One Reason (of many) to visit the Bahamas

Island Culture & Scenery

The people of The Bahamas are laid back and ever so friendly to visitors. The islands are quiet and remote, and it still retain a noticeable old world ambiance. Today you can stay in the comforts of grand resorts and still explore the little villages and geological features scattered across the sea.

Want specific advice for your vacation?

Our Travel Advisors can offer you their best recommendations and travel tips for your Bahamas vacation, honeymoon, or wedding.

›› Find a Caribbean Travel Specialist

›› Caribbean Resorts & Hotels

›› Plan and book your Bahamas vacation

With nearly 700 islands and countless smaller cays, The Bahamas offers endless ways to discover your own piece of paradise. Noted for their relaxed and casual atmosphere, and the genuine friendliness of its people, the islands of The Bahamas feature some of the world's most glamorous resorts where travelers enjoy scuba diving, golf, tennis, horseback riding, and a host of water sports from boating to deep-sea fishing. Throughout the year you'll find sailing regattas, festivals, cultural shows and lots more to entertain every member of your family. Unlike Freeport and Nassau, however, you find some of the more remote islands don't even have cars or television! Secluded but not isolated, The Bahamas make it possible to get away from it all without having to go far at all.

Settled by British Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, the Abacos island group has the feel of an old New England fishing village with gingerbread houses, white picket fences, and even a candy-striped lighthouse in Hope Town. Throughout the year you'll find sailing regattas, festivals, cultural shows and lots more to entertain every member of your family.

Approximate Air Travel Time

New York City 3 hours
Boston 4 hours
Miami 1 hour
Philadelphia 3 hours
Los Angeles 6 hours
San Francisco 6.5 hrs
Dallas/Fort Worth 3.5 hours
Chicago 3.5 hours

Areas within the Bahamas

Abacos Islands

The second largest group of the Out Islands, the Abacos archipelago spreads across 130 miles of blue ocean in a crescent-shaped arc that includes the principle islands of Great and Little Abaco, and lesser cays such as Elbow Cay, Man-O-War Cay, Treasure Cay and Green Turtle Cay. Settled by British Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, the Abacos island group has the feel of an old New England fishing village with gingerbread houses, white picket fences, and even a candy-striped lighthouse in Hope Town. Sheltered harbors and pristine beaches create a haven for sailing and water sports. A cultural center of the Family Islands, Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco is the third largest town in the Bahamas.

Andros

The largest of the Bahamian islands, Andros remains largely undeveloped with miles of wilderness and the third largest barrier reef in the world, spectacular for diving and snorkeling. Undersea adventurers can investigate shipwrecks, including The Potomac, a steel-hulled freighter sank in 1952, and the Barge Wreck, a 56-foot WWII LCM intentionally sunk in 1963 to create an artificial reef.

Berry Islands

Quiet and inviting, this small island chain along the eastern edge of the Great Bahama Bank is popular with divers and anglers. Big game fishermen are especially drawn to the islands due to their close proximity to the Tongue of the Ocean and the excellent marinas on Chub Cay and Great Harbour Cay. Enjoy relaxing white sand beaches fringed by beautiful palm trees.

Bimini

Considered one of the best big game fishing spots in the world, Bimini lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida. It was a favorite getaway for Ernest Hemmingway, who in the 1930s wrote much of To Have And Have Not and Islands In The Stream here. Discover glorious coral reefs, shipwrecks, and lots of marine life.

Cat Island

Named after a British sea captain, this rolling green island features miles of deserted beaches, lush resorts, and Mount Alvernia, the highest point in the Bahamas at 206 feet. Splendid isolation makes Cat Island perfect for honeymooners or modern-day Robinson Crusoes or anyone searching for natural beauty and blessed seclusion. 50 miles long, Cat Island is marked with high cliffs and untramped beaches edged with casuarina trees.

Crooked & Acklins Islands

Divers, snorklers, and bonefishers find plenty to keep them busy on these adjoining and largely undeveloped islands. Crooked Island, nicknamed the "fragrant island" because of the sweet aroma of its many flowers, this remote paradise offers miles of secluded reefs and pristine white sand beaches. Acklins Island was another popular hideout for pirates, and Castle Island Lighthouse at the southern tip once served as a beacon for retreating pirates escaping the navy.

Eleuthera/Harbour Island

This group of islands east of Nassau is particularly popular for its more than 300 miles of spectacular coastline, secluded coves, dramatic cliffs, and pink sand beaches. The verdant interior features pineapple plantations and picturesque villages. Offshore, enjoy spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving at Gaulding's Cay beach and large concentrations of sun anemones, so spectacular they dazzled even Jacques Cousteau and his biologists. Harbour Island is one of the oldest settlements in the Bahamas, and is known for its spectacular 3-mile, pink sand beach. Dunmore Town is a sleepy, picturesque village reminiscent of New England with its narrow hilly streets, white picket fences, and friendly residents. Windermere Island is an exclusive resort and an occasional vacation spot for the British royal family. It's connected to Eleuthera by a 5-mile bridge.

