GUIDE TO The Bahamas INSIDER GUIDE TO THE BAHAMAS
The Islands Of The Bahamas Picture The Islands Of The Bahamas. Are you standing on dazzling pink sands, staring out at the endless turquoise beyond? Looking up at an exquisite, pastel pink 19th century colonial building? Surrounded by colourful fish, dolphins, and adorable swimming pigs as you float through the crystal-clear waters Wherever your mind wanders to when you picture The Bahamas, welcome to our mini destination guide to this archipelago of hundreds of islands, cays and islets. With 16 main islands to explore, The Islands Of The Bahamas offer breathtaking beaches, culture and history, and stunning areas of natural beauty filled with wildlife from dolphins to swimming pigs. Population: ca. 389,000 Capital: Nassau National Motto: Expulsis Pirates, Restituta Commercia (Pirates Expelled, Commerce Restored) Currency: Bahamian dollar (this is pegged to the US dollar and both currencies are widely accepted) Official Language: English
Interesting facts... The national bird of The Bahamas is the flamingo The Islands Of The Bahamas start 50 miles off the coast of Florida and cover 100,000 square miles of ocean The 40-acre Lucayan National Park is thought to have the world s longest underwater cave system The water surrounding Nassau, on the island of New Providence, is around 26 C The Graycliff Hotel has one of the largest private wine cellars in the world - with over 250,000 bottles The waters around The Bahamas are so blue that Astronaut Scott Kelly described the islands as "the most beautiful place from space" Climate The Islands Of The Bahamas have a semi-tropical climate, which means the temperatures stay in the mid-20s (degrees C) almost all year round. There are an average of 320 sunny days a year there! Temperatures in the winter months average 20 degrees C (70 degrees F) while summer temperatures average high 20s 30s degrees C (80 90 degrees F) with high humidity. Hurricane season officially runs June to November, with June as the wettest month. Average Monthly Temperature: The Bahamas Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 21 21 22 24 26 27 28 28 26 24 23 22
The Islands Of The Bahamas Sixteen main islands make up The Bahamas: Nassau/Paradise Island; Grand Bahama Island; The Exumas; The Abacos; Acklins & Crooked Island; Andros; Bimini; The Berry Islands; Cat Island; Eleuthera & Harbour Island; Inagua; Long Island; Mayaguana; Ragged Island; Rum Cay; San Salvador. Fourteen of these islands excluding Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island are known as the Out Islands. You can explore these islands by hopping on an interisland aeroplane or by ferry or sailing boat. Spotlight on Nassau/Paradise Island Nassau, on the island of New Providence, is the capital of The Bahamas and Paradise Island, a tiny island of 1.1sq.mi., is connected to New Providence by two bridges that cross Nassau harbour. 70% of the population of The Bahamas lives in Nassau / Paradise Island and it takes about 10 minutes by ferry to cross between the two or 10 minutes by car from downtown Nassau.
Did you know?... Several James Bond films have featured The Islands Of The Bahamas: Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me, Never Say Never Again, and Casino Royale just to mention a few. Aquaventure, the water park at Atlantis Paradise Island, is the Caribbean s largest water attraction, covering 10 acres. It features 20 swimming areas, a mile-long river ride, and the Power Tower, a 120-foot tower with four slides and a 50-foot near-vertical drop! Pirates roamed the shores of Nassau Paradise Island in the 1700s! You can learn all about the pirates at the Pirates of Nassau Museum. Expect pirate history and weapons at this entertaining wax museum!
Our favourite sights Wondering what there is to see and do in The Islands Of The Bahamas? With an interesting colonial history, beautiful beaches and stunning areas of natural beauty, there s something for everyone. The famous swimming pigs of The Exumas It s thought the pigs might have been left by a group of sailors or swam to the uninhabited island of Big Major s Cay from a nearby shipwreck. Wander through the straw markets These bustling markets are filled with stalls selling beautiful handwoven souvenirs, as well as other mementoes from The Bahamas. The largest one is located in Nassau.
Gaze at the pink buildings in Parliament Square, Nassau Built in 1815, the colonial government buildings here are a delightful shade of flamingo pink! There s also a statue of Queen Victoria (erected in 1905 from funds donated by the public) and the Supreme Court has occupied one of the buildings here since 1921. Marvel at the jaw-droppingly beautiful beaches For sparkling blue waters and dazzling white sands head to Cable Beach, Cabbage Beach, Love Beach and Sandy Toes Beach (on Rose Island). Step back in time to the 1850s Learn about life on The Bahamas from years past at The Heritage Museum of The Bahamas. Nestled inside Mountbatten House in Nassau, which was built ca. 1850, this fascinating museum is filled with artifacts and documents that tell the history of The Bahamas.
