Bahamas: Top 19 Things To Do & Explore
Hi travel besties and welcome to the Bahamas, a country that is truly magnificent and one you NEED to visit at least once!! If you are considering traveling here, JUST BOOK IT. Speaking of that, check out my podcast, Just Book It, for all things travel, adventure, tips, and tricks to help you navigate planning your perfect trip, learning new cultures, and adding stamps to your passport!
Okay back to the Bahamas… I went on a family vacation and must say, had the best time and met the nicest people along the way. The country caters to all ages which are perfect for making sure every member of your family is happy. To preface this, I used to not have the desire to visit Caribbean countries since NYC summers are brutal enough, I was not ready for that Caribbean sun and intense sunburn. Once that ship had sailed, I was ready to dive headfirst into paradise because there’s no better way to describe it.
Before we get into the top 19 places to explore on your next trip to the Bahamas, I wanted to explain that this trip was slightly different because we stayed at a resort; something my family would not typically do. I did grow up going to the Disney resorts and absolutely loved it, but if you know me, you know I love to do EVERYTHING on a trip and when staying at a resort, you tend to stay at the resort. Because we tend to value more local experiences than tourist traps, we did not let that stop us and also happened to visit the Bahamas during their independence day, which was an experience of a lifetime.
If you’re wondering about the activities, local experiences, and restaurants to visit in the Bahamas? I am your girl and ready to give you the inside scoop!! Ready? Let’s get into it.
Traveling to the Bahamas
Did you know that there are over 700 islands and only 34 of them are inhibited- 17 of those being privately owned (either by inheritance by local Bahamians or others looking to get a taste of paradise). Given that there are a number of islands to visit in the Bahamas, for the first stay, we decided to stay on the main island of New Providence (Nassau) at the Lynden Pindling International Airport -NAS; however, on my next trip, I NEED to visit the other islands since each one is known for something unique.
Before you arrive at the airport, you can book a taxi service in advance online or you get out of the airport. I have two links here but have to shout out my girl Atherna, who was the BEST and even has her own private tour company which offers the best experiences at affordable prices. If you arrive at the airport in the afternoon, you might run into a long immigration line so just be cognizant of that and overcommunicate with the taxi services so that they aren’t left waiting forever.
Atherna Taxi & Private Tour Guide: Whats App #: +1(242)443-8890
When To Visit?
According to Sandals resort, “the best time to visit the Bahamas is during high season, which runs from mid-December to mid-April: Bahamian summers are generally warm and sometimes rainy, with daytime temperatures reaching about 89.7°F. The low season lasts from June to November.” I visited during July, but keep in mind that this is their off-season and the middle of hurricane season which lasts from June 1- Nov 30.
Events: If you are trying to see how Bahamians party, THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT. I visited during their Independence Day and it was such a vibe, I highly recommend it. The town was so lively and party for TWELVE straight hours to celebrate its independence from Britain. I am also going to list some other events that are totally worth it as well
1. Bahamian Carnival: April 29th – Wednesday, May 4th
2. Bahamian Independence Day: July 10th
3. Junkanoo: “ Junkanoo is a four-day celebration that always runs between Boxing Day, 26th December and New Year’s Day 1st January”
Where To Stay?
Junkanoo Airbnbs and Hotels: Towne Hotel: This hotel was right in the heart of Junkanoo, the major local town in the Bahamas with delicious food spots, local beaches, and activities. The hotel has a nice pool and lovely staff. I would also highlight that it comes with a free breakfast every morning which is perfect for those trying to travel on a budget!
Atlantis Hotel Resort: In terms of accommodations, we stayed at the Atlantis Hotel and I know what you’re probably wondering; but Veronica, it costs $800 per night!! Yes, it does and you sure know we didn’t pay that. My mom’s coworker had planned a destination wedding in the Bahamas at the Atlantis resort where she blocked off hotel rooms at a SUPER discounted price. My family took full advantage and booked flights and our hotel right away. If it weren’t for that hotel discount, most likely we would not be going to this hotel since it’s incredibly expensive. As I have alluded to earlier, my family does not like to travel solely at resorts since it is hard to experience life like a local, which is why I didn’t LOVE this resort, but again, that’s the point of resorts so I can’t really blame Atlantis considering it’s overall not my vibe. Additionally, I do feel like it’s a money grab and equivalent to the feeling of paying for a flight and not realizing that you have to pay all of these extra baggage fees and other costs that rack up the prices. What was nice about it was the plethora of pools, lazy rivers, ocean views, and a shuttle bus that brought you to all of the different hotels throughout the resort.