The Exumas

Peppered with exquisite resorts and incredible beaches, this chain of 365 cays is famous for its exceptional bone-fishing and unmatched snorkeling and scuba diving. The islands also host a number of sailing regattas centered on lovely Elizabeth Harbour and vibrant George Town. Allan's Cay, at the northernmost tip of The Exumas, is home to the rare protected Bahamian iguana. Staniel Cay is a favorite for yachtsmen, and a great base for visiting the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. Among the exotic marine life inhabiting the waters there is an impressive series of caves, including Thunderball Grotto, a stunning marine cave featured in movies such as Thunderball, Never Say Never Again, and Splash.

Grand Bahama Island

The home of Freeport - the island nation's second largest city and a sportsman's paradise for championship golf, tennis, scuba diving, and fishing - was designed especially for your enjoyment! Forty years ago, Freeport didn't exist but today it's a fantasy vacation made real on the shores of Grand Bahama, just 55 miles east of Florida. If you're looking for sheer entertainment, there's no better getaway in the Bahamas. But Freeport's bright lights and good times aren't the whole story. The island itself has been settled for centuries, and the historic, rustic environment provides an alternative to the city flash. The easternmost edge of the island has beautiful deserted beaches. The towns of the West End, which during prohibition were popular hideouts for rum-runners, have an Old World charm. In the parks, you can find remnants of the island's earliest Arawak natives and the pirate invasions that form the backdrop of Grand Bahama's spellbinding, often shady past. Topping it all off is the legendary friendliness of the Bahamian people!

Great Inagua

The third largest island in The Bahamas, Great Inagua is also the most southerly of the main islands. Its unusual climate of little rainfall and continual trade winds has created rich salt ponds, bringing prosperity to the island. Massive flocks of pink flamingoes reside in the island's vast national park, where herds of donkeys roam free and the rare Bahamian parrot can occasionally be spotted. Tourist facilites are far and few between, and the only inhabited settlement is Matthew Town.

Long Island

One of the most scenic and geographically diverse islands, Long Island is thought to have been one of the first places in the Bahamas that Christopher Columbus landed. A thriving agricultural community and tourism have succeeded colonial cotton plantations. Two scenic coastlines offer great scenic choice. The western coast has soft, sandy beaches, and the eastern side has dramatic rocky cliffs. Long Island's biggest event is the annual Long Island Sailing Regatta, featuring Bahamian-made boats.

San Salvador

Christopher Columbus gave the name San Salvador to the island he first made landfall at after crossing the Atlantic in 1492. Many theories dispute which island that actually was, but San Salvador has taken the name and attracts tourists to spots carrying Columbus-era names. Scientists and students are also drawn to San Salvador because of the Bahamian Field Station, a biological and geological research instituttion in Graham Harbour.

Nassau

The capital city and its environs offer both the British colonial atmosphere of the past and a buzzing modern scene. It's a busy city with an easy-going, tropical island attitude where colorful, stately old homes and public buildings mingle with small hotels and office centers. Many shops, the lively Straw Market -- where haggling for the best price is a jovial sport --cruise dock, museums, and churches are located on or near Bay Street.

Cable Beach

A few miles west of Nassau is Cable Beach, covering 2½ miles of gorgeous beach with 5 first-class luxury resorts, a golf course, nightlife, and the largest casino in the Bahamas. The resorts are self-contained so you never have to leave for anything if you don't want to. All beach activities, nightlife, upscale shops, and the casino are within easy reach of each other and also within easy reach of some of the smaller properties and villas.

Paradise Island

These 685 acres are connected to Nassau by a 600-foot bridge. The island is developed almost exclusively for the delight of the tourist, so very few private residences exist on it. Paradise Island contains an abundance of resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, and outdoor activities, as well as nightlife, a golf course, an aquarium, and Nassau's other casino.

Topography

Thanks to the Bahamas' favorable geological composition, it has some of the clearest, cleanest water in the world. These roughly 700 or so islands stretch from just north of Cuba, across the Tropic of Capricorn, and up the coast of Florida, approaching to within just forty miles of the United States. Resting in a shallow sea, most of these low-lying islands amount to little more than coral outcrops a few feet above sea level. The islands are primarily covered with low scrub bushes and a few wispy pine trees. They offer miles of undeveloped white sand beaches and are often fringed with coral reefs.

Climate

Called the "Isles of Perpetual June" by George Washington, the nickname stuck for many years because the island weather is almost always ideal, yet there is a bit of variety in what you can expect.

Summer: 74°-88° with 5-7 inches of rain per month. Occasionally, there will be overcast skies for a day or two, but most rain comes as a rapid thunderstorm that quickly passes. The heart of hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare. When threatened by a hurricane strike, one should expect a 2-day displacement from evacuation to safe return.

