Our Bahamas Highlights
Our absolute highlight in the Bahamas are the uninhabited islands. You really should explore their beauty by catamaran — we highly recommend the Shangri-La with Dani and Bernd!
The Bahamas are a popular cruise destination — if you want a quick glimpse of the Bahamas and especially Paradise Island, book a cruise, ideally departing from Miami (usually very affordable).
By the way: the Bahamas consist of over 700 islands, of which only 30 are inhabited, and more than 2,400 coral reefs (cays). There are also 22 national parks managed by the Bahamas National Trust. Over 260,000 hectares of land and marine area are protected. The Central Andros National Park is the largest at 117,000 hectares, encompassing mangrove and wetland areas as well as parts of the Andros Barrier Reef, the third-largest reef in the world. The northernmost protected area is Walker's Cay Marine Park with its corals and incredibly diverse marine fauna. The southernmost national park is the uninhabited island of Little Inagua, where endangered sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach. On Great Inagua, more than 60,000 West Indian flamingos live — saved here from extinction.
The Bahamas are also famous as filming locations for the James Bond movies Casino Royale, Thunderball, and its 1983 remake Never Say Never Again.
One of the world's most famous hotels, the Atlantis, is also located in the Bahamas (its sister hotel is in Dubai).
Also worth mentioning: On Bimini, American investors have planned a massive tourist development that could have devastating effects on nature. Public pressure has reduced these plans, but the project hasn't been fully stopped yet. With the support of tour operators, divers, and tourists from around the world, the residents of Bimini continue to fight against the mega-project on their tiny island that would destroy their natural resources.
Climate & Best Time to Visit the Bahamas
The Bahamas enjoy a subtropical climate.
In summer, the average temperature sits around 28°C (82°F). In winter, the warm Gulf Stream (water temperatures between 24°C and 29°C / 75–84°F) rarely lets the temperature drop below 20°C (68°F). The hottest months are July and August. The Bahamas are worth visiting any time of year.
Entry Requirements, Vaccinations & Practical Information
Entry: For tourist stays of up to 90 days, a valid passport is sufficient to enter the Bahamas. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay. No visa is required. You must hold a return or onward flight ticket.
Special note on departure: An airport tax is payable upon departure. It is strongly recommended to check in approximately 2 hours before your scheduled flight to avoid your reservation being canceled due to overbooking.
Vaccinations: Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required when arriving from a yellow fever area.
The following vaccinations are also recommended: tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis A. For longer stays over 4 weeks or with particular exposure, hepatitis B is also recommended.
Travelers should pay careful attention to hygiene when consuming fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and seafood. Tap water is heavily chlorinated and not suitable for drinking. Bottled water can be purchased at grocery stores.
Medical care: Despite relatively good medical facilities, it is strongly recommended to take out travel health insurance that includes repatriation before your trip.
Besides the official language English, Haitian Creole is also spoken.
Money: Major currencies can be exchanged at most banks and hotels in the Bahamas. Traveler's checks are accepted by banks, and credit card payments (American Express, Mastercard, Visa) are widely accepted.
All information without guarantee!
Getting There & Getting Around
Due to the shallow waters, the sometimes vast distances between islands, and the numerous offshore sandbars, there are only a few ferry connections in the Bahamas. The quickest and easiest way to reach the islands is by air, for example with www.bahamasair.com. There are 57 airports in the Bahamas, three of which are international. Flying from Frankfurt to Nassau takes approximately 11 hours.
From Miami, numerous cruise ships operate, including a one-night Bahamas cruise for gambling enthusiasts. The latter can be booked directly at the Port of Miami. From Fort Lauderdale, there is a ferry service to Freeport.
The Bahamas drive on the left. Speed limits: 70 km/h (43 mph) outside built-up areas and 40 km/h (25 mph) in urban areas.
From Nassau, there are 5 ferry connections to:
North Eleuthera — Spanish Wells & Harbour Island (daily, 3-hour crossing); Abaco — Sandy Point; Andros; Morgan's Bluff & Fresh Creek; Eleuthera — Current & Governor's Harbour; and Exuma — George Town.
Where Are the Bahamas?
The Bahamas lie 80 km (50 miles) southeast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean and
100 km (62 miles) north of Cuba. Counted as part of Central America, they stretch from the southeast coast of the USA along the northeast coast of Cuba to the northwest coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands, spanning roughly 650 km (400 miles) north to south and up to 750 km (465 miles) east to west. The islands are divided into the two most populated islands — Grand Bahama and New Providence — and the so-called Out Islands, also known as Family Islands. The highest point is Mount Alvernia at 63 meters (207 ft) on Cat Island. The largest island by area is Andros at 5,957 km².
The two biggest and most important cities are the capital Nassau and Freeport. Together, they are home to more than three-quarters of the population. By far the largest city in the Bahamas, with over 200,000 residents, is the capital Nassau.
History of the Bahamas
- Until the early 15th century, small indigenous groups lived undisturbed on the Bahamas.
- The landing of Christopher Columbus on October 12, 1492, on the Bahamian island of San Salvador tragically changed life for the native people.
- By 1520, all 40,000 island inhabitants had been enslaved. They were forced to work in mines, where they eventually perished from disease and malnutrition.
- Over the next 200 years, more explorers, pirates, and Puritans followed. The Bahamas got their name from the Spanish conquerors, who called the waters around the islands "Baja Mar" — Spanish for "shallow sea" — which later evolved into "Bahamas."
- From the early 18th century until 1973, the Bahamas were a British Crown Colony.
- Since 1973, they have been an independent island nation in the North Atlantic and part of the West Indies. The Bahamas have succeeded in building an autonomous and stable democratic state modeled on the British system, a thriving economy, and an attractive tourism industry at a high international level. Tourism is the most important economic sector, with around 60% of the working population directly or indirectly employed in it.
- A tragic chapter in Bahamian history: On November 13, 1965, the American passenger steamship Yarmouth Castle caught fire 60 miles off Nassau and sank. 90 passengers and crew members lost their lives.
Independence Day
Independence from Great Britain on July 10, 1973, is a national holiday in the Bahamas. In the week leading up to July 10, numerous events and celebrations take place.
