The Islands Of The Bahamas

P.O. Box N-3701

Why Choose Our Destination?

• An archipelago chain of islands offering unique and diverse experiences. • The Bahamas comprises more than 700 distinctive islands and 2,000 cays spanning over 100,000 sq miles, touting the clearest waters on earth. • There are 16 major islands including Nassau/Paradise Island, Abaco, Andros, Bimini, the Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Long Island, Inagua, Acklins, Crooked Island and San Salvador. • Product offerings include every water-based activity imaginable, from fishing to Olympic record-holding blue hole dives and a plethora of award-winning palm- fringed, powder-soft white and pink sand beaches. • Getting to The Bahamas is quick and easy with more than 7 million visitors per year experiencing exceptional hospitality, authentic culture, warm climate year-round, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, luxurious accommodations, safety and serenity. • Located 50 nautical miles off the coast of Florida. • English Speaking • No currency exchange, U.S. Currency is widely accepted and on par with The Bahamian Dollar. • American companies and businesses wishing to hold their meetings, conferences or incentive groups in The Bahamas, can receive a tax write-off for business expenses

Awards

Getting Here

Accessibility from North America, Canada and European countries to Nassau and The Bahamas at large, have grown exponentially. And, air service to Nassau, is available via most of the world’s major airlines: American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada, West Jet, South West, British Airways among others. https://www.bahamas.com/getting-here

Distance from airport

  • Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)

    10 mi. from city center

  • Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO)

    3 mi. from city center


Local Attractions

The National Art Gallery

Prominently located in the heart of bustling Nassau and housed in a lovingly restored 1860s villa, the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas showcases the contemporary and historical artistic innovations of the Bahamian people. The gallery, which opened in 2003, focuses primarily on the work of contemporary Bahamian artists, but also includes some stunning pieces by such renowned expatriates as Winslow Homer. The collection of ceramics, paintings, sculptures, photography and textiles also includes work by such notable Bahamian artists as Amos Ferguson, Maxwell Taylor and Antonius Roberts. The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas can accommodate groups for outdoor events. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is US$5 for adults and US$3 for seniors and students. Admission for children ages 12 and under is free. Group tours are available, but must be scheduled in advance.

Clifton Heritage

At the Clifton Heritage National Park, you can find remnants of the historical and cultural legacy of three important groups that had an impact on the country: the Lucayans, the Loyalists and Africans. Local fauna includes songbirds, wading birds, seabirds, and other wildlife. You can enjoy swimming, fishing, hiking, camping, snorkeling, birdwatching, and picnicking in the Park, plus the Sacred Space is perfect for wedding ceremonies and spiritual retreats, and the panoramic views from the cliffs provide perfect photo opportunities.

Fish Fry at Arawak Cay

For an authentic taste of Bahamian cuisine and culture, visitors should pay a visit to Arawak Cay. Just a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk from downtown Nassau, Arawak Cay is the site of the famous Junkanoo Festival and home to a culinary institution known as the Fish Fry. What was once a group of dilapidated huts in the 1960s has grown into a local darling that serves some of the most delicious seafood on the islands. Locals and tourists alike visit the pastel-colored waterside shacks for bona fide regional specialties, including conch, a Bahamian staple. Patrons can try the famous conch salad, conch fritters, cracked conch and even conch chowder. Other favorites include fried fish, grilled shrimp and fresh lobster washed down with the specialty Kalik beer brewed locally on New Providence Island. Beyond the delicacies, visitors to the Fish Fry will enjoy mixing with the locals in a spirited atmosphere often filled with live music.

Pink Flamingos located at Adastra Gardens

Dating back to 1937, the Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center in Nassau are home to nearly 300 mammals, birds and reptiles and more than five acres of gardens populated by exotic fruit trees, coconut palms, bromeliads, orchids and hibiscus blossoms. Guests of Ardastra are in for a rare treat, as many of the expansive zoo's residents are endangered species. Inhabitants such as Madagascar lizards, a Great Horned owl and a Vietnamese pot-belly pig named Lulubelle call the zoo home, and many of the animals, such as the flamboyant peacocks, roam freely throughout the grounds. A restorative sanctuary of natural wonders, the zoo invites visitors to take time out to stroll along the winding garden pathways, watch the tropical birds fly overhead or sit back on a limestone bench to enjoy the scenery. Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission is US$7.50 for children ages 4-12 and US$15 for adults. Admission for children ages 3 and under is free. Discounted rates are available for groups of 10 or more people.

Downtown Straw Market

Traditional open-air market selling handwoven straw crafts, Bahamian souvenirs & tourist trinkets. Located downtown Nassau, The Bahamas

Junkanoo Festival/ New Year & Boxing Day

Junkanoo is a cultural dance and music celebration unique to The Bahamas that dates back hundreds of years.Junkanoo is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed African origin in many of the out islands. Its history is hotly contested and there are several theories about its origins. One is that it is named in tribute to John Canoe, an African tribal chief.

Bird Watching

If your bird watching goal in the Bahamas is to see all of the region’s specialty birds (birds that are unique to this region of the Caribbean and to The Bahamas), the best islands to bird on are: Andros, New Providence, Abaco, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera. Each island supports different combinations of specialty birds and migrants, so you will need to visit at least two islands to check off all the Bahama specialty birds on your list, Andros and Abaco being the best pair for this purpose.

The Cloisters Paradise Island

Statues of historical and mythological figures adorn the finely manicured grounds of this stately formal garden on the eastern end of Paradise Island. Situated on the Ocean Club property just a 15-minute walk from Atlantis Resort, the garden offers visitors a chance to meander up the majestic stepped lawns and through the grounds fringed with aromatic flowers. Guests can stroll amongst the imposing bronze visages of Hercules, Napoleon and Josephine, former U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and others, explore the columned temple, or stop by a lovely gazebo that overlooks Nassau Harbor. At the summit of the garden is the gothic stone cloister, the ruins of a reconstructed French monastery. Dating back to the 12th century, the cloister was brought brick by brick from France during the 1920s by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. I A popular setting for outdoor events, the Versailles Garden and French Cloister can be booked for private functions. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Admission is free.

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Seasonality

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
High season
Jan 14 – Apr 30
Shoulder season
May 1 – Aug 31
Low season
Sep 1 – Dec 7

Additional Information

Awarded as: Caribbean's Leading Tourist & Convention Bureau 2019

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