Try something a little different Drag yourself away from the beautiful beaches The Islands Of The Bahamas have 29 national parks and conservation areas, cared for by the Bahamas National Trust. Among the incredible natural wonders, you ll find what s thought to be the world s longest underwater cave system. You can kayak through the park and experienced divers can go underwater with specialist guides. Spot over 100 species of birds If you re a keen birdwatcher, head to Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park. This 250-acre wetland is home to more than 100 species of bird. Among the birds to add to your to-find list, egrets, ibises, and the endangered Bahama Swallow. Don't miss the colourful Bahama Parrot in The Abaco National Park. There are only about 3,000 of this endangered species left in the wild, and The Abaco National Park is one of the places to spot this adorable little feathered friend. Birdwatchers can also delight in spotting both native birds such as the nuthatcher, and in autumn and winter migratory birds, such as warblers and other feathered friends, make The Bahamas home. Head to Inagua, home of over 80,000 West Indian Flamingos, one of the largest colonies in the world.
Make your own chocolates at the Graycliff Chocolatier If you have a sweet tooth, don t miss a visit to the Graycliff Chocolatier! A bean to bar producer, the Graycliff Chocolatier is nestled inside the famous Graycliff Hotel, an 18th century building, and they process cacao beans from start to finish, creating mouthwatering gourmet sweet treats. On The Art of Chocolate and Factory Tour, discover the fascinating process of how a fruit on a tree is transformed into a bar of scrumptious chocolate, and at the end you can create your own chocolate bar! Adults can also try a chocolate and spirits tasting event, with chocolates paired with rum, whisky and more. Dive into a glittering turquoise world and see underground caves If you ve never tried scuba diving before, The Bahamas offers an incredible introduction to the dazzling, colourful underwater world. The Bahamas has the world s third largest barrier reef and some of the clearest waters, with visibility of over 60 metres (196 feet). On a dive in the waters here, you can swim past an astounding number of creatures, including over 40 species of sharks, turtles, wild dolphins, parrot fish, trumpet fish, and rays. Experienced divers can explore fascinating caves filled with stalactites, stalagmites and crystals.
A taste of The Bahamas... CONCH The national food is conch, a mollusc similar to calamari, and you ll find it everywhere in The Bahamas. Conch is usually found fried in dough to make a fritter or in chowder but it s also eaten raw with lime juice and chopped onion and peppers in a deliciously refreshing conch salad. CHOCOLATE The moreish chocolates at Graycliff Chocolatier are renowned across the islands. This bean-to-bar producer creates mouthwatering concoctions such as white chocolate key lime pie and dark chocolate salted caramel bon bons. PUDDING If you have a sweet tooth, don t skip dessert during your time in The Bahamas! Some of the scrumptious puddings to try are coconut cake and rum cake. And make sure you keep an eye out for guava duff, sweet dough with guava folded into it and served with a rum butter sauce. BAHAMA MAMA This tasty cocktail is a blend of coconut and dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, bitters and grenadine. It s a perfect accompaniment to watching the pink-orange sky during sunset! A non-alcoholic drink to sip during the hot days is the delicious switcha, an ice-cold limeade made with freshly squeezed limes, water, and a hint of sugar.
Foodie experiences to add to your list: Across The Bahamas, locals and visitors alike gather for a lively down-home experience at the local Fish Fry. And, apart from enjoying the fried fish, you can see chefs showing off their knife-handling skills with the live preparation of fresh conch salad, best enjoyed with a cold local brew. Head to the delicious Athena Greek restaurant for an intriguing blend of Greek and Bahamian food. Don t miss afternoon tea at the One&Only Ocean Club we think it s an experience you ll never forget! (It s where Daniel Craig first appears as 007 in the James Bond film, Casino Royale). Hoping for haute cuisine? Explore Atlantis Paradise Island. The resort boasts some superb restaurants, including the world-renowned Nobu. Take a three-hour foodie tour around Nassau Paradise Island with Tru Bahamian Food Tours to explore the beautiful colonial architecture and nibble lots of mouthwatering delights. There are lots of food festivals throughout the year and they re definitely worth a visit. A few to add to your travel list? The All Andros Crab Festival held on the island of Andros in June; The International Culture Wine and Food Festival in October in Nassau; Deep Creek Conch Fest and the Pineapple Festival in June on Eleuthera.
