Frequently Asked Questions

Abaco Inn sits at Hope Town on Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas, on a narrow strip of land with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Sea of Abaco on the other. Our beachfront resort on Elbow Cay is built along White Sound, roughly a mile from the Hope Town settlement.

The Abaco Islands lie approximately 190 miles off the coast of Florida. Despite that distance the journey is short, with direct flights from several Florida airports into Marsh Harbour.

Getting to Elbow Cay from Marsh Harbour means a ferry or a private boat charter across to Hope Town, which is around a mile from the inn. Private charters run directly to our own docks for guests who prefer to arrive by water.

Several carriers serve Marsh Harbour from Florida and Nassau:

• American Airlines, from Miami or North Carolina
• Delta Airlines, from Atlanta
• Aztec Airways, from Fort Lauderdale Executive
• Bahamasair, from Palm Beach
• Air Unlimited, from Orlando Sanford
• Island Wings, from Fort Lauderdale
• Tradewind Aviation, from Stuart and Palm Beach
• Western Air, from Nassau

The Ferry at The Crossing operates the route and publishes its schedule on theferrylimited.com. G and L Transportation is a second option, and our team helps arrange either when you contact us before travelling.

Yes, arriving by water is common here and free dockage is included with every stay for boats up to 50 feet. Reserve your spot at the dock in advance, and contact the inn directly to discuss a larger vessel.

Golf carts are the preferred way to travel on Elbow Cay and around Hope Town, and we can point you to our rental partners. Bicycles suit the flat, wide roads well, with the town around 2 miles from the inn.

Snorkeling the reefs, diving historic shipwrecks, deep-sea and bone fishing, sailing and island hopping are the headline activities around Abaco Inn. Swimming with the famous Bahamian wild pigs, kayaking, surfing and biking into Hope Town round out the list.

Yes, the Abacos are known as the Boating Capital of The Bahamas and the calm, steady winds suit sailors of every skill level. Free dockage for boats up to 50 feet comes with your stay, and our team recommends charter and rental operators.

Yes, the waters around Elbow Cay hold miles of reefs and a number of underwater wrecks to explore. Our front desk shares its preferred local dive shops and snorkel tour providers when you are ready to book.

Yes, the Abacos are renowned for deep-sea and bone fishing, and several local captains run half-day and full-day excursions. Our Fisherman's Catch experience has our chefs prepare whatever you land, and booking ahead is advised during the busy season.

Yes, sea kayaks and paddleboards are available through a local provider, reached on +1 242-475-5800. Paddling the bay brings you close to starfish, conch and schools of fish in the shallows.

Yes, bicycles are available from Hope Town Canvas on +1 242-577-1615. The island offers over 7 miles of coastline to ride, and the town is around 2 miles from the inn.

Yes, we partner with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on custom tours and educational materials about the birds of the Abacos. The island's pine forests, wetlands and beaches support waterbirds such as herons and egrets alongside songbirds including warblers and vireos, and many species pass through on migration.

As one of the hotels in Hope Town, Abaco, we offer four categories of accommodation:

• Ocean-view Rooms, compact rooms for couples or solo travelers
• Cottages, in ocean-view and harbour-view configurations with kitchenettes
• Hill Top Cottage, a one-bedroom retreat at the highest point of the inn
• Sunset Point Villas, one to four-bedroom villas with private docks

Each Ocean-view Room has a queen size bed, mini fridge, A/C, ceiling fans, an en-suite bathroom and a patio porch with Adirondack chairs looking over the Sea of Abaco. A hair dryer and iron are provided, and the rooms are decorated in island colors.

Abaco Inn has 4 Ocean-view Rooms, each suited to couples or solo travelers. They are the most compact of our places to stay in the Abaco Islands and sit just steps from the shore.

Our oceanside cottages have a bedroom with a king size bed, a living room with a queen size sleeper sofa, a dining area, kitchenette, mini fridge, A/C, ceiling fans, an en-suite bathroom and a deck with Adirondack chairs. Cottages face either Abaco Bay or the Atlantic Ocean depending on the type you book.

Both cottage types share the same layout of a king bedroom, living room with queen sleeper sofa, dining area, kitchenette and private deck. The difference is the outlook, with Ocean View Cottages facing the Sea of Abaco and the Atlantic, and Harbour View Cottages looking over the harbour and passing boats.

Hill Top Cottage is the newest addition to the inn, perched on the highest point of the property with unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean. This one-bedroom retreat holds 2 guests with a king size bed, one bath, a living area, kitchenette, mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave, A/C and ceiling fans, plus a private porch above the shoreline.

Yes, a pool is among the inn's amenities, along with a bar and lounge, restaurant, Wi-Fi and complimentary docking. The pool dates back to the 1960s, when owner Charles Kerlee installed it while converting the original fishing retreat.

Sunset Point Villas are traditional Bahamian style villas located at Abaco Inn, each with its own floor plan and water views on all sides. These villas on Elbow Cay with private dock are rented on a weekly basis and are also available to purchase.

