Bahamas or Bust: A Lifetime of Islands Just 27 Air Minutes Away

Lunch in South Florida, sunset in The Bahamas.

Not many can say that’s very doable.

But we here in South Florida most certainly can because just 50 miles off our Florida coast sits another slice of paradise.

16 slices to be exact.

16 of the approximately 700 Bahamian islands are available for international tourism: Abacos, Acklins & Crooked Island, Andros, The Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera & Harbour Island, The Exumas, Grand Bahama Island, Inagua, Long Island, Mayaguana, Nassau & Paradise Island, Ragged Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador.

It’s been a year since I made the effortless hop, skip and jump over to The Cove in Eleuthera for the most relaxing of weekend getaways - quite an escape from working mom life back in Boca Raton. As I figure out my next great Bahamian escape and days after top Bahamian tourism leaders passed through South Florida to share news and highlights, I wanted to share the good word with you about what’s new across the islands and why this close-to-home option should be next on your travel list.

“It’s an exciting time in the Bahamas and we want the world to know,” said Deputy Prime Minister, I. Chester Cooper.

“The Islands of the Bahamas offer a lifetime of experiences and we use the word ‘lifetime’ because our experiences are so diverse and it would fit every visitor preference. Whether you want to see the high roller table in Nassau or whether you want to swim with the sting rays in Grand Bahama or whether you want to just twinkle your toes in the pink sand in Harbour Island, there are so many different experiences and it would take you a lifetime to truly enjoy each and every one of them,” added Director General Latia Duncombe of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

*Bahamas in the News | Paige Kornblue joins Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper, Director General Latia Duncombe and The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism team in Miami, June 2025*

BUT FIRST:

Boat Fling on over! They call this road trippin’ Bahamian-style. A lead boat pilots the way for a caravan of boaters across the Gulf Stream to The Bahamas so the fun starts in Florida and you aren’t hitting the waters solo.

Check out the immersive Bahamian People-to-People program. At no charge, get matched with a Bahamian volunteer for a day or evening activity to learn about the country and the culture from the locals who know it best!

Bahamas Women’s Dive Day: A five-day dive experience (July 18–22) featuring a four-night stay at Breeze Bahamas, three days of diving (including shark dives and iconic film sites), and talks by marine conservationists - all celebrating women in diving and sustainable tourism.

GETTING THERE:

Ferry Service from South Florida to The Bahamas: Travelers can reach the popular Bahamian island of Bimini via a convenient ferry from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, operated by Baleària Caribbean, offering a scenic 2-hour ride with regular departures.

There are dozens of flight options into The Bahamas’ 20 International airports. Here’s what’s new:

Makers Air recently expanded its service in The Bahamas to offer daily flights from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport to Cat Island (New Bight–Freetown and Arthur’s Town) and a third weekly flight to Long Island’s Stella Maris Airport.

Tropic Ocean Airways is expanding capacity from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini. The route, which currently operates seven days a week between Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) and South Bimini Airport (NSB), is expected to see increased availability in the coming weeks.

Tradewind Aviation stands as a leading provider of personal air travel (skip the traditional TSA lines, enjoy concierge-level service): charter presence currently in key Florida locations like Miami, Palm Beach, Sarasota, and Tampa, and introducing new scheduled flights from Witham Field (Stuart, Florida) to the Out Islands of The Bahamas, including North Eleuthera and Marsh Harbour, now bookable through August 2025. Tradewind has been operating five days a week with four daily round-trip flights to these destinations.

*PK steps aboard Tradewind Aviation at Palm Beach International Airport (FBO)*

NASSAU & PARADISE ISLAND:

Nassau is a cultural hub offering vibrant city fun and nightlife. Sip on cocktails at Bon Vivants or sample conch dishes at Potter’s Cay. For culture, swing by the Educulture Junkanoo Museum. Junkanoo Festival takes place in Nassau every Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and is the heart and soul of the islands. Goombay Festival takes place June through August on multiple islands - festivities, live music and dance performances galore.

Where to stay:

Sandals Royal Bahamian -- An adults-only, all-inclusive resort on Cable Beach that offers luxury transfers in a Rolls Royce or Mercedes Benz, perfect for a romantic escape. Book a minimum 7-night stay at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau by Aug. 31, 2025, for travel through Dec. 15, 2025, and receive a $1,000 resort credit for spa treatments, private candlelight dinners or offshore island excursions.

SLS Baha Mar – Oceanfront suites with stunning views, access to the Baha Mar Casino, and a vibrant, art-infused atmosphere. Savor Life Slowly Package: Stay 4 nights or more at SLS Baha Mar in Nassau by Sept. 30, 2025, and enjoy a $300 dining credit and a welcome cocktail. Book by July 31, 2025, for travel through Nov. 30, 2025.

THE EXUMAS:

Home to 365 cays, sapphire-blue waters, the world famous swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto (an underwater cave system famous for being a filming location in two James Bond films), Highbourne Cay (a 75-foot vertical reef wall) and Tropic of Cancer Beach.

Where to stay:

Fowl Cay redefines exclusivity with its six villas spread across 50 acres, offering privacy and luxury intertwined with nature. Each villa comes with its own powerboat!

Coming Soon: Amancaya, an exclusive retreat with branded residences across two private cays in Exuma featuring a 36-pavillion hotel, a marina, Beach Club, Aman Spa and an emphasis on sustainability with LEED certification.

ELEUTHERA & HARBOUR ISLAND

Eleuthera and Harbour Island are favorites of high-profile visitors seeking a quieter escape. Sample Eleuthera’s famous pineapples at the annual Pineapple Festival, relax on Harbour Island’s Pink Sands Beach and take a dip in the Queen’s Bath. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse and a wave from Eleuthera regular, Lenny Kravitz.

Where to stay:

Enjoy the most fabulous couples, family or solo retreat at The Cove - intimate, stylish bungalows and suites that overlook those turquoise waters, The Cove, Eleuthera. Here are my 5 Things to Know Before You Go to Eleuthera.

ANDROS

To truly unplug, visit the archipelago’s largest island, Andros - home to seaside lodges and over 180 blue holes and an amazing dive site - the world’s third largest barrier reef.

The Bahamas offers us an effortless passport to island life with white sands we all need to dip our toes in every once in awhile! For more events, deals, discount packages and travel information on The Bahamas, log on to www.bahamas.com.