With its South Florida location, Miami is home to many incredible day trips and excursions. But when you’re looking for the best day trips from Miami, there’s only one real contender: a Bahamas day trip.
If you’re unsure what that trip looks like, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ll explain how to travel on a day trip to Bahamas from Miami, as well as what you can expect to see once you arrive.
Read on to find out more!
Best Day Trips From Miami: Embark on a Bahamas Day Trip
Bahamas Day Trip From Miami by Plane
When you start looking into the best day trips from Miami to Bahamas, you’ll usually see different tour options that transport you from South Florida to Freeport or Bimini. While both islands are beautiful, you’re better off skipping this type of tour.
Boat travel to the Bahamas may seem serene, but the experience is often rougher than people imagine. That, combined with the crowds of people you share the ferry with, makes the trip anything but comfortable.
Similarly, a Bahamas day trip that travels by boat faces the constraint of time. As it takes a couple of hours to reach the Bahamas, you’re stuck going to two of the most touristy places in the country. Likewise, your time on those islands is shorter than you’d imagine, as before you know it, you’ll need to head back to Florida.
Flying by private-class plane offers comfort and luxury.
Given those shortcomings, more and more travelers are turning to air travel as a way to enjoy the best day trips from Miami. Flying with Bahamas Air Tours, for example, lets you cruise through the air to Exuma – a district of 365 islands that’s one of the most picturesque parts of the country. Flying also lets you beat the crowds, since Exuma is more secluded and the plane itself is a private-class vessel.
Combine those perks with the surreal views from the air and a Miami to Bahamas day trip by plane becomes the top excursion choice.
Day Trip to Bahamas From Miami: The 7 Attractions
1. Staniel Cay
When you sign up for the best day trips from Miami to Exuma, you’ll arrive at the island of Staniel Cay within two hours. That time includes a quick layover at Andros, where you’ll clear customs.
Home to an airport, you’ll switch over to a boat on Staniel Cay to explore the surrounding attractions.
Known as the Gateway to Exuma, Staniel Cay features a marina, a small town, and other attractions, like a yacht club. On your Bahamas day trip, you’ll eat lunch on the island after the tour concludes before heading back to South Florida.
2. Sandbars at Pipe Creek
The Exuma sandbars are a highlight of a Miami to Bahamas day trip.
If you’re looking for a Bahamas destination with unbeatable views, you’ll find it at the Pipe Creek sandbars.
At low tide, the waters around the area pull back, revealing stretches of snow-white sand. On the best day trips from Miami, you’ll have time to walk around the sandbars while soaking in the stunning surroundings.
Whether you sit in the sand, submerge yourself in the warm water, or just sit and admire the views, the sandbars at Pipe Creek offer a postcard-perfect experience.
3. Swimming Pigs at Big Major Cay
Another highlight of the best day trips from Miami is Big Major Cay. Nicknamed Pig Island, the tropical paradise is home to a very special type of resident: the Swimming Pigs.
A Bahamas day trip lets you meet the Swimming Pigs.
While their origins to the island are unclear (various stories seek to explain where they come from), the Swimming Pigs have inhabited their home for decades. Throughout the years, they’ve gained popularity, to the point that they’ve inspired imitation Pig Beaches throughout the Bahamas. That said, the original Exuma Pigs are on Big Major Cay.
Their friendly and curious energy makes the Swimming Pigs a highlight of a Bahamas day trip from Miami.
4. Nurse Sharks at Compass Cay
One of the most popular stops on the best day trips from Miami to Bahamas is Compass Cay. Home to a school of nurse sharks, the island has become one of the top destinations in the world to go swimming with sharks.
When you arrive at Compass Cay, you’ll visit the marina docks and see the sharks swimming around in the water. From there, you’ll observe them being fed before having the opportunity to hop in the water alongside them.
While the experience might seem terrifying, the guides and boat captains help ensure visitor safety. Plus, the sharks are nurse sharks, which are one of the most docile species!
5. An Underwater Plane Wreck
Travelers signing up for the best day trips from Miami hoping to see marine life will love visiting an underwater plane wreck. Submerged in the waters by Staniel Cay, the wreck has become a home for tropical fish and other creatures since its crash.
Interestingly, the Exuma Cays are home to several underwater plane wrecks, with another being in the waters around Norman’s Cay. Many of these were originally drug smuggling vessels and were filled to the brim with marijuana.
The wreck near Staniel Cay is particularly great for snorkeling because of the shallow water around the plane.
6. Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
Another animal you’ll see on the best day trips from Miami is the northern Bahamian rock iguana.
Residing on Bitter Guana Cay, the colorful lizard has suffered from habitat loss over the past several decades. Getting to see them on a day trip to Bahamas from Miami is, therefore, a special experience.
Bitter Guana Cay is a beautiful island home to iguanas.
As your boat approaches the gorgeous island, you’ll see the lizards make their way out of the island’s rocks and vegetation. They’ll lounge on the beach alongside you as you’re there, welcoming you to their island abode.
In addition to being the home of the Bahamian northern rock iguana, Bitter Guana Cay is also a remarkably beautiful island. Devoid of people and featuring stunning views, it feels like a genuine tropical getaway.
7. Underwater Caves at Thunderball Grotto
Another popular stop on a Miami to Bahamas day trip is Thunderball Grotto. Named after Thunderball, the site was a filming location for the James Bond film.
Regardless of whether you’re a fan of the super spy, Thunderball Grotto is an incredible attraction to visit. Home to underwater caves, you can enter the system during low tide with a snorkel and mask. Once inside, you’ll see towering rocks all around you, but an open sky above. In the waters beneath you, you can see tropical fish, coral, lobsters, and other forms of marine life.
The stunning natural beauty of Thunderball Grotto, combined with the site’s connection to James Bond, makes it another fan-favorite attraction on a Bahamas day trip.
Best Day Trips From Miami: Visit Exuma Bahamas
If you’re looking for the best day trips from Miami, look no further than a day trip to Bahamas from Miami. While you can find various tour options to the island nation, book a trip that travels by plane to enjoy the ultimate day trip experience.
When you travel with Bahamas Air Tours, you’ll fly in comfort to Exuma, one of the most beautiful destinations in the country. From meeting the Swimming Pigs and snorkeling through Thunderball Grotto to swimming with nurse sharks and more, your Bahamas day trip from Miami will be an unforgettable excursion.
Book a Bahamas day trip today!
