One of the questions I get asked most often is:
“Which island should I visit in the Bahamas?”
It depends largely on what you want to do and see. The Bahamas is made up of more than 700 islands and cays spread across nearly 500 miles of ocean. Every island group has differences that can well, “make the difference” in your expectations being met.
Some are known for world famous turquoise water and remote anchorages. Others are packed with beach bars, restaurants, and local culture. Some are best explored by rental car, while others can only truly be experienced by boat.
After spending years sailing throughout the Bahamas, these are the island groups I would start with if I were doing it all from the beginning without having ever been there.
Best Bahamas Islands for Yacht Charter Trips
Each island chain offers a different kind of charter experience, from polished resort stops to remote anchorages and reef-filled cruising grounds.
1. The Exumas
Pictured Above: Waderick Wells – Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park Headquarters
If someone has never been to the Bahamas before and asks me where they should go, my answer is almost always the Exumas. It’s the pinnacle, the most beautiful water colors in the world, hands down. No exaggeration!
The Exumas are what most people picture when they dream about the Bahamas. Endless shades of turquoise water. White sandbars that appear and disappear with the tides. Remote beaches. Nurse sharks. Sea turtles. Iguanas. Underwater caves. Swimming pigs. World class snorkeling.
What makes the Exumas great is that each island is equally unbelievable and they are all very short hops from each other.
You can spend the morning snorkeling at Thunderball Grotto, the afternoon swimming with nurse sharks at Compass Cay, and the evening anchored off a deserted beach with nobody else in sight.
The best way to experience the Exumas is unquestionably by boat. Many of the most spectacular places simply cannot be reached any other way.
A yacht charter allows you to wake up somewhere new every morning, explore hidden corners of the island chain, and experience the Exumas the way they were meant to be experienced.
2. The Abacos
Pictured Above: Hope Town Settlement
If the Exumas are number one, the Abacos are second in my book atleast.
The Abacos offer many of the same things people love about the Exumas but with a slightly different feel. The islands are also close together, making for short and easy hops between destinations. The water remains beautiful and crystal clear, although you’ll notice more grassy bottoms mixed throughout the banks compared to the Exumas.
The real charm of the Abacos is the culture.
Colorful settlements, waterfront restaurants, welcoming locals, beach bars, and charming island communities create an atmosphere that feels distinctly different from the Exumas. Fishing and spearfishing are also excellent throughout the island chain.
For many visitors, Sunday Funday at Nippers on Great Guana Cay becomes one of the highlights of the entire trip. The famous pig roast, live music, frozen drinks, and ocean views make it one of the most iconic beach bar experiences in the Bahamas.
The Abacos have worked incredibly hard to rebuild following Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and today visitors will find vibrant communities, beautiful cruising grounds, and many of the destinations that made the area famous.
For travelers looking for a balance between adventure, culture, and social atmosphere, the Abacos are hard to beat.
3. Eleuthera, Harbour Island, and Spanish Wells
Pictured Above: Glass Window Bridge – North Eleuthera
Unlike the Exumas or Abacos, Eleuthera is just as enjoyable and feasible by land as it is by boat.
While the banks side of Eleuthera doesn’t deliver quite the same turquoise wow factor as the Exumas, the ocean side is spectacular. Dramatic cliffs, rolling Atlantic swells, pink sand beaches, and rugged coastline create a completely different style of beauty. In the right conditions Eleuthera is home to the best surf in the Bahamas. It also has large cave systems, tidal baths, blue holes, charming restaurants, and side of the road local produce stands.
One of the biggest advantages of Eleuthera is the ability to rent a car and explore. You can spend your days discovering hidden beaches, local restaurants, small settlements, and scenic overlooks spread throughout the island.
Harbour Island is famous for its pink sand beaches, colorful cottages, and golf cart filled streets. It has a more upscale feel than many other destinations in the Bahamas, and that is reflected in the prices. However, the island is exceptionally clean, charming, and beautifully maintained, with excellent restaurants, boutique shops, and a vibrant atmosphere.
Spanish Wells feels like Harbour Island’s more laid back, small town cousin. It offers a more casual vibe, friendlier prices, and a strong sense of local community. Despite its relaxed atmosphere, it is equally clean and welcoming, with great restaurants, world class fishing, friendly locals, and a unique island culture that feels worlds away from the larger tourist destinations.
For travelers who enjoy exploring ashore as much as they enjoy being on the water, Eleuthera is an excellent choice.
4. The Berry Islands
The Berry Islands deserve far more attention than they receive. In fact, if accessibility and popularity weren’t factors, they would be ranked much higher. I think they are drastically underrated.
Located about 30 miles northwest of Nassau, the Berry Islands somehow remain overlooked by many visitors despite offering some of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the Bahamas. If you’ve already done the Exumas, either Eleuthera or the Berry Islands would be my next recommendation on a charter from Nassau.
