After a while, traditional holidays can all blur into one. Once you’ve been to a few different beaches and visited some restaurants, you may find yourself racking your brain to pinpoint which one was where or what holiday you were even on. This simply won’t happen if you visit the Bahamas, especially if you do so by boat, as this tropical paradise is such a step away from the modern world. With unrivalled crystal clear oceans, wildlife and marine life that’ll steal your heart, powder-soft white sand beaches, exotic foods and amazing culture, you truly haven’t been anywhere quite like it. As boat rentals Bahamas are extensive and affordable, you’ll have no excuse not to traverse the waves.
A little about boating in the Bahamas
This destination is one of the most fantastic to explore by boat, as there are over 700 islands surrounded by more than 100,000 square miles of ocean. Holidaymakers can choose to visit the best-known areas or take a trip further afield and explore remote locations that are all but untouched.
At SamBoat, one of the world’s leading boat rental companies, you can hire yachts, motorboats, sailboats, catamarans and more – and you’ll have the option to go bareboat (sailing your boat yourself) or hire a skipper and crew to take care of the hard work for you. With more than 50,000 boat rentals on our platform, you’ll be able to book your perfect boat in as little as two clicks.
Exploring the Bahamas your way
There are so many ways to enjoy a holiday in this unique part of the world that even when you plan your stay, you’ll still want to come back again. Here are just five of the activities and locations you won’t want to pass up on:
1. Island hop by boat
As mentioned above, there are over 700 islands to traverse, so island hopping should be at the top of your bucket list. Each island has its own attractions; with amazing landscapes, stunning beaches, water sports, luxury resorts, restaurants that serve unique seafood dishes and a rich and friendly culture to name but a few. Harbor Island is a great place to start and has several sandbars, small islands and cays to explore by boat.
2. Visit the world’s most beautiful beaches
Spending your holiday at the seaside may sound redundant, but when you actually see a Bahamian beach, you’ll soon see why this is a must. As there are a whopping 2000 beaches, each one will catch your eye and you’ll be yearning to dig your toes into the sand every time. Not only that, but the sea is always warm and the vistas are simply perfect; you won’t be able to resist taking an hour or two to just relax in the beauty of the tropical sun.
Here are 5 of the top beaches:
- Pink Sands Beach, Harbor Island
- Cable Beach, New Providence
- Gold Rock Beach, Grand Bahama
- Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island
- Surfer’s Beach, Eleuthera
We couldn’t talk about beaches without a special mention of Pig Island (Big Major Cay) in the Exuma Cays – this destination is home to, you guessed it, cute, friendly swimming pigs! No Bahamian holiday would be complete without sitting in the clear waters, scratching the belly of a sweet little piggy and snapping a few pics. Where else in the world could you do that? If you go by boat, some of them may even swim out to greet you.
3. Birdwatch at Inagua Island
If you love wildlife, the southernmost island of the Bahamas, Inagua Island should be on the itinerary. Playing host to three national parks, visitors can enjoy the company of 80,000 Bahamian flamingos, parrots, and pelicans – and there are 140 species of native and migratory birds, too.
4. Visit the Dean’s Blue Hole
When you choose to sail around the Bahamas, you’ll definitely want to take some time out to visit the Dean’s Blue Hole. This is a unique spot, located along Long Island’s shore, where the ocean drops down an astounding 663 meters. This is the second deepest hole in the entire world and not only is it a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see it (the area is surrounded by a natural rock amphitheatre, a lagoon and a white sand beach), you can dive here, too!
5. Go snorkelling, scuba-diving and more
The crystal-clear waters are simply begging to be traversed by those with a passion for adventure. There is such a diverse amount of marine life, and as this destination has the third-largest barrier system in the world, snorkelling, scuba-diving and even water sports are not to be missed. The best spots are:
- Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
- Andros Blue Holes
- Conception Island Wall
- Henry Ford Wreck
- Abacos Reef
When to go to the Bahamas
As this stunning destination is part of the Caribbean islands and sits in the Atlantic Ocean, holidaymakers will expect sunshine upon sunshine. The good news is that you won’t be disappointed; there are a whopping 320 days of sun. If you are hoping for a slightly cooler (yet still tropical) experience, you may be surprised to hear that peak season is between December and April. Here at SamBoat, we operate year-round, so you can book with us with little fuss whenever you like.
Holidays to the Bahamas from June to November aren’t recommended, as these months typically experience high rainfall and the area can be prone to hurricane activity. As it’s not set in stone that you will run into trouble if you do book during this time, many reputable holiday companies will have hurricane cancellation policies in place for red weather alerts to safeguard their customers.
As the popular months to visit the Bahamas vary from the traditional holiday peak times, you may be excited to know that we also cater to over 75 other countries. This means that if you want yacht charter in the Bahamas, to charter a yacht in the French Riveria, or anything else; SamBoat will be there to take care of your needs.
What to know about sailing and boat rentals in the Bahamas
When it comes to sailing around the Bahamas, you may be wondering what your options are. Well, you can select any boat in SamBoat’s itinerary and decide if you want a skipper to run the charter, or if you’d like to take the helm yourself. If you opt for the former, you will get a local skipper with knowledge of your chosen destinations, but in the case of the latter, sailors typically need to hold an approved skipper licence and a nautical CV.