TC Recommended: The Bahamas Take a look at some of our Travel Counsellors recommendations for a unique experience in The Bahamas... Travel Counsellor Lizzie stayed at Atlantis Paradise Island and can t wait to go back to The Bahamas: During my stay, what I loved was swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Cay. I was very interested to hear how a number of the dolphins had been rescued from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and lovingly cared for in the resort here. The experience was superb and the trainers had a great manner with these beautiful creatures. You can t help but smile from ear-to-ear at the antics! We also visited Rose Island on the famous Sandy Toes excursion. This is a very popular day trip in The Bahamas and I can see why. A short boat trip took us to this beautiful island with the most amazing beaches. This was the perfect antidote to my sore feet from all the walking. I covered myself in sun cream and just bobbed around in the warm North Atlantic Ocean, a glass of beer/cocktail in hand and relaxed! The Bahamas is often referred to as a bucket list destination and is renowned for white sand beaches and sunny climate. This is definitely true but there s so much more to The Bahamas than chilling on a beach. Explore a little and you ll find friendly, welcoming locals, a fabulous cultural heritage and some stunning architecture; alongside all the mod cons of resorts such as Atlantis Paradise Island with its waterparks and jam packed programme of entertainment.
Travel Counsellor Jennifer recommends The Bahamas as a year-round holiday destination and suggests combining a trip to the USA with The Bahamas: I travelled during September, considered to be their off-peak time due to technically being hurricane season. The weather at this time was gorgeous and the small bit of liquid sunshine [rain] we did get was very quick and did not take anything away from a fabulous beach experience. I would have no hesitation travelling at this time of year again, and a trip including New York or Miami, or both, with The Bahamas would be just a fabulous combination. Travel Counsellor Jenny stayed at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort and Offshore Island to celebrate her husband s big birthday in style: The Bahamian people are so warm and friendly - they really make you feel welcome. Everyone you passed always took the time to say hello and ask how you were. My husband and I are both scuba divers and we were taken to a number of different dive sites during our stay. There are quite a few purposely sunk wrecks around the island and we saw sharks, turtles, stingrays and lots of colourful marine fish. We did a tour of the island and found there is some great shopping in Nassau. We also visited Atlantis Paradise Island and went to Aquaventure, which is a truly amazing experience. We were like kids again going on the water chutes and slides! You fly through glass tubes in the water with sharks and rays surrounding you. We also walked through the aquarium and saw hundreds of different sharks, fish, and rays. It was a fantastic holiday and totally beyond my expectations. To share your Bahamas holiday memories, please upload your photos to your social media account using #TCexperience
Spending money Wondering how much spending money you ll need for your travels? To help you plan your trip, here s a rough guide to the cost of some of the things you might be buying whilst you re there! $80 Two-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant $40 Taxi ride from Lynden Pindling International Airport to Paradise Island $2.50 Domestic beer
$10 Cocktail $15 Entry to a museum $1.25 Single bus fare on Nassau and Grand Bahama Island $49.95 The Art of Chocolate and Factory Tour $75 Half day snorkelling tour
Chat with the locals The official language of The Bahamas is English but the locals speak with an island dialect, which has been influenced by Africa, England and the blend of cultures on this tropical paradise. To help you feel like a local when you re exploring The Islands Of The Bahamas, here are a few phrases for you to try!
BAHAMIAN - MEANING DIVING CONCH MEANING: FALLING ASLEEP WYBIN OR WYBE MEANING: IF SOMEONE S WYBIN, IT MEANS THEY RE HAVING AN ARGUMENT. A WYBE IS A PROBLEM OR BAD SITUATION. EEN NOTHIN MEANING: NOTHING MUCH SWITCHA MEANING: LEMONADE Commonly made with limes in The Bahamas, rather than lemons, you might be offered a delicious glass of switcha on a hot day. JITNEY MEANING: A BUS There s no set schedule for public buses, they run every few minutes and you can ask the driver to let you off the jitney at any time. JAM UP MEANING: IT S CROWDED/FULL UP IN HERE POTCAKE MEANING: COMMON NAME FOR A DOG This nickname comes from people feeding the leftovers from their cooking pots to the dogs! SIP SIP MEANING: GOSSIP WELL MUDDA SICK! OR MUDDA SICK! MEANING: YOU RE KIDDING! Used to express excitement or surprise TANKS MEANING: THANKS In Bahamian dialect, you ll often find the h is dropped from words TRU TRU MEANING: USED INSTEAD OF OK OR REAL DEM MEANING: A GROUP OF PEOPLE If you hear someone say David s eating at the Fish Fry with Johnny dem, it means that David s eating with Johnny and a group of other people.
