Destination Guide
The Bahamas
The Bahamas sits just off the coast of Florida, and the short flight makes it one of the easiest Caribbean getaways from the US. I’m Jim, a Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club Diamond Elite member, and I’ve spent more time at Sandals Royal Bahamian than I can count. Nassau’s Cable Beach, the turquoise shallows of the Exumas, and the coral walls off Andros are the kind of places that pull you back before you even finish unpacking.
With over 700 islands and cays spread across the Atlantic, the Bahamas offers everything from pink sand beaches on Harbour Island to swimming pigs in the Exuma chain. The water here is a shade of blue you won’t find anywhere else in the Caribbean. This guide covers the destination and the Sandals resort that calls it home.
About the Bahamas
The Bahamas is an independent nation made up of roughly 700 islands and 2,400 cays stretching from just east of Florida down toward Haiti and Cuba. Only about 30 of those islands are inhabited. Nassau, the capital, sits on New Providence Island and is the commercial and tourism hub of the country.
English is the official language, and the Bahamian dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar. You can use American currency everywhere without exchanging. The islands are flat and low-lying compared to other Caribbean destinations, and the surrounding waters are famously shallow and clear.
Bahamian culture runs on Junkanoo, a street parade with elaborate costumes and goatskin drums that takes over Nassau on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Conch is the signature dish. You’ll find it cracked, fried, in salads, and in fritters at nearly every restaurant and beachside shack on the island.
Best Beaches in the Bahamas
Cable Beach in Nassau is the most accessible strip of sand for resort visitors. It runs along the north shore of New Providence with calm, warm water and is home to Sandals Royal Bahamian. The beach is wide enough to never feel crowded, even during peak season.
Harbour Island’s Pink Sand Beach lives up to its name. The sand gets its color from crushed red and pink shells of foraminifera mixed into the white sand, and the effect is most vivid at the waterline during low tide. It’s a short flight or ferry ride from Nassau.
The Exumas are where you’ll find the famous swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, along with sandbars that appear at low tide and some of the clearest water in the Western Hemisphere. Dean’s Blue Hole on Long Island is the world’s second-deepest known blue hole and a magnet for freedivers from around the globe.
Things to Do in the Bahamas
Scuba diving in the Bahamas is world-class. The Andros Barrier Reef is the third-largest barrier reef on the planet, with wall dives that drop thousands of feet into the Tongue of the Ocean. Nassau also offers shark dives, blue hole explorations, and wreck dives on sunken freighters.
A day trip to the Exuma Cays is one of the most popular excursions from Nassau. Speedboat tours take you to swim with the pigs, feed iguanas on Allen’s Cay, and snorkel over coral gardens at Thunderball Grotto, which was featured in the James Bond film of the same name.
In Nassau itself, the Queen’s Staircase and Fort Charlotte are worth a morning walk through the city’s colonial history. The Straw Market downtown is the place to pick up handmade souvenirs. For food, head to Arawak Cay (locals call it “Fish Fry”) for fresh conch salad prepared right in front of you.
Junkanoo is best experienced in person during the parades, but the Junkanoo Museum in Nassau gives visitors a year-round look at the costumes, instruments, and history behind the festival.
Where to Stay: Sandals Resorts in the Bahamas
The Bahamas has one Sandals resort, and it’s one of the most established properties in the portfolio. Here is our 2026 guide.
Sandals Royal Bahamian
Sandals Royal Bahamian sits on Nassau’s Cable Beach with 10 specialty restaurants, two food trucks, eight bars (three of them swim-up), and seven pools. The resort has its own private offshore island accessible by water taxi, with a restaurant and additional beach space. Scuba diving is included for certified divers, and the resort offers private car transfers from Lynden Pindling International Airport. Pickleball courts were added in recent years, and the property continues to receive upgrades.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bahamas
What is the best time to visit the Bahamas?
Peak season runs from mid-December through April, when temperatures hover around 75 to 85 degrees and rainfall is minimal. Summer months are warmer and more humid, but Sandals rates are lower and beaches are less crowded. Hurricane season runs June through November, though major storms are relatively infrequent in Nassau.
Do I need a passport to visit the Bahamas?
Yes. US citizens need a valid passport book to fly to the Bahamas. Passport cards are not accepted for air travel. If you’re arriving by cruise ship, a passport card or birth certificate with government-issued photo ID may be accepted, but a passport book is always the safest option.
How long is the flight to the Bahamas?
Flights from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Nassau take under an hour. From New York, expect about three hours. Direct flights run from most major US cities, making the Bahamas one of the quickest Caribbean destinations to reach from the East Coast and Midwest.
Is the Bahamas expensive?
Nassau can be pricey for dining and activities outside the resort. That’s one reason an all-inclusive stay at Sandals Royal Bahamian makes financial sense. Your meals, drinks, water sports, scuba, airport transfers, tips, and taxes are all included. The Bahamian dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, so there’s no currency confusion.
Can I swim with the pigs from Nassau?
Yes, but it requires a day trip. The swimming pigs are at Big Major Cay in the Exuma chain, about 85 miles southeast of Nassau. Speedboat and small-plane excursions run daily and typically include stops for snorkeling and iguana feeding as well.
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The Bahamas is one of the most accessible Caribbean destinations from the US, and Sandals Royal Bahamian gives you a full luxury all-inclusive on one of Nassau’s best beaches. If you need help planning your trip or want a quote, reach out to our team and I’ll help you get it booked.
