Bahamas - attractions - Countries Guide

Bimini Islands
The Bimini group is 50 miles (80km) east of Miami and spans an area no larger than 10 square miles (26 sq km). The main island, North Bimini (or simply 'Bimini') is barely seven miles long (11km) and no more than 1,200ft (366m) across at its widest point. The islands are best known for the excellent fishing opportunities, with visitors from around the world coming here to test their skills and catch an array of fish including tuna, sailfish, mako shark, barracuda and, above all, blue marlin. Almost all the action happens in Alice Town, a laid back town where fishermen gather to swap stories. During spring break the town becomes a little raucous with the arrival of crowds of college students. Scuba divers are also lured by some mysterious stone blocks in the waters off North Bimini which islanders claim are part of the Lost City of Atlantis.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

Nassau
Nassau, the nation's capital on New Providence Island, is a colonial Caribbean city with a distinctly modern American flavour. It is a mixture of first-world facilities and romantic old-world charm. In downtown Nassau many buildings date back to the 18th century, including the ancient Fort Fincastle, reached by the Queen's Staircase that was constructed by the labour of hundreds of slaves. Garden enthusiasts should visit the Royal Victorian Garden, which has more than 300 species of tropical plants and exotic creatures. Enthusiastic shoppers on the other hand would be well advised to look out for great bargains at the Straw Market on Bay Street. Alternatively visitors can relax by spending an idle afternoon watching a cricket game at one of the many local sports grounds. Most tourists inhabit the spectacular resorts found on Paradise Island, connected by bridge and ferry to New Providence Island and the city.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

Paradise Island
Connected to New Providence Island by a bridge, Paradise Island is one of the most popular destinations in the Bahamas. It offers a variety of beaches to suit a range of tastes. Most of the island's hotels and resorts are along Cable Beach, Paradise Beach or Cabbage Beach offering miles of white sand and outstanding watersport facilities. To escape the crowds, one can head over to the secluded Caves Beach or Love Beach, a popular spot for snorkellers.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
Fifty miles (80km) east of Miami, Grand Bahama is an idyllic island of white beaches and aquamarine seas beneath which the coral reefs teem with life. Most visitors stay in Freeport, a few miles inland, or at the seaside suburb of Lucaya on the south coast of the island. Here you can sail, play golf or simply relax by the pool at one of the many all-inclusive resorts. In town there are plenty of boutiques and bazaars to tempt shoppers, and evenings can be spent at one of the many restaurants. Those travellers with cash left in their wallets can head to one of the island's casinos. There is also much to entice divers and snorkellers. Outside Freeport, between Sweeting's Cay and Pelican Point, are seven blue holes inviting exploration, and a little further west is Deadman's Reef, accessible from the powdery white beach at Paradise Cove. East of Freeport is the Lucayan National Park, home to the largest underwater cave system in the world. Walkers can enjoy the island's natural flora and fauna or hire a kayak and explore the mangrove creeks.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

. Andros Island
Andros is the largest island in the Bahamas and is a favourite for scuba divers and fishermen. The island is undeveloped, the atmosphere is very casual and hotels tend to be small and unpretentious. Much of the island is covered with palm savannas, primeval forest and huge mangrove wetlands making it a bird-watchers paradise. However, it is the underwater life that really makes Andros unique; it has the world's third largest reef running along its east coast for 167 miles (269km). The colourful assortment of fish life just beneath the surface, and blue holes and canyons (in the ocean and inland) which plunge down as deep as 200ft (61m) make this a truly spectacular place to explore whether you dive, snorkel or fish.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

Exumas Islands
The Exumas encompass a myriad of islands and cays that stretch for hundreds of miles. The largest, Great Exuma and Little Exuma, are home to the small community of several hundred island inhabitants, who farm the land and welcome tourists. Visitors usually arrive by yacht, for these islands offer legendary cruising opportunities. If you come without sails, you will be tempted to hire a boat and make the most of the inviting waters. Most cays are edged with towering palm trees and expanses of white powdery beaches. The surrounding reefs have magical underwater gardens that draw divers and snorkellers. The main destination for divers is the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a 176-square-mile (456 sq km) natural underwater preserve, that can only be reached by seaplane or boat (charters can be arranged through the hotels).
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

Long Island
One of the main events on the Bahamas yachting calendar is the Long Island Regatta, which takes place in the town of Salt Pond each May, drawing visitors from all around the world to one of the most beautiful and unspoilt islands of the Bahamas. The locals still depend on fishing for their livelihood, while visitors revel in the shallow bays and white beaches of the western shore. The rugged windward coast features towering cliffs washed by wild waves. There are also some renowned offshore diving and snorkelling spots, and a spectacular view of the whole package from the northern tip of the island at the site of a monument to Christopher Columbus, who enjoyed the vista when he came ashore in 1492. The island also boasts the deepest blue hole in the world, just north of Clarence Town.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

