Exumas or Abacos: which is better for a first-time yacht charter?

For a first-time yacht charter, the Abacos are the easier cruising ground, while the Exumas offer the bigger bucket-list payoff. The Sea of Abaco is shallow and protected, with short hops between harbor towns like Hope Town and Man-O-War Cay, so guests trade open-water passages for beach bars, golf carts and lighthouse views. The Exumas feel wilder. A chain of some 365 cays south of Nassau, they hold the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, the nurse sharks of Compass Cay and Thunderball Grotto, with water so clear it reads like a pool. Provisioning stops are scarce there, which favors a crewed yacht over self-catering. Couples chasing icons pick the Exumas; families wanting calm water and town dinners pick the Abacos. For the calm-water option, see a week-long Abacos itinerary from Marsh Harbour. Compare both in the Bahamas destination guide.