The best islands of the Bahamas

 

The Bahamas Islands

The Bahamas Islands have Beaches considered among the most beautiful in the world. But in addition to the turquoise sea, white sand, and lush vegetation, the 700 islands of the coral archipelago off Florida are rich in history, natural parks, and recreational activities such as fishing, snorkeling, diving, and hiking on suggestive trails.

The Bahamas have captivated everyone who has set foot in them: from the Lucayan Indians and the Arawak to Christopher Columbus, who stopped here during his first trip to the Americas in 1492, baptizing them as the Low Tide Islands (from which he derives the Bahamas). Later the Spanish, pirates, and British settlers, who colonized the islands for their fertile land and fishing. Since 1973 they are an independent, part of the Commonwealth.

Bahamas

 

Only 30 islands are inhabited, which makes it clear how many possibilities there are to enjoy unspoiled nature. But the Bahamas also offer fun thanks to its lively nightlife and all the comforts of an advanced country in terms of tourist services and structures. From the capital Nassau to remote Acklins & Crooked, from the casinos to Freeport and the Long Island seabed, from the ever-trendy Bimini to hidden Rum Cay - it will be a trip full of variety. Here's what to see and do in the Bahamas.

The most beautiful beaches and excursions to do

• Freeport
• Nassau & Paradise Island
• Acklins & Crooked
• Andros
• Bimini
• Cat Island
• Eleuthera & Harbour Island
• Inagua
• Long Island
• Mayaguana
• Ragged Island
• Rum Cay
• San Salvador
• The Berry Island
• The Exumas

Bahamas

Freeport

The city of Freeport, to the west of the island of Grand Bahama, is one of the most fun destinations in the Caribbean. As its name implies, it is a free port, a free trade zone, ideal for shopping and nightlife: here there are casinos, shopping centers, and many tourist attractions. It has been famous and loved since the 1950s when Americans transformed it into a destination for entertainment.

 But Freeport is also close to three national parks that take up much of the island. In Lucayan National Park you can see the six ecosystems of the Bahamas and explore its huge system of sea caves. The entire island is covered with mangroves and beaches where you can see dolphins and swim with them.

Nassau & Paradise Island

A great city in the tropics: Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, combines the comforts of a large urban center with the natural wonders of the Caribbean. Nassau is a true metropolitan center on a human scale, with all the attractions, cultural and recreational activities typical of a big city. Its first settlers were pirates, attracted by its strategic location, protected by the port, which even today remains an important center of the region. It is located on the island of New Providence, which is 34 kilometers long and has 212,000 inhabitants. Don't forget to visit Fort Nassau, New TC, built-in 1718 by Governor Rogers, who drove out the pirates and restored order.

 In front of Nassau is Paradise Island, whose name says a lot about its natural beauty, but also about its tourist attractions: resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, nightclubs, a golf course, an aquarium, and a casino. This island is the ideal destination after a day of hiking or at the beach, to experience the vibrant nights of the Bahamas.

Acklins & Crooked

Acklins and Crooked are two of the most remote and wildest islands in the Bahamas, so much so that they have changed almost nothing since they were discovered in the 16th century. A lagoon of more than 1000 kilometers separates them in Acklins Bay, forming a unique terrestrial paradise loved by fishermen and diving enthusiasts.

 Between the sea and the interior are deserted beaches, coral gardens, caves, spectacular cliffs, and some remains of cotton plantations where slaves worked. Acklins is perhaps the more mysterious of the two, with beautiful secluded beaches and waters teeming with numerous fish. Crooked takes you back to plantation times with the simple little towns of French Wells and Gun Point. Places of absolute peace.

Bahamas

Andros

Andros is the largest of the islands in the Bahamas (and the fifth in the Caribbean with its 6,000 square kilometers), but it is also the least built: a combination that makes it particularly attractive for lovers of walks in the middle of nature, with small freshwater lakes. The island is home to the third-largest marginal coral reef in the world, which means an environment rich in ocean flora and fauna, blue holes (where local legends claim that a mythical creature, the Lusca, lives), and a deep chasm. kilometers (Tongue of the Ocean) rich in marine species.

 In short, Andros is the ideal place for lovers of birdwatching, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and diving. And the fishing: the island is considered the world capital of Bonefish fishing.

