The Bahamas is not one island but a scattered nation of roughly 700 islands and 2,400 cays, with 16 major islands welcoming visitors. That is exactly what makes it one of the most rewarding places in the Caribbean to island-hop: in a single trip you can move from the energy of Nassau to the pastel cottages and pink sand of Harbour Island, then on to the electric-blue waters of the Exumas and their famous swimming pigs.
The trick is routing. Distances between islands are bigger than they look on a map, and boats and small planes run on their own schedules. This guide walks you through the classic routes, how to get between islands, and the practical details that keep a multi-island trip smooth.
U.S. citizens need a valid passport book to enter The Bahamas by air; passport cards are not accepted. Bring proof of a return or onward ticket. The Bahamas Travel Health Visa and COVID-era testing are no longer required. Always confirm current rules with the Bahamas Immigration Department before you fly.
The Bahamian dollar is fixed one-to-one with the U.S. dollar, so you can budget in USD without doing math. If you rent a car or golf cart on any island, remember that The Bahamas drives on the left.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 to November 30, with most activity from mid-August through mid-October. If you are planning an island-hopping trip that depends on boats and small planes, the drier, calmer winter and spring months generally give you more flexibility. See our Best Time to Visit the Caribbean guide for a month-by-month breakdown.
Nearly every Bahamas itinerary passes through Nassau, the capital on New Providence. It is the country's main international gateway and the hub for domestic flights and ferries to the Family Islands (also called the Out Islands).
Give Nassau a night or two at the beginning or end of your trip. Use it to adjust to island time, enjoy the waterfront, and eat at the Arawak Cay Fish Fry, a seaside strip known for conch salad, conch fritters and fried fish. Then head out to the islands. For resort ideas in Nassau and Paradise Island, see our Bahamas island guide.
Harbour Island, known locally as "Briland," is a small, walkable island of New England-style clapboard houses in Dunmore Town. Its Pink Sands Beach runs for about three miles along the Atlantic side, and according to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, pink sand covers more than 35 miles of neighboring mainland Eleuthera too. Harbour Island is reachable only by boat; it is about a five-minute water crossing from mainland Eleuthera.
Eleuthera itself is long and thin (about 180 km long and in places little more than 1.6 km wide), with highlights that reward a rental car:
By fast ferry: Bahamas Ferries runs a high-speed service from Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau to Spanish Wells and Harbour Island. As of October 2026, it sails on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, departing Nassau at 8:00 a.m. and arriving at Harbour Island at 11:10 a.m., with the return leaving Harbour Island at 3:40 p.m. Published adult fares are $139 one way or $257 round trip. Schedules are "weather permitting," and holidays can change sailings, so check before you book.
By air: Fly into North Eleuthera Airport (ELH), which serves northern Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, then take a taxi to the dock and the short water taxi across. Eleuthera also has airports at Governor's Harbour and Rock Sound if you plan to stay farther south.
Plan at least three nights. Harbour Island's appeal is its slow pace, and you will want a full day to drive Eleuthera.
The Exumas are a chain of 365 islands and cays stretching south from Nassau, known for sandbars and some of the clearest water in The Bahamas. The chain breaks into three areas: Great Exuma (with the capital, George Town, and Exuma International Airport), Little Exuma (connected by bridge and home to Tropic of Cancer Beach), and the Exuma Cays.
Exuma International Airport (GGT) on Great Exuma receives domestic and international flights daily, and Bahamasair connects it with Nassau. Staniel Cay also has an airstrip, which is the most convenient base for Pig Beach and Thunderball Grotto. Bahamas Ferries runs a cargo-passenger service between Nassau and George Town, but it is an overnight working vessel, not a quick hop, so most visitors fly.
Three to five nights. One full day on a boat tour of the cays is a must; book it early, because pig-beach excursions are the most in-demand outing in the Exumas.
| Days | Base | Highlights | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Nassau / Paradise Island | Waterfront, Arawak Cay Fish Fry | International flight |
| 3–5 | Harbour Island | Pink Sands Beach, Dunmore Town, Eleuthera day trip | Fast ferry (Wed/Fri/Sat) or flight to ELH + water taxi |
| 6–9 | Great Exuma or Staniel Cay | Boat day to Pig Beach, Thunderball Grotto, Compass Cay; Stocking Island | Return to Nassau, then flight to GGT or Staniel Cay |
| 10 | Nassau | Departure | Domestic flight to Nassau |
Because the fast ferry runs only on certain days, build your Harbour Island dates around the ferry schedule first, then slot in your flights.
If you love The Bahamas' mix of shallow turquoise water and laid-back islands, look at Turks & Caicos next, or browse every island in our Northern Caribbean guide. Looking for a theme? Our Caribbean experiences page covers romance, adventure, food and family trips.
Island hopping is where local knowledge pays off: which ferry days line up with your flights, which cay suits your style, and how to avoid backtracking. Tell us your dates and the islands you're dreaming about, and our Miami-based team will help you build the route. Start planning with a free consultation →
Photo: “Shroud Cay (Exuma Islands, Bahamas) 1.jpg” by James St. John, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), via Wikimedia Commons; cropped/resized.