Blessed with the perfect location—less than 100 miles off the coast of Florida; the perfect climate—averaging a little over 75 degrees; and the perfect environment—crystal clear turquoise blue waters and pearly white sandy beaches, the Islands of the Bahamas makes for the perfect destination.

The name "Bahamas" comes from the Spanish baja mar meaning shallow sea, and is an archipelago of over 700 islands stretching over 258,998 square km in the western Atlantic Ocean. Known mostly for the mild weather, ranging from 70 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, every island in The Bahamas offers year-round tranquility. The Bahamas is also known for its beaches.

The Bahamas is north of Cuba and Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti); northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands; southeast of the U.S. state of Florida and east of the Florida Keys. Its capital is Nassau on the island of New Providence. The closest island to the United States is Bimini, which is also known as the gateway to the Bahamas. The island of Abaco is to the east of Grand Bahama. The Southeastern most Island is Inagua. The largest island is Andros Island. Other inhabited islands include Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Exuma and Mayaguana. The Bahamas has a population of 305,000 with seventy per cent of the population lives on New Providence Island (home of the capital city, Nassau), which is only the eleventh-largest island in The Bahamas.

Our dynamic island nation is well known throughout the world for its natural beauty and the warm welcome that awaits the millions who visit our shores every year. More and more, however, we are also becoming known for the warm welcome that awaits international investment in our country.

With economic, political and social conditions that provide a fertile business environment, The Bahamas is indeed a paradise for investment. We offer a number of unique advantages - freedom from taxation, democratic stability and investment incentives - and an infrastructure that encourages, supports and rewards international investment in our Country.

Abaco is the third most populous island in The Bahamas and bears a resemblance to New England from which it attracts so many of its visitors and winter residents. Marsh Harbour is the commercial centre located on Great Abaco.

Abaco Island has naturally protected waters and dozens of offshore cays covering over 130 square miles of aquamarine water in the Bahamas. The Abacos are a pleasure to yachtsmen and fishing enthusiasts. It is referred to as the sailing capital of the world. Here you will find excellent marinas, guides and boats for hire as well as a championship golf course, one of seven in The Bahamas.

Marsh Harbour - Great Abaco Island is home to Marsh Harbour, the “bright lights and big city” of the Out Islands. And to put that into perspective, Marsh Harbour has exactly one traffic light (the only operative one in all The Bahamas Out Islands!). Along with having a great selection of hotels, restaurants and bars, Marsh Harbour is charter boat central, with several full-service marinas where you can dock your own boat or find a rental – both live aboard sailboats and powerboats are available.

Treasure Cay - North of Marsh Harbour is Treasure Cay, a hotel, golf, marina and real estate development wrapped around a beach with the whitest, softest sand you’ve ever seen. To the south lies Little Harbour, an attractive protected bay where you’ll find a small artist colony based around the Johnston family and Pete Johnston’s Pete’s Pub. Setting out across the Sea of Abaco from Great Abaco Island, and you can steer toward any one of a number of islands – each a vacation destination in its own right. This is an island hopper's paradise.

Hope Town Hope - Town is home to the famous candy striped lighthouse, a favorite photo subject now, but quite controversial when it was under construction back in 1863 because up until then, the islands residents had been making a comfortable living by salvaging ships that wrecked on the offshore reefs.

Man-O-War Cay - North of Elbow Cay, Man-O-War is another Loyalist settlement, a conservative “dry” island, and the Abacos’ boat-building center, with a wonderful naturally protected harbor and boat-fitting and sail shops. Next up the chain is beachy Great Guana Cay, famed for the Sunday barbecues thrown at Nippers Bar that sits atop the island’s tall sand dune, which overlooks Guana’s magnificent seven-mile-long beach.

The outer islands up to Great Guana are easily reached by the Abacos scheduled ferry service – think local bus, but with a much better view and friendlier passengers – from Marsh Harbour. To reach Green Turtle Cay, you first head north on Great Abaco to Treasure Cay, where you can catch a boat for the short hop. There you’ll find the quaint town along with a full-service marina and hotels and dive and snorkel services.

The diving and snorkeling is excellent all through Abaco Bahamas, with several protected underwater areas such as Fowl Cay National Reserve and Pelican Cays National Park, massive reefs with swim-through caves that are seasonally filled wall to wall with silver baitfish, and even dive spots at the edge of the reef where you’re almost guaranteed to see Caribbean reef sharks.

Fishing is huge in the Abaco Islands, from the excellent bonefishing in Cherokee Sound and out in the “marls,” to the blue water big game species like marlin and tuna that prowl the Atlantic side within easy sight of the outer islands.