Bimini

Just 80 kilometers off the coast of Florida, Bimini is the closest island to the United States, made up of two main islands (North Bimini and South Bimini) and a series of coral islets. It became famous thanks to American tourists, such as Ernest Hemingway, who often traveled to take refuge here.

 But Bimini is also a place full of history: Legend has it that the mythical city of Atlantis arose here and Bimini Road would be one of the emersed areas that belonged to the lost city. In the 1920s it was a liquor smuggling spot at the time of prohibition, and Martin Luther King composed part of his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize while sailing in these waters.

Cat Island

Cat Island is one of the most beautiful islands in the Bahamas, with an uncontaminated landscape loved as much by those who like Trekking in the middle of nature, than by those who prefer to get away from the chaos and relax informally. It has 80 kilometers of hills and many trails that lead to unforgettable corners. And the Pink Sand Beach with 13 km where you can spend your days between the sea, the sun and scrape music, typical of the island. In addition, Cat Island has one of the best climates in the Bahamas: short winters of 18 degrees and hot summers with little humidity and 30 degrees.

 The name of the island is not related to the cats, but to the Pirate Arthur Catt, who landed here with his crew.

Eleuthera & Harbour Island

Eleuthera is the fourth largest island by population in the Bahamas, with approximately 11,000 residents, who live off fishing and pineapple cultivations. It was the loyal British who settled here in 1700 who made the island prosperous thanks to the trade in raw materials, an activity that later spread to the other islands: this is why it is considered the cultural cradle of the entire archipelago.

 Eleuthera's natural environment is made up of cliffs, low swamps, sea beds of extensive coral reefs, and large fields of pineapple cultivation.

 Harbor was the capital of the Bahamas and thanks to its tropical forests and magnificent pink sand beaches it is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean: In 2015 Travel magazine & Leisure voted it the best of all.

Inagua

Great Inagua, with its smallest satellite island (Little Inagua), is the southernmost island in the Bahamas. It is a perfect destination for those who love ecological trips and immersion in nature. It's 30 by 90 kilometers are half occupied by the Inagua National Park, which is a paradise for birdwatching lovers. There live more than 80,000 West Indian flamingos, pelicans, hummingbirds, and several parrots that are not found even in other islands of the Bahamas. There is also one of the last three kerosene lighthouses in the Bahamas.

 Little Inagua Island is almost uninhabited, due in part to the huge coral reef that surrounds it. For this reason, it has been maintained as a protected habitat for sea ​​turtles at risk.

Long Island

Long Island has a long history: the Arawaks called it first "Yuma", then in 1492 Christopher Columbus baptized it "Fernandina". The current name is due to a navigator who tried to circumnavigate it without success finding it too long (it extends for 130 kilometers).

 The peculiarity here is that the Tropic of Cancer runs through the island, giving the two coasts very different characteristics. To the east, the landscape is drawn by huge cliffs and caves with sea beds (here is Dean's Blue Hole, the deepest blue hole in the world). The west coast, on the other hand, is characterized by white and pink sand, ideal for relaxing. The advice is to explore it in its two parts to experience the diversity of the ocean world.

Mayaguana

Mayaguana is the Arawak name of the island (it refers to a type of iguana), the only one that resisted colonization. It was a destination loved by pirates and is sparsely inhabited by 300 people distributed among the rural villages of Abraham's Bay, Pirate's Well, and Betsy Bay.

 The island is a favorite destination for divers, who can dive and go through the underwater caves of Northwest Point, but also for fishermen, attracted by the abundance of species such as bonefish and for all those who seek the peace of its deserted beaches.

Ragged Island

It's called "The Rock", the rock, because of its shape. But Ragged Island is certainly not as inhospitable an island as you might think by name ("rough") it is one of the quietest and most peaceful places in the Bahamas, and with which it is very easy to fall in love. It is considered a mecca for fishing enthusiasts, thanks to the many ponds where, with patience, you can catch fish such as groupers, snappers, barracudas, and tuna.

 The little-known beaches of Ragged Island are ideal for spending a day at sea in absolute peace. The entire interior of the island deserves to be visited, with several historical monuments and typical Caribbean towns with little shops where you can buy authentic Bahamian handicrafts.

