Explore: Nassau
The capital, Nassau offers great shopping opportunities, and with over 700 islands to explore in this massive archipelago, it’s best to just set your watch to ‘island time’ (i.e. throw it away), kickback and luxuriate in the salubrious surroundings. The locals are friendly, everything is relaxed and there are a multitude of activities to enjoy.
What’s Cool
Chilling and strolling in the historically rich capital, bronzing and looking fabulous on one of the many beautiful beaches, scuba diving around the third-longest coral barrier reef in the world, seeing where Hemingway once lived and fishing on the beautiful island of Bimini, enjoying the pineapple plantations and pink beaches on the island of Eleuthera, sailing around the astonishing bays and reefs of the Exumas. Atlantis hotel on Paradise Island, Nassau.
What’s Not
Paying stupidly high prices for gasoline, waking up after a night on the Bacardi and not knowing what day of the week or year it is, getting caught in a hurricane or tropical storm, finding out first-hand how badly regulated the water sports industry on the islands is, the effect ‘island time’ has on punctuality.
Where to Go
Highlights
- Nassau: check out the mixture of museums, pastel-colored Georgian architecture, forts and markets amid the modern attractions.
- Bimini: fishing, lounging, drinking and chatting are all on the agenda on the lovely island of Bimini.
- Andros: the massive coral reef offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world; not to be missed.
- Exumas: sailing around these beautiful islands and their many hidden treasures is a wonderful experience.
- Long Island: virtually untouched by tourists in parts, Long Island is a true island getaway and one for solitude-seekers.
When to Go
The weather in the Bahamas is amazing. Slightly cooler than the other Caribbean islands due to their proximity to North America, temperatures still rarely dip below 68°F (20°C) all year round. May to October is the rainy season, when a couple of showers a day could disrupt your fun. The hurricane season runs from June to November, and if one of those babies hits, your fun will be seriously disrupted. The best time to go is between December and April to avoid the rain.
Festivals & Events
While the parties and festivals are always rocking, don’t turn up early or you will be the only one there.
- March: Georgetown, Exuma hosts the annual, family-friendly, Bahamian Music and Heritage Festival.
- May: the eternal juiciness of the Eleuthera pineapple is celebrated in style every year in Gregory Town.
- June: Junkanoo Summer Festival, an extension of the main celebrations in December, is a heady mix of street parties, food and music.
- July: the 10th is Independence Day so expect lots of fun and games on all of the islands.
- December: the Bahamas’ main festival is the unusually named Junkanoo, similar in style and wildness to the carnival in Rio.
Getting There
There are two main ways to get to the Bahamas: fly into Nassau or arrive on a cruise ship. The airport is well served by flights arriving from the USA, Europe and Asia, and the port is one of the busiest for cruise ships in the world. In Nassau and Freeport, buses (or jitneys) are fantastic. Every journey costs a flat, inexpensive rate and they’ll take you pretty much anywhere. Elsewhere however, transport services are pretty limited so it’s usually best to hire a car. Be aware that gasoline is expensive in the Bahamas.
Health & Safety
The Bahamas is a very safe place for tourists but, like any touristy place, there are occasional acts of petty theft. Make sure you pack sunscreen as one thing you can pretty much guarantee is that it’s going to be blazing hot. The tap water is okay to drink but tastes a little salty for some. Make sure you have travel insurance as medical treatment can be costly.