Abacos, Bahamas Travel Information & Planning Guide

Find everything you need to prepare for a charter in the Abacos. From important base information to required documents for international travel, you can use this information as your guide before and during your charter. Don’t forget to pack a copy to take with you.

Plan

Before you go

Adress
Sunsail Bahamas
Abaco Beach Resort
(c/o The Abaco Beach Resort)
Marsh Harbour
Abacos, The Bahamas

Base hours
Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Security personnel is available for late check-in from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Time zone
UTC/GMT -5 hours

Tourist information centre
Abacos – Marsh Harbour (7 min walk from the base)
P.O. Box AB-20663 
Tel: 242-699-0152 / 242 367-3067 / Fax: 242 367-3313

What to bring

Customs + immigration
Entry, exit, and visa requirements depend on the locations you are departing from and traveling to. You are responsible for having the correct documents so make sure to check with the consulate of the countries you plan to visit before you travel. Visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the latest information.

Sailing licenses
This destination has mandatory sailing requirements. Please visit here to learn more.

Luggage + packing list
Please pack using soft-sided bags, as these are easier to store on your yacht. The base has no facilities for holding luggage. Pack lightly and review our suggested packing list below for required and necessary items to bring.

• Pack essential prescription medicine and change of clothing in a carry-on bag*
• Passport and other travel documentation
• Tickets and paper confirmations for pre-planned activities
• Light-coloured, light-weight clothing
• Formal wear for upscale dining establishments
• Swimwear and cover up
• Hats and sunglasses
• Sandals and flip-flops
• Athletic shoes and hiking boots
• Travel-sized toiletries and hygiene products
• Bug spray and OTC pain relievers/ointments such as motion sickness relief
• 12V DC to 110V AC power inverter (for boats without generators**)
• 12V to USB power adapter for charging mobile devices

*We would highly recommend packing prescription medicine and essential clothing (swimsuit, t-shirt, and shorts) in your hand luggage as occasionally your luggage may arrive at the base after you do. 
**All boats include a 12V DC outlet (a “car” outlet). Boats with generators have 110V outlets in the Caribbean and 220V in the Mediterranean and Exotic locations.

Drones
A Certificate of Registration must first be secured from the Civil Aviation Department in order to import a drone. The Customs Department will detain drones at the border if a Certificate of Registration has not been obtained. To register your drone online visit the Bahamas Civil Aviation page: http://www.bcaa.gov.bs/.  Further details on the Special Regulations may be obtained from the Civil Aviation Department, at 242-397-4700 or email: hadderley.fsi@gmail.com.

Currency
Local currency – Bahamian Dollar.

U.S. currency is accepted by all vendors. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted forms of payment.

Gratuity
Tipping is standard and expected in all restaurants/bars and for other services undertaken during your vacation. The rule of thumb is generally 10 to 15% of the amount charged. Some establishments automatically add this onto the bill.

Security deposit
A security deposit must be paid at the base by Visa or Master Card and is refundable at the end of your charter subject to there being no loss or damage. To significantly decrease your security deposit, purchase our Yacht Damage Waiver insurance ahead of time.

What’s on board

Coolers
Coolers are available at the base on a first come first served basis at no additional charge. Only one per boat. Additional coolers subject to availability.

Mobile phones
Check with your service provider for information about cell coverage in this region. The Abaco Beach Resort & Conch Inn offer complimentary Wi-Fi. Bahamas WI-MAX  has set up hotspots at the major marinas around Abacos. They offer a pre-paid WI-FI service charged per day or per week and you can purchase this service ahead of time online. The Wi-Fi service is available in most harbors.

Music + iPods
While most of our newer boats have Bluetooth capability, we cannot guarantee all boats are outfitted with this equipment. For your convenience, we highly recommend you bring an AUX cord so you can listen to music from your mobile devices.

Electricity
Current is 110V, 60-cycle, 2 prong US type outlets. The dock is equipped with 110V. outlets. All of our yachts are equipped with power lines, battery charger, and 110V. plugs. There is a 12V. cigarette lighter and several 110V sockets by the chart table on the majority of our yachts.

For more information on what’s included on your yacht, please view the full list here.

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Go

How to get there

Airport
Marsh Harbour Airport is approximately 3.5 miles from the Sunsail base.

Transfers

A taxi to the base – distance approx. 10 mins (3 ½  miles from base). The guide price per person for the taxi fare from the airport to base is approx. $20 for the first 2 persons and every additional person is $3 per person.

Transfers cannot be pre-booked

Car rental
K&S Rentals – Tel: 242-367-2655
Cornish Car Rental – Tel: 242-365-8623
Sea Star Rentals – Tel: 242-367-4887
Bargain Car Rentals – Tel: 1-242-367-0500
Rental Wheels – Tel: 242-367-4643
U-Save Car Rental – Tel: 242-699-3346

Car rental costs are from $55 per day dependent on type and time of the year. Please note you will require a current valid driver’s license and you must be 25+ years old.

