The punchline is that there isn’t just one.
Made up of over 700 islands and 3,000 cays of which just 30 are inhabited by permanent residents, the Caribbean nation of The Bahamas is often associated above all with New Providence Island — the port in the capital city of Nassau receives between two to six cruise ships on any given day and, with over six million visitors coming in this way each year, is often the first and only gateway to The Bahamas for the vast majority of travelers.
Nassau is home to the country’s most big-name resorts, such as the Baha Mar and the Margaritaville Nassau also offering day passes to its water park, and some of the largest festivals celebrating Caribbean culture. It is also home to the most famous bars and restaurants and, as the main hub, is the set-off point for the widest array of food, island-hopping and sea life tours as well as the best place to mingle with both locals and tourists.
Eleuthera, Exuma and Bimini: How to get there and what they have to offer
But for those looking for a quieter getaway and the kind of pristine nature they spotted in some famous photographs of The Bahamas, other islands may serve that purpose better. Accessible through direct flights from U.S. cities like Miami and Charlotte, the island of Eleuthera is a narrow island spread across a 110-mile ribbon of land dotted with hidden wonders: Queen’s Bath natural rock pools that bubble up like a natural jacuzzi and the Glass Window Bridge on which one can see the dramatic color contrast of the murky dark-blue Atlantic Ocean and the bright turquoise Bight of Eleuthera (commonly mistaken for the Caribbean Sea to which the bight serves as the opening).
Coral Sands Inn
Northwest of Eleuthera and accessible by a 10-minute ferry ride, Harbour Island is home to several pink-sand beaches and the historic Pink Sands Hotel as well as the pastel-colored homes dating back to the country’s earlier history under British colonial rule.
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For those looking for some of the clearest waters in The Bahamas, the Exuma district is made up of hundreds of smaller islands that one may recognize as famous filming locations or through the unique experiences they offer. Pig Beach, a small cay on which sailors once dropped off pigs that were mating too fast for the local population to control, set off what are now the famous swimming pigs tours available all over the Bahamas.
Bitter Guana Cay is a separate cay home to an endangered species of rock iguanas that served as the location of one of the “Jurassic Park” movies while the turquoise-blue waters and roof crevasse letting in sunlight of Thunderball Grotto got its name as the filming site of the 1965 James Bond movie “Thunderball.” For those who want to bypass Nassau, Exuma is also accessible by direct flights from cities like Miami, Atlanta and Toronto.
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Made famous by Ernest Hemingway for its big-game fishing, Bimini is the westernmost island that is also closest to the mainland U.S. As a result, it has also become particularly popular for a nightlife centered around marina bars and local beaches as well as big-name resorts.
More remote islands like Long Island and Cat Island offer more pristine nature, hidden caves and beautiful secluded beaches that will make one feel like one has truly reached the edge of the world. For those looking for a particular island vibe and local culture, Cat Island is also widely recognized as the birthplace of the local Bahamian rake-and-scrape music genre while also being the place to go to learn more about local indigenous folkore.
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What to know about Long Island, Cat Island and The Abacos
The 120-mile group of islands known as The Abacos are renowned as a sailing destination due to their sheltered lagoons and a wealth of tiny islets with reefs perfect for snorklers. The laid-back sailing culture is strongly present in many of the settlements whose architecture is a picturesque blend of pastel colonial cottages and historic lighthouses in a tropical Bahamian setting.
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Each of these islands offers a vibe completely unique to itself and, for those just dipping their feet in exploring The Bahamas, a jumping-off point that makes one want to go deeper.
While ease of access could be a motivating factor for that first trip, there is no “best” because each island is steeped in a unique culture that will attract an equally unique type of traveler.
Those who go off the deep end and start island-hopping usually end up coming back again and again given the wealth of different places to explore.
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