The 5 different hotels are…. The Reef, The Cove, The Royal, The Coral, and The Harborside Resort. The Reef is the farthest out of the resort and away from the local town, whereas both The Coral and The Harborside are the closest to the local town. Therefore, if you are looking for a taste of the resort life and the local life, I would check out these two hotels.
Top 19 Things to Do In the Bahamas
There’s an endless list of things to do and explore in the Bahamas, but I am going to list my top 19 places. It’s no question I will be traveling back here, but this is the list we have so far and I cannot wait to share it with you.
Atlantis Hotel Resort
So you don’t have to be a guest to explore the resort activities. In fact, that is why they have a day pass (even though they don’t check them). This resort as I mentioned is a money grab where instead of paying for one thing, you notice all of these hidden fees and other expenses, but there are a ton of things to do on the resort premises that are complementary to your stay.
Hotel Resort Map: https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/pdf/Aquaventure_Map.pdf
1. Lazy River: This was one of the first things that I wanted to do when we got to the resort. I had a connecting flight on my way to the Bahamas and on top of waiting in the immigration line and coordinating a taxi to the airport, we were ready to soak up some sun paradise. Grab a tube and get excited as there are intense rapids and calm waters to really spice things up.
2.Pools: There are a ton of pools on the premises and take it from me who reviewed every pool in the resort, I have my favorites.
The Coral Pool: Super fun vibes, they have fun couches on the pool to sunbathe in, a bar in the pool and of all the pools there, this one was the most social as there are volleyball games
Grotto Pool: This pool is one of the smaller ones, but is SO relaxing with its waterfalls that act as jets to really take out those knots and give you that true spa experience. This is right by the #6 entrance to the lazy river so if you want to hop on midway, you are able to!
3.Jet Skis: On the Atlantis beach, there are locals selling jet ski rentals which are SO MUCH FUN. They are technically not with the resort, as the resort does not claim liability. We were able to negotiate $70 for 30 minutes and honestly, that is enough time to be out at sea on skis!
4.Leap of Faith Slide: This is the most iconic thing to do in the Bahamas and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I had so much fun and it was just a thrilling experience. I haven’t been to an amusement park in a hot minute
5.Oceans: I would highly recommend bringing goggles before going to the ocean here since it’s so salty!! Every ocean here is fun but I appreciated Cove Beach the most as it felt like a private beach and had great views of the sunset!
6.Lap Pool: If you are interested in lap swimming, I think that a morning swim here every morning was pure bliss and relaxing.
7. Marina Harbor: So this is supposed to give a local feel to the resort for people who don’t want to leave the resort. They have live music, and a combination of local and touristy restaurants. If you are looking for a good view of the yachts at the dock, sunsets, and souvenir shops, this is the place for you! If you decide to venture off to the local town, all you have to do is cross the bridge in town (either via walking or a lime scooter), and you will get a taste of what it is like to be a true Bahamian
Top Food Spots in The Bahamas
8.Oh Andros: This was the first spot that we ventured to and as you know, we wanted that local experience. One of the hotel employees had recommended it to us and we needed to go! This is in the area called Fish Fry which has lots of amazing food options. I have to admit, he had warned us that the line was going to be super long, but in our eyes, that means it is because the food is just that good so we went with it! As expected, the food took FOREVER. Like no joke over 2 hours, so don’t go here when you’re starving as my family did. Overall, the food was delicious. My mom and I had shared a plate of fish and rice with some sides and it was the best!!
9.McKenzie’s Fresh Fish & Conch: https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g147416-d2707951-i119371931-McKenzie_s_Fresh_Fish_and_Conch-Nassau_New_Providence_Island_Bahamas.html: This was another local spot that the food was delicious. My mom is absolutely obsessed with ceviche and as anticipated it hit the spot! The menu is pretty basic and makes sure you go a bit earlier because they do close kind of early we were rushed to pick a meal and they didn’t end up having everything since the kitchen was close to closing. I am pretty sure we arrived around 8/9 and they recommend we come a bit earlier around 6/7
10. Simply Da Best: This was probably one of the coolest spots that we have been to. It’s more of a pub, but they do have food. Bahamian music and friendly locals just prove more how welcoming the locals are. Since we visited around their Independence Day, we asked them multiple questions about the best places to go, and what time to go and they were so patient and kind with us!
11. Anthony’s & 12. Margaritaville: One of the downsides of staying at a resort is that you cannot necessarily cook your meals since they don’t have a stove and fridge space is limited. It was pretty difficult to come up with meals so we did eat out most of the time which is typically a huge no for me. These are two places that are more comfortable food and typical American cuisine.
