What to do in the Bahamas: the top 17 island excursions

21.11.2024 - 21:07 / lonelyplanet.com

Nov 21, 2024 • 10 min read

With its turquoise waters, pillowy sand beaches and laid-back island attitude, everything does seem better in the Bahamas.

With 16 major islands and 259,000 sq km (100,000 sq miles) of some of the world’s clearest water, there’s no shortage of island adventuring – whether it’s hitting the waves for a snorkeling expedition or unwinding with a frosty rum-laden beverage in hand. The Bahamas will dazzle you on even the shortest stays, but many visitors find four to five days enough time to rest, explore and squeeze in an island-hopping excursion if they choose.

If you’re a water sports enthusiast, the Bahamas is a popular destination for indulging in your passion. Snorkeling and scuba diving await, with deserted islands and intimate coves providing an undisturbed peek at the marine life. 

But if you’d prefer to keep your itinerary close to shore, there’s plenty to explore there as well. Need proof? Here’s a list of the top things to do in the Bahamas.

The 16-hectare (40-acre) Lucayan National Park is one of the largest underwater cave systems in the world, two of which are open to the public for swimming and exploration. Located east of Freeport over on Grand Bahama Island, Lucayan is an ecological treasure, playing host to all six of the Bahamas’ vegetation zones.

Detour: Before cooling off in the cave’s waters, walk or ride a horse along one of the park's paved paths and experience its mangrove swamps, rocky coppice landscape and singular hardwood forest. 

Sharpen your negotiating skills – and snag a few locally made souvenirs – at Nassau’s frenzied Straw Market, located next to the boutique shops on Bay Street. You’ll find vendors with individual stalls hawking all manner of wares, from straw purses and wood carvings to touristy tees and hats. The Straw Market is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. 

Local tip: Haggling isn’t only acceptable in this open-air market; it’s encouraged.

Who says careening down waterslides at breakneck speeds and giddily screaming the whole way through is strictly for kids? The Aquaventure attraction at Atlantis Paradise Island has 57 hectares (141 acres) of high-speed water slides, winding lazy rivers and 14 swimming pools set amongst the “ruins” of Atlantis. Access to all of Atlantis is free for overnight guests of the resort, but you can pick up a day pass if you’re staying elsewhere. 

Atlantis isn’t the only attraction on Paradise Island – walk around to the island’s east side and discover the public entrance to Cabbage Beach, a 2-mile stretch of pristine sand framed by swaying palm trees. 

If the waters are a bit choppy, seek out one of the beachside huts where you’ll find a massage therapist waiting to administer a muscle-melting massage set to the