Thirteen villas make up Sunset Point: Sully's, Surf Inn, Sea Smoke, Happy Ours, Southport, Lazy Dayz, Elbow Room, Barefoot Bliss, SeaScape, Incognito, Shoal Time, Be As You Are and Anchored Souls. They range from one-bedroom retreats to a four-bedroom villa.

Lazy Dayz is the largest and most spacious property at Sunset Point, with 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms and a half bathroom. Every bedroom has a king size bed and en-suite bathroom, and the third-floor bedroom adds trundle beds.

Three villas include their own pool:

• Southport Villa, with a private plunge pool alongside an open-plan kitchen and living area
• Lazy Dayz Villa, with a plunge pool set within a wraparound outdoor terrace
• Shoal Time Villa, with a private pool, expansive decks and French doors from the living area

Four villas are configured for larger parties:

• Lazy Dayz, 4 bedrooms with king beds and third-floor trundle beds
• Surf Inn, 3 bedrooms sleeping up to 8 with two king suites and bunk beds
• Be As You Are, 3 bedrooms sleeping up to 8 with two king suites
• Elbow Room, 3 bedrooms with an adjoining four-bed bunk room

Four one-bedroom villas suit couples and solo travelers, each with a sun porch overlooking the Sea of Abaco: Sully's, SeaScape, Incognito and Anchored Souls. Incognito sits at the end of the peninsula and offers the most privacy of the group.

Lazy Dayz and Shoal Time each have a 60-foot dock, with Lazy Dayz offering 2 water and electric stations for families arriving with more than one boat. Surf Inn and Be As You Are each have a private 50-foot dock, and Anchored Souls has a walk-out dock.

Yes, the Abaco Inn Restaurant is our on-site Caribbean seafood restaurant on Elbow Cay, decorated with marine-focused touches and open to travelers from near and far. It serves fresh twists on traditional Caribbean dishes alongside creative cocktails.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served at the restaurant. Menus cover breakfast, dinner, dessert, bar snacks and drinks.

Dining is offered in the indoor dining room or out on our deck overlooking the water just offshore. Both settings serve the same menu and the deck is a favorite at sunset.

Yes, local fish is caught daily and appears on our fresh daily specials. The kitchen builds around what comes in from the boats rather than a fixed list.

Our chefs prepare any fish that you and your companions catch, so a day on the water finishes at your own table. Booking this experience in advance is recommended during the busy season.

Yes, a bar and lounge operates on the property and features in our list of inn amenities. Creative cocktails are served alongside the restaurant menu.

Yes, the restaurant has long been a gathering point for the wider community, with residents of Bakers Bay, Green Turtle Cay and Marsh Harbour arriving by boat for lunches and dinners. It functions as both a dining establishment and a pub for the Abacos.

Yes, Abaco Inn hosts a beach wedding in the Abacos against the blue water of Elbow Cay, working with experienced local vendors on every detail. Our event-planning team coordinates the celebration from first enquiry to the day itself.

Getting married in The Bahamas is a relatively straightforward process. Our team shares the paperwork checklist so that the marriage licence requirements are settled before you travel.

We maintain a list of favored local businesses and vendors who have worked on weddings at Abaco Inn before. That prior experience of the property is what makes the day run smoothly.

Yes, whole-house rental for a private event is arranged through the inn directly. Contact the events team to coordinate dates and requirements.

No, Shoal Time Villa does not permit events, and pets are also excluded there. Other villas and the main property remain available for celebrations.

Weddings and private events are handled by the event-planning team, reached through the enquiry form on the events page. Share your proposed date, party size, estimated budget and creative outline to start the conversation.

Cancel less than 30 days before arrival and the deposit is forfeited. Cancel 30 days or more before arrival and the deposit is refunded less a 10% service charge, with this policy covering the Ocean-view Room, Ocean View Cottage, Harbour View Cottage and Hill Top Cottage.

Sunset Point Villas carry a longer window than the rooms and cottages. Cancel less than 90 days before arrival and the deposit is forfeited, while cancelling more than 90 days ahead returns the deposit less a 10% service charge.

If The Bahamas is placed under a hurricane warning during your stay, your booking may be rebooked within one calendar year. If you are already on the island when a warning is issued, you will be asked to leave and unused nights are refunded.

Yes, a $1,000 security deposit is charged at check-in on Sunset Point Villa reservations, using the credit card provided. Shoal Time Villa carries its own higher deposit terms.

Dockage is free with every stay for boats up to 50 feet. A boat fee of $50 per night applies to Sunset Point Villa reservations where the guest has a boat, payable at the property during check-in.

Yes, boat insurance is mandatory for guests arriving with their own boat. Proof of liability and damage coverage must be provided before arrival, and without valid insurance the property accepts no liability for damage.

Rates are based on double occupancy and exclude the government-issued VAT of 10%. The resort operates subject to the provisions of the Hotel Act, 1970 of the Bahama Islands, and there is no charge for children 6 years and under.