Hope Town is a small village on Elbow Cay, located in Abaco, with one side of the cay facing the Sea of Abaco and the other side facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is a charming and picturesque little town with colorful homes and a rich history that can be gleaned by walking the streets and visiting The Wyannie Malone Museum.
One of the the most recognizable landmarks in the country is located here, a red and white candy-cane-striped lighthouse. The Hope Town Lighthouse is the only kerosene powered, hand cranked lighthouse left in the world. It is worth the visit. I won’t delve into the history, but it is ripe with drama if you care to research further.
Most residents and tourists ride golf carts throughout the island, so the streets are very quiet and fun to walk since there is very little traffic. We did rent a six-passenger golf cart on our second visit to Hope Town with Rick and Maryalice. This allowed us to explored up and down the seven-mile stretch of Elbow Cay in a short amount of time. At the northern end is Hope Town and at the southern end is the beautiful Tahiti Beach, known for its sandbar that dries at low tide. It is a shell collector’s treasure. We strolled along the beach on the Atlantic Ocean side and enjoyed the soft white sand and stunning waters.
There are several good restaurant options on the island. We enjoyed fresh mahi and conch fritters at Cap’n Jack’s by the harbor, but our very favorite is The Abaco Inn Restaurant located further south on Elbow Cay. The sesame seared tuna is world class. The prices are a bit steep, but the food is expertly prepared and the decor and views are worth it for a special occasion.
In addition to its charm, Hope Town offers grocery stores, cafe’s, an ice cream parlor, and several unique gift shops.
There are mooring balls in Hope Town Harbor, but we chose to anchor outside the Marina. Our anchor held well in the white sandy bottom. The waters were crystal clear and emerald green, making for a great snorkeling. We discovered five-inch thick starfish peppering the bottom, the largest we’ve ever seen. Hope Town ranked up there as one of our favorite stops in The Abacos.
