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