The Best Island To Visit In The Bahamas
Located just south of Florida at its most northern point, east of Cuba and north of Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas are made up of over 700 individual islands and 2000 cays. The islands of the Bahamas cover over 13,900 square kilometres, and many of the islands are stunningly beautiful and extremely unspoilt with crystal clear azure waters, and pristine beaches.
When you visit The Bahamas, there are so many things to do. The country offers one of the most wonderful vacation experiences on the planet. It has everything from a Robinson Crusoe paradise island experience to glamorous casinos, fabulous restaurants, duty free shopping, world class golf courses, colourful carnivals, incredible scuba diving, snorkelling, waters sports, sport fishing, sailing, the world’s third largest barrier reef and a wonderful chance to swim with dolphins and pigs. It is one of the only places in the world where you can do the latter.
It is also an incredible place for a wedding, honeymoon or family holiday.
With over 700 islands, there are many places to visit in The Bahamas. The country is divided into eight distinct areas. They are:
- New Providence and Paradise Island
- Grand Bahama Island
- The Abacos
- Andros, Bimini and The Berry Islands
- Eleuthera and Harbour Island
- The Exumas
- The Southern islands
With over 7000 islands, it can be difficult to work out how to get to and around The Bahamas so do take a look at our comprehensive guide on Getting To The Bahamas
Which is the Best Island to Visit in the Bahamas?
The first port of call for the Bahamas is often New Providence and Paradise Island which is connected by a bridge. New Providence is one of the Best island to Visit in The Bahamas if you are traveling with Children. New Providence is where you will find Nassau - the modern metropolitan capital of the Bahamas and this is where you will find plenty of nightlife, restaurants, shopping and activities. Shopping in Nassau Bahamas is amongst the best in the Caribbean with everything from local markets to designer shopping located on Bay Street. New Providence is also home to Cable Beach which is world famous for good reason as it is a stunningly beautiful stretch of pristine white sands and turquoise waters.
Baha Mar is a brand-new luxury resort that has its location on New Providence. While the island is small, it more than makes up for its size and offers some of the best things to do in The Bahamas. New Providence is just 21 miles long and is a great destination for anyone who likes to have fun, party yet still enjoy beautiful beaches and sunshine. New Providence is not only about having fun; there are some interesting museums and historic building to explore.
Paradise Island
To the east of Nassau over a short bridge, you will find Paradise Island which is home to the world-famous Atlantis, the ultra-luxurious Four Seasons and The Ocean Club where you will find many of our most luxurious villas and vacation rentals located. Paradise Island can often be overlooked for its beauty because of the huge array of entertainment options, but some of the best things to do in the Bahamas are here. It is stunningly beautiful with a gorgeous beach that circles almost the entire circumference of the 2.8 km2/1.1 sq — mi) island. The Ocean Club is also well known for the fact that many of the scenes were shot here for The James Bond Movie Casino Royale featuring Daniel Craig.
Many of the wonderful things to do in the Bahamas are on Nassau and New Providence especially for families and people looking for some fun. They include spending time at the Aquaventure water park, visiting the Pirates of Nassau Museum, living like a local at the Arawak Cay Fish Fry, soaking up the sun on beautiful cable beach, having fun at the Atlantis Resort and Casino and shopping in Nassau, Bahia Mar and the Atlantis Malls.
Grand Bahama Island
Grand Bahama Island is a wonderful alternative to New Providence and Paradise Island. It is one of the closest islands to Palm Beach in Florida. It is just 52 miles from the coast of the US. Grand Bahama Island has plenty of great shopping, golf, water sports and beach parties but it also has plenty of untouched and deserted parts where you can explore its wonderful nature and beauty.
The two main towns on the island are Freeport and Lucaya, and together they comprise the second largest metropolitan area after Nassau.
The Grand Bahama Island has more than 50 miles of pristine white sandy beaches along its southern shore as well as a protected shoreline. There are many wonderful things to do on Grand Bahama Island. Some of which include swimming with dolphins, shark feeding, partying at the weekly fish fry, attending a beach bonfire, scuba diving, snorkelling, a visit to the Rand Nature Centre or the Bahamian Brewery or simply going for long walks along the endless stretches of deserted beaches.
The Abacos
The Abacos is located to the north of New Providence and Paradise Island and comprises of over 120 beautiful cays that are surrounded by shallow crystal-clear waters and white sand beaches. The Abacos are often known as the sailing capital of the world.