When driving, British rules apply, so please drive on the left. Visitors may use their home license for up to three months and may also apply for an international driver’s license.

Boarding time + checking out

Boarding time
6:00 pm

You will not be able to leave the dock until the next day.

Late arrivals
If you arrive after our office closes, a letter will be left on the office door and a sign with your name will be placed on your designated boat. 

Check out time
11:00 am

A debriefing and final walkthrough will be done upon return so please allow enough time to complete this before the charter end time.

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Sail

About the marina

Marina facilities

• Showers 
• Toilets
• Hotel
• Laundry service
• Restaurant & Bar 
• 2 Swimming pools
• White Sand Beach 
• Non-motorised water sports 
• 24-hour security and front desk team
• ATM
• Free Wi-Fi
• Fuel station
• Dive shop
• Boutique and grocery store
• Ice + water

Dock facilities
Fuel dock

Sailing grounds

Experience level
Level 2

*At least 10 days or 200 miles as skipper on an equivalent size yacht.

*Our intermediate sailing destinations, Level 2 sailing areas offer a greater challenge for sailors more comfortable on the open water. Enjoy strong winds and longer spells of open water sailing, suitable for more experienced skippers.

Experience levels are based on sailing conditions and the length of passages within your chosen sailing area. View here for more information.

Sailing Licences

To charter in the Bahamas, there must be at least one certified skipper over 18 years old. The skipper should be competent at handling a yacht in close quarters, anchoring and mooring in varying conditions and be able to use navigation and pilotage skills to plan the day’s sailing and know your position at any time. As a yacht skipper, you are required to have an official sailing qualification or a certificate issued by the approved organisation as detailed below:

The Skipper is REQUIRED to have (1) of the following:

• US Sailing – “Bareboat Cruising Course” or above

• ASA – “104 Bareboat Cruising Course” or above

• RYA – “Day Skipper Course” or above

• ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International – Prerequisites: RYA “Day Skipper Course” or similar/equivalent certification from any recognized sailing school or complete the ICC Assessment form to prove competence from previous experience.

• IPC (International Proficiency Certificate), American – Prerequisites: ASA 104 or US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”

It is essential that you take your original skippers licence or certificate with you in the event that the Port Authorities ask you to present it to them. If you do not have an official sailing licence, by law the team at base will not be able to allow you to charter without an officially certified skipper onboard.

Sailing area
This information is covered in the chart briefing. There are several marine parks in the Sea of Abaco. It’s illegal to carry out any form of fishing or to take any shells, coral or sea life in national marine parks. A waiver must be signed at the base if the client intends to leave the Sea of Abaco.

The sailing grounds for the Abacos is normally restricted to the Sea of Abaco only. The central cruising area is comprised of Great Abaco, along with a string of cays just east of these islands due to dangerous offshore reefs.

Sailing area restrictions
Restricted zones will be covered in your chart briefing. 

It is strictly forbidden to sail alone, we require a two-person minimum on board.

Charts + pilot books
All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are issued at your chart briefing.

Sailing permits + taxes
No sailing permit or fee required. When departing, all visitors are required to pay a $20.00 departure tax at the airport ($18.00 from Grand Bahama); children six years and under are exempt.

Moorings fees + taxes
Mooring balls are available for $20 USD to $30 USD per night.

Health & safety

Swim Safe 

Swimming is often a fun and important part of a vacation. However local rules, flag systems, currents and where swimming may be permitted, can be different and vary from country to country. Snorkel vests, Life Jackets and Diver Down flags are all available on board. 

Children

• Talk to children about water safety at the start of a vacation, making them aware of the potential dangers.
• Accidents can happen at any time on vacation, but often they happen on the first and last day, so keep watch and do not get distracted when your children are playing by, or in the water.
• Children in or near water should always be supervised by an adult and never left unattended. Keep an eye on them and do not get distracted in and around the water. 
• Get in the water with them, it is easier to keep an eye on them as well as good fun. Floatation devices are highly recommended for children but are not a substitute for supervision.

Be aware of your surroundings

• Check warning flags and signage on the beach and only swim where it is permitted. 
• Beware of dangerous currents, these can be very powerful. Not all beaches have lifeguards and/or warning flags.
• Beware of underwater hazards, such as reefs, rocks, sudden changes in depth and marine life. Although shark attacks in the Bahamas are very rare the Bahamian authorities issued advice urging the public to exercise extreme caution in and around the waters of New Providence, adjacent islands, and cays.
• Never swim where a sign says not to e.g. in zoned areas for jet boats or jet skis.
• Never swim at night or after drinking alcohol.

Look out for others

• Never swim alone, ‘buddy up’ with others in your party and use the snorkel vests provided.
• Know how and where to get help. If you see someone in difficulty; raise the alarm, preferably the emergency services. Ensure you know the correct number for the country you are in.