. Abacos Islands
The chain of tiny Abacos islands stretch for 200 miles (322km) and form the most northerly part of the Bahamas nation. Located only 200 miles (322km) from Miami they are a popular holiday destination, and therefore fairly well developed for tourism. The two main islands, Great Abaco and neighbouring Little Abaco, are separated from each other by a narrow strait. They are often tagged the 'Loyalist Isles' because of the many Tory expatriates who fled there to avoid persecution after the American Revolution. The early Loyalist settlements are still much in evidence on the cays around Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco's main town. The accommodation on the island is fairly low-key and visitors are likely to stay in a small guesthouse by the beach or cottage near one of the many marinas. No glamorous resort complexes can be found here. The sheltered waters around the islands make it a hotspot for yachters, and islanders claim it is the cruising capital of the world. There are also coral reefs to entice divers and inland pine forests that provide wonderful bird-watching and walking opportunities.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

Eleuthera Island
You are never far from the beach on the most popular of the Bahama's Out Islands, Eleuthera, which stretches for almost 100 miles (161km) but is at most two miles (3km) wide. Eleuthera, and especially its satellite island, Harbour Island, just a short water-taxi ride away, have long been the holiday haunts of the fashionable set, sporting luxury hotels and fine restaurants that cater for trendy and wealthy visitors. The main entertainment here is sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling, shell-collecting and fishing. The scenery can be enjoyed through a meander along the coast, passing scenic headlands and wandering through villages dotted between dozens of pristine beaches.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

Half Moon Cay
The resort is a private paradise, reserved for passengers who are tendered ashore to the pier from Holland America Line's cruise ships, and those who have paid for the pleasure will not be disappointed. Half Moon Cay (pronounced 'Key') is an island about 100 miles (161km) south of Nassau, capital of the Bahamas, and has been sensitively developed to preserve its natural assets and ecosystem, while ensuring it provides a fantastic day ashore for cruise passengers. The main attraction is the two-mile (3km) crescent of surreally beautiful beach, dotted with palm trees, adjacent to which are wonderful bird-watching opportunities in a well-preserved waterfowl nesting habitat. All the facilities at this pristine resort are connected by pathways, but those who prefer can catch a tram which runs continuously from the Welcome Center to the Food Pavilion. Visitors wanting to cure their 'sea legs' can take some delightful walks along marked trails with descriptive signs pointing out the local trees, plants and birds.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

. Houses of Parliament
Built in 1806 - 1816, the pink Parliament buildings are a fine example of colonial architecture in Nassau, right down to the marble statue of an enthroned Queen Victoria, installed in 1905 that dominates the square. The west building holds the House of Assembly, the oldest governing body in continuous session in the New World, and the central building is the Senate.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times:

Hartley's Undersea Walk
Take a walk along the ocean floor reminiscent of the days before scuba technology. Divers need no experience as they wear an undersea botanical helmet that allows for normal breathing and dry hair. Visitors to this exotic corner of the world can enjoy exploring coral reefs and undersea creatures.
Telephone: +12423938234
Website: www.underseawalk.com
Transport:
Opening times:

Pirate Museum
The Pirate Museum takes visitors on an interactive tour through the heart of downtown Nassau in 1716 where they will board a replica of the pirate ship 'Revenge' and enter the world of bloodthirsty pirates - a must for all who are up for a swashbuckling good time.
Telephone: +12423563759
Website: www.pirates-of-nassau.com
Transport:
Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm. Sundays 9am to 12pm. Closed public holidays.

Fort Fincastle
The small fort of Fincastle was built 1793 overlooking the city of Nassau. It served as a lighthouse until1819 and was subsequently used as a signal tower. Reached by climbing the Queen's Staircase, the tower is New Providence's highest point. This fort's 'bow' is patterned like a Mississippi paddle-wheel steamer and was originally built to defend Nassau against invasion.
Telephone:
Website:
Transport:
Opening times: Tours are conducted Monday through Saturday, 8am to 5pm

Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center
Visit the Bahamas' only zoo and see the renowned marching flamingo shows. Visitors can even encounter Bahamian boa constrictors, raptors and parrots along pathways throughout the zoo as their trainers walk them. The natural setting of the zoo allows many of the birds to roam freely and it is not uncommon to find parrots and peacocks at your feet. Other residents at the zoo include two jaguars, Great Horned Owls, lemurs, monkeys and even a pot-bellied pig.
Telephone: +12423235806
Website: www.ardastra.com
Transport:
Opening times: Open daily from 9am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Cities & Regions: The Islands | Nassau