Nassau

Anyone who goes on a tropical vacation wants to spend some time on the beach. Whether you are looking for some peace and quiet to catch up on a good book and work on your tan or splash in the waves, play beach volleyball and indulge in a few cocktails, the beaches of Nassau and neighbouring Paradise Island will cater to your every desire. Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island is perhaps the most popular public access beach with tourists. It is known for it powdery soft, white sand and crystal clear water as well as the towering Atlantis Resort. On Cabbage Beach you will find all kinds of activities and a number of rental vendors for jet skiing, snorkelling, kayaking and more. The water here is also perfect for swimming. Junkanoo Beach is a rowdy Nassau beach that tends to be a favourite with the younger crowd, including spring breakers. Orange Hill Beach offers a more tranquil beach experience, perfect for working on your tan, long walks on the sand or just plain relaxing. Cable Beach is known for its large hotels and resorts, most of which were built in the 70’s. The majority of this beach is reserved for hotel guests and private residents but if you look carefully, you will find a few spots open to the public.

Snorkelling and scuba diving are very popular down here. Beginners and experienced divers alike are suitably impressed by Nassau’s fabulous dive sites and underwater paradise. There is so much to explore including shipwrecks, coral reefs and walls with a plethora of aquatic vegetation and schools of bright tropical fish. Divers from around the world come to experience Shark Wall and Shark Arena, two shark feeding areas at the south end of the island. Witnessing these underwater spectacles of nature is said to be the ultimate adrenaline rush. There are plenty of great tour operators, including Bahama Divers, to show you a number of the more than 30 sites off the shores of Nassau. Deep sea fishing for marlin, grouper, wahoo or mahi mahi is another great way to spend a day in the Bahamas. Whether you catch anything or not, you can’t go wrong with a day on the water and enjoying the scenery. Of course there are also a number of boat cruises and catamaran cruises such as sunset sails, booze cruises, snorkel adventures and glass bottom boat tours for underwater viewing such as those offered by Sunshine Cruises. Whatever you want you will find a cruise that suits you.

You couldn’t possibly come to Nassau and not do a little shopping. Nassau is a duty free port where hundreds, sometimes thousands of cruise ship passengers come to port weekly looking for a deal. Bay St. in downtown Nassau is a shopping haven with everything from English china to liquor. The Straw Market is where you will find the best prices though because here prices are open to negotiation. You can shop for the perfect souvenir with everything from hats and baskets to cheap knock offs and trinkets. It is a unique experience that should not be missed. The Atlantis Resort also has a number of designer label boutiques and souvenir shops. If you happen to be in Nassau on either Boxing Day or New Years Day be sure to check out the Junkanoo Festival. This festival begins early in the morning around 1 or 2 am and carries on well after sunrise. Parades with colourful costumes, traditional music with whistles, bells and goombay drums, food and drink are all part of the festivities. An absolute must see! No matter what you do, you will not be disappointed with a vacation to Nassau. Nassau enjoys a pleasant, welcoming climate year round. Daytime temperatures are around 27˚ in the summer and very rarely exceed 33˚C while the winter temperatures range between 20˚C and 26˚C. After a day in the sun the nights can feel much cooler, especially in the winter months and the major hotels always seem to have the air conditioning set to high. A light jacket or sweater is highly recommended.