The biggest island in the Abacos is called The Great Abaco Island, and it is 130 miles long. Marsh Harbour is the main town on the island, and it is also the starting point for exploring all the surrounding island and cays. Great Abaco Island is the commercial centre for the Abacos and has several very old fishing and farming communities. One of the best things to do in the Bahamas is on Great Abaco, and that is a visit to Treasure Cay which is one of the best beaches in the world. Great Abaco also has an excellent communal golf course.
Other islands that are worth visiting in the Abacos are Elbow Cay, Man O War Cay, Great Guana Cay and Green Turtle Cay. If you fancy staying on some of these beautiful islands, there is a great choice of villas
Andros, Bimini, and the Berry Islands
The islands of Andros, Bimini and the Berry islands have their location in the north-west corner of the Bahamas. The main attraction for people visiting these beautiful islands regards what’s not there. There are no casinos, no nightclubs, no golf courses and no fancy bars. The islands are not glitzy, but they are paradise for nature lovers, anglers, divers and explorers.
The Biminis are located just 50 miles to the east of Miami and are on the edge of the gulf stream. The islands are world famous for big game fishing. Famous writer Ernest Hemmingway brought attention to the islands when he wrote his well-known novel called Islands in the Stream.
The Andros has the largest land mass in The Bahamas but is the least populated and also has the third largest barrier reef in the world. Many people wonder if The Andros is the location for the lost city of Atlantis.
The Berry Islands comprise of over 100 tiny islands and cays. The population of the islands is just 807 people, and most of the people live on the Great Harbour Cay. Two of the worlds best private islands are in The Bahamas. They are Little Whale Cay and Over Yonder Cay. If you fancy a piece of your private island paradise, it is a great place to spend a vacation.
Some of the best things to do in the Bahamas have their location in the Biminis, Andros and Berry islands. They include deep sea diving, hiking in the unspoilt Androsian forests, fishing for Marlin, swimming with dolphins, snorkelling around the limestone formations which are like the lost city of Atlantis and sailing around the beautiful cays and tiny islands.
The Andros, Bimini and The Berry Islands are the best islands to visit in the Bahamas if you like adventure and activity as well as convenience.
Eleuthera and Harbour Island
Eleuthera and Harbour Island are some of the most popular islands in The Bahamas. Eleuthera is a 100-mile-long very narrow bow shaped island located to the east of Nassau and New Providence. Eleuthera is the place you come to in the Bahamas where you come to enjoy the endless stretches of pink sands and crystal-clear turquoise coves.
For visitors to the Bahamas looking for a little more high-octane adventure then Harbour Island is a better choice. Harbour Island offers a great selection of restaurants, bars and designer boutiques. There is also plenty of opportunities to be energetic on Harbour Island. Scuba divers can explore the wreck at Devil’s Backbone, and surfers can head to the eastern shores of the islands to catch some great waves.
Harbour Island also has the name for being the prettiest island in the Caribbean. Harbour Island is the best island to visit in The Bahamas if you like luxury and sophistication together with stunning scenery.
This tiny 3-mile long island has some excellent 5-star hotels as well as some great Bahamas Villas available for rent such as the stunning property La Palmerale. Harbour Island also has the distinction of having Pink Sands Beach line its shores. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in the world. Harbour Island is the island which welcomes a lot of famous people each year including Mick Jagger, Diane Von Furstenberg, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, Michael Dell, Tyra Banks and a whole slew of supermodels.
Some of the best things to do on Eleuthera and Harbour Island include shopping in the chic boutiques, spending time on Pink Sands Beach, taking a trip to Lighthouse Beach, a visit to the Glass Window Bridge, visiting Elvina’s for some star spotting and dancing the night away at Vic Hums Night club.
The Exumas
The Exumas are an incredibly beautiful string of islands located to the south west of Nassau. They comprise of over 350 islands and cays many of which are not populated. The main island is Great Exuma, and it is where you will find most of the hotels and luxury Bahamas Villas. The Exumas are also very popular with sailors who come each year to explore the hundreds of islands and cays.
George Town on The Great Exuma tends to be the starting point for most visitors. George Town is a pretty town located on the sides of a lagoon called Lake Victoria. Most people come into George Town to pick up supplies but not many stay in the town.
The family island Regatta is one of the most popular things to do in the Bahamas and takes place in April each year on Great Exuma. George Town becomes party central during the event and attracts people from all over the world as well as its own residents.
Great Exuma has some wonderful places to stay. Some of the most popular Great Exuma Vacation rentals are the beautiful properties at The Grand Isle Resort.
