The Bahamas | Jan, 2024

festivals | heart & soul | things to do | earth first

The Bahamas

There are more ways to explore The Islands of the Bahamas than there are days in a year—and that's no exaggeration. The country is made up of more than 700 islands and cays, as well as 16 unique island destinations where you will find stunning beaches, postcard-perfect waves, and warm breezes. Beyond the restful resorts, a wealth of historical, cultural, and natural experiences await. The Bahamas’ turquoise waters, mangroves, historic towns, and famous swimming pigs are easier to reach than ever. If you have a wanderlust appetite and a desire to visit somewhere further afield, striking a balance of beautiful beaches, and historical sites, we think The Islands of the Bahamas are truly worth a visit, and it's never been easier. British Airways offers daily direct flights from London Heathrow and Virgin Atlantic operates four flights per week from London Heathrow to Nassau. Read on to learn more about this tropical island nation.

There is always a reason to visit The Islands of The Bahamas. Whether it is to experience the culture, participate in Junkanoo or Goombay Summer Festival, Out Island regattas, or sporting activities, find out why... It’s Better in The Bahamas. Click here to discover 50 reasons why you should visit and click here to learn more about fishing tournaments and annual events.

There are more than 20 international airports across The Bahamas, making island hopping amid the nature-rich, quirky, luxurious, and universally beach-blessed islands an easy feat. Most Brits will fly direct to Nassau, The Bahamas’ capital city, on the island of New Providence. Nassau is packed to the brim with culture, history, and beautiful beaches. Regarded as the gateway to The Bahamas, it's the ideal place to start your holiday. Other islands are easy to get to by air or ferry so you can experience an astonishing array of beaches, reefs, forests, and historic towns.

It is time for a Bahamian holiday

Getting there

Whether you take an intra-island plane, a ferry or a private charter, island-hopping in The Bahamas is a one-of-a-kind experience. There are 16 main islands, and countless experiences waiting to be discovered. No two islands are alike, each one has its own vibe, its own unique stories. The island of Bimini is 50 miles from Florida's eastern coast, here is where Ernest Hemingway’s favourite seaside hideaway meets the Lost City of Atlantis, and pristine beaches lead to waters teeming with prized big game fish. Tick off San Salvador, one of the smallest inhabited islands in The Bahamas. Its sparkling inland lakes, various historic monuments, miles of secluded beaches, and over 50 dive sites keep visitors well entertained. Or visit Inagua, the birdwatching capital of The Bahamas. It's home to over 80,000 flamingos and 140 species of native and migratory birds, thanks to three National Parks.

Unique Islands

An archipelago filled with adventures

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Memory-making experiences for the whole family are plentiful in The Bahamas. The Exumas island chain is divided into three major areas: Great Exuma, Little Exuma, and the Exuma Cays. Snap your holiday card on a sandbar at low tide, watch the kids' eyes widen as they snorkel among sea turtles, or take a boat to The Exumas to swim with the world-famous pigs. There are many stories of how these pigs arrived on Big Major Cay, but swimming and playing with them is an unforgettable experience for the whole family. The Exumas are renowned for their stunning sapphire-blue waters whose brilliant colours are even visible even from outer space. This chain of 365 islands is home to secluded footprint-free beaches, deserted cays, and ultra-exclusive accommodations.

When pigs swim

Fish Fry and Bahamian cuisine

Conch, snapper and lobster are cooked with a Bahamian flair. You can't leave The Bahamas without attending a Fish Fry that can be found on every island. Explore the vendors or beach shacks where authentic cusine is offered. The biggest and most popular Fish Fry in The Bahamas is at Arawak Cay, Nassau. There are also Island food tours proudly run by locals to showcase unique Bahamian cuisine, drinks, and culture.

Find family fun, romance, and more

No matter the stage in your life, there is an adventure to be had in The Bahamas. Whether you're looking to be alone with a new love, seeking some kid-friendly fun, heading out for a multigenerational trip, or pursuing an adrenaline-pumping adventure with your friends, you will find accommodations, tours, and experiences to suit the occasion. Nothing says romance like a secluded island getaway. Destination weddings, dream honeymoon spots, and an array of experiences made for two. Stroll along a sandbar with your partner, charter a private sunset cruise, or enjoy a candle lit dinner for two on the pink sand beach on Harbour Island.

