Imagine a small remote island with a village of about 500 people with no cars, no rush; just quiet peacefulness. Welcome to Hope Town Bahamas on Elbow Cay where everything operates on island time. Hope Town Bahamas is remote; it is a quaint colonial village.
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Elbow Cay and Hope Town Bahamas is complete with grand beaches, broad history, surrounded by pristine waters, and so much more. The iconic red and white striped Hope Town Lighthouse is stunning against the backdrop of blue skies and the turquoise waters. Whether you decide on a day trip to Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale or choose a multi-day excursion, you will find plenty of adventure and relaxation on Elbow Cay Bahamas.
Hope Town Bahamas has all the amenities you need. There are signature beaches, resorts and lodging, restaurants, shops, grocery and liquor stores, churches, medical services, a bank, parks, and a post office. You will also find main attractions like the Wyannie Malone Museum and the Hope Town Lighthouse which are fitting for any day trip to Bahamas. There are Hope Town boat rentals so you can island hop Bahamas. Options for getting around Elbow Cay Bahamas include Hope Town golf cart rentals and bicycles. Kayaking is a common sport on Elbow Cay Bahamas as well as fishing. There are several fishing companies with which you can charter a Bahamas day trip hoping to catch a trophy fish. The Elbow Reef lies just east of the shoreline and is great for snorkeling and diving. A lot of marine life makes Elbow Reef their home. Contrast the fast paced city living of Florida with the laid back life style of Elbow Cay Bahamas. Isn’t it time to book your Miami to Bahamas day trip?
Hope Town makes the perfect day trip to Bahamas. Exclusive Florida air charters are waiting to fly you from Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas. In fact, flights can depart the east coast towns of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Vero Beach and even Orlando, making your travel arrangements convenient.
Elbow Cay Bahamas is quite small at only 6 miles long and about ¼ mile wide. But don’t let its small size fool you. Hope Town Bahamas is everything you hoped for in a quiet getaway. There will be no crowds to deal with on your day trip to Bahamas – just you and the surrounding beauty. Elbow Cay Bahamas is a small isle that is part of the Bahamas Out Islands – a grouping of islands that are off to themselves away from the main Bahamas touristy islands. Specifically, Elbow Cay Bahamas is part of the Abacos Islands that are northeast of the Bahamas proper. A visit to these islands is almost like a step back in time – a simpler life but with plenty of amenities.
Like many of the Abacos Islands, Elbow Cay Bahamas finds its roots in the mid 1700s when the British Loyalists fled America after the Revolutionary War. They settled in these remote islands and made them home by building houses and structures that mirror the colonial architecture of the time. The Hope Town Bahamas settlement was established in 1785 by Wyannie Malone, a widow from South Carolina and her children. History buffs may be interested in the Cholera Cemetery where over 100 people lost their lives to the disease and were buried in one cemetery on the north end of the island. History enthusiasts will enjoy this day trip to Bahamas.
Find some time to steal away on a day trip to Bahamas. Flying to Bahamas from Florida is fast, convenient and exciting. It is an adventure you will not soon forget. Grab your bathing suit and get ready to island hop Bahamas on your very own exclusive Bahamas air charter. A one day trip to Bahamas from Miami will give you a taste of the islands and you will soon be back on your multi-day adventure!
Hope Town Lighthouse
Take about 100 steps up to the top of the historic Hope Town Lighthouse and you will get a panoramic, camera worthy view of Elbow Cay Bahamas and the surrounding area. Historians will also enjoy the background of the Hope Town Lighthouse. Also known as the Elbow Reef Lighthouse, this Abaco landmark was built in 1863 and is quite stunning in its form and function. The purpose of course is to light the way for ships so they avoid the lengthy Elbow Reef. Many ships have met their demise on the Elbow Reef to the point that salvage hunters became quite a business and villagers protested the building of the Hope Town Lighthouse.
Initially, the Hope Town Lighthouse had a stationery light source. In 1936, the neighboring lighthouse at Bimini was taken out of service. It soon became evident the Hope Town Lighthouse needed a more powerful, rotating light. So, the dome and light mechanism at Bimini was dismantled and reconstructed at Hope Town Bahamas. The light now rotates 360 degrees as a beacon to ships in the night to avoid the reefs. If your day trip to Bahamas takes you out on the water at night be sure to look for the lighthouse light. The Hope Town Lighthouse Preservation Society of the Bahamas has insisted the Hope Town Lighthouse remain manual, meaning the lighthouse keeper must manually wind the mechanism that turns the light. The winding is done every two hours, so keeping the light burning and rotating is labor intensive, but a very necessary job. The light of the 120-foot Hope Town Lighthouse can be seen for about 17 miles around.