The Exumas have some of the best diving and snorkelling in The Bahamas. Some of the best snorkel sites include Bird Cay, Duck Cay North, Three Sisters Rock, Jolly Hall, and Stingray Reef. Kayaking is also extremely popular, especially for families. For the more adventurous, there is excellent kiteboarding and surfing.
The Exumas are the best island to visit in The Bahamas if you love sailing and watersports.
The Southern Islands
If you are looking for total seclusion and getting off the beaten path, then The Southern Islands are the best place to visit in The Bahamas. The islands are stunningly beautiful with an endless number of perfect white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, but there are no large resorts, no fast food restaurants, no casinos or boutiques. What you will get is pure natural raw beauty.
The largest of the Southern Islands is called Long Island due to its shape. But Long Island could not be more different from its namesake in New York. Long Island is roughly 80 kilometres from top to bottom and just a few miles wide.
Crooked and Acklin are the other islands in the south.
There are many great things to do and see in the Southern island of The Bahamas. These things include diving off Crooked Island where there is a wreck called the Million Dollar mistake, swimming at Dean’s Blue Hole which is a 660-foot-deep underwater cavern, taking long walks along the deserted beaches, bird watching, bonefishing and observing the local iguana and flamingo population.
HIGHLIGHTS OF Things to do in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas are truly wonderful, and it is quite possible to spend months exploring all the islands and all the things to do but if your time is limited here is a summary of the highlights.
Spend time exploring The Andros Reef. The Andros Reef is the third largest barrier reef in the world. It is 140 mile stretch of reef full of colourful fish, caves, caverns and coral forests. On the far end of the reef, there is a 6,000-foot drop which is known as The Tongue of the Ocean. For Experienced divers, a visit to The Tongue of The Ocean can be an adventure of a lifetime.
A visit to Pink Sands Beach is another highlight of the things to do in the Bahamas. It is recognised by many as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. The beach has a unique baby pink colour as a result of the red coral found here. The area is extremely laid back and is very popular with celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Elle Macpherson who can come here and relax in the knowledge that they will find peace.
A visit to Nassau is well worth it. Nassau has an interesting colonial history with 18th-century forts that are complete with dungeons and canons, stunning government buildings and pirate graveyards. There are also several very interesting museums to visit. And if you feel like a bit of retail therapy without breaking the bank, Nassau has some excellent duty free shopping on Bay Street.
Swimming with Pigs in the Bahamas is one of the unique things you can do. The Bahamas is the only place in the world where it is possible to swim with pigs. It is quite easy to book a day trip to The Exuma Cays where you can enjoy seeing these cute creatures. The adventure involves a boat tour around the Exumas Cays as well as an opportunity to feed the Rock Iguanas, pet some stingrays and snorkel around the reefs.
With over 700 islands to explore, Island Hopping is one of the best things you can do in the Bahamas. Island Hopping is the only way to get a feel of the Real Bahamas. The best starting point for Island Hopping is Nassau as all the islands are connected to Nassau by air.
The Bahamas is one of the best places in the world to enjoy Kayaking. It is truly a paddlers paradise. Each of the islands is full of mangroves, shallow reefs and offshore inlets that are ideally explored by small boats. The best spots for Kayaking are The Exumas, The Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama, North Bimini and the mangrove wetlands of the Abacos.
Climbing Mount Alvernia Hermitage which is the islands highest peak is another highlight of visiting The Bahamas. It is not very high, so you don’t need to be fit for it, but when you get to the top, you will be rewarded with a breath-taking view as well as seeing the Father Jerome’s Hermitage Monastery.
When it comes to things to do in the Bahamas for children, The Atlantis on Paradise Island is hard to beat. Some of the best things include a fabulous waterpark, 11 swimming pools, a spa, gymnasium, swimming with dolphin experience, The Atlantis Speedway, snorkelling, scuba diving, a theatre, swim school, gamer’s reef and so much more.
Last but not least, Bahamas offers some of the best Snorkelling in the world. There are more than 100,000 square miles of ocean around its 700 islands, and much of the ocean is crystal clear. There is a whole world to discover around it secluded cays.
Exceptional Villas are one of the world’s experts on the islands of the Bahamas. We have an intimate knowledge of the islands, how to get to them, the best beaches, restaurants, things to do and of course the best and most luxurious Bahamas vacation rentals from which to enjoy the Islands. Our Bahamas Villa Expert will help you not only to work out which islands are best for you but also to help you to find the perfect Bahamas Villa Rental.