The Bahamas is basically 700 islands floating in some of the clearest water on the planet, but honestly, most people never make it past the buffet line at Atlantis. It’s a shame. If you’re just looking for stuff to do in the Bahamas and you end up sitting in a crowded resort pool all day, you’ve missed the point of the Caribbean entirely. You really have.
There is this massive misconception that the Bahamas is just Nassau and maybe a quick boat ride to see some pigs. It isn't. Not even close. You have the deep, jagged blue holes of Andros, the empty pink sands of Eleuthera, and the weirdly charming history of places like Harbour Island. You can spend $1,000 a night or you can eat cracked conch at a roadside stand for fifteen bucks. Both are valid.
But let’s get into the actual logistics of what makes a trip here worth the flight.
The Nassau Trap and How to Avoid It
Nassau is the gateway. Most people land at Lynden Pindling International Airport, take a taxi to Paradise Island, and stay there. Look, Cable Beach is fine. It’s pretty. But if you want real stuff to do in the Bahamas, you have to leave the resort bubble.
Go to the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay. It’s loud. It’s crowded. The service might be slow because they’re actually making your conch salad to order, literally hitting the shell with a hammer right in front of you. That’s the real deal. Try the "Sky Juice"—it’s gin, coconut water, and condensed milk. It sounds terrifying. It’s actually delicious.
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If you’re into history, skip the generic tours. Walk up the Queen’s Staircase. It’s 66 steps carved out of solid limestone by enslaved people in the late 18th century. It’s cool, damp, and feels a hundred miles away from the cruise ship docks even though it's right there.
Why You Should Probably Fly to the Out Islands
The "Out Islands" or Family Islands are where the Bahamas actually lives. If you have the time, get a Flamingo Air or Pineapple Air flight. These are small planes. You’ll see the "tongue of the ocean," which is a deep underwater canyon that turns the water from bright turquoise to a terrifyingly deep navy blue in a split second.
Exuma is the big draw lately. Yes, the swimming pigs are real. They live on Big Major Cay. A few things people don't tell you: the pigs are huge. They can be a bit pushy if you have food. It’s a bit of a tourist circus now, but the water in the Exuma Cays is so ridiculously clear it looks fake.
Beyond the Pigs: Stuff to Do in the Bahamas for Nature Nerds
If you want to see something most tourists ignore, go to Andros. It’s the largest island but the least developed. It’s home to the third-largest barrier reef in the world.
The blue holes here are legendary. Legendary. Explorers like Jacques Cousteau spent years documenting the underwater cave systems. National Geographic has done entire features on the fossils found at the bottom of these holes—perfectly preserved Lucayan remains and extinct crocodile bones.
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- Blue Hole Trekking: You can hike through the pine forests to find these perfectly circular inland pools.
- Bonefishing: Andros is the bonefishing capital of the world. It’s a specific kind of fly fishing in the shallow flats. It’s quiet, meditative, and incredibly difficult.
- Birding: Look for the Bahama Woodstar or the Great Lizard Cuckoo.
Most people don't realize how rugged the islands can be. It’s not all manicured lawns.
The Pink Sands of Eleuthera and Harbour Island
Eleuthera is a long, skinny island. At one point, called the Glass Window Bridge, you can stand on a narrow strip of rock and see the turbulent Atlantic Ocean on one side and the calm Bight of Eleuthera on the other. The contrast is wild.
Harbour Island is just offshore. It’s famous for pink sand. Why is it pink? It’s crushed microscopic coral insects called Foraminifera. It’s not neon pink—it’s more of a soft, glowing blush color, especially at sunset.
Rent a golf cart. That’s how you get around. There are barely any cars. It’s posh but in a "salty hair and no shoes" kind of way. Visit Arthur’s Bakery for some jalapeño cheese bread. It’s a local staple that people literally fly in for.
What People Get Wrong About Bahamian Food
It’s not just seafood. Well, it is, but it’s specific.
Conch (pronounced 'konk') is the king. You’ll eat it as fritters, in chowder, or "cracked" (breaded and fried). But the salad is the gold standard. They mix raw conch with lime juice, orange juice, onions, peppers, and tomatoes. It cures everything.
Then there’s the Rock Lobster, or spiny lobster. It doesn’t have claws like a Maine lobster. It’s all about the tail meat. If you’re there between August and March, you’re in luck. If someone offers you "fresh" lobster in June, they’re breaking the law and it’s probably frozen. Don’t do it.
Diving the "Washing Machine"
In the Exumas, there’s a spot called the Washing Machine. It’s a natural current that picks you up and flips you head over heels over a shallow reef. You don't have to do anything. You just float and let the tide do the work.
It’s an adrenaline rush without the effort. Just make sure you’re with a reputable charter like Staniel Cay Yacht Club. They know the tides. Doing this at the wrong time just means you're swimming against a current, which isn't fun.
The Junkanoo Factor
If you’re lucky enough to be there on Boxing Day (December 26) or New Year’s Day, you’ll see Junkanoo. It’s not just a parade. It’s a massive, soul-shaking competition.
The costumes are made of cardboard and crepe paper, but they look like intricate sculptures. The goatskin drums and cowbells are so loud you feel the vibration in your teeth. It’s the ultimate expression of Bahamian culture. If you can't make it in the winter, there are smaller "Junkanoo Summer Festivals," but the big ones in Nassau are life-changing.
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Budgeting for the Bahamas
The Bahamas is expensive. Most things are imported. VAT (Value Added Tax) is a thing you’ll see on every receipt.
- Transport: Taxis are pricey. If you're in Nassau, use the "jitney" (bus). It's like $1.25. It’s the best way to see the island.
- Drinking: Beer is expensive unless you buy local. Stick to Kalik or Sands.
- Accommodation: Resorts are the easy choice, but Airbnbs in the Out Islands often give you access to private beaches you'd never see otherwise.
The Silence of Long Island
Long Island (the one in the Bahamas, not New York) is home to Dean’s Blue Hole. It’s one of the deepest salt-water blue holes in the world, plunging down about 663 feet.
The world freediving championships are often held here. Watching someone disappear into that dark blue circle on a single breath is haunting. You can swim right over the edge of it. One second the water is waist-deep on a white sand beach, and the next, there is just... nothingness beneath you. It’s humbling.
Final Practical Logistics
You don't need a visa if you're coming from the US, Canada, or the UK for short stays, but you definitely need a passport. The currency is the Bahamian Dollar, which is pegged 1-to-1 with the US Dollar. They are used interchangeably. You’ll get a mix of both in your change.
Hurricane Season: It’s real. June to November. August and September are the peak. While travel deals are great then, you’re gambling with your vacation. If a storm is coming, the islands shut down fast.
Getting Around: In Nassau, you can walk a lot of the downtown area. In the Out Islands, you need a rental car or a boat. Mostly a boat. If you don't know how to drive a boat, hire a local captain for a day. It’s worth every penny to have someone show you the "secret" sandbars that only appear for two hours at low tide.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check the Tides: If you're heading to the Exumas, download a tide app. The best sandbars (like the one at Pipe Creek) only exist at low tide.
- Book an Internal Flight: Look at Bahamasair or smaller local carriers like Western Air for a day trip to an Out Island if you’re based in Nassau.
- Pack Reef-Safe Sunscreen: The coral reefs are fragile and the Bahamas is getting stricter about what chemicals you put in their water.
- Cash is King: While big resorts take cards, the best roadside conch stands and small-town grocery stores in the Family Islands often prefer (or only take) cash.
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service is spotty once you get away from the main settlements. Google Maps offline saved me more than once on the backroads of Eleuthera.