Being the capital city of the Bahamas, Nassau serves as a central hub for all that there is to see and do in the country. Nassau shore excursions are an excellent way to explore the archipelago. You’ll be transported into a world of fascinating creatures, scenic magnificence and experiences to last you a lifetime. Nassau Bahamas tours are your gateway to some of the world’s most sought after excursions.
With an archipelago as large and diverse as the Bahamas, consisting of well over 700 islands and cays, deciding where to visit during your vacation can prove to be difficult. The main reason for this is that everywhere really is incredible. You almost can’t go wrong. Each island offers new and exciting experiences, sights and attractions. Whether you’re visiting with a family, an entire wedding party or you’re just on your own, you will undoubtedly find something for absolutely everyone. Nassau is where all of this touring begins, and if you’ve arrived in Nassau on a cruise ship, then choosing the best Nassau cruise excursions is absolutely essential.
Discover the best Nassau Cruise Excursions to the Exumas
With 84% of the country’s land mass belonging to an area known as the Out Islands, travel within the country is inevitable. Particularly because the Out Islands are the real treasure of the Bahamas. Hundreds of unspoiled islands surrounded by vibrant and lively reefs and endless adventures. Booking a trip with Bahamas Air Tours is the most convenient way to explore the Bahamas. The biggest drawcard is the sheer speed of the plane. Ordinarily you would go by boat, or even ferry, but with Bahamas Air Tours you fly. This cuts your travel time into a mere fraction of what it would be on a boat, providing you with that much more time to enjoy the beauty of the country. What’s more is that Bahamas Air Tours even offers private trips that line up with the cruise ship stops. To book a Bahamas Day trip with Bahamas Air Tours is to guarantee yourself an unforgettable time in the Bahamas.
Best Excursions in Nassau
Everyone is different, which means that certain tours will inherently attract certain people. That being said, there are some tours that simply aren’t to be missed. All of these are available on one of the many Nassau shore excursions with Bahamas Air Tours. If you are pressed for time on a cruise ship stop over, then you’ll have to select the Nassau tours that suit you best. With so many to choose from, it’s best that you make your mind up ahead of time. With endless experiences awaiting you in the Bahamas, you’re sure to have the vacation of a lifetime.
Best Excursions in Nassau to the Exuma Cays
Your best bet is to book a trip to Staniel Cay. Just as Nassau serves as the gateway to the Bahamas, so too does Staniel Cay provide access to the best Nassau cruise excursions. This island is located in a sub-archipelago known as the Exuma Cays, and provides access to some of the world’s greatest destinations.
1. Big Major Cay, aka Pig Beach
While the official name may be Big Major Cay, most know this destination as Pig Island. This is due to the remarkable creatures that call this island home. Of all the Nassau shore excursions, this is undoubtedly the most popular. In fact, a visit to the pigs of Big Major Cay is the most sought after trip in the world, and for good reason.
Nassau Shore Excursions to the Swimming Pigs at Staniel Cay
Though at first glance they may just seem like ordinary farm pigs, you’ll soon find that they are quite extraordinary. These pigs swim. Nothing says unique vacation like floating on your back in the crystalline turquoise ocean of the Bahamas with a number of pigs paddling around you. There are few better photo opportunities on earth, let alone on any of the other Nassau tours. What’s more is that this island is just to the north of Staniel Cay, which will make it easily accessible for your Nassau shore excursions.
2. Swim with Sharks at Compass Cay
From swimming with pigs, to swimming with sharks, Nassau shore excursions just keeps on delivering. Compass Cay’s marina is home to a great number of Nurse Sharks. Reaching up to 14 ft in length, these colossal creatures certainly look to be intimidating. However, they are mostly harmless, and are actually a lot more like a catfish than a shark. This means that as long as it’s not feeding time, you can jump right into the water alongside these ominous looking creatures for an experience you’ll never forget. With caution always being a priority as these are wild animals, you can get right up close and personal with them. You can pet, stroke and even hold these sharks, and get some sensational vacation pictures while you’re at it! A trip to Compass Cay promises to be one of the best excursions in Nassau.