No matter where you go, I would recommend ordering this so that you truly get a taste of the fresh food that is local to the Bahamians!
Food: Fish tacos, Conch, ceviche, and anything fish related are all go-tos!
Beer: in the Bahamas is SANDS and the runner-up is Kalik- the national beer
Excursions In The Bahamas
12. Pearl Island Excursion: This was by far, the highlight of the trip. I had such a blast here and it was overall worth every penny. For $100, you get a boat ride to a private island, Pearl Island, a lunch voucher (free lunch baby), access to kayaks, paddle boards, and water mats, a 30-minute snorkeling session (if you want to extend it, and do another session, it’s an additional $15) and access to beach and lounge chairs. The duration of the excursion was about 4-5 hours which is just enough time in that Bahamas heat. The island is beautiful, the food was delicious, and overall I would add this to your list
Local Town
13. Junkanoo Beach: If you decide to not stay at the resort, I recommend going to the local town of Junkanoo. We stayed at the Towne hotel, which was a really nice, affordable place in the heart of the city that has a pretty pool and came with complimentary breakfast. One of the main modes of transportation is the lime scooters. We were able to get some at the dock where the cruise ships let you off and after downloading the app and scanning the QR code, we were on our way to the beach. Since we didn’t have time to spend a day at the beach, we just scooted around there. On my next trip to the Bahamas, I would LOVE to go to the local beach.
14. Queens Staircase: Queen Victoria was a pivotal person in Bahamian history. She was responsible for freeing the slaves and in return, they gifted her with this beautiful staircase. The staircase had 54 steps in honor of her freeing the slaves in 1954. You can check this out on your trip and immerse yourself in rich history, all with a beautiful view and photo op.
15. Fort Fincastle: Fort Fincastle is another monument in the Bahamas with a rich history. Since Bahamian land was once ruled by Britain, British generals wanted to build a fort to protect them from a war in France. They had shipped over 500 slaves from Africa to build what is now Fort Fincastle all for the war to never happen.
16. Junkanoo Independence Day Festival: Saving the best for last because this experience is too good to be true. I love when you happen to stumble upon local traditions and ways to immerse yourself in the culture. It is truly an experience of a lifetime. My mom had actually done a little bit of research and stumbled across this and let me tell you we were all SO EXCITED. That meant we were still able to get the local experience despite staying at a resort.
When is it? The official Independence day is July 10th; however, there are celebrations all week long. In particular on July 11th at 12am, so July 10th around 11:59 pm is when the main celebrations start. It starts at 12am and lasts 12 hours until 12pm
Where to watch? Junkanoo, along the streets you will find crowds gathered along Bay Street & Franklin Street
What will you see? Partying and celebrations like no other. You will see proud Bahamians with loved ones and family. You’ll also witness talented locals singing, dancing, and playing their instruments with unconditional love. Each group has its own float which is intricately designed. Group A has more detailed designs with groups of up to 3,000 members and B groups have 200-300 members. For each Independence Day parade, the groups coordinate according to the theme. Each of the islands is known for something in particular that they celebrate as it all contributes to the great Bahamas. There are drink stands all over so make sure you get a Sky Juice: gin, coconut, and cinnamon (it’s scrumptious).
But Wait There’s More
I would recommend going with my girl Atherna as your taxi & private tour guide (message her on Whats App!! +1(242)443-8890 She has the most incredible tours and is a lovely person. All you do is message her and let her know when you would like a pickup. If it’s from the airport, send her your flight information so that she can track if in case it arrives early or if there are any delays. If you would like to go on a private tour, she has three structured ones or you can design your OWN experience!
17. Eco & Heritage: The Island Caves, Clifton Heritage Park, Primeval Forest
18. Forts & Nature: Fort Montague, Fort Fincastle & Queens Staircase, Adastra Gardens & Zoo
19. Culture & History: Graycliff Man, Pirate’s Museum, Pompey Museum
There You Have It
Traveling to the Bahamas just got a whole lot easier! I hope this has inspired you to embark on your Caribbean adventure real soon. I absolutely fell in love with this country and it is no question that I will be making my way back, especially since each island is known for something different. Some of the nicest people reside here and I had nothing but a great experience. Support locals when traveling to the Caribbean as there are many tourists coming from cruise ships and even tourists staying at fancy resorts where the money is not necessarily giving back to the community. When thinking about traveling sustainably, it’s also making sure you are positively impacting the PEOPLE of the land and not businesses trying to exploit the unique wonders a country like the Bahamas possesses!
1 COMMENT