Easy-breezy Bahamas. Scattered like a string of pearls in the teal waters of the Caribbean, this island nation is a byword for laid-back. With its seafood barbecues on the beach, cold beers at sunset, and goombay music pulsing through the streets, the Bahamas are where you go when you need to unwind from head to toe.
You’ll most likely start on its hub island, Nassau. While more developed than the rest of islands and cays that make up the Bahamas, don’t write it off – there are some to-die-for beaches here. But to get the true essence of this real life paradise, you need to take to the water – and visit some of its further-flung spots, starting with the region of Exuma.
It’s home to Big Major Cay which, despite its name, is hardly big or very major. It is, however, home to a population of beach-living swimming pigs who’ll paddle out to greet you when you arrive. Between Pig Beach and neighbouring Staniel Cay is Thunderball Grotto, a subaquatic cave where – you guessed it – underwater scenes from the classic Bond film were shot.
Exotic wildlife is everywhere in the Bahamas – from the confetti-like shoals of fish that dart in and out of the coral reefs, to the pink iguanas of Allen Cay. You’ll also find a rich assortment of wildlife in the red mangroves of Shroud Cay, including lemon sharks and sea turtles. This uninhabited speck of an island is part of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a protected swathe of southern Exuma.
If sailing between deserted islands on a grand tour in this part of the world sounds like your idea of a dream holiday, look no further than our own premium Sailing Trip to Exuma. You’ll be staying on a skippered and fully catered catamaran, meaning this magical part of the world really is your oyster.
