Bahamas Travel Guide

The quiet coves and crowd-free beaches of the Bahamas offer visitors the intimacy of a secluded retreat within a paradisiacal expanse of some 700 palm-fringed isles.

Christened baja mar (meaning 'shallow sea') by Columbus, these islands with their astonishing hues of sand and sea spanning the colour spectrum from twinkling turquoise to rose pink, the Bahamas is the Caribbean personified. Crystal clear waters secrete ancient shipwrecks and a rainbow of coral reefs, whilst pastel-coloured seashells and vibrant clapboard houses perch atop a tropical landscape laced with unspoilt coast and resonant with exotic birdsong. There’s the over-riding feeling the Bahamas has got tourism just right, too: lavish resorts cater to the world’s wealthy, but don’t infringe on the island’s natural beauty.

The full gauntlet of world-class watersports beckon, from diving and snorkelling to parasailing. Then there are the glitzy golf courses, designed by the game’s best, or simply exploring the clutch of beaches, caves and nature reserves, to keep the pulses racing.

Come sundown, Bahamian bars and clubs pulsate with island rhythms; discover riotous dance festivals that mix African slave-trade rituals with Bahamian tempo and American hip-hop twists, or head to one of the islands' bustling straw markets to haggle over spices, and ceramics. If it all gets too much, recharge your batteries at one of the wonderful seafood restaurants or with an infamous rum cocktail. Whatever you do, the vividness of the Bahamas never ceases to assault your senses.