An analysis published by boat charter site Getmyboat has found that Nassau, Bahamas, is the most popular boating destination in the Caribbean region. Specifically, the analysis mentions Nassau’s “turquoise waters and proximity to the famous Exuma Cays.” With nearby attractions like the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park and remote island beaches with clear water, it’s easy to see why.
But boating in the Bahamas is about far more than Nassau, the capital city on New Providence Island. The nation is made up of about 700 islands and smaller cays, plus as many as 2,000 rocky islets. Outside of Nassau, the other islands are called the Family or Out Islands. Exploring these places is the stuff of nautical dreams. Nassau’s proximity to the lovely Exuma Cays puts it on the map, at least as far as boaters are concerned.
While the Bahamas are typically grouped into the Caribbean due to their culture and political ties, the islands geographically lie in the North Atlantic. The westernmost of the Out Islands, Bimini, begins about 55 miles off the coast of South Florida, and the Lucayan Archipelago, of which The Bahamas makes up the majority, extends southeastward to Turks and Caicos and Hispaniola.
Boating in the Bahamas
For many boaters, spending time floating in the Bahamas is a bucket list dream. A country with this much water can’t help but be a boater’s paradise, but the conditions on the water make it even more unique. The islands sit atop the Bahama Banks, which are shallow sea areas fringed with coral reefs. Deep sounds and channels separate the island groups, but the banks provide space for plenty of sandbars, scenic coves, and cozy anchorages.
Nassau is a popular spot for several reasons, but primarily, it’s about access. As the country’s largest city, it’s the easiest place to get to because it has the busiest cruise ship docks and airport. And with all that traffic come opportunities for excursions, as plenty of businesses are set up and ready to provide tours and rent out boats. However, the most popular spots to do the boating are, as the report notes, not in Nassau but rather in the Exuma Cays. The cays begin about 35 miles from Nassau and stretch more than 90 miles farther southeast.
For seasoned boaters, the appeal of boating in the Bahamas is getting there on your own. The nation represents one of the world’s top cruising destinations. Every year, sailing and motor yachts of every size and description visit the islands to spend time in the gin-clear water and roam the most remote Out Islands. Boating in the Bahamas is a year-round activity — busy with snowbird boaters who spend their winters in the islands, while during summer, powerboaters zip back and forth between Florida. Summer offers calmer winds, but the danger of hurricanes from June to November means boaters must keep a weather eye and make plans should a storm threaten.
Getting to the Bahamas, by boat or by plane
