Top five beaches in the Bahamas
It is no wonder that Pink Sands Beach is repeatedly named one of the best beaches in the world. The sand on this beach has an otherworldly pink hue, which reaches new levels of richness at sunset. The color is created by an organism called foraminifera and, aside from being visually spectacular, it keeps the sand cool even in the heat of the day. When you have finished taking photographs, this beach is also perfect for swimming and snorkeling as it is protected by a coral reef that sits just off shore.
Big Major Cay ‘Pig Beach’, Exumas, Bahamas
Big Major Cay is now more famously known as Pig Beach. No visit to the Bahamas would be complete without a trip to see the twenty feral but friendly pigs that live on this uninhabited island in the Exumas. Nobody knows how the pigs first came to live there; some say they were shipwrecked, others say that they were left by sailors planning to eat them, but either was they are now a firm favorite with both locals and tourists. You can swim with the pigs, feed them or join them for a nap on the beach.
Shroud Cay, Exumas, Bahamas
Pig Beach is not the only beach of note in the Exumas. In fact, with 365 cays (islands) in the Exumas, you could enjoy a new beach every day for a year. With that many islands, the best way to explore the gems of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is by boat. Shroud Cay, one of the many uninhabited islands that been protected as part of this national park for over 30 years has its own network of mangrove creeks that can be slowly explored by tender. As would be expected of a reserve, it is teeming with wildlife including turtle, conch, lobster and many species of fish and bird.
Dean’s Blue Hole, Long Island, Bahamas
Set in the stunning backdrop of what is described as a natural stone amphitheater, Dean’s Blue Hole is one of the deepest and most spectacular blue holes in the world, reaching over 200 meters in depth, and after a drop of 20 meters opens in to an underwater cavern 100 meters wide. Watching the sand and water cascade over its edge into the deep blue below is an unforgettable experience. Understandably a hotspot for free divers, the calm waters also make this is also a perfect location for both diving and snorkeling. For a more typical Caribbean paradise you can simply venture to the adjacent white sand beach and lagoon.
Lighthouse Beach, Eleuthera, Bahamas
Lighthouse Beach is a hidden gem that offers everything you could want from a secluded beach. Tucked behind dunes and limestone cliffs, it is romantic, with powder sand, caves to explore and spectacular views, which are particularly rewarding if you climb up to the old lighthouse. Its charms don't end there; there are two sides to this beach, one with a sunrise view and the other with a sunset view and even more uniquely, each with a different sea lapping at their shores - Atlantic and Caribbean.
For more information on chartering a yacht in the Bahamas view our destination guide here or contact the IYC Charter Team.