BAHAMAS: ABACO / EXUMA

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BAHAMAS: ABACO / EXUMA

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Bahamas Yacht Charter Guide

Considering a luxury yacht charter in the Bahamas? With over 700 colourful islands and innumerable tiny cays – home to stunning beaches and picturesque towns, deep caves, and rich vegetation – the sun-baked Bahamas are an ideal destination for travelers of all ages. With sheltered waters and schools of tropical fish dancing beneath the surface, a cruise to the Bahamas is a paradise for divers and snorkellers. Its welcoming people echo the temperament of the hospitable Gulf Stream winds, making this the perfect destination for a yacht charter.

The Bahamas islands have lured and captivated seafarers for centuries, enchanting both settlers and traders alike. Explorer Christopher Columbus landed on San Salvador in 1492 and declared this place to be a ‘baja mar’ or ‘shallow sea’ – and hence The Bahamas gained its name. This area is famed for attracting the boisterous pirates of centuries past, making use of its countless quiet hideouts and its eponymous shallow waters for burying stolen loot.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, notorious pirates like Blackbeard and Calico Jack made use of The Bahamas’ busy shipping lanes to their swashbuckling ends, commandeering and looting merchant ships. Today, the buccaneers are all gone but there remains a distinctly Bahamian sense of escapism and adventure on these isles – and doubtless plenty of unearthed treasure.

The archipelago of the Bahamas is formed from coral, creating 700 islands and cays that contain incredible reefs. Nassau is its best-known port, and having lured pirates for centuries it now attracts charter yachts as an ideal place to begin or end a charter vacation. This high-energy port is a center for international traders, alive with bartering, excited shoppers, and the occasional celebrity trying to blend into the hustle and bustle. The docks of many of the five-star marinas are an easy tender ride from the airport, meaning you can easily add on an extra few days to explore the land. Casinos, bars, and gourmet restaurants offer plenty of choices to fill your evenings, and the days can be spent in amongst the action or visiting the museums.

Explore Exuma

If you are looking for a slower-paced destination to really relax during your charter, leave the civilization of Nassau and head south to the Exumas. These 365 cays are known for their laid-back way of life, and many of the rich and famous have homes here to escape and relax. The shallow waters exclude large cruise ships, so your charter yacht holiday will take you to a place where the pristine beaches are free from the tourist crowds. Crystal clear waters are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving, and watch out for the locals that may choose to join you – the swimming pigs. It is not known how they got there, but on Major Cay, the ‘domestic’ pigs love the water and swim out to meet the boats as they arrive.