Looking for the best Nassau Day Trips? Are you seeking a Bahamian Island adventure away from Nassau and New Providence? Then look no further as we review the best day trips from Nassau to Exuma, Nassau to Harbour Island and Nassau to Rose Island.
Nassau makes a great vacation base from which to explore the Bahamas. With so many exciting things to do in and around Nassau and the Nassau Old Town it’s easy to forget there are over 700 other islands in the Bahamas Archipelago awaiting to be explored.
Experience the Authentic Bahamas Out Islands
Away from the hustle and bustle of Nassau, the main tourism destination of the Bahamas and one of the busiest cruise ports in the World, in the remote Bahamas Out Islands there is a different type of Bahamian Vacation experience awaiting.
Picture white sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters lapping along the coconut tree line shorelines, sipping cocktails and tasting the delicious local delicacies. This is a picture of the Bahamas rarely forgotten by visitors to Nassau, and more so with Bahamas cruise ship guests, who have merely a few hours to step foot in Nassau.
For those eager to explore the true Bahamas, hidden gems await in the Bahamas Out Islands. And there is no better way to enjoy the Bahamas Islands than Nassau Day Trips – full day excursions from Nassau to Exuma, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Rose Island and many others.
Our Favourite Nassau Day Trips
- Exuma Day Trip: Pig Beach and Staniel Cay
- Exuma Excursions: Swimming with Sharks at Compass Cay
- Eleuthera: Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island
- Rose Island: Snorkeling and White Sand Beaches
- Paradise Island: Fun and Adventure close to Nassau
1. Day Trips from Nassau to Exuma
Exuma – the most popular destination in the Bahamas Islands. Why? Swimming Pigs of course! The Bahamas Swimming pigs have become the number #1 thing to do in Bahamas. Taking one of the popular Nassau Day Trips to Pig Beach is by far the best way to visit the Bahamas Swimming Pigs.
Nassau Bahamas Pig Beach tours to the Swimming Pigs in Exuma
The Swimming Pigs live on an uninhabited island often referred to as Swimming Pigs Island, but officially known as Big Major Cay island. Big Major Cay is one of 365 islands that make up the smaller Exuma Cays archipelago – a stunning collection of small tropical islands. And the best part, it’s only a short 40 minute flight away from Nassau making this one of the most accessible Bahamas Out Islands for Nassau Day Trips.
The Bahamas Air Tours Nassau to Exuma Day Trip is a full day Exuma excursions from Nassau. A unique tour, by plane, which means that you spend less of your day travelling and more of your precious time enjoying the stunning Exuma Cays. Highlights of these Exuma tours from Nassau include:
- Swimming with Pigs at Pig Beach (Big Major Cay)
- Swimming with Sharks at Compass Cay Marina
- Roaming the serene Pipe Creek Sand Bar at low tide
- Snorkelling into the James Bond Thunderball Grotto cave
- Visiting the Bahmaian Rock Iguanas at the secluded Bitter Guana Cay beach
- Sightseeing at the Underwater Plane wreck at Staniel Cay
- Enjoying local Bahamian cooking at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Whilst most visitors are enthralled about seeing the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, they really are just the tip of the iceberg, with so many more exciting things to do in Exuma. The feedback from Bahamas Air Tours is that a lot of guests find the swimming with Sharks Experience the most exciting part of their Nassau Day Trips. And visiting the Bahamian Rock Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay is an impressive and serene experience.
Nassau Day Trips to Exuma, visiting the Bahamian Rock Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
The Bahmian Rock Iguanas are an endangered and protected species of Iguanas, with a distinctive red or pink color. They are unique, not just in the Bahamas or Caribbean, but unique in the Exuma Cays. The beach that they live on, Bitter Guana Cay island, is uninhabited. And since most tour boats doesn’t visit this far south of Staniel Cay, visitors usually get the whole island to themselves!
2. Nassau Day Trips to Harbour Island Pink Sands Beach
Pink Sands Beach is considered one of the premier beaches in the Bahamas. It’s luxurious pink sands are unique to Eleuthera Island, of which the beach is home to on Harbour Island.