Diving in The Bahamas is second to none with exceptional visibility and warm waters year-round, natural and artificial reefs, and shipwrecks to explore. Venture to the Andros Barrier Reef, the world's third largest, explore the H.M.S. Conqueror shipwreck at Rum Cay or swim in a Bahamian blue hole, like the Instagram-ready Dean's Bluehole on Long Island or underwater craters, like The Lost Blue near Nassau. At Grand Bahama Island's Tiger Beach (named for the large striped sharks), divers can experience the thrill of swimming with these incredible creatures. Sharks have been protected under Bahamian law since 2011.

Undersea marvels

Boating and fishing

The best way to explore The Bahamas is discovering our crystal-blue waters by boat. If fishing is your passion, board a charter to deep-sea fish for tuna, marlin and sailfish, or fly fish amid the mangroves. Head to Andros, a 15-minute flight from Nassau if you're a serious angler. Bone fishing is world-renowned here and the autumn is a good time to visit to catch barracuda, snapper, and grouper. And, if you are extremely lucky, you may even spot The Bahamas' trademark blue marlin.

Explore turquoise waters

The Bahamian must-do activities—boating in The Abacos or The Exuma Cay Land and Sea Park, diving in Andros, Bimini or Grand Bahama Island, or fishing in the remote Southern Islands —all offer a once-in-a-lifetime ocean adventure. Acklins & Crooked Island are as natural today as they were hundreds of years ago. Separated by a 500-square-mile lagoon known as the Bight of Acklins, both islands are a haven for boating, bone fishing, snorkelling, and diving. Great and Little Ragged Island lie at the end of a chain of islets, cays, and rocks that stretch over 100 miles. All you need is a boat, and the uninhabited cays are yours to explore.

Savvy travellers understand that locals know best, but Bahamians take it to another level with their People-to-People programme. Link up with Bahamians to experience authentic spots for conch salad and fried snapper, as well as historical tours to local-owned attractions, like the Dolphin House Museum in Bimini. You may visit a junkanoo shack and learn how to paste a junkanoo costume, beat a goatskin drum, shake the cowbells and feel the rhythm of The Bahamas. You will come away from your Bahamian holiday with more than photos and souvenirs, but with new friends and unique memories. Visit Cat Island and learn family traditions passed down from generation to generation. Or head to Grand Bahama Island to meet Grandfather Stingray, Keith Cooper, to swim with Hugger, Big Mama, and Dark Chocolate stingrays.

Cultural immersion

Eco tourism

Ecotourism is not a new concept to Bahamians—they’ve been living it for decades. You will find ample sustainable travel options in The Bahamas, from glass-bottom kayak adventures that keep waters clean, to snorkelling excursions with the Reef Rescue Network to help with the restoration of coral reefs. The Bahamas National Trust is an organisation noted for its vast wetland conservation efforts on Andros, Inagua, home to the largest remaining breeding colony of West Indian flamingos, New Providence, The Exumas, and Grand Bahama Island just to name a few.

Preserving the beauty

Marine animals are just the start of the phenomena The Bahamas has gone to great lengths to protect. From cultural and culinary experiences to sustainability programs that help to preserve the reefs, this island nation is all about protecting the people, animals, and places that make The Bahamas special. It’s easy (and enjoyable) to do your part. The secluded island of Mayaguana is the only island in The Bahamas that conserves its original Arawak name. Mayaguana is said to refer to a specific and endemic species of iguana. East of the mainland Booby Cay gets its name from the flock of brown boobies that call it home. It's also the natural habitat for descendants of wild goats left behind by early settlers.

Junkanoo festival

Dean's Blue Hole, Long Island

Festivals & regattas

Heart & soul

Things to do in The Bahamas

Earth first

Government House in Nassau

Junkanoo celebration

Plan your trip

Fish Fry

Swim with pigs on Exuma

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Freeport

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People-to-People program on Cat Island

Reffen Street Food Market Photo credits: Lukas Bukoven (left); Reffen - Copenhagen Street Food (right)

The BLOX Building (left); The Black Diamond (right) Photo credit: Daniel Rasmussen

Eleuthera (left); Mayaguana (right)

Exumas

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Welcome to The Bahamas

Aerial shot