This historical landmark is an ideal stop on your day trip to Bahamas. By the way, it is the last kerosene burning lighthouse in the world – something notable to mark in your travel journal. You might also want to take a look at the Bahamian $10 bill – is has an image of the Hope Town Lighthouse on it – nice souvenir!
Elbow Cay Beaches
The Bahamas are known the world around for their beaches. It is safe to say that all 700+ islands in the Bahamas have at least one great beach, and most have several. Elbow Cay Abaco has fabulous beaches despite its small size. A day trip to Bahamas would not be complete without a visit to the beach.
Hope Town Beach is situated on the northeast end of Elbow Cay Bahamas. It is a lovely, quiet beach that is known for magnificent colored sea glass finds. It is also a great place to snorkel, paddle board and enjoy the warmth of the white sand. The beach is underdeveloped, so there won’t be crowds of people. It is close enough to Hope Town to get a picnic lunch from one of the street vendors to enjoy on the beach. There are also public restrooms, which is a plus. If you don’t want all the solitude Hope Town Beach offers, our next beach is quite popular and draws a small crowd in the afternoon.
Tahiti Beach is located on the southwest end of Elbow Cay Bahamas. It is about a 3-mile bicycle ride from Hope Town Bahamas. Access to the beach is down a small road that crosses private property. It is acceptable to follow this path to the beach. The beach is lined by a wonderful grove of palm trees. The water is shallow which is great for kids. It is the ideal place for beach combing, especially on the long sand bar which is usually underwater during high tide. The beach is quiet in the mornings and early afternoons. Access to the beach from the ocean side is easy. Since the Cay is small, it will not be difficult to find. In the afternoons, look for the place with a lot of boats anchored nearby. New to Tahiti Beach is a floating restaurant and bar – the Thirsty Cuda. It has become a popular hangout; they are open from 11 a.m. to dusk. They serve some fantastic seafood dishes and specialty co*cktails. The kids love the flavored ice! Tahiti Beach is a definite on your Bahamas tour of Elbow Cay.
Elbow Cay Beach is found on central Atlantic side of the Cay. It is rather secluded, which is a plus for many. It is close enough to town to grab a bite to eat or get something cool to drink, but yet remote enough that it is not frequented by the party crowd. There are homes along this beach but no large resorts, keeping it quiet and peaceful.
Another favored beach is Garabonzo Beach which is about 2 miles south of Hope Town Bahamas. You can easily access this beach by boat, bicycle, on foot and golf cart. Even though this beach is not very developed it can get busy due to its location. It is best to arrive early and choose your spot on the beach before many others arrive.
To the north of Hope Town Bahamas is Nathan’s Bay Beach. This is a small narrow beach. The backdrop is a row of palm trees that offer great shade. The narrowness of the sand may be a problem as the tide comes in, so be on the watch or you may get wet. The crystal clear water is very inviting and the locale and remoteness of this beach is appealing to many who want a solitary, quiet beach experience.
A beach-themed Bahamas day trip is ideal on Elbow Cay. Because of the small size of the island, you should be able to visit all the beaches in one day. Or if you rather, find your favorite beach and spend the whole day there. Either way, you will have great fun on your Bahamas island hopping tour.
Wyannie Malone Historical Museum
If you are a history enthusiast a day trip to Bahamas can be quite appealing. Preservation of the history of Elbow Cay Bahamas has been important to the whole community. In 1978 the Wyannie Malone Historical Museum was opened due to the hard efforts of the community. It was named after the founder of Hope Town Bahamas, Wyannie Malone. She was a widow who relocated to the Abacos with her children.
The museum is not only a tribute to the Malone family, but also to Elbow Cay and the surrounding region. There are many photographs, artwork, manuscripts, and artifacts that tell the history of Hope Town. The Lucayan Indians (a First Nation for the Bahamas), pirates, rum runners, and ship wreckers, all find their place in this petite museum. The small house that is home to the museum is decorated with period furnishings and typical clothing of the late 1700s is on display.