Rum Cay

Rum Cay is also called "Sleeping Beauty" - she's so charming that those who know her don't want to talk too much about her to preserve her. It is an island where history and natural beauty merge: inhabited in the past by the Arawak Indians, it was colonized at the beginning of the 16th century, after the arrival of Christopher Columbus, forcing its natives to flee. There are still cave paintings, bowls, and utensils, and ancient ruins to go, not forgetting Port Nelson.

 The coral reef has colorful corners and the beaches are loved by surfers, fishermen, and divers, who visit it to observe the rich marine fauna.

San Salvador

In 1492 Christopher Columbus arrived here during the journey that changed the history of the world. The Genoese navigator named it San Salvador, erasing its original name, which was Guanahani. Five monuments are commemorating the arrival of caravels, including one at sea indicating the place where the Pinta dropped anchor.

 San Salvador is the top of a sea mountain of more than 4,500 meters: it has kilometers of desert beaches, a transparent sea, and a series of inland lakes, rolling green hills, and numerous saltwater lagoons. The roughly 1,000 people who live here are descendants of slaves deported by loyal British people.

The Berry Island

Berry Island is 30 islands gathered in 5 square kilometers. They are perfect for snorkeling and diving, thanks to the sloping seabed and its long and rarely visited beaches. These mostly uninhabited coral islands are ideal for those seeking tranquility, but also for those who want to venture out to explore their many small coves. Here you will also find caves, reefs, and coral reefs, and a 180-meter wide blue hole, where you can see sea creatures.

 The evocative Great Strip is home to an abandoned lighthouse built-in 1863 during the reign of Prince William IV. Chub Cay on the other hand is known as the "capital of the Marlin".

The Exumas

The Exuma is a vast archipelago of 365 islands and coral islets, about 60 km southeast of Nassau. The indigenous people, who were colonized by British loyalists after the American Revolution, named them Yummy and Suma. They are divided into three large areas. Great Exuma, Little Exuma, and the Exuma Cays. The Great Exuma and Little Exuma are fairly casual, while The Exuma Keys are a hangout for celebrities and American millionaires, where private mansions and luxury resorts abound.

 The color of the Exuma sea is sapphire blue and stretches out over white deserted beaches: a dreamlike panorama that makes this archipelago an exclusive haven like no other.

Excursions and activities in the Bahamas

Deep-sea fishing

The Bahamas are one of the most loved places in the world by fishermen. If you are a keen angler, don't miss a tour of Freeport aboard the city's oldest and largest fishing boats. In the magnificent blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, you will have fun fishing for mahi-mahi (dorados), tuna, wahoos, and barracudas among others.

Swim with dolphins on Balmoral Island

One of the most exciting experiences you can have in the Bahamas is to admire the affectionate bottlenose dolphins up close and play with them on Balmoral Island, a true tropical paradise. It is reached in a short time from Nassau and with a mask, fins, and life jacket you can dive up to the waist with the help of an expert to swim freely in the natural habitat with the approaching dolphins and allow you to hear the sounds that they emit to communicate and interact with each other.

Kayaking in Lucayan National Park

The mangrove forest of the Lucayan National Park is worth a visit or a kayak excursion: a fun alternative to get to know the fauna and flora of the park. Enter the caves formerly inhabited by the Lucayans and reach Gold Rock Beach, the beach famous for having been the set of the famous movie saga "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Diving in the waters of Nassau

In Nassau, the capital, you can take an excursion that will take you to admire from the sea to the beauties of the city but does snorkeling by immersing yourself in the turquoise waters of the underwater kingdom of the Bahamas. In one of the most beautiful seabeds in the world, you can swim underwater accompanied by experienced operators and with all the safety equipment. You will reach the best places to see and be amazed by the colorful marine flora and fauna.

Visit the Blue Lagoon private island

Blue Lagoon Island is a paradise in paradise, made of turquoise waters, white sand, and coconut palms. An excursion here by speedboat from Nassau will impress you, as well as the dives, the beaches, and the relaxation that awaits you on the hammocks among the palm trees.

The Bahamas Islands are an earthly paradise to visit at least once in your life. Not only do they have a sea and nature without equal, but they are rich in history and suggestive places to visit: from the natives to Christopher Columbus and the English settlers: all have been conquered by the beauty of this archipelago. That today is one of the most popular destinations for those looking for an unforgettable experience and at the same time the opportunity to relax, do sports activities and explore its exuberant nature.