Sun, Sea and Sand: What to Do in the Bahamas

 

 

The Bahamas or officially known as the “Commonwealth of the Bahamas” is made up of over 700 islands and is located north of Cuba in the Atlantic Ocean. Along with its financial sector, The Bahamas relies heavily on tourism, with more than half of the country’s workers involved in the industry. Since it’s so popular with tourists, it must be a great place to visit, but what can you expect when you arrive?

Beaches

The Bahamas is a beach lover’s dream, covered in beautiful beaches of powdery, light-colored sand and surrounded by the bluest seas you will find anywhere. Treasure Cay Beach, located on the east of Great Abaco Island, has been called one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and rightly so. The sand is as soft as flour, quite welcoming, and the sea laps at the shore in a crescent shape around the island.

There are several beaches in the capital of the Bahamas, Nassau, with the most famous of these are Cabbage Beach and Cable Beach. To mix with the locals, its best to head west of the downtown area to Saunders Beach on the weekends where you’ll find food stands that are used to raise money for charity. There is also Montagu Beach where you’ll find Fort Montagu, an old fortification built in 1741, designed to protect British interests against the Spanish.

If you are a fan of the “Jaws” movie franchise, then you’ll want to head to Jaws Beach where parts of “Jaws: The Revenge” were shot.

The Queen’s Staircase

A total of 66 steps that connect downtown Nassau and Fort Fincastle, the Queen’s Staircase was carved by hand from solid limestone between 1793 and 1794. The 600 ft. staircase was named in honor of Queen Victoria, and it’s a fantastic place to get some good photos for your Instagram.

Souvenir Shopping

A tradition that dates back hundreds of years, the Straw Market is a place to find all kinds of handmade goods. Although you will find the traditional straw baskets for sale, local traders have also diversified into bead necklaces, clothing, wood ornaments and many other island-themed gifts.

Aquaventure Water Park

Located within the Atlantis Resort, Aquaventure Water Park is filled with exciting water slides, exotic aquariums and a lazy river, all in Mayan and Atlantis theming. The slides vary in intensity, with some aptly named slides called the “Leap of Faith” and “The Abyss” sure to thrill adrenaline junkies.

Access to the water park is reserved for Atlantis Resort residents, with a small number of day passes offered.

National Art Gallery

Located in the Villa Doyle, the National Art Gallery is home to a permanent collection of contemporary and modern artists from the Bahamas, including Wellington Bridgewater and Antonius Roberts. The museum is closed Monday and open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all other days. The entry fee is $10 per person.

Eating in The Bahamas

There are countless options for eating in the Bahamas, with many options of locally caught fish or a fusion of local and international cuisine such as Nabu where you’ll find Asian-Bahamas dishes like king crab tacos.

Long Island

Long Island is one of the Bahamas’ most beautiful islands and is a little way out of most tourist traps. It spans nearly 130 km in length and less than 7 km wide. It is great for boating, diving and fishing off its pink and white beaches. Long Island is also the location of Dean’s Blue Hole, the world’s second deepest blue hole at 202 meters deep.

For those unsure what a blue hole is, it is a sinkhole filled with water below sea level. It can be seen from the dark patch of blue contrasting against the lighter shades around it. You can’t go wrong here.