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