3. Snorkel the James Bond Thunderball Grotto
If you’ve had enough of creatures being the attraction, but the water is still calling your name, then Thunderball Grotto is for you. This site is one of excitement and wonder, and is sure to be near the top of your list of stories to tell when you get back home. You may feel like you’ve been dropped into the world of James Bond as you swim through a submerged tunnel into this glorious cavern. This sense would be spot on, as this site was featured in the 1965 Bond film “Thunderball” which gave the destination its name.
Swim into the Thunderball Grotto on a Nassau Cruise Excursions
The cave itself is a magnificent sight to behold. The walls shimmer and sparkle with the reflection of the water, and the water glows from the sunlight that peaks through a hole in the top of the cavern. Thunderball Grotto is a truly mesmerising destination, and you could easily spend hours just floating on your back and getting lost in the beauty of your surroundings. There is no doubt that of all the nassau shore excursions, this is one of the best.
4. Bahamas Rock Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
If, on the other hand, you want more creatures and less water, then Bitter Guana Cay is for you. Upon arrival, you may feel like you’re in the prehistoric era, or that you’ve just landed on one of the Galapagos islands. The island itself is just as beautiful and pristine as all the others in the Exuma Cays, but once again, it’s the residents that make it so special.
Visit the Bahamas Rock Iguanas on an Exuma Tours from Nassau
Bitter Guana Cay is home to one of the highest populations of the endangered Bahamian Rock Iguana. These magnificent beast roam the beaches, or find shelter beneath rocks or undergrowth. They are not aggressive, and more importantly, skittish. They are actually curious of humans, and will often come a little closer to investigate you and your group. This will provide you with some truly excellent photo opportunities, and won’t have you desperately trying to get one of them in frame as they dart away. A trip to Bitter Guana Cay is not only one of the best Exuma tours from Nassau, but it also helps to raise awareness and protect this endangered creature. Of all the Nassau shore excursions to choose from, this is certainly one of the best.
5. Sunken Plane Wreck
Staniel Cay is surrounded by some fascinating destinations, but few tell as rich a story as the site of the sunken plane wreck. This aircraft was actually a drug smuggler’s plane, and is said to have belonged to none other than Carlos Lehder, a member of the infamous Medellin Cartel. The late 70’s saw this plane descend to it’s watery resting place. However, it wasn’t actually transporting drugs at the time, instead, it was transporting bags of flour. This was common practice to train new pilots or explore new routes and practice drops. Though this mission didn’t go to plan, it has resulted in a popular and fascinating site for people to visit. If you’re looking for great exuma tours from Nassau, then this should certainly be on your list.f
Staniel Cay Day Trips by Plane
Staniel Cay is the epicentre of some of the very best that the Bahamas has to offer. Whether you’re pressed for time on a cruise ship stop over, or you’ve got weeks to explore the country, Staniel Cay should serve as your hub of excursions. Nassau shore excursions are made much simpler if you start out by heading straight to Staniel Cay and exploring from there, you simply can’t go wrong.
Visit the Best Bahamas Beach on a Nassau Shore Excursion
Book a Bahamas Day Tour with Bahamas Air Tours
To explore the Bahamas by air is undoubtedly the very best way to experience this picturesque country. Not only will the shorter travel time prove to be immeasurably convenient, but the beauty of the landscape is further enhanced by the excellent viewpoint provided from above. Soaring over the bahamas and soaking in the gorgeous views in all directions is bound to make your Bahamian vacation truly unforgettable. Not to mention the fact that Bahamas Air Tours provides you with the best options for Nassau shore excursions. Bahamas Air Tours offers day trips as well as overnight stays. If you’re arriving in Nassau on a cruise ship, or you’re based in Florida, you can book a trip and look forward to the tour of a lifetime.
Select images courtesy of the Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism.
Get our FREE Bahamas Guidebook
Discover the Bahamas Out Islands
With beautifully illustrated maps and informative destination guides.
Download the Guidebook
