An idyllic sun spot brimming with endless attractions
During the 1700s, notorious pirates used the Bahamian islands as their operational hub, a location that served them well. The shipping lanes of the period provided Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd and others with a steady stream of vessels which they regularly attacked and looted. Ships carrying anything worth thieving were fair game. However, the centuries-old history that ties The Bahamas to the famous “Golden Age of Piracy” lies in the ancient past. Today, the archipelago’s history as a buccaneers’ headquarters has long since been replaced with a different kind of fame. Consisting of 700 coral islands southeast of Florida, with 30 of them inhabited, the subtropical country in the Atlantic attracts millions of visitors a year. What entices them is a sublime sunshine environment, clear blue water, pink sand beaches, golf courses, water sports and casinos, together with a vibrant nightlife and a host of unique attractions. With more than 300 days of sunshine each year plus an abundance of entertainment features, it’s hardly surprising that The Bahamas has attracted the attention of the rich and famous. The many who either own property there or regularly visit include Tiger Woods, Johnny Depp, Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, Faith Hill and Nicolas Cage.
Lying 50 miles east of mainland Florida – and 250 miles north of Cuba – the islands are so rich with things to see and do that the choices are vast and can vary from one island to another. While there are boat shuttles, water taxis and ferries connecting some of the islands, there are also short-haul flights, making it easy to visit more than one island during the same trip. New Providence ranks as the country’s most popular; its capital city, Nassau, is the largest centre in The Bahamas. Other popular islands include Paradise, Bimini, The Exumas, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama. However, repeat visitors and longtime fans of this sunshine archipelago insist that there are no bad choices. What follows is a representation of what the islands have to offer in terms of activities, adventure, sightseeing and surprises.
The Capital Experience
Lying on the northeastern coast of New Providence, The Bahamas’ capital city of Nassau is a popular cruise ship stop and is widely known for its beaches, as well as its offshore coral reefs notable for diving and snorkelling. Featuring colonial architecture from its past as a British colony, the city centre is a busy nucleus where throngs of people regularly gather to shop, dine and sightsee. An always-buzzing attraction is the city’s Straw Market, a traditional open-air market selling everything from local produce to handwoven straw crafts, shell jewellery, wood carvings and various Bahamian souvenirs. Visual arts lovers can explore Bahamian art and culture at the city’s National Art Gallery, as well as at the Heritage Museum of The Bahamas where the history of the country is represented. Among the city’s prominent historic sites is Fort Fincastle, built in 1793 to protect Nassau from pirates. Below the fort is the famous Queen’s Staircase, a walkway of 66 steps carved out of solid limestone originally created as the fort’s escape route. With Nassau’s history significantly marked by the age of piracy, visitors can learn everything there is to know about it at the Pirates of Nassau Museum. An attraction of a different nature is the John Watlings Distillery situated on an estate overlooking Nassau’s harbour. Here, visitors can learn about the company’s production of their famous island rum and observe how it’s bottled by hand the old-fashioned way. With beaches everywhere in The Bahamas, there are more than a dozen of them around Nassau with some of them mere minutes from the city centre. They range in nature from perfectly white sand beaches ideally suited to sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling to those that are blissfully quiet, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
A Diver’s Paradise
The Bahamas are known in the global dive community as one of the best places on the planet for underwater experiences. Throughout the country’s chain of islands, extensive dive options include everything from the exploration of shipwrecks to shark diving, black holes, coral gardens, reef diving and vertical-drops. At Tiger Beach off Grand Bahama, the waters are known for reliable tiger shark sightings as well as nurse sharks, lemon sharks and, occasionally, hammerheads. It is the island of Bimini, however, that boasts the greatest chance of hammerhead sightings. The island is also known for its famous underwater rock formation known as The Bimini Road, believed by some to be part of the lost city of Atlantis. Southeast of Bimini, the Andros Barrier Reef off of Andros Island provides stunning, steep-wall dives that likewise occur on the sister islands of San Salvador and Long Island.
Since colonial times, the shallow reefs of The Bahamas have sent many ships to the bottom, where they are now popular dive sites. Bahamian shipwreck dives fall into three categories – shallow, moderate and deeper dives – which means that there is essentially a shipwreck site for all dive skills. Among the most popular for its shallow depth and visibility is the SS Sapona, a cargo steamer that went down off of Bimini during a hurricane in 1926. A favourite among the dive community is the Maravillas, a Spanish ship carrying gold, silver and jewels that sank in 1656. Overall, according to a Smithsonian report, at least 176 wreck sites have been identified in The Bahamas region.
