The Bahamas

First-time visitors to the Bahamas are drawn in by the promise of white-sand beaches and gently lapping waves, but they discover that this wonderland of 700 islands offers so much more. From raucous carnivals and events tied to the nation’s British colonial history to world-class diving into blue holes and hiking in national parks, from romantic afternoons spent on deserted island beaches to family-friendly day trips on fishing boats, the Bahamas offer unique experiences for everyone. The best part: things move more slowly in the Bahamas, which means you’ll have plenty of time to explore.

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Photo by Fernando Jorge/Unsplash

Overview

How to get around The Bahamas

All visitors must possess a valid passport and proof of onward or return travel. Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau is the main air hub, with service to many other islands. Abacos has two small international airports with U.S. connections. Private and public ferry services are available between most major islands.

Major airlines connect the United States with the Bahamas, and if you plan to stay in Nassau, Paradise island, or Freeport, your journey is a simple one. If you plan on reaching one of the Out Islands, options are more varied—and more exciting. You can charter a plane or speedboat, or secure passage on a mail or delivery ship, like an adventurer of old. More than a dozen Bahamian islands are served by U.S. airlines and Bahamasair; reaching the Exumas, Eleuthera, and the Abacos is a straightforward affair. Car rental isn’t a necessity in the Bahamas; both Nassau and Freeport have solid taxi and transportation networks, while many of the roads on the Out Islands are in such poor condition that driving isn’t worth the effort. Car rental is also exceptionally expensive, even by Caribbean standards. One exception is Grand Bahama Island; driving here is simple and straightforward. Remember that in the Bahamas you drive on the left. Hitching a ride on one of the 19 “Post Office Navy” ships isn’t as common as it once was, though all 30 inhabited Bahamian islands are still serviced. Boats leave from Potter’s Cay and Prince George Wharf each morning, with voyages that can last from 5 to 12 hours, depending on your final destination. Prices are cheap, but accommodations are sometimes rough (depending on the boat). Conversely, seeing the islands by charter boat is a remarkable experience, and comes with a remarkable price tag. Charter companies operate on all of the major islands.

Culture in The Bahamas

The culture of the Bahamas is characterized by African, Caribbean, European, and American influences, while the Out Islands have developed their own traditions, folklore, and arts. Music is generally considered one of the nation’s most important cultural exports, with acts like the Baha Men enjoying global appeal. The traditional music scene, including local styles like rake and scrape, soca, and the ever-popular calypso, serve as a wonderful introduction to Bahamian culture. The Bahamas have more churches per capita than any other nation on earth, and religious capital is important. Folklore and oral traditions have enjoyed something of a revival in recent years, while the islands have long been known for tremendous arts and crafts.

There’s such a thing as too much sun and surf (especially if you forgot your sunblock), even in an island paradise like the Bahamas. Fortunately, there’s plenty to enjoy on solid ground. The islands have a history of hosting tremendous Caribbean carnivals that last for a month and take over city streets. The best known is the Junkanoo celebration on Boxing Day, a celebration of folk art with roots that date back to the 16th century. The largest Junkanoo street festival takes place annually in Nassau. The Fox Hill Day Freedom Festival is held on the second weekend in August and includes the important Emancipation Day Memorial Service. The three-day Andros Crab Festival runs the first week of June at Fresh Creek, while the Bahamas International Film Festival is held every December. The Eleuthera Pineapple Festival, first held in Gregory Town in 1988, now welcomes more than 5,000 visitors to the islands during the first week of June. The Coconut Festival is held around the same time.

Food and drink to try in The Bahamas

Gastronomic bliss in the Bahamas begins and ends with the mighty conch, pronounced conk. Conch is traditionally served fried (known as cracked conch) or raw with a side of rice and peas. Bahamian cuisine is notable for an abundant use of fish and shellfish. Lobster, crab, grouper, and bonefish are particularly popular, while goat remains a common livestock staple. Bahamian food traditions are influenced by the American South, so it’s common to find grits, split peas, and pudding served as sides.

