A glimpse into what it truly means to live the island life, The Bahamas’ Out Islands — The Abacos, Acklins, Andros, The Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, The Exumas, Harbour Island, Long Island and San Salvador — are a collection of unspoiled wonder just waiting to be explored. Laid-back and secluded, this tropical oasis meets travelers where they are with no shortage of ways to slip into vacation mode however they see fit. From fishing expeditions and adventures at sea to lazy beach days and luxurious retreats, the Out Islands have it all.
The Abacos
Stretching 120 miles, The Abacos are favorites among fans of fishing and boating, much of which takes place in towns like Marsh Harbor, Treasure Cay and Walker’s Cay. The island is home to several popular hotels and beaches including Abaco Beach Resort & Marina, The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Sandpiper Inn and Treasure Cay Beach, Pelican Beach Villas Beach and Guana Cay Beach, respectively. In addition to fishing and beach-going, travelers can’t go wrong with activities like diving (including cave diving), kayaking, birdwatching and golfing.
Acklins
An ideal destination for fans of fishing, snorkeling and diving, Acklins is a tiny island that proves good things come in small packages. Measuring four miles across at its widest point, the 92-square-mile island is travelers’ ticket to seclusion with just 400 residents. While Acklins is popular for its family-friendly resorts, the region is most famous for its bonefishing and snorkeling, which are said to be some of the best in the entire world. And, with 1,000 miles of shallow water for guests to explore, visitors will find it’s hard to resist the call of the sea.
Andros
One of the least developed islands in The Bahamas, Andros is known for its bevvy of natural attractions and activities. Kayaking, bird watching, hiking, snorkeling, fishing … this destination has it all, making it an incredible escape for fans of outdoor adventures. Andros is also home to The Andros Barrier Reef, the third-largest barrier reef in the world, and vacationers will love admiring its colorful coral and spectacular creatures including whales, dolphins, marlin and more. In addition to this thriving ecosystem, the area touts an impressive collection of underwater caves as well as vibrant, mangrove-lined wetlands, each of which are teeming with life.
The Berry Islands
Comprising 30 cays southeast of Bimini, The Berry Islands is a region best known for its world-class fishing. In fact, the area is so popular for fishing, namely billfish fishing, that it’s been dubbed “The Fishbowl of The Bahamas,” drawing in throngs of outdoor enthusiasts hoping to score a record-breaking catch each year. In addition to billfish, visitors will find tuna, grouper, tigerfish, yellowtail snapper, wahoo and king mackerel as well as opportunities for some of the best bonefishing in the Caribbean. Of course, casting a line isn’t the only thing travelers can do in this secluded destination, visitors to The Berry Islands can also enjoy sightseeing at its two lighthouses and ancient churches as well as eating their way through the island via its scrumptious local cuisine.
Bimini
A place with ties to Ernest Hemingway and the Lost City of Atlantis, Bimini is a charming tropical escape situated just 50 miles off the coast of Florida. Despite its name, Bimini comprises two small islands, North Bimini and South Bimini, and the region is a favorite among fans of diving, fishing and history with its connection to rumrunners and prohibition. The area is home to no shortage of luxurious stretches of white sand beaches, upon many of which visitors will find some of The Bahamas' best resorts and restaurants — hello, relaxing pool days and fresh seafood. Thanks to its location along The Gulf Stream, Bimini is bursting with wildlife, and visitors should keep their eyes peeled for marlin, manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles and more.
Cat Island
While its name might lead one to believe the region is a haven for furry feline friends, Cat Island is a 150 square-mile island named for Arthur Catt, a pirate from the 1900s who allegedly frequented the area to hide his buried treasure. Perhaps the most underrated destination in The Bahamas, Cat Island boasts an untouched landscape dotted with rolling hills, lush greenery and an impressive eight-mile pink sand beach. The island’s most popular attraction is Mount Alvernia, the highest point in the country at 206 feet above sea level marked by a miniature monastery dating back to the 1930s. Other popular activities on Cat Island include diving, snorkeling, fishing, biking, kayaking and wildlife viewing with opportunities to observe creatures like turtles, rays and birds.
Crooked Island
A place where miles of undisturbed beaches, colorful coral gardens and limestone caverns meet ancient churches, old cotton plantations, thriving wetlands and mangrove-lined creeks and waterways, Crooked Island is abundant with natural beauty and intriguing history. Described by Christopher Columbus as “one of the fragrant islands,” the region caught the eye of European explorers many years ago, beckoned to its shores by the tantalizing scent of native herbs and flowers. Today, travelers can catch a glimpse of the past when they visit the remains of the island’s old, cannon-laden British fort which was built to protect the region from pirates and buccaneers passing through the surrounding shallow waters. Other attractions and activities in the area include birding, diving, fishing, caving — the area is home to as many as 42 caves — and more.
Eleuthera
Razor-thin at only two miles wide, Eleuthera wows with its stunning pink and white sand beaches and sparkling crystal blue waters. When they’re not busy diving into water-based activities like fishing, snorkeling and beach-going, visitors to this little slice of paradise spend their days climbing jagged cliffsides, exploring mysterious caverns and touring local attractions like Eleuthera Island Farm and Eleuthera Pineapple Farm. In addition to its abundant beaches, this region is known for its treacherous stretch of sea called “The Devil’s Backbone” where more natural wrecks have taken place than any other island in The Bahamas.
The Exumas
Best known for their famous swimming pigs, The Exumas are a 120-mile-long island chain situated east of Andros Island and south of Eleuthera. While many of the Exuma Cays are private, with some being occupied by celebrities like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Tyler Perry and David Copperfield, others are open to tourists, boasting luxurious resorts and accommodations. Popular activities include boating, hiking, diving, snorkeling, kayaking and more. And, for some good grub, visitors won’t want to miss a stop at Great Exuma where they can dine at iconic restaurants like Iva Bowes’, Big D’s Conch Shack, Eddie’s Edgewater and Peace & Plenty.
Harbour Island
Referred to by some as the “Nantucket of the Caribbean,” Harbour Island is a 3.5-mile-long, 1.5-mile-wide island that boasts brightly painted New England-style homes and charming landscaping in the form of lush palm trees and flower-lined streets. While Harbour Island is home to several beaches, its most famous is the three-mile-long pink sand beach that spans the entire length of the island’s eastern coast. The island is also famous for Dunmore Town, one of the oldest settlements in The Bahamas and Current Cut, an adventurous high-current dive site.
Long Island
A famed destination among divers, Long Island is home to an abundance of deep and shallow dive sites including Dean’s Blue Hole, the deepest recorded blue hole in The Bahamas at more than 600 feet. And the underwater adventures don’t stop there, the area is also home to countless coral reefs, lively tidal pools and plenty of curious marine animals ready for their Insta-worthy close-up. On land, visitors will find rugged caves and cliffsides waiting to be explored alongside friendly villages and sprawling beaches, perfect for fans of shelling and sunshine.
San Salvador
With its ties to ancient Lucayan Indians who called the spot home as early as 900 AD and international fame as the place where Christopher Columbus first made landfall in the New World in 1492, San Salvador is an intriguing destination that boasts as much beauty as it does history. As such, the 63-square-mile island is an ideal escape for those with a penchant for the past with its many monuments and well-preserved archeological sites. In addition to its one-of-a-kind history, San Salvador is a paradise for nature enthusiasts with towering dunes, sprawling beaches, colorful reefs and sparkling blue waters.
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