Dive Into The Bahamas
Escape the Ordinary
“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” – Robert Wyland
Escape the ordinary.
Dive Into The Islands Of The Bahamas
Poetically cascading out into the Caribbean Sea; 750 miles off the coast of Florida, the Bahamas is made up of 700 islands and over 2,000 cays with only 31 islands being inhabited by humans. Among the most popular of these consist of New Providence (Nassau), Paradise Island and Grand Bahamas plus what they refer to as the Out Islands which consist of Bimini, Abacos, the Exumas, Andros, Eleuthera and many more.
These popular Bahama destinations are broken up into their own smaller island and cays chain, each being amazingly unique on a backdrop of shimmering blues and brilliant whites.
*Did you know: The Bahamas, once being a territory of England, gained its independence in 1964?
*Hint: The best way to make sure you have the best Bahamas vacation is to utilize a Travel Agent.
Escape the ordinary.
Dive Into The Islands Of The Bahamas
Grand Bahamas
The northern most of the Bahama Islands is Grand Bahamas. A quick hop, skip and jump away from the coast of Florida, the Grand Bahama Island has much to experience above and below. From jeep land exploration to dolphin watching to scuba diving just to name a few; will fill your days and your dreams.
Bimini
Being only a short 30-minute flight from Miami, Bimini Island is an attractive long, 3-day weekend getaway for Floridians while still being a sought-after destination for those escaping the winters up north.
Known for being the Sports Fishing Capital of the World Bimini’s waters are home to Blue Marlin, Tuna and more. Catch one and have one of the fabulous Bimini restaurants cook it up for you.
Bimini is known to be Hemmingway’s favorite escape as well as being home to the famed Fountain of Youth. Who doesn’t want a dip in that?
Abacos
Known as the boating capitol of the Bahamas, the Abacos island chain is made up of 120 miles of islands and cays with the Great Abaco and Little Abaco acting as the main lands of the chain.
While boating, sailing and fishing are among the most popular activities around the Abacos islands, there is much to experience by land as well. Some of these are walking through picturesque Colonial Towns, teeing off at Championship Golf Courses and multiple caves waiting to be explored.
Exumas
The Exumas district of the Bahamas is made up of more than 365 islands with the largest of them being Great Exuma which is connected by a bridge to Little Exuma. The Exumas is the cream in your coffee, the cherry on top, the icing on the cake; adding the Exumas to your, already amazing Bahamas getaway will leave wanting for nothing more.
The resorts in the Exumas fill up fast but the Exumas can easily be added to your Bahamas itinerary by a simple day trip from your chosen island home base.
Escape the ordinary.
Dive Into The Islands Of The Bahamas
Andros
The largest of the Bahamian islands, Andos Island is 104 miles long and around 40 miles wide. The Andros Island chain is made up of 3 main islands, North Andros, Central Andros and South Andros as well as Mangrove Cay. Although, this is a 3-island and1-cay unit, the Bahamian Government considers it 1 island divided by estuaries that crisscross through it.
Andros Bahamas remains relatively untouched by big business but has a multitude of activities to partake in such as snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, deep sea fishing as well as fly fishing and that is only a tip of the iceberg that is Andros.
Eleuthera
Located about 55 miles east of Nassau is the long and pencil thin island, Eleuthera. Only 110 miles long and in some places, as narrow as 1 mile wide, Eleuthera is a quiet, low key island with not much going on in regards to planning a week-long vacation.
It doesn’t have the grand all-inclusive resorts as the other popular islands but rather beach homes that are rented out by owner. There isn’t any shopping or excursions but rather a place where people come to lay back and not much else. So, if your mind wonders easy, you need to be entertained or needing adventure, Eleuthera probably isn’t the Bahama Island for you.
Harbour Island
Just a quick 5-minute ferry ride from Eleuthera lies Harbour Island, where finding a place to rest your head is a little easier. Harbour Island is still not a home to any large, well known resorts but you can find budget friendly hotels and inns or splurge worthy beach front villas.