Proof of the Lucayan Indians came when a skull was found and was carbon dated back to 1390, well before Columbus sailed the ocean. The Malone’s were given large land grants as a reward for their service to King George III in the Revolutionary War. This gave the Malone’s the largest share of Elbow Cay Bahamas. For almost 200 years, salvaging wrecked ships was a stellar business. But once the lighthouse was built the business dwindled because not as many ships were sinking on the reefs that protect Elbow Cay. There was also a period of boat building on Elbow Cay as well as sponging which lasted about 70 years. Rum running was a popular “sport” during the Prohibition years. An interesting fact is Elbow Cay Bahamas did not get electricity until 1975! Miami day trips will give you a whole new perspective of the Bahamas and give you a chance to learn about its history and culture. There is a depth of history to be found on Elbow Cay, even if you are just a beach lover.
Getting around Hope Town
Once you arrive in Hope Town Bahamas proper you will notice one major feature: no cars. In fact, no cars or golf carts are allowed within the city limits of Hope Town. Within Hope Town Bahamas you can walk or ride bike. On the rest of Elbow Cay there are Hope Town golf cart rentals. You can rent by the day or the week and they are a fun way to get around the island. There are several golf cart vendors from which to choose.
There are also bike rental vendors and some lodging establishments have bikes and golf carts as well. If you want to get around the island by boat, try out one of the Hope Town boat rentals. There are several boat rentals vendors on Elbow Cay or you can rent a boat at Marsh Harbor and sail your way to Elbow Cay Bahamas.
How to Get to Hope Town Bahamas
Hope Town makes the perfect day trip to Bahamas. Exclusive Florida air charters with Bahamas Air Tours are waiting to fly you from Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas. In fact, flights can depart the east coast towns of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Vero Beach and even Orlando.
The best route to get to Elbow Cay Bahamas is flying to Bahamas from Florida into the Marsh Harbour International Airport, which is located on Abaco Island. Abaco has two Bahamas airports including the Treasure Cay Airport, but the Marsh Harbor airport is more convenient to Elbow Cay Abaco. Florida air charters with Bahamas Air Tours are ideal as they can set up custom Bahamas tour packages or you can choose from the multi-day packages they offer. Miami to Bahamas day trips are a great trend. Or, you could choose a day trip to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale. Both options offer a chance to visit an island paradise you won’t soon forget.
Once you arrive at one of the Bahamas airports you will travel by car to the public ferry that will take you on a short ride 20 minute to Elbow Cay Abaco. The Albury Ferry system leaves from Marsh Harbour regularly throughout the day. A roundtrip ticket is $30. Enjoy the scenic ride across the Sea of Abaco, watch for playful dolphins and other wildlife. Take note of the Hope Town Lighthouse as you approach Elbow Cay. There are also inter-cay ferries so you can hop from one island to another. These inter-cay ferries also have multiple trips per day. And with that, your Bahamas Island hopping tour has begun.
Marsh Harbour Airport
Located on Abaco Island, Marsh Harbour Airport is the best Bahamas airport to fly into for Miami day trips to Elbow Cay Bahamas. There are several commercial airlines that fly to the Marsh Harbour Airport. Bahamas air charters service to this airport with Bahamas Air Tours are direct flights about 80 minutes long. This modern airport is an easy destination to get to on a one day trip to Bahamas from Miami or on any number of package tours offered by Bahamas Air Tours.
Bahamas Island Hopping: Florida to the Abacos
From Tahiti Beach to the Hope Town Lighthouse, Elbow Cay Bahamas has it all. History, pirates, shipbuilders, water sports, boating, swimming, relaxing, sightseeing, everything you would expect from a day trip to Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale. A one day trip to Bahamas from Miami or a multi-day trip will keep you Bahamas island hopping. Looking for somewhere to stay in Hope Town? Try the Hope Town Harbour Lodge with ocean cabanas and sea view rooms, this centrally located hotel is a great Elbow Cay choise!
Every cay is surrounded by other cays just waiting for you to explore the beaches and the underwater scenes by snorkeling and diving. Soak up the history as you discover who established Hope Town Bahamas and the various transitions it has made through the years. Treasure Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Elbow Cay, Abaco Island, and Marsh Harbour – all island gems just waiting for you to experience the adventures and attractions they offer. Make island hopping Bahamas your next vacation.
Hope Town Map
Select images courtesy of the Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism.
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