3rd Edition Blair Howard HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC. 130 Campus Drive, Edison NJ 08818 732-225-1900, 800-255-0343, fax 732-417-0482 Contents About the Bahamas 3 Geography 3 Nassau 5 Paradise Island 5 Freeport 6 Grand Bahama 6 The Out Islands 6 History 9 Early Settlement 9 Pirates & Privateers 9 The 19th Century 11 The Modern Era 12 Getting There 12 By Air 12 By Cruise Ship 12 By Mail Boat 13 By Private Boat 14 Package Vacations 14 Before You Go 16 Travel Documents 16 Customs 16 Departure Taxes 16 Disabled Travelers 17 The People 17 Language 18 Eating & Drinking 18 Feast from the Sea 19 Traditional Foods 19 Drinks 20 Tipping 20 Accommodations 20 Out Islands 21 Package Deals 22 Restaurant & Hotel Prices 22 Practical Information 23 Banking 23 Bicycles & Mopeds 23 Buses 23 Casinos 24 Climate 24 Currency 24 Dress 25 Electricity 25 Contents iv n Contents Ferries 25 Mail Boats 25 Photography 26 Medical 28 Rental Cars 28 Shopping Hours 29 Taxis & Tours 29 Telephones 30 Time 30 How to Use This Book 30 Tourist Information 31 A Land of Adventure 33 Bird Watching 33 Guides & Self-Guided Tours 33 Boating 34 Rentals 34 Sea Kayaking & Sailing in the Exumas 34 Powerboat Adventures 34 Golf 35 The Best Courses 35 Hiking & Bicycling 36 Honeymooning 37 Horseback Riding 38 Parasailing 38 Jet-Skiing 39 Shelling 39 Sport Fishing 39 Blue-Water Fishing 40 Bonefishing 42 Tournaments 44 Marine National Parks 46 Sea Kayaking 46 Sightseeing 47 Snorkeling & Diving 47 Scuba Diving 47 Dive Sites 47 Snorkeling 48 Dangers 49 Wreck Diving 51 Sun Seeking 51 Tennis 52 Water Skiing 52 Windsurfing 52 Nightlife 52 Shopping 52 Holidays 53 Contents Contents n v Nassau & New Providence Island 55 History 55 Getting There 57 By Air 58 By Cruise Ship 58 Package Vacations 58 Vacation Planning Online 60 Getting Around 62 Taxis 62 Horse & Carriage 63 Car Rental 63 Tours 63 Shopping 63 The Best Spots 64 The Straw Market 65 Sightseeing 67 The Atlantis Resort & Casino 67 Beaches 68 Cable Beach 68 Western Esplanade (Junkanoo Beach) 68 Saunders Beach 69 The Beach at Atlantis 69 Ardastra Gardens 69 Pirates of Nassau 70 The Cloisters 71 The Water Tower 71 The Queen’s Staircase 72 Pompey Museum 72 Historical Society Museum 72 Junkanoo Expo Museum 73 Changing of the Guard Ceremony 73 The Retreat 73 Guided Walking Tours 74 The Botanical Gardens 74 Fort Fincastle 74 Fort Montague 74 Fort Charlotte 75 Adventures on Land 75 Pedal & Paddle Ecoventure 75 Birding Tours 76 Golf 77 Gambling 78 Adventures on Water 79 Dolphin Encounters - Blue Lagoon Island, Nassau 79 Hartley’s Undersea Walk 80 Seaworld Explorer Semi-submarine 81 Contents vi n Contents Sport Fishing 82 Fishing Charters 82 Powerboat Adventures 83 Diving & Snorkeling 83 Best Dive Sites - North Side 84 Best Dive Sites - South & West 85 Shipwrecks 86 Dive Operators 90 Where to Stay & Eat 92 Dining 92 Accommodations 94 Grand Bahama 103 History 105 Getting There 106 By Air 106 By Cruise Ship 107 Package Vacations 107 Getting Around 108 By Car 108 Suggested Trips 108 Shopping 109 The International Bazaar 111 The Port