Sometimes mistaken for Harbor Island, Florida, the Bahamas spells theirs Harbour Island. Have you ever wondered where the famous Pink Sand Beach is in the Bahamas? It’s on the eastern side of Harbour Island and the pink sand really pops against the brilliant blue of the Atlantic.
Mayaguana
Considered to be the halfway point between southern Florida and Puerto Rico, Mayaguana is the eastern most of the Bahama islands. Mayaguana is sparsely populated with as few as 300 residents and relatively unspoiled.
You won’t find resorts here but rather, Mayaguana is utilized as a stopover or day trip for its exquisite beaches, phenomenal snorkeling and diving as well as world-class deep-sea fishing.
San Salvador
Being surrounded by dazzling coral reefs, San Salvador has over 50 popular dive sites and rated the 3rd best diving locations in the world. Not a diver? That’s ok because snorkeling will give you a glimpse into the colorful world below. Who knows; you just may want to get certified after a trip to this gorgeous island.
Escape the ordinary.
Dive Into The Islands Of The Bahamas
Frequently Asked Question...
What is the official language of the Bahamas?
The official language of the Bahamas is English. Over the centuries, the people of the Bahamas have developed unique dialect that is only heard in the Bahamas.
Do I need to exchange my money when I travel to the Bahamas?
What is the currency in the Bahamas? The standard currency in the Bahamas is the Bahamian Dollar or BSD sometimes acknowledged by B$.
Are you wondering if you need to change currency when traveling to the Bahamas? For American’s, there is no need for, the Bahamian dollar is connected to that of the states. This means all stores and restaurants accept the United States Dollar or USD.
Those traveling from another country will most likely need to exchange their currency for Bahamian dollars.
Can I use my credit cards? Are there ATMs in the Bahamas?
Make sure you let your credit card company aware of your intended travels to the Bahamas beforehand. There are 2 reasons this is a good practice when you travel outside the states.
The 1st being, if you need it in the country you are traveling to, if you have not informed your credit card company of the dates you will be in the Bahamas, they will halt your account and you will spend a great deal of time fixing the issue. Second, if your card ends up being flagged in the states while you are away, your credit company knows you are not the one using it.
As far as ATMs are concerned, they are becoming more readily available at banks but not dispensing US dollars (USD); you will receive the Bahamian dollar (BSD).
The best idea is to bring different denominations of cash. Make sure to split the cash between your travelers so that if one person loses it, you’re not up a creek without a paddle, so to say.
Escape the ordinary.
Dive Into The Islands Of The Bahamas
Do I need plug adapters for my electronics in the Bahamas?
Power plugs and sockets in the Bahamas are the same as in the States; A and B sockets 120V. With that, if you are traveling from the United States, there is no need for an adapter. If you are vacationing from a country that utilizes anything other than A and B sockets, you will need to bring an adapter.
Are the Bahamas safe?
Since I am also a travel agent as well as a travel blogger, some clients have asked me “are the Bahamas safe”? To that I say, yes and no.
Some islands have higher crime while others; not so much. The highest crime rates being in New Providence and Grand Bahamas. Most of these are muggings, burglaries and sexual assaults which do not typically occur in tourist areas.
Don’t let this hamper your adventurer’s soul though; the Bahamas are too beautiful not to explore. The advice I give to my clients, to stay safe in the Bahamas, is to stay within your all-inclusive resort and to make sure your excursions are run by reputable companies that have your safety in mind. There is a way to enjoy paradise and stay safe at the same time.
I dig a little deeper in a later article of island specifics on safety in the Bahamas such as crimes and of what sort so, stay tuned.
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Dive Into The Islands Of The Bahamas
- If you rent a car in the Bahamas, they drive on the left.
- A gratuity of 15% is usually already added to your ticket so, check before you leave a tip.
- Your passport must be valid 6 months past the date of your return to the United States.
- Individual shops and eateries have their own set hours of operation.
- Visit Frequently asked questions about visiting the Bahamas.
Alerts:
For Covid-19 restrictions and updates, check out the link below.
https://www.afar.com/magazine/what-the-bahamas-travel-ban-means-for-us-travelers