| Ocean adventures and the Bahamas just go
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| | in all the water adventures, remind
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| together. The Bahamas are 700 islands and
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| | yourself that the Bahamas offer plenty of
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| 2,000 islets (called cays or keys)
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| | opportunity to explore different habitats
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| scattered across more than 100,000 square
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| | and spot rare birds. There are three
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| miles of the western Atlantic Ocean. From
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| | endemic species - the Bahama woodstar
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| a point roughly 70 miles east of West
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| | hummingbird, the Bahama swallow and
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| Palm Beach, Florida, this great
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| | Bahama yellowthroat warbler. Other prized
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| archipelago extends 750 miles southward
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| | birds include the white-tailed
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| to the northern Caribbean, almost to the
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| | tropicbird, Bahama pintail, Bahama
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| island of Hispaniola. With great weather
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| | parrot, great lizard-cuckoo, loggerhead
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| all year, warm waters, fine beaches, and
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| | kingbird, Bahama mockingbird and the
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| teeming coral reefs, the Bahamas offer
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| | stripe-headed tanager, to name but a few.
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| endless delights for outdoor enthusiasts,
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| | The birds cannot be found on all of the
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| especially divers and sports fishermen.
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| | Bahamian Islands, so a birding guide can
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| The islands in the Bahamas are generally
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| | ensure you make the best use of your
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| low and flat. The highest point in the
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| | time.
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| entire archipelago, on Cat Island, is
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| | When to Go
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| only 206 feet above sea level. Of the
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| | The Bahamas are blessed with beautiful
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| islands and islets making up the
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| | sunny weather and relatively constant
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| archipelago, only about 30 are inhabited.
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| | temperatures year-round. The high season
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| Some are so tiny, they're just boulders
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| | for travel runs from the middle of
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| that appear and disappear with the rise
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| | December to mid-April, when people in the
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| and fall of the ocean. Some are long and
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| | northern hemisphere try to escape the
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| thin, stretching for many miles. Others
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| | chilly temperatures back home. Airfares
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| are home to thousands of people. The vast
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| | are highest during these months. Fares
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| majority of the islands are deserted,
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| | drop during the May to September period,
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| with pristine beaches and tropical
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| | called the 'shoulder season' in the
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| forests untouched by humans.
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| | industry, and you can get the best prices
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| Tourism has brought prosperity to the
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| | during the low season from October to
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| Bahamas, but the great natural beauty of
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| | mid-December. It is good to remember that
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| the islands has managed to remain
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| | flying on weekends ordinarily adds a few
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| unspoiled. In earlier days, unrestricted
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| | dollars to the fare.
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| exploitation inflicted a lot of damage on
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| | Planning Your Trip
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| Nassau and New Providence. All that has
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| | Flight connections to the Bahamas are
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| changed and today the people of the
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| | very easy to get, with daily flights to
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| islands feel strongly that the unique
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| | and from numerous American cities and
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| beauty of their archipelago should be
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| | several flights per week from Canada, the
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| preserved: conservation is the new
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| | UK and Europe. The archipelago is also
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| watchword of the Bahamas, and many
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| | very accessible by sea, with cruise ships
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| conservation groups operate in the
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| | calling in at Nassau and Freeport every
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| archipelago.
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| | week, plus hundreds of marinas scattered
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| The more well-known cities and places in
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| | throughout the islands.
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| the Bahamas are Nassau, the largest city
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| | It is invariably cheaper to buy package
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| in the country, located on New Providence
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| | deals covering transportation and
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| Island; Paradise Island, a long, narrow
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| | accommodations from a tour operator or
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| barrier island connected to Nassau by a
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| | travel agent than it is to buy your own
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| toll bridge; Freeport, the second largest
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| | ticket and accommodation separately. If
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| city, on the Grand Bahama Island. Grand
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| | you are going as a normal tourist,
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| Bahama has become something of an
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| | package holidays are worthwhile if you
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| environmental headquarters of the
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| | plan to visit the larger, busier resorts
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| islands. Beyond the cities lies another
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| | or known resorts in the Out Islands. If
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| world: the Out Islands of Abaco, Andros,
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| | you're looking to head off the beaten
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| the Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island,
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| | track, then you're better off booking
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| Crooked Island, Eleuthera, the Exumas,
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| | your own way.
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| Harbor Island, Long Island, and so on.
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| | In addition to the sun and sand holidays
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| In a nation completely surrounded by the
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| | offered by tour operators, you can
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| clearest of waters in the world, there
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| | arrange with companies that specialize in
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| are plenty of water sports and waterborne
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| | diving and kayaking expeditions and
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| adventures. Before you immerse yourself
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| | eco-tours.
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