What time of year are you going? Weather conditions might dictate your itinerary.

Which pigs are you expecting to visit? I know of the ones on No Name Cay at Big O's. Those are located north of the Whale Cay Cut, and whether you are allowed to go there depends on whether your charter company allows it and/or whether you obtain the required permission. That cut can be subject to very rough conditions (so rough, in fact, that cruise ships abandoned their facility on the north end of Great Guana Cay years ago).

Be sure to include Hopetown on Elbow Cay in your plans. Climbing to the top of the lighthouse is a must-do every single time -- the view is beautiful, and the history is interesting. There are restaurants and bars in Hopetown as well. In all cases, I recommend you see what's open and operating, and when. The Abaco Sun website is a tremendous resource.

If your boat's draft allows, go to Little Harbour and visit Pete's Pub and Foundry. Good fun, good food.

Also, get your hands on the Cruising Guide to the Abacos (aka the "Dodge Bible"), which can be found on the website wspress.com. It's updated often and provides definitive information about navigation.

I'm returning to charter in the Abacos myself later this year, not having sailed here in a long time; but I'd rented a house in the last year on Green Turtle Cay and island-hopped on a rented powerboat, so I can assure you that there is plenty to do post-Dorian.


I've got a Caribbean Soul I can barely control... (JB)