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Known as two of the more remote islands, Acklins & Crooked Island are as natural as they were when The Bahamas was first discovered. Separated by a 1,000-square-mile lagoon known as the Bight of Acklins, both islands are a haven for bonefishing, snorkeling and diving. You’ll also find miles of undisturbed sandy beaches, coral gardens, limestone caves, magnificent cliffs and even remnants of slave and cotton plantations. It’s the perfect way to forget about the complexities of life.

Acklins Island is one of the least known and most preserved islands in The Bahamas and had a population of a little over 400 residents. Acklins is long, narrow and hilly and has numerous caves and bays along its western shores.

Crooked Island is known for its natural beauty and the Island has many quaint villages. It provides good fair weather cruising grounds and tidal flats. It boasts sparsely populated settlements such as French Wells and Gun Point, which are reminiscent of early plantation lifestyles. Just over 350 people call Crooked Island home, making it a great place to explore your natural surroundings in peace.

In short, Acklins & Crooked Island are The Bahamas’ definition of seclusion.

2,300 square miles, Andros is the largest island of The Bahamas and the fifth-largest island in the Caribbean. Its miles of deserted beaches and freshwater lakes play host to countless species of wildlife, marine life and vegetations. Andros is covered with vast areas of wetlands that create channels perfect for bonefishing. In fact, many consider Andros the Bonefishing Capital of The World. When visitors feel like taking a break from all the adventure, the island offers quaint settlements and secluded beaches known for their local charm and laid-back lifestyle.

Andros is composed of three major islands: North Andros, Mangrove Cay, and South Andros, and hundreds of cays adjoined by mangrove creeks and tidal swamp lands.

Andros is the least densely populated of all the Bahamas, with a population of a little over six thousand. Most of these people live on the east coast of the island in the three major towns on the island; Nicholls Town and Andros Town on North Andros, and Congo Town, on South Andros.

Unspoiled and virtually undiscovered: Andros Island, Bahamas is a world apart from the crowds and an authentic Bahamas Vacation.

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st to the northeast of Andros, on the northeastern edge of the Great Bahama Bank, lie the Berry Islands, a stirrup-shaped chain of 30 cays and numerous smaller islets. Many of the 30 cays that comprise the islands are great for snorkeling, hiking, diving and beach-combing.The two largest, Great Harbor Cay and Chub Cay, are where most of the Berry Island residents live, and are the centers for activity.

Chub Cay - "Billfish capital of The Bahamas" often referred to as "The Fish Bowl of the Bahamas" borders a deep-sea ravine known as the Tongue of the Ocean. Bait fish are drawn into the submarine gardens off its coast and larger fish follow, making it a fisherman’s paradise famous for its record-breaking catches.

Great Harbour Cay boasts seven continuous miles of magnificent beaches and one of the best protected harbors in The Bahamas. It once was a major golf resort for the rich and famous. In fact, there are more millionaires per square inch on The Berry Islands than most places on earth.

A good number of the cays, like Frazier’s Hog Cay and Bonds Cay, suitable for stock raising and agriculture, are privately owned. Other private cays include Crab Cay, Cock Roach Cay, Frozen Cay, Alder Cay, Bird Cay and Petite Cay. Throughout The Berry Islands you will find healthy groves of coconut, pine and thatch berry trees.

cated just 50 miles off Florida’s coast, Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to the United States, boasting miles of pristine beaches. Visitors from around the world enjoy its historical complexity and renowned past, including Bimini Road, which some believe is a remnant of the legendary Lost City of Atlantis.

Bimini consists of two main islands—North Bimini Island and South Bimini Island—and numerous cays. The history of Bimini is as fascinating as the islands themselves. Just 50 miles from the United States, they served as a convenient offshore speakeasy and liquor store during prohibition. Rumrunners used to store their stash on the nearby shores.

Alice Town, the "commercial centre" of Bimini, consists of a single quiet road called the King's Highway, lined with a few small necessity shops, a half dozen local restaurants and an equal number of funky, down home bars. During fishing tournaments and other high times, the street can get a little bit wild, but it's usually just you strolling down the King's Highway, savoring the aroma of baking bread and the company of the pelicans. Fishing in Bimini is absolutely unparalleled for the size and variety of the catch. Sailfish, tuna, and wahoo: in fact over 50 world records have been set in these waters, the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway's Islands In The Stream. All ocean fisherman worth their salt must fish Bimini at least once a lifetime.

Pristine is the perfect word to describe Cat Island. From the weather to the water to the sand, every inch is breathtaking. Its untouched landscape is perfect for those looking to explore the island’s natural beauty, while its laid-back environment provides a unique destination to relax and unwind. And with 50 miles of rolling hills, endless nature trails and the eight-mile Pink Sand Beach, visitors can choose to do everything or absolutely nothing at all.

