Best Islands in the Bahamas

Best Islands in the Bahamas

Usually when you think of the Bahamas, you think of a tropical island with huge cruise ships docked in the harbor and tourists piled on the beaches. The Bahamas is comprised of more than 700 islands, and once you get out of the main islands like New Providence or Grand Bahama, remote beaches with powder white sand and crystal blue waters are everywhere. The following places are my favorite islands of the Bahamas!

Bimini

Bimini is the closest island to the US, and only a twenty minute flight away from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A cheaper option is taking a high-speed ferry for two and a half hours from either Miami or Fort Lauderdale. 

This island is also known as the "big game fishing capital of the world" and you can catch all sorts of fresh fish and have it cooked right in front of you. From scuba diving to dolphin tours, there's all sorts of water sports and activities for everyone!

Staniel Cay

With colorful cottages right on the water, freshly caught conch, friendly laid-back locals, and ocean teeming with sea life, Staniel Cay embodies everything about the Bahamas.

One of my favorite things to do is to have a boat day tour around the island and the guide takes you to all the sites including Iguana Cay to see endangered iguanas roaming the beach, snorkeling Thunderball Grotto as seen in the 1965 James Bond movie "Thunderball," swimming with nurse sharks at Compass Cay, and of course, the swimming pigs on Pig Island. 

Hope Town

Hope Town is located in the chain of islands within the Abacos and is incredibly unique with a "New England meets the tropics" ambiance, very few tourists, and bicycling is the main method of transportation around the island.

This town has a rich history with houses and monuments dating back to post-American Revolution, where British loyalists took refuge after the war, and its architecture reflects that culture. It's also home to one of the last manual lighthouses in the world, and has a very iconic candy cane striped design.

Long Island

Close to the Turks & Caicos, Long Island is one of the most remote islands in the Bahamas, but it's an incredible mecca for divers. At Stella Maris Resort in the north they hold a "shark amphitheater" dive, where the dive masters are covered in chain mail and hand feed the sharks thirty feet below the surface. Towards the south is Dean's Blue Hole, which is the world's second deepest salt water blue hole, plunging to a depth of 663 feet and holds the world's international free diving competition each year. 

Harbour Island

Harbour Island, or Briland, as the locals call it, is home to some of the best beaches in the Bahamas, including the renowned Pink Sand Beach. Unfortunately if you look up photos of the pink sand, most of them are heavily edited to be bright pink, but the sand only has a very light pinkish hue. Regardless of the color, the sand feels like powder on your feet and the ocean is crystal blue!

Even though this island has a larger population of tourists, this island has amazing beaches, great restaurants, and some interesting wreck dives for scuba divers. Harbour Island definitely reflects not only the casual Bahamian attitude, but also more of a luxurious feel. 

The Bahamas is home to incredible islands outside of the cruise ship meccas and is much more than a "spring break college party escape." With beautiful white sandy beaches, clear ocean water, and laid-back friendly locals, it's a must-visit destination for all tropical island lovers.

The Best Caribbean Cruise for Country Counters

EAST CARIBBEAN

Updated as of October 2023:

There are eight countries in the eastern Caribbean that aren’t the easiest, logistics-wise. You can fly, but a single flight might cost $400+ with a strange layover, whereas a direct flight (if there even is one) would be fifteen minutes. Then you have to purchase hotels, plan enough time to do all your activities, etc. There is a ferry but they only go between certain islands. So, what’s the most cost-effective way to visit all of the Caribbean islands? A cruise!

What’s the best cruise line?

Before the pandemic, there was an MSC cruise that went to all eight, but currently there’s only one line that goes to six countries. But still, that’s a great deal — and it’s $400 per person! Transport between all the countries, accommodation, and food? It’s too good to pass up.

I went with Royal Caribbean, but unfortunately it doesn’t look like they’re offering the cruise anymore. I’ll go over the cruise I went on before giving suggestions for current cruises with similar itineraries, but if you’d rather jump to that section click here.

The Itinerary

• DAY 1: Barbados

• DAY 2: Tobago

• DAY 3: Trinidad

• DAY 4: Grenada

• DAY 5: St. Vincent & the Grenadines

• DAY 6: Dominica

• DAY 7: St. Lucia

• DAY 8: Barbados

Barbados

My family actually joined on this trip since it was my 30th birthday, so we got in a couple days before to explore Bridgetown before hopping on the cruise. My favorite activity was watching all the racehorses bathing in front of the hotel. Other points of interest were the George Washington House and St. Nicholas Abbey.

TOBAGO

A lot of people would argue that you don’t get to truly “experience the culture” hopping to each island for one day. But what I think is great about the cruise is just getting a little taste of each place and going back to the places you want to explore deeper. Tobago was one of those places where I felt that there just wasn’t a whole lot to do so I was glad I only spent a day here. The beach at Pigeon Point was beautiful, and I enjoyed getting to go on the glass bottom kayak.

