The Bahamas isn’t just a destination—it’s a 300,000-square-mile playground of powder-soft beaches, neon-blue waters, and island vibes so strong you’ll forget what stress feels like.
With over 700 islands and cays, this paradise serves up everything from luxury resorts to untouched sandbars where your footprints might be the first of the day.
But here’s the thing: most visitors never look beyond Nassau’s cruise ports. Big mistake. We’re about to reveal the best places to visit in the Bahamas this summer—hidden beaches, swimming pigs, and underwater caves included.
Get ready to upgrade your vacation from “nice” to “I-can’t-believe-this-is-real-life” incredible.
1. Exuma Cays – Where the Water Does Impossible Things
The Exumas are the Bahamas’ showstopper, with water so unreal it looks Photoshopped. The star? Big Major Cay, home to the famous swimming pigs that’ll paddle right up to your boat. Pro tip: Bring apples—they go nuts for them.
Don’t miss Thunderball Grotto, an underwater cave system where James Bond films were shot. Snorkel through shafts of sunlight illuminating rainbow-colored fish in what feels like a natural cathedral.
For the ultimate flex, rent a boat to Sand Dollar Beach, where the sand is so white it glows. You’ll want 1,000 photos—but no filter can do this place justice.
2. Harbour Island – Pink Sands & Billionaire Vibes
This tiny island packs big luxury into just 3.5 square miles. The pink sand beaches (yes, actually pink) get their hue from crushed coral, creating a blush-colored shoreline that looks straight out of a fairy tale.
Stay in a pastel-colored beachfront cottage and golf-cart your way around town—cars aren’t allowed. Eat conch salad at Queen Conch (made fresh while you watch) and save room for Bahamian rum cake.
Dive with reef sharks at Current Cut if you’re brave, or just float in water so clear you can see your toes wiggling 30 feet down.
3. Andros Island – The Bonefishing Capital & Blue Hole Mecca
Andros is where adventurers come to play. It’s home to the world’s third-largest barrier reef and over 200 blue holes—those mysterious underwater sinkholes that look like portals to another dimension.
Book a guide to bonefish on the flats (even beginners can reel in these speedy silver fish). Then hike to Captain Bill’s Blue Hole, where you can cliff jump into 50 feet of crystal-clear water.
Stay at Tiamo Resort for eco-luxury bungalows right on the water. Fall asleep to the sound of waves and wake up to fresh mangoes from the property’s trees.
4. Eleuthera – 100-Mile-Long Paradise
This skinny island stretches like a coral-colored ribbon through the Atlantic. Drive the Glass Window Bridge, where the dark blue Atlantic meets the turquoise Caribbean in a stark color contrast that’ll blow your mind.
Snorkel at Current Cut, a natural drift dive where you’ll glide past eagle rays and sea turtles. Then hit French Leave Beach—often called the most beautiful beach in the Bahamas—where pink sand meets water in every shade of blue.
Don’t leave without trying Eleuthera pineapple, the sweetest you’ll ever taste. Grown locally since the 1800s, it’s like candy with juice that drips down your arms.
5. Bimini – Hemingway’s Playground
Just 50 miles from Miami, Bimini feels worlds away. Hemingway wrote parts of Islands in the Stream here while fishing for monster marlin—and you can still chase the same giants today.
Dive the SS Sapona, a concrete shipwreck from Prohibition days. Or swim with wild spotted dolphins in the open ocean (they love showing off for humans).
At night, hit Stuart’s Conch Stand for cracked conch so fresh it was swimming that morning. The Bimini bread (sweet, buttery, and slightly coconutty) is worth flying for alone.
6. Long Island – Cliffs, Caves & Cosmic Blue Holes
This underrated island has Dean’s Blue Hole, the world’s second-deepest saltwater sinkhole at 663 feet. Free divers train here, but you can just snorkel the electric-blue rim.
Drive to Cape Santa Maria Beach, where 4 miles of untouched sand meet shallow water in 50 shades of aqua. Then explore Hamilton’s Cave, the Bahamas’ largest cave system, with Lucayan Indian carvings dating back centuries.
Stay at Cape Santa Maria Resort, where your beachfront villa comes with hammocks strung between palm trees. Perfect for napping after too much sun and conch fritters.
7. Cat Island – The Undiscovered Paradise
Forget everything you know about crowded beaches. Cat Island serves up 40 miles of deserted shoreline where you might not see another soul all day. The star? Fernandez Bay, with water so calm it looks like glass and sand so soft it feels like powdered sugar.
Climb to the top of Mount Alvernia, the Bahamas’ highest point at 206 feet. The medieval-style Hermitage monastery at the summit offers 360-degree views that’ll steal your breath. On clear days, you can see all the way to Cuba!
Stay at Greenwood Beach Resort, where the beachfront cottages have no TVs – just the sound of waves and rustling palms. Their fresh-caught snapper with local spices is reason enough to visit.
8. The Abacos – Sailing Capital of the World
The Abacos are where island hopping dreams come true. This 120-mile-long chain of cays offers the Bahamas’ best sailing, with protected waters and a new perfect beach around every bend.
Marsh Harbour is your jumping-off point. From there, boat to Elbow Cay for the iconic red-and-white Hope Town Lighthouse. Climb to the top for sunset views over candy-colored cottages and turquoise water.
