Far journey Bahamas: The Ultimate Guide

The Bahama's consists of 700 islands spread over 161,000 square kilometers of ocean. The archipelago is an ecological oasis with the clearest water on earth. If you think of a holiday in Bahamas, you are clearly in for relaxation!

1. Characteristics Bahama's

2. Travel advice Bahama's

On the government website you can follow the actual travel advice for the Bahama's. In some places in the Bahama's, such as on the island of New Providence and in the parts of Nassau where there are few tourists, many robberies occur. Some safety tips:

• Don't go out on the street after sunset, not even to travel.
• Inquire at your hotel/accommodation about criminal sites in the area so you can avoid them.
• Avoid slums.
• Travel alone and during the day as much as possible.

In the months June to November is the hurricane season. Keep this in mind. Last year (2019) the Bahama's were heavily pulled by hurricane Dorian. This caused a lot of damage to hotels and accommodations.

3. Best travel period Bahama's

As mentioned, in the months June through November is the hurricane season on the Bahama's. The largest can be on a hurricane in the months of September and October. All islands of the Bahama's have shelters which you can also use as a tourist. If you want to travel during the hurricane season, always keep an eye on the local weather reports. The best travel period is December to May.

4. Interesting islands of the Bahamas

The Bahama's consist of several islands.

4.1. Blue lagoon island

Blue Lagoon Island (also known as Salt Cay) is just five kilometres northeast of Nassau and is home to dolphins and sea lions at Dolphin Encounters, but it also offers everything you could want for a private island holiday. You can swim in a hidden lagoon of clear blue water, snorkel close to the beach and see coral reefs teeming with numerous species of tropical fish. Sunbathe on white sandy beaches surrounded by coconut palms and walk through lush natural vegetation which is the habitat for nesting birds.

4.2 Eleuthera Island

On everyone's list of 'the world's top 10 beaches is Harbour Island's famous Pink Sand Beach. Few know that pink sand also spreads out over 35 miles on the sides of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea from the island of Eleuthera, which alone has 100 beaches. The island also offers several other blushing beaches, notably French Leave Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Surfer's Beach and Winding Bay Beach. You'll find white, powdery sand on Alabaster Beach also known as Receiver's Beach, where you can swim while waiting for your flight. Gaulding Cay Beach, with its nearby namesake Cay where you can walk to at low tide, also offers beautiful views.

4.3 Stocking Island

Stocking Island is easily accessible by boat from Elizabeth Harbour and has some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches in the Bahama's. Snorkelers and divers love to explore the island's blue holes, coral gardens and submarine caves. The island is also home to Stromatolites, said to be the oldest known macro-fossils on the planet, found on the beaches on the Atlantic side.

4.4. Cruise castaway cay (wiki)

Castaway Cay is a private island in the Bahama's that serves as an exclusive port for the Disney Cruise Line ships. It is located near Great Abaco Island and used to be called Gorda Cay. In 1997, The Walt Disney Company purchased a 99-year lease (until 2096) for the cay from the Bahamian government, giving the company significant control over the island. Castaway Cay was the first private island in the cruise industry where the ship docked on the island, eliminating the need for guests to land.

5. Beaches of the Bahamas

It is almost impossible to refine the best beaches of the Bahama's, because it seems like every beach you encounter is the most beautiful beach you have ever seen. Yet here we have gathered a top 5 best beaches of the bras.

5.1. Treasure Cay Beach, Abacos

Not only considered one of the best beaches in the Bahama's, but also the entire Caribbean. Five glorious miles long, Treasure Cay Beach has won awards in honor of its unprecedented allure. The beach itself resembles a white, wind-blown mountain covered in snow, but you won't feel a splash of winter!

5.2. Tahiti Beach, Abacos

The name Tahiti Beach evokes images of waving coconut palms in an exotic location in the South Pacific. The beach on Elbow Cay with this namesake is not coincidental. This particular beach, out of all the glorious beaches in the Bahama's, most resembles a distant tropical island. A sandy beach slopes around a winding point and in a protected bay.

5.3. Cape Santa Maria, Long Island

The large and elongated land of Long Island has more than 3000 inhabitants. It is a popular stopover for anyone looking for the best beach in the Bahama's. This is thanks to Cape Santa Maria Beach, the perfect example of a tropical paradise. It has sand in powder form, so soft that it feels like silk under your feet. Swimming, snorkeling and diving are popular activities here.

