Boasting over 700 colourful islands, The Bahamas are an ideal destination for a yacht charter holiday. Whilst each island has its own unique charm, they all boast crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches, and a host of marine life, perfect for diving or snorkelling. Warm, gentle trade winds create optimum sailing conditions and have led to the Bahamas being considered a true sailor’s paradise.
With so much to do and so many islands to explore, there simply isn’t enough time to cover all that The Bahamas has to offer, so here are a few of our favourite destinations in this beautiful part of the world…
Nassau and Paradise Island
Nassau, on the island of New Providence, is the capital of The Bahamas and, along with neighbouring Paradise Island, is undoubtedly the place to go for lively clubs, casinos and restaurants. Full of personality, Nassau is home to pastel-coloured buildings, rum-loving locals and rhythmic percussions.
Just offshore, accessible via a bridge, is Paradise Island which is home to a championship golf course and the famous Atlantis Resort – an entertainment mecca boasting the largest waterpark in the Caribbean and the largest open-air marine habitat in the world.
The Exumas
Just 35 miles southeast of Nassau lie the Exumas, an archipelago of 365 islands and cays. In a change of pace from the capital, here you’ll find untouched white-sand beaches, as well as protected landscapes and wildlife. The islands are divided into three major areas, Great Exuma and Little Exuma – which are known for their laidback atmosphere – and the stunning Exuma Cays: a string of mostly uninhabited islands which act as a playground for the rich and famous.
Founded as the world’s first land-and-sea reserve in 1958, the protected Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park boasts 176-square-miles of crystal-clear water, perfect for diving and snorkelling. This ecological preserve and wildlife refuge is famous for its breath-taking marine environment.
The Exumas are also famous for some not-so-wild life in the form of domesticated swimming pigs! Visit Big Major Cay to feed these friendly animals who are so sociable they swim out to be fed when a boat arrives!