Don’t miss Great Guana Cay’s 7-mile beach, where the Nipper’s Beach Bar serves killer coconut shrimp. Time your visit for Sunday afternoon when the whole island shows up for pig roasts and rake-n-scrape music.
9. San Salvador – Where Columbus First Landed
History buffs, this one’s for you. San Salvador is where Columbus first set foot in the New World in 1492. Today, it’s home to some of the Bahamas’ healthiest coral reefs and most dramatic drop-offs.
Dive the “Wall” at Riding Rock Point, where the seafloor suddenly plunges 6,000 feet. The coral gardens here burst with queen angelfish, spotted eagle rays, and curious reef sharks.
On land, bike to Dixon Hill Lighthouse – one of the last hand-operated lighthouses in the world. The keeper will let you crank the mechanism yourself for unforgettable views.
10. Mayaguana – The Bahamas’ Last Frontier
Ever wanted to have an entire Bahamian island to yourself? Mayaguana makes it possible. With just 300 residents, this easternmost island feels like you’ve discovered paradise before anyone else.
Abraham’s Bay offers three miles of empty beach where sea turtles nest. Bring snorkel gear – the shallow reefs here teem with parrotfish, lobsters, and the occasional friendly nurse shark.
Stay at Baycaner Beach Resort, where the conch salad is made from shells plucked straight from the water. At night, the lack of light pollution means the Milky Way looks close enough to touch.
11. Inagua – Flamingo Island
Birdwatchers, prepare to geek out. Inagua National Park is home to over 80,000 West Indian flamingos – the world’s largest breeding colony. The pink clouds of birds against turquoise lakes is a sight you’ll never forget.
Take a guided tour through the park’s salt flats and mangrove creeks, where you’ll also spot Bahama pintails, roseate spoonbills, and curly-tailed lizards. The island’s Morton Salt Company offers fascinating tours showing how sea salt is harvested.
Stay at Main House, the island’s only hotel, where home-cooked meals feature fresh seafood and tropical fruits. Don’t leave without trying their guava duff dessert – a Bahamian specialty.
12. Rum Cay – Surfer’s Secret Spot
This tiny 12-square-mile island flies under the radar – and that’s exactly how surfers like it. Summertime swells create perfect waves at Black Rock Point, with breaks suitable for beginners and experts alike.
When you’re not riding waves, explore the island’s coral gardens or the RMS Conqueror shipwreck just offshore. The island’s only settlement, Port Nelson, feels frozen in time with its pastel cottages and single general store.
Stay at Rum Cay Beach Club, where the beachfront villas come with bikes to explore the island’s dirt roads. Their cracked lobster (served with garlic butter and lime) is worth the trip alone.
13. Crooked Island – The Fish Bowl
Anglers, this is your mecca. The Crooked Island Passage acts like a fish highway, bringing in monster tuna, wahoo, and mahi-mahi year-round. Even beginners can reel in dinner here.
When you’re not fishing, visit the Bird Rock Lighthouse or hunt for seashells at Landrail Point, where conchs wash up by the dozens. The island’s Hope Great House ruins offer a glimpse into Loyalist-era plantation life.
Stay at Pittstown Point Landings, where the oceanfront cottages have screened porches perfect for stargazing. Their pepperpot soup (a hearty vegetable stew) will fuel your adventures.
14. Acklins – The Hidden Gem
If you’re looking for complete escape, Acklins delivers. This remote island sees fewer than 100 tourists a year, meaning you’ll have its powdery beaches and blue holes practically to yourself.
Lovely Bay stretches for miles without a single footprint. Nearby, the Dean’s Blue Hole of the South offers incredible snorkeling in crystal-clear waters. Visit the Castle Island Lighthouse for panoramic views of the Atlantic.
Stay at Chester’s Highway Inn, where the owner might join you for a game of dominoes on the porch. Their grilled grouper with okra is the perfect island comfort food.
15. Berry Islands – The Celebrity Hideaway
This chain of 30 cays is where billionaires and A-listers come to disappear. The Chub Cay wall offers some of the Bahamas’ most spectacular diving, with coral canyons and frequent shark sightings.
On land, Great Harbour Cay boasts a 7-mile pink sand beach that rivals Harbour Island’s – minus the crowds. The island’s blue holes offer eerie but beautiful freshwater swims in the middle of the ocean.
Stay at Great Harbour Cay Marina, where you might spot famous faces at the dockside bar. Their conch burger (served on homemade bread) is legendary among yachters.
16. Conception Island – The Uninhabited Paradise
No hotels. No restaurants. Just pure, untouched nature. This protected island is reachable only by boat, offering pristine beaches and thriving coral reefs exactly as nature intended.
Snorkel the “Aquarium”, where colorful fish swarm in crystal-clear shallows. Hike to Booby Hill for views of the entire island and beyond. With luck, you’ll spot rare Bahamian iguanas sunning on the rocks.
Pack a picnic and make it a day trip from Long Island or Cat Island. Just remember: take only photos, leave only footprints.
Final Thoughts
From swimming with pigs to floating in blue holes, the Bahamas is more than just beaches—it’s a choose-your-own-adventure paradise. This summer, skip the crowded resorts and find your perfect slice of island magic.
So which spot speaks to you? Pink sands on Harbour Island? Underwater caves in Exuma? Or maybe reeling in trophy fish off Bimini? Whatever you pick, one thing’s certain: you’re about to make memories that’ll outshine any Instagram post.
Ready to dive in? Tag your travel buddy and start planning—the Bahamas is waiting!