If you’re wondering how to get from Miami to Bahamas, you’re not alone. Many travelers in the Sunshine State are looking to visit the world-class beaches and interact with attractions like the Swimming Pigs that make the Bahamas famous. Luckily, signing up for a day trip Miami to Bahamas is easy.
In this post, we’re going to break down why signing up for a Miami to Bahamas flight with Bahamas Air Tours is the best way to go about reaching the archipelago. We’ll also take a look at some of the sites you can look forward to seeing on your day trip.
Keep reading to find out more!
How to Get From Miami to Bahamas: Florida to Bahamas Flights
Sailing From Miami to Bahamas
Many people wondering about how to get from Miami to Bahamas look into traveling to the archipelago by boat. However, while sailing from Miami to Bahamas may seem like the best option, the experience often ends up differing from expectations.
For one thing, the boat ride is long. You can expect a journey of around two to three hours to reach the closest islands from South Florida. While that voyage is lengthy on its own, tour companies also recommend that you arrive at the ferry terminal at 6 am, hours before departure, to ensure there aren’t any hiccups with check-in. All in all, that equates to around nine hours spent in transit and queues.

Taking the boat eats up precious time you could otherwise spend in the beautiful island nation.
Besides being time-consuming, embarking on a Miami to Bahamas day trip by boat also ends up being a less than comfortable experience. As if the crowds of people on the ferry with you weren’t enough, the boat also has to churn through rough and choppy waters. Even if you’re not someone prone to motion or seasickness, day trip Miami to Bahamas my boat might not be the best option.
Flights to Bahamas
Thankfully, more and more travelers are beginning to use another transportation option to answer the question of how to get from Miami to Bahamas: air travel.
A flight to Bahamas sidesteps many of the issues that go along with taking the ferry. You don’t have to worry about spending an entire afternoon in transit – in two hours, you arrive in the Exuma Cays, one of the most beautiful parts of the country (more on them below). There’s no time spent waiting in line for check-in, and the two-hour transit time even includes a stopover at Andros Island to clear customs.
Florida to Bahamas Flights also offer a much more comfortable travel experience. Flying on a private-class plane lets you avoid the crowds and enjoy a smooth journey. As you soar through the clouds, you’ll also get treated to views that are so beautiful they appear otherworldly.

Anyone wondering how to get from Miami to Bahamas will want to travel by plane.
Day Trip Miami to Bahamas: Bimini and Freeport
Another one of the issues that go along with using the ferry to answer the question of how to get from Miami to Bahamas is the destinations you visit. Bimini and Freeport are two of the closest islands to Florida, and while they’re both beautiful, they’ve become touristy due to their geographic position.
After sailing from Miami to Bahamas, the couple of hours you have to spend on either island doesn’t make it possible to appreciate the true Bahamian culture. What you end up with is an over-commercialized experience that doesn’t feel personalized in any way. From the crowded beaches to the salespeople trying to get you to buy trinkets, neither Bimini nor Freeport will feel very different from the busiest parts of Florida.
Notably, when you day trip Miami to Bahamas by plane, you don’t visit Bimini or Freeport – you head farther south in the archipelago to get an authentic Bahamian experience.
Miami to Bahamas Flight: Exuma

Florida to Bahamas flights make it easy to travel to the Bahamas.
As mentioned, once you know how to get from Miami to Bahamas, you get to visit the Exuma Cays. This district of the country is a chain of 365 islands and is world-famous for its crystal-clear, bright-blue water. The unique azure hue is so vivid, astronauts can identify it from space.
Given the clarity of the water, the islands of Exuma offer all sorts of access to marine life. From snorkeling and diving to deep-sea fishing, the region is a water-lovers paradise.
Besides offering beautiful natural scenery, Exuma is also one of the best places in the country to appreciate the island vibes that make the Bahamas famous. Far from the cruise ship ports of Nassau and Freeport, you’ll enjoy a quiet and relaxed experience on your Miami to Bahamas day trip.
Florida to Bahamas Attractions

A Staniel Cay day tour lets you travel over the azure water from island to island.
Once you stop wondering how to get from Miami to Bahamas, you can start looking into what you can see once your plane lands. You can rest assured that you’ll have an afternoon full of exciting destinations.
Once you land at Staniel Cay, the Gateway to the Exumas, you switch over to a powerboat. From there, you’ll make your way to a menagerie of nearby attractions.
Pig Beach
Pig Beach, officially known as Big Major Cay, is the world-famous home of the Exuma Pigs. It’s therefore one of the stops that travelers look forward to the most.

The Swimming Pigs are one of the best parts of a Miami to Bahamas day trip.
If you’re unfamiliar with the history of the island, the Swimming Pigs arrived at Big Major Cay a couple of decades ago. No one knows exactly how they found their way there, and there are many legends floating around that seek to explain their origins. Regardless, nearby islanders have been traveling to Pig Island for years now, conditioning the pigs into the friendly creatures they are today.
As you pull up to Big Major Cay, you can expect the pigs to swim out and say hello. You’ll have the opportunity to feed them from your boat before hopping onto their island and touring their home.
Compass Cay
While Big Major Cay might be the most well-known stop that flights to Bahamas let you see, Compass Cay is another location that ends up being many people’s favorite.
Located in the vicinity of Pig Island, Compass Cay is home to a school of nurse sharks that reside in the waters of the local marina. In the past several years, it’s become one of the best places in the Bahamas to go swimming with sharks.

A Miami to Bahamas flight lets you visit the famous nurse sharks at Compass Cay.
While jumping into shark-infested waters might sound terrifying, you can rest assured that the Compass Cay experience is safe. With knowledgeable guides and docile nurse sharks, you’ll be able to take some amazing pictures and say that you held a shark without having to fear losing a limb.
Thunderball Grotto
Thunderball Grotto is one of several attractions on your Swimming Pigs tour that lets you appreciate the bountiful marine life of Exuma. It’s a system of underwater caves full of coral, fish, and other creatures.
Besides serving as a great snorkeling destination, Thunderball Grotto is also a great place to appreciate some classic Hollywood history. The site was one of the filming locations for the James Bond film, Thunderball!
Swimming With Pigs Bahamas: The Best of the Archipelago
If you’re wondering how to get from Miami to Bahamas, know that a Miami to Bahamas flight makes doing so easy. It’s also a much better option than sailing from Miami to Bahamas.
When you travel by plane, you get to visit the stunning Exuma Cays. Upon arrival, you’ll get to meet the Exuma Pigs, go swimming with nurse sharks, snorkel through underwater caves, and do so much more.
Sign up for a Staniel cay day tour today!
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