Are you considering signing up for a yacht charter Bahamas? If you are, it’s understandable as to why. With 700 stunning and secluded islands separated by clear, azure water, Bahamas sailing charters seem like one of the most straightforward ways to traverse the archipelago.
In this guide, we’re going to explain everything you need to know about yacht rental Bahamas. We’re also going to highlight how, in many cases, chartering a plane is preferable to renting a boat – especially if you need to traverse long distances.
Keep reading to learn all about Bahamas sailing charters!
Yacht Charter Bahamas: Your Guide to Bahamas Sailing Charters
Choosing a Destination
When you’re investigating the different yacht charter Bahamas choices, you’ll see options across the archipelago. Many are in Nassau or nearby Paradise Island since most travelers enter the country through the international airport or cruise port. And while you can’t go wrong with any destination in the Bahamas, we recommend spending the most time exploring the Exuma Cays.
The Exuma Cays are one of the most beautiful destinations in the country.
Exuma is a district of the country south of the capital. It features 365 islands and offers a quieter, more authentically Bahamian experience. Instead of seeing crowded and commercialized attractions, you’ll find hidden beaches, fun local attractions, and the brightest water you’ll ever see.
While the Exuma Cays are famous for all that they have to offer, the region is best known for its unique local residents: the Swimming Pigs. No yacht Exuma experience is complete without a visit to their home, Pig Island!
Swimming Pigs Tours: The Ultimate Day Trip
A yacht charter Bahamas excursion isn’t complete without a stop at Pig Island.
Given how famous the Swimming Pigs are, numerous other imitation islands have appeared around the country. However, the original island is Big Major Cay (the official name of Pig Beach) in Exuma.
Unfortunately for many travelers, Pig Beach is around 80 miles away from the capital. Because of that, a dreamy-sounding yacht charter Bahamas experience morphs into something else, as day trips require the use of high-speed powerboats. From exposure to the sun, wind, and water to general motion sickness, the experience isn’t as pleasant as many travelers hope it to be.
Thankfully, air travel is an option that more and more tourists are taking advantage of. Avoiding long-distance yacht rental Bahamas and flying saves you time, giving you more time to spend exploring the Exumas.
From hanging out with the Exuma Pigs to swimming with nurse sharks, snorkeling through underwater caves, and doing so much more, Bahamas day trips by plane offer the ultimate experience.
Traveling With Bahamas Air Tours
Sailboat charter Bahamas excursions are just one way to traverse the country.
Bahamas Air Tours makes getting to the Exuma Cays a breeze. Instead of embarking on a journey that lasts hours, flying from Nassau to Exuma takes just around 30 minutes.
If you’re staying in Nassau, Bahamas Air Tours will pick you up from your hotel. You’ll then make your way to the local airport, where you’ll wait in a secluded lounge before boarding your private-class plane. Once you’re in the air, it’ll feel like no time at all before you begin your descent.
Flying is so efficient that a Miami to Bahamas day trip becomes possible. While traditional South Florida Bahamas day trips take travelers to Freeport or Bimini, flying makes it possible for U.S. residents and travelers to meet the Swimming Pigs. The journey takes around two hours one way, with passengers arriving back to Miami in the early evening.
When you’re traveling long distances across the Bahamas, consider avoiding yacht charter Bahamas. Chartering a plane or signing up for a day trip is the way to go!
Boat Charter Bahamas in Exuma
Swimming Pigs tours that travel by plane land on Staniel Cay. This postcard-perfect island is known as the “Gateway to Exuma,” as it houses a regional airport.
After landing, travelers switch over to a boat charter Bahamas and make their way from island to island. This allows you to experience the best of both worlds – you can gaze out the window of your plane from above but also experience yacht charter Bahamas once you land.
Switch to a yacht Bahamas after landing in Exuma.
Cruising around the Exuma Cays on a sailboat charter Bahamas is an experience unlike no other. As you make your way between the different tropical paradises in the region, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a movie.
Sailboat Charter Bahamas From Staniel Cay
Staniel Cay is the Gateway to Exuma in more ways than one. Besides housing a regional airport, the island is also home to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Serving as a marina, a restaurant, and a luxurious set of accommodations, the yacht club is one of the most important locations on the island.
Staniel Cay is a hub for yacht rental Bahamas excursions.
If you decide to stay on the island, you can take advantage of the yacht club’s connections. It partners with several different yacht charter Bahamas companies, giving you plenty of options to choose from. Likewise, there are also private island retreats and rental house properties.
Travelers passing through Staniel Cay on a day trip can still see Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Besides flying over the island and catching a glimpse at the boats moored there, some tours also visit the restaurant for lunch. Serving up freshly caught Bahamian food such as lobster and conch, the yacht club offers an unbeatable culinary experience.
Between being a marina, a restaurant, and a place to stay, Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a major hub in Exuma. Regardless of what sort of yacht Bahamas experience you end up partaking in, there’s a good chance you’ll make your way through the island.
The Benefits of Air Travel
As mentioned, skipping the yacht charter Bahamas when it comes to long distances is a good idea. But besides saving you time, there are several other reasons why flying is a better travel option.
For one thing, flying offers a much more comfortable experience. Many of the yacht Bahamas companies that leave from Nassau cram as many people as possible onto high-speed power boats. For most travelers, smacking across waves with crowds of other travelers doesn’t offer a particularly enjoyable experience.
In contrast, flying with Bahamas Air Tours lets you travel with a small group. Every person on the private-class plane has their own window, and the seats are plush and comfortable. While small levels of turbulence are normal, it’s nothing compared to the feeling of bouncing across open-water waves.
This level of intimacy extends to your experience once you land. Since most of the yacht Exuma companies departing from Nassau take several hours to arrive, many of the sites you visit will be devoid of other travelers – especially in the earlier morning hours. This offers a less touristy feeling experience, allowing you to make the most of your time in the region.
Bahamas Sailing Charters: Consider Flying
Yacht charter Bahamas is a great way to explore the different islands in the country. However, we believe that in many instances, you’ll find chartering a plane or signing up for a day trip that travels by plane to be the better choice.
Flying around the Bahamas gets you to your destination in a fraction of the time and offers a more comfortable experience. Plus, once you arrive at a destination like the Exuma Cays, you switch over to a boat anyway.
Start planning your dream vacation by signing up for Bahamas day trips by plane today!
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