Do not overestimate your ability

• Consider swimming lessons before you go if you think it would be useful to learn proper swimming technique.
• Even if you regularly swim in a pool, remember that open water swimming can be very different.

Safety 

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets, harnesses, snorkel vests & diver down flags. You can see all this equipment demonstrated in our online safety briefing, and we strongly recommend that you make use this equipment during your vacation. This safety equipment will be displayed in the saloon of your boat on boarding – If you have any questions feel free to ask our base staff during your briefing. 

We have a very limited supply of children’s life jackets on base so highly recommend that if you are travelling with children, you bring their own. This ensures that children have correctly fitting jackets that are comfortable for them.  

Children should not be allowed in the dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and should wear a buoyancy aid or harness whilst on deck. 

Children under the age of 16 should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy. 

Travel advice
The Bahamas generally risk-free of contagious disease. Current travel, health, and safety information can be obtained by visiting gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Travel insurance
Sunsail offers comprehensive travel insurance for your complete peace of mind. If you have your own travel insurance, please make sure that it covers all of the destinations and activities of your Sunsail holiday. Visit here for more details.

*Please note country entry/exit and vaccination/immunisation requirements can and do change. Sunsail is not accountable for these requirement changes and we advise visiting the destination’s authority website to receive the latest updates.

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Eat

Provisioning

Sunsail Provisioning
This destination offers online provisioning. All provisioning orders should be placed no later than 6 days prior to the charter start date. Visit store.sunsail.com to order.

For more information, visit here for our different provisioning options.

Supermarkets
Maxwell’s: Large supermarket, 15-20 minutes walk
Mon-Thurs 8am – 7pm | Fri-Sat 8am – 8pm | Sun 8am – 4pm

Abaco Groceries: Wholesale / Retail Store, 10 minutes by taxi
Mon-Sat 8 am – 6 pm | Sun – closed

Save-a-Lot: Wholesale / Retail Store, 5 minutes by taxi
Mon-Thurs 8 am – 7 pm | Fri-Sat 8 am – 8 pm | Sun: closed

Small provisioning stores can also be found while sailing at Green Turtle Cay, Treasure Cay, Guana Cay, Hopetown and Man-o-War Cay.

Dining

Note: most restaurants close at 9 pm

Colors Bahamian Restaurant

5-10 min walk from base

Phone: +1 242-699-3294

Wally’s Restaurant
Tel: 242 367 2074
Cuisine: Bahamian and seafood – Reservations suggested

Anglers Restaurant
Tel: 242 367 2158
Cuisine: Bahamian and American

The Bistro at Abaco Beach Resort 

(Reservations Required) 

Phone: 242-367-2158

The Pool Bar and Terrace at Marinaville 

(right at the docks, no reservation required)

Many restaurants closed during September – Low Season
If you are looking to travel in low season there may be a limited choice of restaurants to eat ashore and therefore please provision accordingly. This would be a perfect time of year to enjoy a BBQ off the back of your boat.

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Shop

Around the base

Accommodations
Conch Inn Hotel and Marina
Abaco Beach Resort 

Banks
Generally, banks are open between 9:30 am to 3 pm (4:30 pm on Fridays). 
ATM’s dispense Bahamian dollars.

Post office
Postal services are available at the base.

Shopping
There are two boutiques near the base.
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Play

Things to do

Golf
One 18-hole course is available at Treasure Cay, 20 miles (32km) away.

Water toys & sports

For your convenience, you can add water toys to your charter prior to arrival at the base. They will be waiting on your boat upon arrival. You are able to rent these at the base but please keep in mind that we have limited availability. For more information, please view our water sports options here.

Scuba diving
Dive Abaco is located at the base and is the most easily accessed dive shop. Tanks and equipment can be rented. Rendezvous dives available.

Mermaid reef, Johnny’s Cay, Manjack Cay, No name Cay, and Walkers Cay reef are all protected underwater preserves.

Snorkelling
Sunsail provides snorkelling for all charters for your pleasure. Children’s sizes are very limited; you may wish to pack your own snorkelling gear.

Fishing
Fishing is allowed in the Bahamas. Our yachts are registered therefore our clients do not need a fishing permit.

To protect the marine environment, spear fishing using scuba gear and possession of spear guns are illegal in The Bahamas.

Two areas are protected and fishing is not permitted: Pelican Cays Land & Sea Park Fowl Cay Preserve.

Some fishing charters are available. Fishing equipment is available to rent from Sunsail or Rich’s Rental. If you request fishing guides, they are available throughout the various islands. Prices ($170 -$350 p/d) vary according to the type of fishing guides requested.

It is illegal to carry out any form of fishing or to take any shells, coral or sea life in national marine parks. There are several marine parks in the Sea of Abaco.

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For more information on what’s included on your yacht, please view the full list here.