Where to Stay... We asked some of our Travel Counsellors for their recommendations and here s what they had to say! GRAYCLIFF HOTEL The Graycliff Hotel is a legendary mansion built by the feared pirate, Captain John Howard Graysmith, who was master of the notorious schooner Graywolf. As soon as you walk in the door, history hits you you feel as though you ve gone back in time. Travel Counsellor Lizzie ONE&ONLY OCEAN CLUB It took my breath away! You know a hotel is going to be good when it was the backdrop to a James Bond movie, as this was for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. We enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea! Travel Counsellor Lucy
SANDALS ROYAL BAHAMIAN SPA RESORT AND OFFSHORE ISLAND It is a gorgeous resort! The beach is white and powdery with crystal clear seas and it also has its own private island, which is divine. The hotel was a favoured spot of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson and the walls are adorned with great photos and memorabilia. The resort is split into three areas - Balmoral Tower, Windsor Tower and the Royal Village and I had a gorgeous club level suite with a sea view in the Windsor Tower. Travel Counsellor Sarah ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND We stayed in the Royal Towers at Atlantis Paradise Island. The hotel boasts the amazing Aquaventure water park, as well as a huge choice of restaurants and bars, multiple swimming pools and leisure facilities and even a casino. You certainly won t get bored here! There s something for everyone and then some! Travel Counsellor Hayley BAHA MAR RESORT Baha Mar has been 10 years in the making, but it was worth the wait as the majestic Grand Hyatt hotel opened its doors earlier this year. It s the first of three properties slated for this mega-resort but this is much more than just a collection of hotels; it has a 100,000sq ft casino, 18-hole Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, clay and grass tennis courts, and plenty of upscale shopping within the site.
PELICAN BAY HOTEL Tucked in the heart of Grand Bahama Island is the colourful, colonial-style building that houses the delightful Pelican Bay Hotel. Exuding the warmth of the beautiful Bahamas, the hotel overlooks Bell Harbour Channel and a short walk takes you to the Port Lucaya Marketplace where you will find over 14 restaurants and bars. GRAND LUCAYAN LIGHTHOUSE POINT This exquisite all-inclusive resort is a delightful blend of creature comforts and authentic Bahamian charm. Nestled moments from the dazzling Lucaya Beach, expect rooms that are stylish yet cosy, a mouthwatering range of restaurants and activities galore - all included at this tropical paradise. ABACO BEACH RESORT AND BOAT HARBOUR MARINA On the idyllic island of Abaco, this beautiful hideaway sits on 40 acres of exquisite beachfront, and features one of the largest marinas in The Bahamas. Built in the 1950s and with a wonderful coastal feel, there s plenty to indulge in. Don t miss taking the bicycles out to explore this peaceful, secluded island.
HILTON AT RESORTS WORLD BIMINI With a chic, contemporary design and a stunning rooftop pool, this luxurious hotel is a perfect destination for anyone wanting to make the most of those twinkling, bright blue waters. There s an incredible array of activities and excursions on offer, from snorkelling to swimming with dolphins, sport fishing to kayaking, and more. VALENTINE S RESIDENCES RESORT & MARINA Inspired by the 300-year-old heritage of Harbour Island, the beautiful pastel-hued buildings that make up this resort offer guests a blend of vintage charm and modern amenities. Moments from the marina, the resort features lush tropical gardens and a twinkling swimming pool that s perfect for a cooling dip under the brilliant Caribbean sun. SANDALS EMERALD BAY GOLF, TENNIS AND SPA RESORT This is a truly stunning resort with an amazing beach, fantastic food and a lovely atmosphere. It is home to the Greg Norman-designed 18- hole championship golf course, which is lovely. If you are a golfer, then this is a perfect holiday choice while partners are soaking up the sun around the pool or having a pamper session in the Red Lane Spa! Travel Counsellor Donna
Here, we ve chosen a few of the things we think you should see and experience while you re in The Islands Of The Bahamas. We hope it inspires you to travel to The Bahamas time and time again and taste a little of Bahamian life. Get in touch to build a bespoke itinerary, tailor-made just for you. We d also love to see your photos and stories on social media so please share your memories using #TCexperience To find your local Travel Counsellor please visit www.travelcounsellors.co.uk