5.4. Cable beach

The largest and most popular beach in New Providence is five curved miles of white sand and sparkling turquoise sea, just west of downtown Nassau. Cable Beach is named after the submarine telegraphic cable that landed here in 1892 and is lined with resorts, hotels and casino's. If you want a beach chair, you pay a daily rate at one of the hotels for the use of the facilities.

5.5. Coco Cay

Coco Cay aka Little Stirrup Cay, is privately owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL). It is about one and a half kilometers long, 300 meters wide and the white sandy beach is exclusively reserved for RCCL guests. They have transformed the island into a great one-day stopover for its cruise passengers. All conceivable forms of water sports can be found here. There are also many restaurants and bars, shops, spa's, slides and a water park for young and old.

6. Nature of the Bahamas

On the different islands of the Bahama's you can find a lot of nature.

6.1. Marine Habitat at atlantis

Before viewing Paradise Island for the first time, holidaymakers may not realise the incredible opportunity they will have to explore the extraordinary collection of marine habitats and marine exhibits. Lagoons, caves, coral formations and breathtaking underwater ruins are designed to present exotic marine life. Ranging from sharks to rays, barracuda, piranha, eels and even endangered alligators. Atlantis, Paradise Island, is home to the largest outdoor marine habitat in the world. With 14 lagoons, eight million litres of ocean water and more than 50,000 aquatic animals representing more than 250 marine species.

6.2. Lucayan National Park

The Garden of the Groves and Rand Nature Center are both centrally located and popular and attract hundreds of visitors every day. The parks showcase the natural beauty of the Bahama's with winding paths through native and non-indigenous trees and plants. Both centers are also a great visit for nature lovers, especially birdwatchers. Established in 1977, this 40 hectare national park is the star of the island's three parks. It contains one of the largest underwater cave systems in the world, with two caves open to the public. However, swimming in the caves is forbidden and diving requires a special permit.

6.3. Andros

All Bahamian islands have an abundance of natural attractions. But Andros - the largest and most sparsely developed of all Bahamas's - is king when it comes to exceptional natural surroundings. Here you'll find the third largest barrier reef in the world, enchanting blue holes and countless species of flora and fauna. If you are an ecotraveler, kayaker, birdwatcher, hiker, snorkeler, diver or fisherman, Andros should be your first stop when you visit the Bahama's.

7. Diving in the Bahamas

The islands offer a range of diving experiences. You'll find sunken Spanish galleons, blue holes inland, underwater caves and wooded coral reefs full of marine life. You can even feed reef sharks and swim with them! Divers on the Bahama's have plenty of choice. The islands provide all levels of experience and divers can choose from relaxing shallow dives, exciting drift dives and encounters between sharks and dolphins. As with the beaches, it is almost impossible to say which dive sites are the most beautiful. Below a top 5.

7.1. Runway Wall, Nassau

7.2. James Bond Wrecks, Nassau

Because the latest James Bond movie, "Spectre", was released in November, it's easy to look back at the Bond history in Nassau. Nassau is known as 'Underwater Hollywood' and has played a major role as a backdrop for several Bond films. Diving from the southwestern end of New Providence, divers can experience their own piece of film history by exploring the Vulcan Bomber from the 1965 film "Thunderball" and the Tears of Allah shipwreck from the 1983 Bond film "Never Say Never Again.

7.3.Current Cut,Eleuthera

A little to the north you will find the island of Eleuthera, and you can view Current Cut, located between Great Eleuthera Island and Current Island. The best time to dive in this great location is at high tide, when the tidal change forces water through the narrow opening between the islands, creating a quick drift dive. With a maximum depth of 18 meters, divers can enjoy watching Bahamian reefs and marine life without exerting energy.

7.4. Fowl, Sandy and Pelican Cay, Abaco

At about 160 kilometers from Walker Cay, the northernmost island of the Bahama's, to just south of Elbow Cay in the east, is an extensive reef system. The national parks Sandy Cay, Fowl Cay and Abaco's Pelican Cay help protect this incredible area for divers and snorkelers alike. Because this reef structure overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, it receives a lot of nourishment, providing an abundant source of food for corals and marine life.

7.5. Tiger Beach, Grand Bahama

At the most northwestern tip of the Bahamian chain, you will find Grand Bahama, especially West End. Take a boat trip 43 kilometres north of it and you are in an underwater paradise called Tiger Beach. In an area that supports a variety of shark species, the majestic tiger shark is the undisputed star here, with a background of blue water and a white, sandy bottom. This dive site is perfect not only for enthusiastic photographers and videographers, but also for divers who want to add a different level of shark experience to their logbook.

