The Bahamas is known to holidaymakers as home to some of the best sunbathing locations, clear blue seas, and beautiful beaches. Just north of the Caribbean, the Bahamas comprises some 700 individual islands each with their own blend of British, Spanish, and African history and culture. Here’s a guide to the five most idyllic islands in the Bahamas for some R&R.
The Abacos
While technically this is a small cluster of islands, you’ll find it’s not at all difficult to hop between them. One of the quieter destinations in the Bahamas, you’ll find that much of it remains unexplored, so you won’t have much hustle and bustle. If you wish to explore, small tours can be arranged with locals via your hotel concierge, while you’ll still have all your amenities within reach at the malls on Marsh Harbour
.
Cat Island
Part of the Bahamian ‘Out Islands’, Cat Island
is surrounded by stunning reefs and pink and white sandy beaches, making it popular among divers. Due to the island’s relative isolation from tourist activity, many of the hotels tend to be small B&B type cottages, dotted around British colonial ruins – nobody will disturb you here.
Eleuthera
Another cluster
in the Out Islands, there are a huge range of quiet beaches to choose from, depending on what you want. Surfers Beach is aptly named and offers some of the best waves in the area; or, if surfing isn’t your thing, enjoy a picnic on Preacher’s Beach after exploring Preacher’s Cave. It is also the pineapple capital of the island, so be sure to visit Pineapple Fields for a drink.
Great Stirrup Caye
If you’ve got enough money, you can even buy a private island in the Bahamas! If not, you could always stay on one, as travel operator NCL Cruises
allow. A stopover in a private island allows you to go on an adventurous Wave Runner tour of its coast and indulge safely in kayaking, parasailing, and other water sports. Alternatively, play some beach volleyball with your friends or enjoy a nice cold cocktail in the sunshine.
Long Island and the Biminis
Grouped together because they are so tiny
, these are still relatively empty of tourists and are ideal for a quiet afternoon walk among the churches and picture-perfect school fronts. If that’s not your kind of R&R, you can try your hand at deep sea fishing, a la Ernest Hemingway.