Some anchorages are every bit as beautiful as those found farther south, but with a fraction of the crowds. The fishing and spearfishing are outstanding. There is wildlife everywhere. Turtles, sharks, dolphins, rays, and countless species of fish seem to be around every corner.
One of the highlights is the famous blue hole where adventurous visitors can jump from the surrounding cliffs into deep crystal clear water.
Flo’s Conch Shack also remains one of my favorite stops in the Bahamas and perfectly captures the laid back spirit of the islands.
The Berry Islands are definitely best experienced by boat. Well, that’s the only way you can experience them.
For guests who have already explored the Exumas or for groups passionate about fishing, diving, and wildlife, chartering a yacht from Nassau and heading to the Berry Islands instead can make for an unforgettable trip.
5. Bimini
Swimming With Wild Dolphins In BiminiBimini earns its place on this list for multiple reasons but there is one that stands out to me. Wildlife.
Few places in the world offer the opportunities found here. Bimini is arguably the best place on earth to dive with great hammerhead sharks in shallow, crystal clear water.
Through our friends and partners at Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center, guests can arrange incredible shark diving experiences, including private scuba and freediving excursions. Great hammerheads are the stars of the show, but tiger sharks, bull sharks, and nurse sharks are also frequently encountered.
Bimini is also one of the best places in the world to swim with wild Atlantic spotted dolphins. These dolphins are remarkably social and often choose to interact with swimmers in ways that create truly unforgettable experiences.
The fishing is also excellent. The diving is world class. North Bimini offers colorful island culture, restaurants, and nightlife, while South Bimini provides a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere.
The drawback to chartering in Bimini is that the island hopping opportunities are very limited. There are a few nearby islands and anchorages, but not nearly the variety found in the Exumas or Abacos.
Because of this, most charters will spend at least part of the trip in a marina.
Fortunately, even the marinas here are incredible. Crystal clear water filled with tarpon, spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, and sharks can often be seen swimming beneath the docks.
6. The Jumentos Cays and Ragged Island
For sailors looking to escape the crowds and still experience a beautiful remote island wilderness, few places compare to the Jumentos Cays and Ragged Island.
Located southwest of Great Exuma, this remote chain of islands feels like a different world. Many of the islands are completely uninhabited. The anchorages are quiet. Nature dominates the experience.
This is not the Bahamas most visitors are looking for. This is the Bahamas sailors dream about. The spearfishing here is as good as it gets anywhere in the country. Large lobster seem to hide beneath every ledge and reef. There are also plenty of sharks, so awareness and caution are important!
My favorite anchorage is Flamingo Cay. The palm lined beaches are stunning and the nearby grotto is one of the most beautiful places to swim in the region. It remains surprisingly overlooked despite being one of the highlights of the southern Bahamas.
If your dream charter involves solitude, pristine nature, incredible fishing, and getting far off the beaten path, this area deserves serious consideration.
7. Long Island
Rounding out the list is Long Island. Like Eleuthera, Long Island offers a different style of Bahamas experience. The banks side provides numerous protected anchorages and calm cruising waters, while the ocean side delivers dramatic scenery and spectacular beaches.
Long Island is home to Dean’s Blue Hole, one of the most famous blue holes in the world and the site of international freediving competitions. Visitors can swim, freedive, or even jump from the surrounding cliffs into the deep blue water below.
The island is large enough that renting a car opens up endless opportunities for exploration.
A visit can also be combined with nearby Conception Island, one of the most pristine and beautiful islands in the entire Bahamas which lies just 15 miles north of the northern tip of Long Island.
So Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your interests, your group, and how you want to spend your time.
If you’re looking for world famous water, endless anchorages, incredible wildlife, and the ultimate first time Bahamas experience, the Exumas remain my top recommendation.
If you want more beach bars, local culture, and easy island hopping, consider the Abacos.
If you’re passionate about wildlife encounters, Bimini is hard to beat.
If you want to escape the crowds entirely, look toward the Jumentos and Ragged Islands.
And if you’ve already done the Exumas, don’t overlook the Berry Islands. They may be one of the most underrated cruising destinations in the entire country.
Aside from Eleuthera and Long Island, most of these places are best experienced by boat.
At Contigo Yachts, we’ve spent years sailing around the Bahamas, exploring these destinations firsthand. We have an inventory of available charter yachts we’ve hand picked that are available for charter throughout the Bahamas. Our job is to help match our clients with the right yacht, crew, and destination based on real world experience.
Whether you’re dreaming of the Exumas, the Abacos, the Berry Islands, or somewhere farther off the beaten path, we would love the opportunity to help you find the perfect yacht, crew, and itinerary for your Bahamas adventure.