Bahamas
It’s impossible to explore the Bahamas on a single charter trip. With over 700 islands, the nation offers multiple cruising areas. The most popular for yacht charters are the Abacos and the Exumas. Charter your luxury yacht to visit the Bahamas is a wonderful way to cruise the crystal clear, turquoise waters. The very mild, tropical climate allows you to see rare, once-in-a-lifetime marine life most of the year. This huge coral archipelago is located in southeast Florida, a state in the United States where yachting is part of the culture. With its many uninhabited coves, you can spend your vacation in absolute peace and quiet.
Nassau
Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas and a wonderful place for the eyes. With its white sandy beaches, including Jaws Beach where the movie “Jaws” was filmed, you can sunbathe under the hot sun and relax.
For lodging you have the choice, you can go to the locals’ house, who will be delighted to receive you to discuss and share on the local culture. But you can also stay at the Atlantis Paradise Island, a huge, state-of-the-art vacation club. With water parks, restaurants, and swimming pools, you won’t have enough time to explore everything.
Nassau is a hub of history and culture. You can walk around the archipelago and discover the different museums like the Pirate Museum. If you walk through the different shopping streets, you will have the opportunity to visit the small local markets and the different stores.
Its geographical location, surrounded on all sides by water, makes it a wonderful place for yachting. You can easily come to Nassau for a visit or for a complete stay, there is so much to do that you will not see the time pass.
Exumas
Exumas is part of the chain of cays and islands that make up the Bahamas. These islands lie lazily on the Tropic of Cancer, about 300 miles southeast of the US coast. Great Exumas, the largest of the islands is home to Georgetown, a charming Caribbean town that you must visit.
Here you can be more than a tourist and meet the locals who will be happy to welcome you over a good meal. Here the luxury is to be able to escape the frenzy of the city to rest in a place with a lifestyle very different from what you usually know.
Well known for its pig beach, Exumas is the ideal place for water sports and relaxation. With beaches as far as the eye can see, it’s the perfect place for a luxury yacht vacation. Sail around this archipelago to discover the different islets and get lost in the beautiful landscapes.
Water activities
In addition to being a destination almost designed for a luxury yacht vacation, the rich marine life of the Bahamas makes room for plenty of water activities. You can berth on the island of Bimini to swim with sharks, rays and all sorts of endangered species. Animals you won’t see anywhere else on the planet. This will allow you to become aware of the challenges of the marine world and to learn more about it in order to protect it.
Sports enthusiasts will also be delighted. In addition to hiking trails that will delight those who love exceptional views, you can indulge in a multitude of aquatic activities. Grab your fins, masks and snorkels and let yourself be tempted by a snorkeling or diving session. You will be able to admire the species up close and see the coral reefs of the Bahamas. All in all, it’s a trip you won’t soon forget and one that will delight the whole family, from the youngest to the oldest.
When to go
November - mid April
High season
December - March
Yacht charters in the Abacos typically begin at Marsh Harbour. Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay and Elbow Cay are just a few of the islands to the east, all easy to visit on a course from north to south. Fishing is a favorite pastime here, as is leisurely cruising. One of the most popular Abacos destinations is Hope Town, home to a famous red-and-white-striped lighthouse that is one of only three left in the world that are operated manually. A person has to hand-crank a mechanism every few hours to keep the lighthouse functioning for incoming yachts. Exumas itineraries usually start at Nassau, at one of several marinas that can include the large Atlantis Resort with its water slides, shopping galleries and casino. From there, charter yachts cruise south to Staniel Cay, Highborne Cay, Norman’s Cay and more. Be sure to include Thunderball Grotto on your itinerary: There, you can snorkel in the cave where Sean Connery once “escaped” as James Bond in the film “Thunderball.”