Bahamas

Bahamas General Information and Helpful Links

Official website for Bahamas Tourist Office

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is an English-speaking nation consisting of seven hundred islands and cays that form an archipelago. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida and the United States, north of Cuba and the Caribbean, and northwest of the British dependency of the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

 

The Bahamas is a tropical paradise that offers an assortment of vacation destinations from breathtaking beaches to exciting and unique island adventures. With 700 islands making up the Bahamas, each easily accessible by air or sea, the possibilities for fun and excitement are endless. Beautiful accommodations, flavorful and creative cuisine and exciting attractions have been attracting visitors to the Bahamas for years. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, the perfect wedding destination or want to find a great atmosphere for an unforgettable family vacation, The Bahamas has something everyone will enjoy. 

Bahamas Travel Deals and Hotel Recommendation

Abaco National Park
Abaco National Park is comprised of 20,500 acres in Southern Abaco and has been designated a preservation area. Included are 5,000 acres of pine forest which is the nesting area and habitat of about 1000 endangered Bahama or Abaco Parrots. These parrots once lived on as many as seven islands in the Bahamas, but now only exist in Abaco and Great Inagua.

Abaco Wild Horse Preserve
Tour the preserve area of Treasure Cay to discover the critically endangered Abaco Barbs. These descendants of horses brought over at the time of Columbus’ explorations are possibly the purest strain of these horses in existence today. With a dwindling population, the Abaco Barbs are in a constant battle for their survival. Witnessing these beautiful wild horses would be a great opportunity that someday may no longer be possible.

Pelican Cays Land & Sea Park
Enjoy 2,100 acres of land and sea that contains beautiful undersea caves, extensive coral reefs and endless terrestrial plants and animals. Pelican Cays Land & Sea Park is accessible by boat only.

Versailles Gardens
Versailles Gardens is a popular spot for weddings and features various bronze and marble statues such as a life-sized Hercules sculpted in Greece in the 12th century. Versailles Gardens also features fountains, reflecting pools and waterfalls scattered throughout the grounds. Relax at the gazebo and admire the boat-filled harbor and then journey down the path that takes you to the historical Cloisters. 

Queen’s Staircase
The Queen’s Staircase is 65 steps carved out of solid limestone by slaves in the late 18th century, between 1793 and 1794. This 102 foot staircase was named in honor of the 65 years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Construction of this monument is regarded as remarkable as the slaves could only cut through the rocks with axes and other sharp hand tools. 

Fort Charlotte
Built in 1788, Fort Charlotte has a moat, dungeons, underground passageways and 42 cannons, which have never been fired in an act of aggression. Just one mile west of downtown Nassau, Fort Charlotte is full of history and amazing photo opportunities. Tour guides are available who will happily take you through the complete history of Fort Charlotte. 

Allan’s Cay Iguanas
Spend an afternoon on Allan’s Cay getting to know some of the locals which include the protected Allan’s Cay Rock Iguana. The Allan’s Cay Rock Iguanas can be found all over the island and are often referred to as “Bahamian dragons”. Reaching up to five feet in length these prehistoric-like reptiles enjoy the company of visitors who are allowed to feed them grapes.

Elizabeth Harbour
Elizabeth Harbour is one of the most beautiful harbours within the Islands of The Bahamas and is considered a favorite of yachtsmen from all over the world. Offering unforgettable tropical scenery, Elizabeth Harbour features picture perfect sunrises and has also been home to the National Family Island Regatta for the past 52 years. Held the last week in April every year, this four day long event attracts some of the world’s best sailors who meet at Elizabeth Harbour on Exuma Island and compete for the coveted “Best in the Bahamas” title.

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
Exuma Cays was the first land and sea park in the world and features several rare and endangered iguana species, marine birds and is a vital refuge for a small mammal called the hutia, which is a rabbit-sized rodent thought to be extinct until 1966. The waters of Exuma Cays have been a marine fishery reserve since 1986 and are home to thriving populations of queen conch, Nassau grouper and spiny lobster. 

Arawak Cay
Arawak Cay is the location of the Junkanoo Summer Festival and has developed as a top location to enjoy a variety of seafood delights such as conch salad, grilled shrimp, grilled lobster tails and a variety of fish dishes. Arawak Cay began as a series of makeshift booths that prepared conch for customers and quickly became one of the most popular culinary destinations in Nassau. Bahamians, traditionally love hot and spicy foods so if you have a low tolerance for the hot spices, be sure to ask for the mild version. Every Friday evening Arawak Cay is the scene of the Fish Fry, a weekly get-together featuring plenty of down home Bahamian cooking and local entertainment. 

Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center
The Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center is located minutes from the heart of downtown Nassau. This 5 ½ acres park combines its jungle setting with lush gardens and hundreds of mammals, birds and reptiles from around the world as well as many endangered species from the Bahamas and the Greater Caribbean. Stroll along twisting trails that are draped with moss and vines and admire the natural ponds, the tropical gardens and animals that range from bright pink flamingos and colorful parrots to curious monkeys and jaguars. The zoo is open seven days a week from 9a.m. to 5 p.m. with their famous flamingo presentation showing periodically throughout the day. 

Bay Street - Downtown Nassau
Bay Street is considered the heart of downtown Nassau and contains a series of upscale duty-free shops, historic architecture and various markets selling a variety of arts and crafts. A visit to Bay Street will also introduce you to numerous department stores selling collectibles, fine arts, perfumes, jewelry, clothing and many other that make great gifts and souvenirs. Be sure to admire all the fine examples of historic architecture that surround you throughout downtown Nassau. Some of the shops that can be found on Bay Street include the Balmain Antiques and Gallery, Fendi and John Bull.
The Cloisters
The Cloisters in Nassau stand high on a bluff overlooking the harbor and is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies with its romantic atmosphere. This Greco-Gothic masterpiece was originally built in the 13th century by Augustinian monks. In the 1920’s, William Randolph Hearst brought The Cloisters to the United States where it laid in pieces in a warehouse for years until Huntington Hartford purchased the structure and had it reconstructed on the island in 1962. The Cloisters can be found in the beautiful Versaille Gardens