8. On an adventure in the Bahamas

On the various islands of the Bahama's is plenty to do. Here are some tips.

8.1. Stingray Adventure

A short comfortable boat ride will take you to Stingray City-park. From the moment you step aboard, you will be greeted by a friendly welcome from a friendly crew. You will love the beautiful white shallow sand where you can stand or swim with the rays that will greet you in a friendly way. During the encounter you will be able to feed, snorkel and take lots of pictures's with your new Stingray friends.

8.2. Aquaventure water park Atlantis paradise island

Atlantis, Paradise Island - the most popular holiday destination in the Bahama's - boasts 'the world's largest open air marine habitat; Water Park Aquaventure. Includes water slide of the iconic Mayan Temple, 11 unique swimming pools, renowned beaches, 18-hole golf course, the largest casino in the Caribbean, more than 21 restaurants, 19 bars and lounges and Aura nightclub.

8.3. Blue lagoon dolphins

Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Encounters, home to Flipper, is an entirely natural ocean habitat on an extremely private island. At Dolphin Encounters you have the chance to play with dolphins for once in your life. You'll be amazed by their spectacular jumps and other skills. You can also spend the day enjoying one of the most secluded beaches in the Bahama's on the famous Blue Lagoon Island.

8.4. Port Lucaya Marketplace

The Port Lucaya Marketplace is the largest outdoor facility for shopping, dining and entertainment in the Bahama's, with over forty specialty stores and boutiques, sixteen restaurants to tempt every taste buds and four bars / lounge for entertainment 'late night. The Marketplace has a wide range of Duty Free stores, two generously stocked straw markets, two Craft Centers and Push Carts filled with Bahamian craft and souvenir items. Visit the famous Coconut & Fruit Daiquiri Stand & Daddy Brown's Conch and Seafood Stand for authentic delicacies. The famous Count Basie Square, now called Marketplace Square, lets you dance the night away to Bahamian and international music.

8.5. John Watling's distillery

The distillery of John Watling is located on the historic Buena Vista estate in the centre of Nassau. The estate overlooks the harbour and offers panoramic views and is set on more than two hectares of lush tropical gardens with centuries-old black olive trees. You can take a free and self-guided tour of the estate, where the warehouse gives an intimate picture of how the rum is bottled - in the old-fashioned way, by local hands. More than 1,000 aged white oak barrels fill the air with the 'angel share' the part that has been lost through evaporation over the many years that the drink has been resting in the barrels.

8.6. Prince George Wharf

The historic cruise ship yard, north of Rawson Sq and Bay St, is the gateway to Nassau for over a million visitors a year. In front of the bustling Woodes Rogers Walk, the wharf houses souvenir stalls, fast food restaurants, horse-drawn surrey touts, a tourist office and the Junkanoo Expo Museum. Water taxi's to Paradise Island and tour boats also depart from here and adjacent Woodes Rogers Walk.

9. Transport in the Bahamas

There are several options to go over the beautiful islands. Rental cars's, scooters, buses and taxi's are the most common forms of public transport. Bicycles are generally not available for hire, but can be found in many resorts.

9.1. Bus

9.2. Taxi

Taxi's allow holidaymakers to concentrate on the beauty of the Bahama's instead of the road. Taxi's are considered a reasonably good way to travel through the Bahama's, but passengers may have a bumpy ride on rugged Outland roads as they head for more remote locations. When arriving on the islands, it is a problem to find one as they are often stationed outside major ports and airports.

Auto9.3.Auto

There is a lot to see and do in the Bahama's and although many visitors don't usually leave the attractions located directly at their hotels or resorts, others would like to discover a part of the islands that is a little further off the beaten track. Renting a car in Bahama'costs about €75.00 per day on average.

9.4. Ferry/boat

On the Bahama's ferries and boats provide access to the most remote islands. The charm of travelling by boat on the Bahama's is undeniable. Marinas abound on every island, making ferries and boats good options for island hopping. Prices of course depend on the distance sailed.

9.5. Scooter

Mopeds and scooters are fairly easy to find and many hotels rent them out on a daily or weekly basis. Cruise ship passengers can find scooter rental stations in the Freeport Harbor area and other stands can be seen in Freeport and Lucaya. Helmets are mandatory but are usually included in the rental price. Rental prices vary but should be somewhere in the vicinity of €35.00 per day. A deposit of around €175 is also often required

10. Book a trip to the Bahama's: compare accommodations and providers

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