The Bahamas, made up of over 700 islands is possibly the most well-known group of islands in the Caribbean with the famous swimming pigs, award-winning brilliant white sandy beaches, wonderful wildlife, culture and picturesque settings.
Being a group of islands, the sea is a huge part of life in the Bahamas. The sea life around the Bahamas is diverse, you will find Dolphins at Bimini Islands, Freeport is a divers treasure with shipwrecks, corals, reef sharks and is teaming with fish and stingrays in the west end of Freeport or swim with the pigs in The Exumas. Flamingos are the national bird of the Bahamas and there are not many better places to view them than Nassau’s Ardastra Gardens.
Take a visit to the only rum distillery in the Bahamas located in Nassau, John Watling’s Distillery. You will also find a vibrant and thriving art scene in Nassau with art galleries and stunning street murals that showcase the colour and brightness you associate with the Caribbean. Shopping in the Bahamas can also brighten up your day with Bahamian clothing and fabrics drawing you in and showcasing Caribbean fashion.
Climb Cat Island, the highest point of the Bahamas at 206 feet high, this is not very high in comparison to places we know at home but you can get some of the best views of the Caribbean landscape from here with rolling hills filled with trees, white beaches and clear shores.
The best way to see some of the best sights in the Bahamas is to go island hopping. You can head out on trips and tours to various islands to swim with the pigs, snorkel, explore coves and view some of the amazing islands of the Bahamas. Andros is home to the most Blue Holes per square mile in the world, they are just what they sound like, large holes filled with fresh water, ideal for a day out where you can swim, picnic and explore the beautiful surroundings.
Caribbean food in the Bahamas is all about local produce and what can be caught from the sea and grown on the land. There is a large amount of fish on the menu, lots of fruit and veg with some you will have never heard of before, and they like a bit of bite to their food with a hot pepper, or two. Hotels cater for all types of dietary requirements and offer plenty of options for those who are not so gastronomically adventurous, but for anyone who loves to try new cuisine the Bahamas will provide you with a mouth-watering treat.
Along with food comes drink, fruit juices are always available like a fresh glass of mango juice but if you want something a little stronger then the Bahamas offer up some of the best cocktails. After sipping on some cocktails you might just want to extend your party into the evening, in most resorts, you will find beach clubs, bars and dance clubs nearby, there is no shortage of party atmosphere in the Bahamas!
Junkanoo, is a Bahamian celebration quite unlike any other. This is more than just a celebration, this is a way of life with colourful extravagant costumes that are works of art, worn whilst singing, dancing and parading through the streets on Boxing Day.
The Bahamas guarantee you sunshine, even in the preferred winter travel season you get 7-8 hours a day and the sea temperature never drops below 25°C, perfect for any beach lover or water baby. The average temperature rarely drops below 20°C even in the coolest months with highs approaching the 30’s in the summer period.
The summers are not predictable, whilst you get higher temperatures you do get heavy downpours and the threat of storms so travel is recommended in the winter period, but travelling in the winter is not as bad as it may sound with the Bahamas winter being comparable or better than some European summers!
We recommend avoiding June to November as this is the hurricane season. December through to April is the Bahama’s winter season and is normally considered the best period to travel with constant sunshine, low rainfall and great temperatures.
