| 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. The islands in the Bahamas are generally | | | | make the best use of your time. When to Go The |
| low and flat. The highest point in the entire | | | | Bahamas are blessed with beautiful sunny weather |
| archipelago, on Cat Island, is only 206 feet above sea | | | | and relatively constant temperatures year-round. The |
| level. Of the islands and islets making up the | | | | high season for travel runs from the middle of |
| archipelago, only about 30 are inhabited. Some are so | | | | December to mid-April, when people in the northern |
| tiny, they're just boulders that appear and disappear | | | | hemisphere try to escape the chilly temperatures |
| with the rise and fall of the ocean. Some are long and | | | | back home. Airfares are highest during these months. |
| thin, stretching for many miles. Others are home to | | | | Fares drop during the May to September period, |
| thousands of people. The vast majority of the islands | | | | called the 'shoulder season' in the industry, and you |
| are deserted, with pristine beaches and tropical | | | | can get the best prices during the low season from |
| forests untouched by humans. Tourism has brought | | | | October to mid-December. It is good to remember |
| prosperity to the Bahamas, but the great natural | | | | that flying on weekends ordinarily adds a few dollars |
| beauty of the islands has managed to remain | | | | to the fare. Planning Your Trip Flight connections to |
| unspoiled. In earlier days, unrestricted exploitation | | | | the Bahamas are very easy to get, with daily flights |
| inflicted a lot of damage on Nassau and New | | | | to and from numerous American cities and several |
| Providence. All that has changed and today the | | | | flights per week from Canada, the UK and Europe. |
| people of the islands feel strongly that the unique | | | | The archipelago is also very accessible by sea, with |
| beauty of their archipelago should be preserved: | | | | cruise ships calling in at Nassau and Freeport every |
| conservation is the new watchword of the Bahamas, | | | | week, plus hundreds of marinas scattered throughout |
| and many conservation groups operate in the | | | | the islands. It is invariably cheaper to buy package |
| archipelago. The more well-known cities and places in | | | | deals covering transportation and accommodations |
| the Bahamas are Nassau, the largest city in the | | | | from a tour operator or travel agent than it is to buy |
| country, located on New Providence Island; Paradise | | | | your own ticket and accommodation separately. If |
| Island, a long, narrow barrier island connected to | | | | you are going as a normal tourist, package holidays |
| Nassau by a toll bridge; Freeport, the second largest | | | | are worthwhile if you plan to visit the larger, busier |
| city, on the Grand Bahama Island. Grand Bahama has | | | | resorts or known resorts in the Out Islands. If you're |
| become something of an environmental headquarters | | | | looking to head off the beaten track, then you're |
| of the islands. Beyond the cities lies another world: | | | | better off booking your own way. In addition to the |
| the Out Islands of Abaco, Andros, the Berry Islands, | | | | sun and sand holidays offered by tour operators, you |
| Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, the | | | | can arrange with companies that specialize in diving |
| Exumas, Harbor Island, Long Island, and so on. In a | | | | and kayaking expeditions and eco-tours. |
| nation completely surrounded by the clearest of | | | | Alex J Smith writes for where travelers can host |
| waters in the world, there are plenty of water sports | | | | their own travel blogs, upload photos and find |
| and waterborne adventures. Before you immerse | | | | unbiased travel information. |