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