This boot-shaped, untamed island is one of the most beautiful and fertile of The Bahamas. A lush sanctuary, it provides tranquillity for those seeking an escape from the pressures of modern civilization. The story behind Cat Island, with its jewel-like hermitage, stretches out into the Atlantic Ocean and has a claim of being Columbus’s original landing site in the New World. Cat Island is the home of Sidney Poitier, the internationally acclaimed Bahamian actor who spent his boyhood days at Arthur’s Town, one of the many settlements on the island.

Cat Island is approximately 48 miles long and averages between one and four miles in width. It is located southeast of Eleuthera and northeast of Long Island. Located over 300 miles from Miami, Cat Island should not be confused with its very very small nephew Cat Cay–which is part of the Biminis.

The island is also home to one of the best climates in The Bahamas. Its location near the Tropic of Cancer means temperatures range from the mid-60s in the short winters to the high-80s in the summer, which make it perfect for getting out and exploring.

This island’s distinct virtue is that it is home to the highest point in the Bahamas–Mount Alvernia–an astounding 206 feet (63 meters) above sea level. From these high cliffs, there is a marvelous view down to densely-forested foothills and 60 miles of deserted pink-and-white-sand beach. Cat Island is the birthplace of The Bahamas’ native rake and scrape music, along with numerous myths and folklore that still hold a place in Bahamian culture today.

rom endless pineapple fields to white- and pink-sand beaches to secluded coves and miles of coastlines, Eleuthera & Harbour Island define The Bahamas.

Eleuthera is the fourth most populated island of The Bahamas, with approximately 11,000 residents. Most who live here either fish for bounty or farm the rolling acres of pineapple plantations. Eleuthera is an island of casual sophistication, housing isolated communities, well-developed resorts, rocky bluffs, low-lying wetlands and massive coral reefs that create magnificent backdrops.

Harbour Island (Called Briland by the residents) was once the capital of The Bahamas. It was ranked as "The Best Island in the Caribbean" and boast lush tropical greenery and magical pink sand beaches. All of Harbour Island is rimmed by pink, sugar-sand beaches, but Dunmore Town has some of the best of them. Less than four miles long and a half-mile wide, Harbour Island is a sleepy retreat with a unique charm and slightly rustic character. It’s a special place to unwind and slow down.

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he Exuma islands are a string of islands and cays that form a pearl necklace of long forgotten hideaways, natural harbors and secluded beaches, that span over a hundred miles of clear blue water–a new island for every day of the year. The Exuma chain comprises about 360 or more cays, that stretch for about 130 miles beginning 30 miles southeast of New Providence.

Once called Yumey and Suma (names of Amer-Indian origin), the islands have gone through many changes over the years. Today, they’re divided into three major areas—Great Exuma, Little Exuma and The Exuma Cays. Each offers its own unique Bahamian experience. Great Exuma and Little Exuma are known for their laid-back surroundings, while The Exuma Cays act as a playground for the rich and famous, boasting numerous private homes, luxury resorts and beachside condos.

Home to the Bahamas National Trust’s Exuma National Land and Sea Park–one of the largest underwater and land preserves, Exuma is a nature lover’s paradise kept in its original pristine setting.

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e third largest and the most southerly island in the Bahamas, Inagua is also the hottest and the driest. Home to a plant of the Morton Salt company it is the source of nearly a million pounds of salt annually. It is also home to one of the largest flamingo bird sanctuaries in the world.

Its name is a slang of its earliest designation, Heneagua, derived from a Spanish word meaning ‘water is to be found there.’ Although it is mostly low and flat, it has James Hill on the north coast rising to 90 feet, East Hill rising to 132 feet and Salt Pond Hill on the south coast rising to 102 feet. There is a natural harbor and its coast is fringed by a reef.

Inagua consists of two separate islands, Great Inagua Island and Little Inagua Island. Both are known for their natural surroundings and act as great destinations for ecotourists. Inagua National Land & Sea Park covers 45% of Great Inagua Island and is home to over 80,000 West Indian Flamingos, the Bahama parrot, and other pelicans, ducks and hummingbirds found nowhere else in The Bahamas. Little Inagua Island is a protected habitat for endangered sea turtles, and features a vast reef that prevents boaters and sailors from getting too close to its shores. Over 30 square miles of the island are uninhabited by locals.

Salt is the main industry on Inagua. Because of its low rainfall and tradewinds, Inagua has natural salt ponds. The Morton Salt Company is located here and produces nearly a million pounds of salt annually.

athtaking cliffs, brilliant coral reefs, serene beaches. Long Island is home to it all. Featuring dramatic cliffs that tower over its eastern shore, the island is a haven for fishers, divers and boaters, boasting world-class bonefishing and thrilling encounters with sea life. The island’s western shore is a bit more tranquil. Long Island is also home to Dean’s Blue Hole, the deepest blue hole in the world.