Lucaya Marketplace 111 Sightseeing 112 Garden of the Groves 112 Hydroflora Gardens 112 Lucayan National Park 113 Rand Memorial Nature Center 115 Seaworld Explorer 116 The Dolphin Experience 116 Guided Tours 118 East End Adventures 118 Shorex International 120 Bus Tours 121 Boat Tours 122 Adventures on Land 122 Golf 122 Gambling 124 Adventures on Water 125 Sea Kayaking 125 Sport Fishing 127 Snorkeling & Diving 128 UNEXSO 128 Xanadu Undersea Adventures 128 Best Dive Sites 129 Shipwrecks 129 Contents n vii Dive Operators 130 Where to Stay & Eat 131 Dining 131 Accommodations 135 THE OUT ISLANDS 139 The Abacos 141 History 142 Getting There 145 By Air 145 By Mail Boat 147 By Private Boat 147 Package Vacations 149 Getting Around 149 By Ferry 150 By Bicycle, Moped or Car 150 Marsh Harbour 151 Walking 151 South from Town 151 North from Town 152 Driving 153 Man-O-War Cay 153 Exploring 153 Elbow Cay & Hope Town 154 Exploring 154 Green Turtle Cay & New Plymouth 155 Exploring 155 Treasure Cay 156 Great Guana Cay 157 Walker’s Cay 158 Guided Tours & Sightseeing 158 Sand Dollar Tours 158 Bird Watching & Nature Tours 159 The Different of Abaco 160 Ibis Tours 160 Adventures on Water 161 Sport Fishing 161 Boat Rentals 161 Fishing/Accommodation Packages 162 Fishing Guides 165 Diving & Snorkeling 165 Best Dive Sites 166 Shipwrecks 168 Best Snorkeling Sites 170 Dive Operators 172 Dive/Accommodation Packages 173 viii n Contents Where to Stay & Eat 175 Dining 175 Elbow Cay 175 Great Guana Cay 176 Green Turtle Cay 177 Man-O-War Cay 178 Accommodations 178 Elbow Cay 178 Great Abaco & Marsh Harbour 180 Great Guana Cay 182 Green Turtle Cay 182 Man-O-War Cay 183 Marsh Harbour 183 Spanish Cay 185 Treasure Cay 185 Walker’s Cay 186 Wood Cay 186 Andros 187 Geography & Wildlife 189 History 190 Getting There 191 By Air 191 By Mail Boat 192 By Private Boat 193 Getting Around 194 By Bicycle 194 By Car 194 Adventures on Water 196 Sport Fishing 196 Boat Rentals 197 Diving 197 Best Dive Sites 197 Shipwrecks 198 Best Snorkeling Sites 199 Dive Operators 200 Dive/Accommodation Packages 200 Where to Stay & Eat 201 Dining 201 Accommodations 201 Bimini 205 History 206 Getting There 206 By Air 206 By Mail Boat 207 By Sailboat 207 Contents n ix Adventures on Water 208 Fishing 208 Fishing/Accommodation Packages 209 Diving 211 Best Dive Sites 211 Dive Operators 212 Dive/Accommodation Packages 212 Best Snorkeling Spots 213 Where to Stay & Eat 214 Dining 214 Accommodations 214 Eleuthera 217 History 217 Getting There 218 By Air 218 By Mail Boat 220 By Private Plane 221 By Private Boat 221 Spanish Wells 221 Harbour Island 221 Palmetto Shores 221 Governor’s Harbour 222 Rock Sound 222 Package Vacations 222 American FlyAAWay Vacations 222 Apple Vacations 222 Club Med 223 Getting Around 223 Island Driving Tour 224 Adventures on Water 227 Fishing 227 Boat Rentals 227 Diving 227 Best Dive Sites 228 Shipwrecks 229 Best Snorkeling Sites 229 Dive Operators 231 Where to Stay & Eat 232 Dining 232 Governor’s Harbour 232 Gregory Town 232 Hatchet Bay 232 Palmetto Point 233 Harbour Island 233 Accommodations 234