Beaches

How you spend your time on the beach depends mainly on how much time you have. Pack a few books and unroll your towel by the pool at one of Paradise Island’s world-class beach resorts. If you’d prefer to ride on the water, climb aboard a sailing catamaran with a Flying Cloud Catamaran Cruise. Snorkel around Nassau’s shallow coral reefs, scuba dive the world’s third largest barrier reef with an Andros Barrier Reef Expedition, or mount a Scenic Underwater Bubble—like a cross between motorcycling and scuba diving—for a truly unique glimpse into the Bahamian water world. Of course, anyone would understand if you simply basked all day on Tahiti Beach where rum cocktails, bright skies, and relaxed sunbathers reign.

Guide Editor

Flash Parker is currently studying to become a wilderness survival expert in the same tradition as Paul Bunyan, though his beard has yet to mature, and blue ox are less common than they once were. Flash moonlights as a writer, photographer, and photojournalist. His work has been published by AFAR, Lonely Planet, Conde Nast, Canadian Living, USA Today, Get Lost Magazine, GQ Magazine, Asian Geographic, Escape Magazine, American Cowboy, and more.
Read Before You Go
Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, teens, grandparents, or in-laws, these Caribbean retreats offer a balance of ocean and cultural adventures, plus endless opportunities for play.
Resources to help plan your trip
You know why you’re here – you’ve come to discover the Bahamas’ best beaches. It’s that postcard-perfect white sand. The palm trees swaying in the sun. The surf slowly lapping at your toes as you walk along the beach. Bahamian beaches are the stuff of legend, and our guide will help you discover the best of them.
You may not think of it this way (yet), but the Bahamas is for families. Here you’ll find one of the most family-friendly vacation destinations in the Western Hemisphere. Good weather means kids spend most of their time outdoors, the sand, sun and surf draw the young and old to the beach, and clubs, casinos, restaurants and bars of the Bahamas keep the big kids happy late into the night; what could be better for a family vacation?
Beneath the waves of the Bahamian seas lies another world entirely; go into the deep blue to snorkel secluded caves, dive legendary wrecks, scuba pristine coral, and swim with friendly dolphins, and more. The deep blue sea has so much to offer, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to get beneath the waves. Some of the Bahamas’ most essential experiences take place under the sea.
The best parks and hiking trails in the Bahamas provide a worthy diversion from the beach. Once you’ve had your fill of island fare (and sunburned bits of skin you never knew you had), you may be inclined to chart a hiking adventure. The Bahamas offer incredible parks—on both land and sea—thousands of incredible national attractions, and plenty of open space where you can stretch your legs, hike, and enjoy.
The best hotels in the Bahamas make it easy for you to spend less time worrying about where to stay and more time plotting your next pink-sand beach adventure. Here, you’ll find some of the finest boutique hotels and luxury resorts in the Caribbean, from the humble (a seaside cabana with views to swoon over) to the plush (think private island escape).
The history of rum runs parallel to the long history of the Bahamas, from days of pirates and plantations to the beach bars and cool lounges of today’s islands. Sip the local stuff straight or mixed with tropical fruits on ice, or try some of the other cocktails and beers on offer in paradise.
Sarongs, straw hats, bottles of rum, brightly painted crafts—whether you’re in the market for souvenirs or an upgrade to your beachwear, we’ve found where to shop among all the boutiques, galleries, shops, and markets in the Bahamas.
This archipelago of more than 700 islands, most ringed with pink sand beaches and crystal-clear shallow water, offers diversions above and below the water: diving into shipwrecks, touring rum distilleries, exploring the architectural relics of British colonial rule, dancing at a fish fry, and shopping the boutiques of Harbour Island, among them. Find luxury—and simplicity—in your Bahamas vacation.
For dining experiences that range from formal resort restaurants to scruffy beach shacks dishing up conch salad and conch fritters, your Bahamas vacation will offer lots of flavor. Chefs like Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Nobu Matsuhisa have imported their brand of fine dining to the islands, but you can find simpler fare, too, in resort dining rooms and beach bars from Harbour Island to downtown Nassau.
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