Can You Climb the Hope Town Lighthouse on Elbow Cay?

By Sail Abacos, Editorial Team

Reviewed by Captain Ronald Rolle

The Hope Town Lighthouse, officially known as the Elbow Reef Lighthouse, stands as one of the most photographed landmarks in the Bahamas. Its distinctive red and white candy-striped pattern has guided mariners since the British Imperial Lighthouse Service constructed it during the 1860s.

What makes this lighthouse truly remarkable is that it remains one of the last kerosene-fueled lighthouses operating anywhere in the world. Two lighthouse keepers still climb the tower each night to light the lamp by hand, maintaining a maritime tradition that has continued for over 150 years.

Visitors can climb all 101 steps to the top of the lighthouse for panoramic views that sweep across Elbow Cay, the harbor of Hope Town, and the surrounding islands of the Sea of Abaco. On clear days, the views extend for miles in every direction.

The climb itself is part of the experience. The narrow spiral staircase and wooden steps evoke the era when this technology represented cutting-edge navigation safety. At the top, the original Fresnel lens continues to focus and magnify the light that protects ships from the reef.

Hope Town village surrounding the lighthouse offers additional attractions. Narrow streets wind past pastel-colored colonial homes with white picket fences, giving the settlement a New England character transported to the tropics. The Wyannie Malone Historical Museum provides local history context.

Reaching Hope Town requires a ferry from Marsh Harbour to Elbow Cay. The lighthouse is a short walk from the ferry dock through the charming village streets.

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