Long Island earned its current name because a seafarer felt it took too long to sail past the island. After all, it is 80 miles long, but no more than four miles wide at its broadest point. Long Island’s population is a little over 3,000. It provides excellent sites for diving and snorkeling.

One of the most scenic hideaways in The Bahamas, it is divided by the Tropic of Cancer, giving it two very different coastlines—the dramatic cliffs and caves of the east coast that front the crashing Atlantic waves, and the sandy edged lee side which slopes calmly into the Bahamas Bank. Here you’ll find Dean’s Blue Hole, historic twin churches built in the 1800s and one of the largest caves in The Bahamas.

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h the lure of a big city and the ease of tropical utopia, Nassau & Paradise Island are considered by many as, well, paradise. It is a bustling metropolitan hub full of culture and modern amenities.

Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, located on New Providence Island offers a variety of experiences from non-stop excitement to peaceful relaxation. Nassau is the center of industry, commerce and communications and presents a special charm which captures the elegance of the old world while at the same time incorporating up-to-the-minute modern features. Here one will find well-preserved colonial buildings, exciting attractions, duty free shopping, one of the largest straw markets in the Caribbean, thrilling land and sea sports, pristine beaches, delightful cuisine and unique cultural activities.

New Providence is home to Nassau–the nation’s capital is the center of industry and commerce in the Bahamas and serves an interesting blend of old world colonial architecture, vast straw markets, and an abundance of people combined with sophisticated new world luxury reminiscent of the 007 movies.

Linked to Nassau by bridge is the famed Paradise Island. It’s 685 acres of pure euphoria, developed almost exclusively to delight and accommodate visitors. The island boasts resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, nightlife, a golf course, an aquarium and a casino.

iet and serene, Ragged Island isn’t as rough as its name suggests. The island is a haven for avid fishermen, with its unparalleled flats ideal for bonefishing. It’s not uncommon to snag an abundance of grouper, snapper, barracuda, tuna and king fish during just one day on the water. The beaches of Ragged Island are mostly unexplored, and the coves are perfect for picnicking, relaxing and combing for shells.

Little is known about the early days of The Ragged Island chain other than the settlement of Great Ragged Island was named Duncan Town after its founder who developed the island’s salt industry. Ragged Island is believed to have been a pirate safe house at one point, with its rocks and caves offering great hideaways. Blackbeard's Bay and Blackbeard's Well signify that the pirate may have established his headquarters near the well because of its unique location. Today, just 72 people call Ragged Island home.

nown as a “sleeping beauty” because it’s considered one of the best-kept secrets in The Bahamas southern region, Rum Cay is recognized for its historical ruins, vivid coral reefs, miles of pure sand beaches and thrilling surf. Just offshore in the crystal-clear turquoise waters is an abundance of vibrant marine life that attracts fishermen, divers and snorkelers from all around. Rum Cay truly is an authentic Bahamian experience.

Rum Cay, is a small, sparsely populated island, located 20 miles southwest of San Salvador. It is flat aside from a few rolling hills rising to about 120 feet. The island was namedSanta Maria de la Conception by Columbus. The modern name Rum Cay is said to be in memory of a wreck destroyed with a cargo of rum which foundered off the coral reefs which abound the island’s shore.

Rum Cay has five distinct settlements. Today, Port Nelson is the only inhabited village remaining on the island. Tourism plays a significant role to island residents, as many of them are employed by the marinas and restaurants that attract seafarers and other visitors.The main settlement is Port Nelson. The wreck of the 101-gun Man-of-War HMS Conqueror, built in Devon in 1855 and which served in the Crimean War, lies in 30 feet of water off Rum Cay where it sank in 1861. Known as the underwater museum of The Bahamas, it is the property of The Bahamas Government and none of the contents of the ship may be removed.

Salvador is located in the far eastern Bahamas. It is small in size (63-square-mile) but not in scenery and is surrounded by superb beaches and reefs. It is home to many monuments, ruins and shipwrecks that directly reflect its rich history, including five memorials that commemorate Christopher Columbus' arrival in 1492. One of them, an underwater monument, is said to mark the spot where the Pinta dropped anchor.

Presently the island is home to over 1000 people. The average temperature is 80 degrees. The local resident population on San Salvador today consists of approximately 1000 persons who live in several small communities around the perimeter of the island.

“The beauty of these islands surpasses that of any other and as much as the day surpasses the night in splendour.” — Christopher Columbus