Swimming with Pigs
As unusual as it might seem, swimming with a colony of feral swine is a big Bahamian attraction. There is more than one place in The Bahamas where people can swim with pigs, however, the most famous is Pig Beach on an uninhabited island among the several cays off the island of Exuma. While there is no factual account of how the pigs ended up there, there are various theories: they were marooned there following a shipwreck; they were dropped off by early sailors who planned to return, but never did; and some say that they were put there as part of an intentional tourist scheme. Whatever the case, one thing is certain – swimming among pigs and piglets is highly popular. Tourists galore regularly jump into the sea and swim with the porkers that are famous for their love of the water. Generally friendly and playful, about 20 pigs and piglets are living the good life with daily visits from both Bahamians and tourists. There’s little chance that they will ever leave their hospitable waters where they are regularly fed by both tourists and neighbouring island locals. Getting to swim with them typically involves booking a tour or excursion.
Tee Up for Golf
The Bahamian islands boast several world-class courses, making the destination a premier venue for golf lovers. A mix of challenging layouts, together with reliable sunshine and stunning scenery are the ingredients that make for ideal days on the links. In total, there are 13 courses that offer a variety of options for all skill levels, from beginner to professional. On the island of Eleuthera, there are two world-class courses – one designed by all-time golf great Tiger Woods and another designed by Jack Nicklaus, also one of the world’s golf giants. Nicklaus also put his design stamp on a course near Nassau which features dramatic views and rolling white sand dunes. This, and various other Bahamian courses are good examples of premier links designed for both recreational and championship play. Overall, the one element which island courses have in common is their breathtaking beauty, with some having seaside greens that put players just steps from the ocean. In this paradise environment of sun, sea, gorgeous views and a relaxing island atmosphere, there is no course in The Bahamas that gets bad reviews. A solid endorsement for Bahamian golf links is the fact that the islands are regularly chosen to host several professional golf tournaments each year. A Bahamas getaway strategically planned to coincide with one of those tournaments offers visitors a chance to watch the world’s best golfers at play.
Deep-Sea Fishing
The Bahamas are widely considered a top choice for deep-sea fishing. In fact, they have a long history as a premier sport fishing destination, with numerous world records set within their waters. What’s offered is a diverse range of fishing opportunities, including the chance to hook legendary game fish such as marlin, sailfish, tuna and wahoo. With the islands lying close to deep-water trenches and a warm ocean current, it’s where large game fish typically tend to congregate. Among the various islands, Bimini has the title of ‘Sport Fishing Capital of the Bahamas’, a title that attracts anglers from around the globe. Bimini’s location near the Gulf Stream brings abundant bait fish and, consequently, the large game species. Celebrated author Ernest Hemingway spent considerable time on Bimini, angling in its offshore waters. It was those particular fishing experiences that influenced his writing of The Old Man and the Sea, the story of an aging fisherman and his long struggle to catch a giant marlin. It was Hemingway’s writing, inspired by his Bimini fishing adventures, that cemented The Bahamas as a special place in fishing lore and also played a role in the founding of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). To this day, Bimini continues to maintain a Hemingway mystique. Despite Bimini’s place in fishing lore, there are several other equally good options including the waters off Abacos, New Providence, Grand Bahama and The Exumas.
Birdwatching
With The Bahamas covering more than 180,000 square miles of ocean and each of its major islands full of avian surprises, there are excellent birdwatching opportunities among diverse habitats ranging from pine forests to mangroves and coastal areas. Considered a must-visit birdwatching venue is the Abaco National Park where the island of Abaco is home to the endangered Bahama parrot. Alternatively, Andros Island is the only place to spot the endangered Bahama oriole. The island environment there also supports the Key West quail-dove, great lizard Cuckoo, Bahama yellow throat and several others. The top place in the islands to see a large population of West African flamingos is the Inagua National Park located on Great Inagua Island, the southernmost of The Bahamas. Grand Bahama Island also offers superb birdwatching, boasting the second-highest number of native species in the country. Varieties likely to be seen on this island are the Antillean peewee, Red-legged thrush, West Indian woodpecker, Bahama swallow and several other native species. Overall, the Bahamian islands are populated with a bird menagerie more than sufficient to satisfy the most ardent birder.
Have a Cigar
Fans fond of lighting up a stogie can indulge the sensory experience of taste and aroma at Nassau’s Graycliff Cigar Company. This is a family-owned business established in 1997 with a single roller – a business that now employs 16 master rollers, each an expert in cigar rolling. Today, the place has become a tourist attraction where visitors can witness the rollers first-hand as they produce five different brands of cigars. Visitors can also take a cigar-rolling lesson during which they learn how to sort, clean and roll the best leaves. Interactive lessons include the history of tobacco, together with information about where the best leaves are found and why certain leaves are blended together to produce the finest cigars. The facility also offers the double pleasure of cigar-and-rum pairing sessions led by expert craftsmen in both cigar rolling and island rums. For cigar enthusiasts, a visit to the Graycliff factory caters to their favourite indulgence and includes tips regarding how to smoke a cigar like a connoisseur.
Bahamas Trip Planner
Peak season weather is mid-December to mid-April; May and November are shoulder seasons that offer a good balance of weather and fewer crowds.
There are 20 international airports in The Bahamas accommodating regularly scheduled flights from various international locations including Canada.
Get help deciding on a travel itinerary by consulting the official online travel site for The Bahamas at www.bahamas.com.