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The Bahamas: More Than Just a Stopover

By eSIMVu Team •
January 27, 2026 • 5 min read • Destination Insights

Bahamas

A couple on a swing at the beach at Cat Island

Source: The Island of the Bahamas

When you hear "Bahamas," you might picture a cruise ship port, a massive Atlantis waterslide, or perhaps swimming in crystal clear water. And while all of those exist, they are just tiny fragments of a country that spans 700 islands and 2,400 cays.

The Bahamas is not a single destination; it is an archipelago of distinct personalities. You have Nassau, the energetic, colonial capital where history meets high-end resorts. Then you have the Out Islands (or Family Islands), where the pace slows to a crawl, the water turns a color of blue that looks Photoshopped, and the only traffic jam is a rooster crossing the road.

If you are planning a trip to this coral-based paradise, here is your guide to looking past the tourist traps and finding the real Bahamas.

1. Nassau & New Providence: The Gateway

Most travelers land in Nassau (Lynden Pindling International Airport). It is easy to dismiss Nassau as "too touristy," but if you leave the cruise port terminal, the island has soul.

  • The Queen’s Staircase: Carved out of solid limestone by 600 enslaved people in the late 1700s, these 66 steps (now 65) provided a direct route from Fort Fincastle to the city. It is a lush, shaded, and somber reminder of the island's colonial history.
  • Arawak Cay (The Fish Fry): If you want to eat like a local, go here. It is a strip of colorful wooden shacks and restaurants. Order the Conch Salad: prepared fresh in front of you with lime, peppers, and onions.
  • Jaws Beach: Located on the western tip of the island, this quiet beach was a filming location for Jaws: The Revenge. It is far removed from the crowds of Cable Beach and offers a pristine, shallow swimming area.

2. The Exumas: The Crown Jewel

If you have seen those viral videos of swimming pigs, they were filmed here. The Exumas are a chain of 365 cays—one for every day of the year. The water here is widely considered the clearest in the world, visible from space.

  • Big Major Cay (Pig Beach): Yes, the swimming pigs are real, and yes, they will swim up to your boat looking for food. It is a surreal, slightly chaotic, and undeniably fun experience.
  • Thunderball Grotto: Just west of Staniel Cay, this underwater cave system was featured in the James Bond film Thunderball. At low tide, you can snorkel into a hollowed-out chamber teeming with yellowtail snapper and angel fish.
  • The Sandbars: The Exumas are famous for mile-long sandbars that emerge at low tide, allowing you to walk hundreds of meters out into the ocean with water only up to your ankles.

3. Eleuthera & Harbour Island: The Aesthetic

Eleuthera is long, thin, and rugged. It offers a totally different vibe from the Exumas—more cliffs, crashing Atlantic waves, and pineapple fields.

  • The Glass Window Bridge: This is one of the few places on earth where you can compare the deep, dark blue of the Atlantic Ocean and the calm, turquoise Bight of Eleuthera side-by-side, separated only by a strip of rock 30 feet wide.
  • Pink Sands Beach: Take a short water taxi to nearby Harbour Island ("Briland" to locals) to rent a golf cart and see the famous pink sand. The color comes from microscopic coral insects called foraminifera, which have a reddish-pink shell.

Pink sand beach

Source- The Island of the Bahamas

4. Practical Tips for the Traveler

Currency & Cash The Bahamian Dollar (BSD) is pegged 1:1 to the US Dollar. You can use US currency everywhere, but you will likely receive change in Bahamian dollars.

  • Tip: Spend your Bahamian coins before you leave; they are impossible to exchange once you are back home.

The "Data" Situation The Bahamas is an archipelago, meaning you might spend a day hopping from a boat to a rental car to a golf cart. Navigation is key.

  • Avoid the Roaming Trap: While some US carriers offer international plans, daily roaming fees can add up to $10-$15 per day, and coverage can be spotty on the Out Islands.
  • The Smart Fix: The most reliable way to stay connected is to purchase an eSIM data plan before you arrive. This allows you to tap into local networks (like BTC or Aliv) immediately. Whether you are using Google Maps to find a hidden beach in Eleuthera or WhatsApp to coordinate a boat pickup in Exuma, having a prepaid data connection ensures you are never stranded without a lifeline.

Getting Around

  • Nassau: Use the Jitneys (local buses). The #10 bus is the most popular route for tourists, running from downtown to Cable Beach. It costs about $1.25 and is a cultural experience in itself. Taxis are available but are unmetered; always agree on a fare before you get in.
  • Out Islands: You will need to rent a car. Be aware: You must drive on the left.

Sun Safety The Bahamian sun is deceptive. The trade winds keep you cool, so you don't feel the burn until it's too late. Use reef-safe sunscreen (oxybenzone-free) to protect the coral that makes these islands so special.

Why Go Now?

The Bahamas is easy. It is close to the US, the language is English, and the currency is familiar. But don't let the ease fool you—there is depth here. Whether you are diving into a blue hole in Andros or eating fresh snapper on a dock in Bimini, the Bahamas rewards those who look beyond the resort walls.