Trinidad

Don’t get fooled into feeling like you need to book a tour or excursion for every stop. We got off the ship and found a driver to take us to all the points of the city — check out the Magnificent Seven, then head over the hills to Maracas Beach to try their famous bake ‘n’ shark. Doubles is also another popular food dish in Trinidad.

GRENADA

Welcome to the Spice Island! This was probably one of my favorite stops of the trip — check out the Underwater Sculpture Park (visibility isn’t great most days, so something to be wary of), Annandale Falls, and Fort Frederick for views of the entire island.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines

We did a catamaran day tour, which was a great option since there isn’t a whole lot to do in the port of Kingstown. Most people suggest going to the actual Grenadines than St. Vincent so I loved this little trip! We visited Dark Falls and a Pirates of the Caribbean set before doing a catamaran ride to a black sand beach.

Dominica

Dominica was also another favorite stop of the trip and I wish I had another day to explore! It’s known as “the nature island,” so naturally we did a day hike to Boiling Lake. On All Trails it says about 6 miles but we clocked it at 8 miles. It took a good chunk of the day so we didn’t have much time to do anything else afterwards.

st. lucia

This was another island I wish I had an extra day in! We did another catamaran trip to the famous Pitons, which included a swim stop at Marigot Bay. I would’ve also loved doing the mud baths, but will save that for another time.

Alternative Cruises Currently Offered

As of October 2023, they are no longer offering the Royal Caribbean cruise to the six countries I mentioned, BUT there is an alternative that’s also a great option! Unfortunately they’re a bit pricier, but if you take transport, food, and accommodation into account they’re actually great alternatives. The following have been updated as of May 2026:

MSC Cruises: Currently MSC offers two cruises that covers a few of the countries mentioned, but also territories. The countries it goes to are St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Lucia. This starts from $550 so it’s not a bad deal, but unfortunately it doesn’t go to all the eastern Caribbean countries. Check out the MSC Cruise here.

This MSC Cruise visits 8 countries in two weeks and is probably the best deal I’ve found for $2000. For the price and the number of countries it covers, it’s probably your best option as of now. It covers: Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, and St. Lucia along with a few other stops. Check out the MSC Southern Caribbean Cruise here.

Celebrity Cruises: On the other hand, Celebrity cruises to Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Dominica, and Grenada. This covers six of the eight (only missing Trinidad & Tobago and Dominica), but is a little pricier and can probably compare to the cost of taking flights everywhere. The only upside is, everything is taken care of and is included in the cost. Check out the Celebrity Cruise here.

Best Itinerary for St. Kitts & Nevis

ST. KITTS & NEVIS

A twenty minute short flight from Antigua & Barbuda, I headed to my 120th country, St. Kitts & Nevis! I only visited two countries on this short trip because I was planning on doing a cruise to the other six islands in the eastern Caribbean in January 2023. Whether you’re doing a different cruise or looking for things to do, here is the best itinerary for St. Kitts & Nevis!

ROMNEY MANOR

Romney Manor dates back to the early 17th century when it was established as a sugar plantation. Once owned by the Earl of Romney, this sprawling estate played a significant role in the region's sugar industry, where it thrived for centuries. Today, it stands as a historical landmark, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and showcasing the island's colonial legacy.

Timothy Hill overlook

This photo was actually taken with a drone of the area! But Timothy Hill overlook is probably the best area for views of the whole island.

BRIMSTONE HILL FORTRESS NATIONAL PARK

Brimstone Hill Fortress holds a wealth of historical significance, showcasing the architectural prowess of the British Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries. Its strategic location made it a formidable stronghold during colonial times, protecting against invasions and guarding the valuable sugar plantations of St. Kitts.

Most Instagrammable Places in Antigua & Barbuda

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

My last countries in North America were all in the eastern Caribbean, which aren’t the most easy countries to visit and are logistically pretty expensive. There are eight countries in the eastern Caribbean, and I happened to find a cruise that goes to six within a week’s time for $400. Sure, you might spend a day in each country, but you get a taste and can decide later which ones you want to go back to and spend more time in. Also, $400, which covers food, accommodation, and the transport is an amazing deal versus a single flight that would potentially cost the same amount. The only two countries that this cruise doesn’t cover is Antigua & Barbuda and St. Kitts & Nevis; so I decided to hop on a flight to visit these countries. Anyways, let’s get into the “most instagrammable spots” of Antigua & Barbuda!

Shirley Heights

This overlook in English Harbour is incredible for sunset. I actually stayed in this area the whole time I visited Antigua because of how beautiful the area is!

Pineapple beach club

These colorful huts can be found right along the beach of the Pineapple Beach Club! You can pay for a day pass to hang out for the day, and the beach is stunning.

Tyrell’s Catholic Church

This bright pink church is iconic on the island; I recommend going later in the day for the best lighting!

Telephone booth

Located on the beach in front of Siboney hotel, this is also a stunning beach to hang out at!