Harbour Island is frequently referred to as the Nantucket of the Caribbean. The white picket fences and colorful colonial architecture make Dunmore Town a unique destination in the Bahamas out Islands. Dunmore town was the original capital of the Bahamas, named after Lord Dunmore, there is a wealth of culture and history predating the modern Bahamas which goes back to the days of pirates and rum running.
Nassau Day Trips to Harbour Island’s famous Pink Sands Beach
Bahamas Air Tours offer’s the first Nassau to Harbour Island Day Trip by plane, with only a 20 minute flight to Harbour Island, visitors have a quick and convenient way of stepping foot on the stunning Pink Sands Beach. These Nassau Day Trips to Pink Sands Beach depart from Nassau airport, and guests disembark in North Eleuthera Airport before taking the quick speed boat transfer to the government dock on Harbour Island. On this exclusive Nassau Day Trip visitors will have a cultural and historical tour of Dunmore Town including all the most picturesque architecture and sights: Loyalist Cottage, Lone Tree, Fish Fry on Bay Street, Wesley Methodist Church, Straw Crafts, wall of license plates. Adventurous activities include horse riding along pink sands beach. The Harbour Island excursion is a unique Nassau Day Trips adventure, and the perfect Bahamian small island experience – the Authentic Bahamas.
3. Rose Island Nassau Day Trips
Rose Island is the closest island to Nassau, it’s long and thin geography lie just 3 miles east of Nassau New Providence. It is an uninhabited island with no roads or infrastructure. But what it does have is long swaythes of white sandy beaches; making this one of the most accessible and convenient islands to visit as a Nassau Day Trips. The island featured in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball during the crash landing scenes of the Vulcan bomber. Sean Connery, the James Bond Actor at that time filmed many scenes in and around Nassau and many of the places in the film are still recognizable today such is the slow rate of change in Nassau.
Nassau Day Trips to Rose Island
Visiting Rose Island is very straightforward since many tour companies offer group excursion to Rose Island Nassau by ferry or speed boat. Private charters can be arranged from the Nassau downtown waterfront, opposite the Nassau Cruise Port terminal. Some boat operators like Sandy Toes operate their Nassau Day Trips from the marina adjacent to Margaretville on Paradise Island.
Why would you want to visit Rose Island? A convenient escape from Nassau. Whilst Rose Island lacks any unique culture or atmospheric experience – between the secluded beaches you will find beach clubs with sun loungers – the best of Rose Island can be experience underwater. Take a snorkeling excursion and if you’re lucky you will encounter turtles and sharks swimming with you!
4. Nassau to Paradise Island
Paradise Island remains the playground of Nassau. Towering hotel resort complexes with glistening swimming pools and water parks await excited families and adults alike. The most prominent of sprawling resorts on Paradise Island is the Atlantis Bahamas Resort. Themed around the lost city of Atlantis it is home to the Aquaventure water park and a huge aquarium. In fact a large section of the aquarium is free to access by the public from the hotel lobby.
Nassau Day Trips to Paradise Island, Atlantis Resort
Atlantis Resort includes:
- Outdoor shopping precinct
- Casino
- Conference Center
- Aquaventure Water Park
- 4 hotels
- Restaurants
- Private beach “the Cove”
Paradise Island is also home to the luxurious Four Season’s Ocean Club resort and hotel which featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. It has spectacular grounds, manicured lawns, the picturesque Versailles Gardens and access to Cabbage Beach – the main public beach on Paradise Island. You will also find a 18 hole championship golf course on Paradise Island.
If youre planning to stay in Nassau or Nassau Old Town, then a Nassau Day Trips to Paradise Island will be fun, wild and full of excitement. If a family vacation is all you want then perhaps consider staying in one of the many luxury accommodations on Paradise Island.
The best Nassau Day Trips: Nassau to Exuma Day Trip
If your Bahamas Vacation is planned to allow only 1 free day to explore the Bahamas Out Islands, we cannot recommend more highly and Exuma Excursions from Nassau by plane with Bahamas Air Tours. Beat the crowds and take the premier Exuma Day Trip to visit the famous Bahamas Swimming Pigs and create memories of a lifetime!
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