Winter: 63°-78° with less than 2 inches of rain per month. A rare bout of cool weather can sometimes come down from the North for a day or two.

Spring: 66°-82° with less than 3 inches of rain per month. In this land of the perpetually ideal climate, spring is ideal and then some.

Fall: 71°-85° with 4-6 inches of rain per month. Except for the occasional tropical storm, this is one of the best seasons to visit, along with spring.

Best Time to Visit the Bahamas

Weather-wise, your visit to the Bahamas is unrestricted. The Gulf Stream sweeps its warm waters along the Western shores, and the brilliant sun and gentle Southeast trade winds continuously bathe the islands. Winter is the most popular season, when people escape the cold and snow of the north. The most perfect weather comes in spring and autumn, and summer is the season of Sailing Regattas and the Goombay festivals.

Some Suggestions on What To Do & See in the Bahamas

Robinson Crusoe Tour

Enjoy a sailing picnic trip, including wine, snorkeling equipment, live calypso music all day, and hotel transfers.

Boating

Rent a boat and head off to one of the many uninhabited cays for romance or adventure. With a basic orientation lesson, getting around the islands by boat is a breeze thanks to the numerous marinas and island anchorages.

Discovery Tours

Drive through romantic Old Nassau and its surroundings to see the old forts of Fincastle and Charlotte, complete with moat and dungeon. The Queen's Staircase - the #1 sightseeing spot in Nassau - is a lush grotto of 66 steps carved by slaves in 1793 into the side of a solid limestone cliff leading up to Fort Fincastle. Visit Government House - still the official seat of the British Governor-General to the Islands; picturesqueGregory's Arch; the 19th-century flamingo pink Legislative Buildings and Law Courts; the native market; and scores of other historic sites in the centuries-old capital of the Bahamas.

Pelican Cay National Park

This is an underwater preserve and scuba diver's paradise.

Abaco National Park

This large preserve on southern Abaco is home to the unique Abaco Parrot.

Golf & Tennis

Play a round at the 18-hole championship course or lob a few over the net with a friend or professional instructor on the tennis courts of Treasure Cay.

Beaches

Check out the pristine beaches and stunning hilltop views on Elbow Cay. Take a guided tour of the cay's candy-striped lighthouse, which stands guard over Hope Town and its scenic harbor. The town resembles a charming New England seaside village with gingerbread houses and white picket fences.

Arawak Indian Caves

Explore the remains of the island's earliest human settlements with an informative guide.

The Cloister

Located in the Versailles Gardens of the Ocean Club, this is a 12th-century cloister originally built by Augustinian monks in France. It was reassembled here, stone by stone, after AP heir Huntington Hartford purchased it from Hearst at San Simeon in California. The gardens overlooking Nassau Harbour are filled with tropical flowers and classic statues.

Dining in the Bahamas

Bahamian cuisine has been heavily influenced by the American South and tends to be subtly flavored with a variety of spices. Fresh seafood is a staple of the Bahamian diet, especially conch, a delicious ocean mollusk, which can be eaten raw with lemon, steamed, added to soups, or deep-fried into conch fritters. Pigeon peas and rice figure prominently as a side order. A variety of dining options are available throughout the islands, although your choices will be rather limited on some of the lesser-developed cays.

Nightlife in the Bahamas

Nassau has a pulsing nightlife, with casinos, clubs, shows, concerts and music ranging from traditional rake-and-scrape bands to symphony orchestras. Theater and dance are popular in the Bahamas and several companies perform in Nassau. For a daily listing of events, check the Nassau Guardian or Tribune before heading out for the night.

Freeport was developed for tourists seeking tropical fun, so nighttime entertainment naturally makes a big splash. A classy casino with a Las Vegas-style show, and an ample supply of nightclubs keep you entertained into the early morning hours. Kalik, the local beer brewed in Nassau, has won several international prizes. The local rum is Bacardi, around which popular drinks like Bahama Mammas, Yellowbirds, and Island Woman are created. And remember to bring your dancing shoes, because there's live music every night. You can always find local music, known as Goombay, at a lively club along with disco and jazz. Also, check out Port Lucaya's open-air Count Basie Square for live bands, fire-eaters and local entertainers. If you like your good times more laid back, head for one of the many beach bars and share a drink with new friends or slow dance on the sand with the moon in place of a disco ball.

Beyond Freeport and Nassau, the other islands of The Bahamas are markedly quieter and more subdued, but there's still plenty to do once the sun dips below the Atlantic. A favorite activity is visiting a few of the local bars where the warm and friendly locals make you feel like one of the gang. Couples shouldn't miss a chance to stroll and dance along a moonlit shore!

Ready to book your vacation? Don't worry, our Caribbean Travel Advisors are delighted to assist you with your travel planning at a time convenient for you. Call 1-888-420-9053 for courteous and timely attention or select a travel planner below to get started.

›› Start planning your vacation

›› Start planning your honeymoon

›› Start planning your destination wedding