Little Harbour Yacht Charter: Art, Anchorages & Southern Abaco Charm

Tucked into the southeastern coast of Great Abaco, Little Harbour is one of the most distinctive yacht charter stops in the Abacos, combining an almost completely enclosed natural harbour with secluded beaches, an internationally known bronze foundry, and the legendary Pete's Pub. The Bahamas tourism authority describes it as a remote artists' colony best reached by boat.

The harbour feels very different from the larger boating centers farther north. Instead of resort complexes and busy waterfronts, guests arrive to a tiny coastal community surrounded by low hills, turquoise water, private homes, beaches, and the open Atlantic immediately beyond the headland. Pete's Pub and the Johnston Art Gallery & Foundry provide the cultural heart of the settlement.

Little Harbour also marks an excellent transition into the quieter southern cruising grounds of Great Abaco. From here, yachts can explore the Bight of Old Robinson, nearby creeks and flats, the Pelican Cays, or continue farther south along Great Abaco while leaving the busier central Abacos behind.

The entrance into Little Harbour is shallow and requires careful navigation, particularly for deeper-draft vessels. Current Waterway Guide information warns that the channel is no longer straight for vessels drawing more than approximately 4.5 feet, making updated charts, tide planning, visual navigation, and current local knowledge particularly important.

Once through the entrance, the harbour becomes almost completely enclosed and exceptionally well protected. However, depth remains limited, with approximately 6 to 8 feet inside. Larger yachts may therefore remain outside Little Harbour or in the wider Bight of Old Robinson and use a tender to reach the settlement.

The inner harbour is now primarily a mooring field rather than a conventional anchorage. Moorings occupy most of the available swinging room, and current cruising guidance advises visiting vessels to expect to use a mooring rather than drop their own anchor. Once inside, the harbour offers excellent all-around protection.

Yachts unable to enter can use the outer Little Harbour anchorage, where depths range from approximately 10 to 20 feet and holding is good in sand. The anchorage has useful protection from easterly through southwesterly conditions, although Atlantic swell can make it uncomfortable. The nearby Bight of Old Robinson provides additional anchoring options, including quieter areas with good holding.

Little Harbour's modern identity began in 1951 when sculptor Randolph Johnston and his family settled here and established an artistic community. The Johnston family continues that tradition today through the working bronze foundry and gallery, which the Bahamas tourism authority identifies as the country's only working bronze foundry.

Next door, Pete's Pub has become one of the best-known casual yacht stops in the southern Abacos, serving Bahamian seafood in an open-air waterfront setting. Despite its reputation among cruisers, Little Harbour retains an off-grid, secluded character that makes it feel completely different from Marsh Harbour or Hope Town.