Islands of The Bahamas, Caribbean Sea

The main islands of The Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, stretch across a huge area of clear ocean and have hundreds of kilometers of white sandy beaches. On the islands are resort facilities for groups of up to 250 people and are ideal for a relaxing beach vacation. Though secluded, the islands are not isolated.

Andros

Andros is the largest of the islands in The Bahamas, known primarily as the "Bone Fishing Capital of the World". It's also host of the Great Barrier Reef, the third largest reef in the Western Hemisphere, fascinating blue holes and the mystical Chickcharnie. Vacationers can interrupt their days of relaxation to explore the underwater life and experience the vast blue holes. During month November, travelers & fisherman come to this island for the North Andros Thanksgiving Bonefish Tournament.
Andros is the largest but also the least known from the bigger islands. Laced with creeks and densely forested inland, the interior is still largely untouched and natural. Off the eastern shore is the 140 mile long coral barrier reef - the world's third longest. Beyond the reef, the ocean floor drops away steeply to a depth of more than 1 mile; called the Tongue of the Ocean, deep-water fishing is a major attraction here!

Abacos

Abacos is a crescent-shaped chain of islands to the north of New Providence. Many of the towns here have the atmosphere of New England's fishing villages. The islands are particularly noted for their tradition of ship building, an original 200-year-old practice. Treasure Cay has an excellent golf course and here, as in the other major islands, there are also excellent leisure facilities. Other attractions include Alton Lowe's Museum in New Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay, Elbow Cay and Marsh Harbor, and the bare-boat charter center of northern Bahamas. The Pelican Cay National Park is an excellent place for scuba-diving and an underwater preserve where night dives can be also arranged.

Eleuthera

Eleuthera is a narrow island, 110 miles long but rarely more than 2 miles wide. Here, the attractions include the Ocean Hole, Glass Window Bridge, Harbor Island, which is one of the oldest settlements in Bahamas, Spanish Wells, Preacher's Cave, and the underwater caves at Hatchet Bay. The nature here is more as beautiful, so diving and snorkeling on Eleuthera is particularly magnificent!

Exumas

The waters surrounding this 100 mile long chain of islands have been described by sailors and yachtsmen as being the finest cruising region in the world. There are also spectacular reefs protected by the Exuma Land and Sea Park. Inland, several once-great plantation houses now stand ruined and deserted, although the names of their owners still live on in many local family surnames. In April, Elizabeth Harbor is the setting for the Family Island Regatta.

Cat Island

This island is one of the eastern bulwarks of the Bahamas archipelago. Cat Island has 200ft cliffs, dense natural forest and many caves. On Mount Alvernia is the Hermitage built by Father Jerome. The Cat Island Regatta takes place here during August.

Bimini

Lying between Andros and Florida, Bimini is widely regarded as one of the best sea-fishing centers in Caribbean Sea and even in the world. Ernest Hemingway used to live in Alice Town into a house named Blue Marlin Cottage and many mementos of his life can be seen in the local museum.

Berry Island

It is popular for fishing and also noted for its serene landscapes and white sand beaches. Great Harbor Cay has a championship golf course. Divers can admire the underwater rock formations and 15ft stag horn coral reefs off Mamma Rhoda Rock.

Blue Lagoon Island

It's an exotic lagoon where visitors can enjoy close encounters with friendly bottle-nosed dolphins and other marine creatures, including a large number of tropical fish species, some of them living only in the Caribbean Sea.

Long Island

This island certainly lives up to its name, being almost 60 miles long but rarely more than 3 miles wide. The landscape consists of rugged headlands dropping sharply down to the sea, fertile pastureland, rolling hills and sandy beaches washed by surf. At Conception Island, divers can explore over 30 shipwrecks. The Long Island Regatta at Salt Pond takes place here in May.

San Salvador

San Salvador was the first landing place in Bahamas and in the New World for Columbus. Cockburn Town is the main settlement and it is not far from the place where Columbus is said to have landed, although other sites also claim this distinction. Game fishing, diving and snorkeling are the most popular activities for Caribbean vacationers.