healthy active living

Activities in the Bahamas

Around 700 islands make up the Bahamas – which are surrounded by some of the clearest waters imaginable. Most notable is that each island has its own diversity in terms of habitat, history and people and all the Bahamas islands have great sporting activities on offer for active travellers.

The islands are a popular destination for the jet-set, and a lot of the area has become commercialized – yet there are still opportunities on the islands to wander among wild forests, explore coral reefs or find pristine, tranquil beach spots.

Key Bahamas statistics...

Capital: Nassau
Population: 300,000
Language: English
Religions: Baptist, Anglican, Roman Catholic and others
Government: constitutional parliamentary democracy

Bahamas activity highlights...

Nassau
The Bahamian national capital is a far cry from the rowdy village that it used to be – which teemed with pirates such as the legendary Blackbeard. The city is has a beautiful sheltered harbor, and is surrounded by magnificent colonial mansions, cathedrals and 18th-century fortresses providing outstanding views. The city manages to combine modern ways with a Caribbean flavour and possess fine links to water sports and swimming facilities.

Grand Bahama Island
This island’s location just 55 miles from the east coast of Florida means it is one of the most visited in the area. Visitors here are able to combine a cosmopolitan vacation at a world-class resort with the charm of historical fishing villages. It has one of the world's largest underwater cave systems, three National Parks, endless beaches, emerald green water and a multitude of marine life, plus top surfing conditions.

Bimini Islands
The tiny Biminis are home to one of the finest fishing areas in the world and host many angling competitions.For those who like to dive, just offshore are strange underwater stone formations rumoured to be part of the lost city of Atlantis. The Biminis also have an exciting history and were a meeting point for wreckers who settled in the islands in the mid-19th century.

San Salvador
Boasts the reputation of being the first place that Christopher Columbus landed upon when he discovered the New World in 1492. The island is small in size but has beautiful scenery in that it’s surrounded by superb beaches and reefs. Snorkelling, diving and fishing are among the most popular activities here, and the water is of such sparkling clarity that the underwater visibility can be as much as 150ft.

The Inaguas
These are two separate islands: Great Inagua and Little Inagua (‘Inagua’ is an anagram for the animal common to the islands’ shores: the iguana). Great Inagua is a naturalist's paradise where rare birds and reptiles thriving in the rugged and salty environment, while Little Inagua is completely uninhabited except for herds of wild donkeys, goats and a wide variety of birdlife.

Fishing in the Bahamas
Game fish abound in the waters of the Bahamas. Writer Ernest Hemingway even penned the book Islands in the Stream about the fishing here. The Biminis are the deep-sea fishing capital of the world – but there is plenty to be found elsewhere in the Bahamas too, where giant tuna, marlin and barracuda also occupy the waters. There is even a chance to get a record catch, as over 50 fishing records have been set in the water of the Bahamas.

Diving in the Bahamas
The islands present many diving experiences for people of all abilities, from beginners to experts. It is possible to swim safely with sharks, play with dolphins, explore sunken pirate ships, and discover secret underwater caves – all in crystal-clear waters where the waves are virtually non-existent. Lessons, guides and equipment can be found throughout the islands.

Beaches in the Bahamas
If the perfect beach is your goal then you won’t go wrong if you head to the Bahamas. Most of the beaches are pristine and have fine white sand, and the waters just off them are often shallow for several hundred yards out to the sea. There are a number of activity beaches on which you can do everything from para-sailing to water skiing, as well as deserted beaches where you can relax in total bliss.

Lucayan National Park
Pine forests, huge caves and plum trees provide an unexpected landscape here. The 40-acre Lucayan National Park teems with ferns and dozens of rare flower species including orchids. The area is also home to one of the world's longest underwater cave systems. There's also a mangrove swamp to walk through, and the beautiful Gold Rock Beach fringed by soporific dunes.

Best time to go to the Bahamas...

The climate varies little throughout the year, making the Bahamas an all-year-round destination. The most refreshing time to go is September through May, when the temperature averages 70-75F. For the rest of the year the temperature is generally around 10F warmer.