Discover The Bahamas by Yacht
The islands are calling
Turquoise water, untouched sandbars, world-class marinas and more than 700 islands and cays make The Bahamas one of the world's greatest yacht charter destinations. From Nassau to the Exumas, Eleuthera, the Abacos and the Berry Islands, every itinerary offers a completely different way to experience island life.
The Bahamian Experience
Few destinations are better suited to yacht travel than The Bahamas. White-sand beaches, shallow turquoise banks, coral reefs and hundreds of secluded islands make it possible to create an itinerary around almost any style of charter.
You can spend the morning swimming from an empty sandbar, have lunch at an island beach club, snorkel a reef in the afternoon and finish the day anchored beneath a completely clear night sky.
For guests looking for more activity, The Bahamas also offers diving, fishing, paddleboarding, water sports, island restaurants, luxury resorts and some of the most famous experiences in the Caribbean.
Where Should You Charter in The Bahamas?
With hundreds of islands to choose from, there is no single perfect Bahamas itinerary. The right route depends on how much time you have, where your yacht departs from and the type of experience you want.
Motor yachts offer greater speed and range, making it possible to connect several island groups during a one-week charter. Catamarans offer a more relaxed pace and are particularly well suited to the shallow waters, quiet anchorages and sandbars found throughout the Bahamian archipelago.
The yacht becomes both your private hotel and your transportation, allowing you to wake up somewhere different every morning while discovering beaches, islands and anchorages inaccessible to most visitors.
Why explore by yacht?Nassau
More than a departure point — Nassau is a destination in its own right.
Located on New Providence Island, Nassau is the principal gateway for yacht charters heading toward the Exumas, Eleuthera, the Berry Islands and other parts of The Bahamas.
Its international airport, excellent provisioning and collection of world-class marinas make Nassau one of the easiest places to begin or finish a Bahamian yacht charter.
Why Start in Nassau?
- Excellent international flight connections.
- World-class marinas including Atlantis and Hurricane Hole.
- Easy yacht provisioning before departure.
- Snorkeling and beach days around Rose Island.
- Diving and shark encounters around New Providence.
- Restaurants, nightlife and the resorts of Paradise Island.
- Easy access to the Exumas and neighboring island groups.
Nassau works particularly well for guests who want to combine a luxury resort stay with several days or a full week aboard a yacht.
The Exumas
If you imagine impossibly clear water, empty sandbars and tiny islands, you're probably imagining the Exumas.
Stretching for more than 100 nautical miles through the central Bahamas, the Exuma chain offers some of the most spectacular yacht cruising in the world.
The journey typically begins from Nassau and moves south through a sequence of private islands, protected anchorages and unforgettable natural attractions.
Highlights of an Exumas Charter
- Highbourne Cay — often the first stop when cruising approximately 35 nautical miles from Nassau.
- Norman's Cay — snorkel around the famous submerged aircraft wreck.
- Shroud Cay — explore mangrove creeks by tender or paddleboard.
- Warderick Wells — discover the heart of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park.
- Pipe Cay — explore white-sand bars and shallow turquoise water, especially beautiful at low tide.
- Thunderball Grotto — swim and snorkel through one of the most iconic underwater cave systems in The Bahamas.
- Big Major Cay — home of the world-famous swimming pigs.
- Compass Cay — famous for its clear water and resident nurse sharks.
- Staniel Cay — one of the social and logistical hubs of the central Exumas.
Eleuthera & Harbour Island
Wild coastlines, pink-sand beaches and a more undiscovered side of The Bahamas.
Eleuthera stretches for more than 100 miles and offers a dramatically different experience from the Exumas. The island is long, narrow and wonderfully varied, with sheltered turquoise water on one side and the deep blue Atlantic on the other.
Why Explore Eleuthera?
- Beautiful reefs and crystal-clear snorkeling.
- Excellent fishing and diving.
- The dramatic Glass Window Bridge.
- Quiet anchorages and secluded beaches.
- The famous pink-sand beaches of Harbour Island.
- Waterfront restaurants and island life around Spanish Wells.
The Abacos
Protected cruising, charming settlements and a wonderfully relaxed island atmosphere.
The Abacos extend across more than 120 nautical miles and offer some of the most yacht-friendly cruising grounds in The Bahamas.
Instead of covering long distances every day, guests can move between small communities, beaches and anchorages with relatively short passages.
What Makes The Abacos Special?
- Calm and protected cruising grounds.
- Short distances between islands and anchorages.
- Traditional Bahamian communities.
- Hope Town and its iconic candy-striped lighthouse.
- Elbow Cay for beaches, restaurants and quiet anchorages.
- Excellent reef snorkeling, diving and fishing.
- A relaxed itinerary particularly well suited to families.
The Berry Islands
Close to Nassau, wonderfully remote and still largely untouched.
The Berry Islands are made up of more than 30 islands and cays, many of them completely uninhabited. Yet they sit only about 35 nautical miles north of Nassau.
That combination makes the Berries ideal for charter guests looking for secluded anchorages without committing to a very long first passage.
Why Choose The Berry Islands?
- Quiet beaches and secluded anchorages.
- Far less yacht traffic than many areas of the Exumas.
- Remote sandbars and outstanding turquoise water.
- Chub Cay, famous for big-game and billfish fishing.
- Great Harbour Cay, known for beautiful beaches and relaxed island life.
- Excellent fishing, diving and snorkeling.
For a longer adventure, the Berry Islands can also be combined with the Abacos, creating an itinerary through two very different sides of The Bahamas.
When Is The Best Time to Charter The Bahamas?
The Bahamas can be explored throughout much of the year, but the experience changes with the seasons.
- December through April: cooler temperatures, lower humidity and peak charter season.
- May through July: warmer water, long days and often exceptional conditions for swimming, snorkeling and water sports.
- Late summer and early fall: quieter cruising grounds, although weather and tropical-system activity require greater flexibility.
Weather remains one of the most important considerations when planning any Bahamas itinerary, and the captain will always adapt the route to conditions on the water.
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