentals/cyg
Staniel Cay 57 miles North of Great Exuma, just south of pig beach.
boat rentals, 22ft boat, 200hp, $500/day: http://www.stanielrentals.com/boat-rentals.html
Staniel Cay $500/night 3brm house on the beach: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p908092
Staniel Cay $3500/night, 3brm house on the beach http://www.vrbo.com/368700ha#reviews
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