The vast majority of the tourists that travel to the Bahamas each year never leave Nassau, Paradise Island. But with over 700 islands, secluded cays, a Fountain of Youth, the largest blue hole in the world, and near perfect year-round weather, there’s so much more these islands have to offer. A beach and watersports mecca, there’s no easier, more luxurious way to travel these islands than by yacht.

Home to the world’s third largest barrier reef, the Andros Barrier Reef is a maritime playground for any diver looking for a challenge. If it’s the beaches you’re after, set sail for Eleuthera and Harbour Island and sift your toes through the warm pink-sand. Swim with pigs in the Exumas - did you know pigs can float? If you’re cruising the islands on Boxing Day, Junkanoo is a festival of parades and parties that give homage to Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval and New Orleans’ Mardi Gras.

So savor your Bahama Mama rum drinks from the jacuzzi of your sun deck, enjoy a family fish fry on the beach, and dance to an authentic Bahamian band at a Rake n’ Scrape on Cat Island. These islands are sure to knock the wind out of your sails.

NASSAU

A bizzare mix of glitzy casinos, high-end duty free shopping, and quiet shady lanes, Nassau, home to two-thirds of all Bahamians, provides fast paced living and nightlife until dawn. While the hustle and bustle of cruise ship activity to Atlantis Resort is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, you won’t have to travel far to find a quiet place to sit with an ocean view, where the only noise you’ll hear are the waves rolling in.

While there are many great things to see and do in Nassau – like visiting the island’s well preserved historic buildings, which date back to the days when pirates ruled the town - the real treasures await on the other islands to come, and Nassau is just your starting off point.

ELEUTHERA

Just 50 miles east of Nassau, Eleuthera is a private tropical paradise just waiting to be uncovered. Characteristics that make this island unique are its rolling hills, rustic architecture, over twenty gorgeous beaches and friendly locals. Be sure to make your way towards the Hatchet Bay caves, a hidden Marvel towards the centre of the claw-shaped island. Beneath the lush green field lies one of the largest systems of caves in the Caribbean, rumoured to have sheltered pirates and buccaneers centuries ago. Other attractions include the Glass Window Bridge, the Preacher’s Cave, and of course The Island School, a private solar-powered educational environment where students from all over the world can spend semesters at sea.

Whether you choose to explore hidden treasures, visit the island’s shops, lay back on the pearly white sand or just enjoy the view aboard your vessel, Eleuthera’s beauty will surely leave you short of breath.

THE ABACOS

This sunny string of secluded Bahamian islands lies about 175 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida. Abaco is the best location for outdoor tropical adventures of all kinds. You can dive into the turquoise waters of the Sea of Abaco or get out your fishing rod and scope out the plethora of bonefish, tuna and marlin just a short distance from the shore. Or if you’d rather just sit back and admire these sea creatures, be sure to visit Sandy Cay or Pelican Cay National Park underwater preserves. You can also take advantage of the mild climate and embark on short sail if you wish. At the end of the day, sit back on one of the long Sandy beaches with cocktail in hand, and the sun setting over the bacos will take all of your worries away.

LONG ISLAND

Interested in taking a dive in the deepest recorded blue hole in the world? Dean’s Blue Hole is over 600 feet deep, a magnificent wonder for even the most professional deep sea divers and free divers. Even if you don’t wish to take a dip, the bright cerulean water fading into deep black abyss is certainly a sight to be seen. The most alluring quality of this private 80 mile long island is its multifaceted topography, with the east face filled with dramatic cliffs and caves and its West face lined with undisturbed beaches and calm waters. Spend the day relaxing or collecting colourful and rare shells on the multiple pink and white secluded beaches and natural pools or take a dive into the unknown; the choice is yours. Thought to be one of the most picturesque islands in the Bahamas, Long Island is a hidden paradise not to be missed.

GRAND BAHAMA

If you are looking for a charming retreat filled with history, culture and a friendly atmosphere, Grand Bahama is the place for you. Enjoy the gorgeous weather while walking the streets lined with straw markets, art galleries and shops filled with beautiful hand-made souvenirs to take back to the main land. After looking around, take a seat at a seaside restaurant for lunch to taste the famed conch, a Bahamian national dish. Open your ears to the sounds of the island, from the calls of many species of birds to the ever-present acoustics of the island’s street music. You can take in the island’s beauty by basking on one of the beaches, enjoying a round of golf with breath-taking views of the Atlantic on any one of the three amazing courses, going on an exciting nature tour or swiming with the dolphins. The unlimited array of fun activities on this island will make any visit worthwile.

HARBOUR ISLAND

Ever dream of waking up on an isolated beach with crystal clear turquoise waves gently crashing onto salmon-coloured sand? A visit to the quaint three and a half miles of coastline on the eastern edge of Harbour Island will make this fantasy a reality. This famous sand gets it mesmerizing colour from a very fine blend of coral, minute rocks and bright pink and red microscopic shells. This Bahamian hideaway boasts superb lunch spots, colourful reefs for swimming and snorkelling and tiny roads only wide enough for golf carts. If you’re up for an adventure, hop into your scuba gear and visit the “Current Cut Dive”. Known as one of the top dive sites in the world, the current from this “fast drift dive” will carry you two-thirds of a mile in ten minutes. Just a hop, skip and jump away from its sister island Eleuthera, Harbour Island is the perfect place for those who seek a more intimate and worry-free holiday.

BIMINI

Suspended above a sheer underwater cliff that drops thousands of feet into the deep, the Gulf Stream that rushes north past Bimini serves as an oceanic highway for everything from marlin to mantas, to dolphin and sea turtles – making Bimini one of the most renowned game-fishing sites in the world. It’s no wonder that many of the most captivating fishing scenes in Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea and Islands in the Stream were directly inspired by his adventures while trolling the deep blue offshore waters of this northwestern island.

For those seeking some recreational activities on land, hike the Bimini Nature Trail on the south side of the island. No visit to Bimini is complete without a trip to its mystic healing hole. Bimini is home to the legendary Fountain of Youth that was first discovered by early Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The sacred water is said to protect you from old age and guarantee everlasting riches.

EXUMAS

The archipelago of the Exumas consists of 365 islands and cays, a collection of jewels scattered throughout the turquoise Atlantic. Take a sightseeing cruise aboard your vessel to get a better look at this endless exotic paradise. See if you recognise any locations, as many scenes rom Hollywood films like Pirates of the Caribbean and various James Bond flicks have been shot all around the area. No matter where you decide to anchor, every island and cay has something to offer. Visit Big Major Cay to feed the friendly swimming pigs, Land and Sea Park to scope out bird sanctuaries and vergrown mangrove trees, Stocking Island to taste your very first conch burger or get out scuba or snorkelling gear and take advantage of the countless reefs and grottos. If you feel like relaxing, set up camp on one of the many private beaches or lose yourself in a deep tissue massage from the Sea Star Spa on George Town. No matter which island or cay you choose, you are bound to make memories on the Exumas that will last a lifetime.

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