The Bahamas are an archipelago of 16 major islands located to the east and southeast of Florida. Situated in the Atlantic Ocean, the chain of islands stretches for around 760 miles and covers 5,360 square miles of land and ocean. Cuba is to the south of the islands, while Haiti and Turks and Caicos lie to the east and southeast.
The Bahamas are located a considerable distance offshore and comprise many small islands. This makes travel options to the islands somewhat limited. While air is generally the best way to get to and around the islands, there are a few options to consider.
Road – There are no direct road connections with any neighboring countries. The distance between the Bahamas and all of its neighbors is so large that any bridge or tunnel would be completely unfeasible.
Ferry – There are several ferry connections between the U.S. and the Bahamas. Operated by Balearia Caribbean, the ferries depart from Port Lauderdale in Florida. A twice-weekly service sails to Freeport on the Island of Grand Bahama. Departing Fort Lauderdale at 9 am, it arrives in Freeport 3 hours later at midday.
A second ferry service sails between Fort Lauderdale and Bimini in the Bahamas. Sailing 3 times per week, it departs at 9 a.m. and arrives in Bimini just 2 hours later. The costs for both ferries vary by season but expect to pay around $150 each way. Unfortunately, neither the Freeport nor Bimini ferries carry vehicles.
There are no ferry services between the Bahamas and Cuba, Haiti, or Turks and Caicos.
Air – The Bahamas is exceptionally well served by air with 20 international airports. The largest airport is Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau. Most of the 7 million annual visitors who visit the Bahamas arrive through this airport. It offers domestic connections to other islands and international connections to Europe, North America, South America, and Africa.
While the Bahamas consists of over 700 islands and islets, there are only 30 inhabited islands and just 16 major islands. These major islands have well-formed road networks, meaning driving around the islands is relatively straightforward. There are plenty of car hire firms in the Bahamas, and visitors can drive for up to 3 months using their home countries’ driving license. If you plan to drive after this time, you must obtain a Bahamas driving license. It’s important to note that in the Bahamas, they drive on the left-hand side, the opposite of the U.S.
As you’d expect with any island paradise, the best things to do involve the beach. The Bahamas is no different. Here’s our rundown on the best things to do in the Bahamas.
Hit the Beach -Whether you visit Love Beach, Junkanoo Beach, or Cabbage Beach, you’ll find the same white sands and turquoise seas. The Bahamas islands have spectacular soft sand beaches that gently slope into the warm ocean.
Diving – The Bahamas is a great place for scuba diving and one of the best places to see sharks. There’s plenty of opportunity to see Tiger Sharks, Bull Sharks, and Hammerhead Sharks. There are also some excellent wreck dives in the area. While there are plenty of live-aboard options, getting to dive sites from the islands is just as easy.
Atlantis – This resort on Paradise Island is a love-it-or-hate-it destination. It has several huge attractions, including the 141-acre Aquaventure water park. Themed on the lost city of Atlantis, it features over 20 slides, pools, and a vast lazy river. Another spectacular attraction within the resort is Marine Habitat, a vast open-air aquarium. Home to 14 lagoons and over 250 marine species, you can see everything from sharks to stingrays and turtles.
Pig Beach – This beach is located on an uninhabited island in Exuma. It takes its name from the wild pigs that live on the island and swim in the sea. Visiting and swimming with these friendly creatures is a surreal and delightful experience. No one is quite sure why or how the pigs got here, but that all adds to the uniqueness of this destination.
The best time to visit the Bahamas is generally considered to be during the period of December through April. During this time, temperatures are warm, but rainfall and humidity are low. Such idyllic conditions haven’t gone unnoticed, making this the Bahama’s peak season. The following period of May through September is the wet and hot season. Temperatures and humidity can be very uncomfortable, and there’s also the possibility of hurricanes. Following this season, October and November is a good time to visit. While there’s still the remote threat of hurricanes, it’s generally sunny, warm, and uncrowded. This is a great period to visit if you’re trying to keep costs down and avoid the crowds.
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