BlondeTheRoadAgain

The Bahamas is one of the most unique countries in the Caribbean.  It’s an absolute bucket list place for anyone at any point or time in their life … and it’s easy to see why:  swimming pigs, friendly nurse sharks, sunken ships, fresh seafood, amazing beaches and strong cocktails.  You will find yourself on “island time” and never wanting to leave.

Where to Stay

Nassau and Staniel Cay have a ton to offer.  Nassau is the capital and easy to fly to, whereas Staniel Cay requires another flight from Nassau, taking you deeper into the Bahamas … if you can make both places happen, that would be the most ideal.  Nassau is home to over 70% of the country’s population with endless options of things to do — beautiful beaches, turquoise water, great food, great atmosphere, party scene.  But I wouldn’t spend more than a couple nights there, seeing as it is super touristy and you won’t get a true feel for the culture by only staying there.  In Nassau, the Atlantis hotel is the most iconic place to stay.  To some it might be a little cheesy, but it’s the kinda cheesy you want to be apart of.  The hotel is massive — equipped with a casino, aquarium and its own waterpark.  It’s kid friendly though, so if that’s something you tend to avoid, then I recommend the SLS Baha Mar in Nassau.

The Baha Mar is the perfect place for a girl’s trip or a romantic getaway. The hotel is super instagram-worthy and the beach scene is buzzing.  There is also an incredible pool area, which has a beautiful water cave. And if you’re patient, you might get the perfect photo-op with no tourists.

When people think of the Bahamas, a majority of people immediately think of the famous “Pig Island“.  What a lot of people don’t know, is that Pig Island requires a separate flight from Nassau.  The island of Staniel Cay (pronounced Staniel Key) the closest island to Pig Island, it also has a lot of other activities to offer (Thunderball Grotto, iguanas, shipwrecks, swimming with nurse sharks … etc).  It’s a great location to see it all.  The island itself also has a great bar called the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, which attracts many yachters and boaters from all over the world.  The Yacht Club also is a boutique hotel, but rooms sell out fast so book it asap.

My friend Marin and I decided to spend one night in Nassau and four nights in Staniel Cay.  We took a roundtrip flight on Flamingo air from Nassau to Staniel Cay, which cost around $210.  The flight is only 40 minutes long, and worth any inconvenience.

What to Do 

Swim with the pigs. Hands down the coolest thing you can do in the Bahamas. Recently, Pig Island has faced heavy criticism from people saying it is unethical to keep pigs trapped on an island, begging for food and exposed to the harsh elements.  However, my experience was only postitive. I noticed the pigs had shelter built for them, a big container of food, and were looked after by the locals.  If tourists protest and stop visiting them, the pigs will only be forgotten and left there to die…or eaten.  I feel that is a much crueler outcome for these little guys.  No animal lover would want that.

We stayed in a cute Airbnb in Staniel Cay, and the host helped us book a couple full-day boat tours for about $80 each.  A local took us around in his boat to all the sites (sunken plane, Thunderball Grotto, shipwrecks etc). Each day included a different itinerary and on the first day we visited Pig Island.  As our boat pulled up to the island, the pigs swam out to get some snacks (bread mostly) — they know the drill. Just be careful when on land, there are a few feisty pigs that will snap at you. The piglets, however, love to cuddle.

The same day-tour included a pit stop at Iguana Island. This island isn’t as packed with people so you will get some quality time with these little reptiles. We made sure to bring them grapes, which they loved.

Swim with nurse sharks. Our second boat tour included a stop with the nurse sharks.  This was a little freaky for me, though there is little danger. The nurse sharks are very docile and have no interest in eating you. The locals do advise to keep your hands away from the sharks faces, they could confuse your fingers with food and nip you. I took a few deep breaths and mustered the courage to get in the water. Wasn’t too bad, and as you can see in the swimming photo below, I kept my hands out of the water … wasn’t going to risk losing any digits.

Swim with the Turtles.  The turtle experience was also part of our second boat tour.  We were taken to a small village where the locals asked for a couple bucks in exchange for turtle access.  During this experience, we learned that the locals use a hammer to make a cracking noise on a conch shell, which gets the attention of wild turtles.  The turtles recognize the racket as a person killing a conch and they quickly appear in hopes of getting a tasty snack.  Don’t worry, they are given some conch to eat … it’s their reward for posing for a few pics!

What to Eat

Conch (pronounced konk) is a large sea snail.  Conch is the preferred source of food in the Bahamas and is definitely a local favorite.  Like I mentioned, the turtles love it, and so do people in the Caribbean.  It’s a miss if you leave the Bahamas without giving it a go!  The texture is similar to calamari and is really delicious! Conch salad is the most popular preparation, which oddly doesn’t include any kind of lettuce. It’s a simple dish, yet so tasty!

Know Before You Go

• The islanders are very straight forward when is comes to money, never stiff them on a tip.  Also, make sure to negotiate any kind of tour or taxi beforehand… this will help you avoid getting ripped off. Also, everything is negotiable.
• The islanders can sometimes come off as kind of rude and impolite.  It’s nothing personal, they just mean business.
• In Nassau, there is no need to rent a car, you can get anywhere by taxi.
• On Staniel Cay, it’s easy to get around by golf cart. A lot of the Airbnbs and rental homes on the island will have some available for you to use or rent.  No need for a car.
• On the island of Staniel Cay, bring cash.  There is a hefty fee for using a card, and frankly it’s just not worth it.
• Islander time is very slow.  Expect delays and lack of urgency during your trip. This can be the case with your tours, your flights, your food at a restaurant … anywhere and anything.
• A trip to the Bahamas is on the expensive side and one of the pricier trips I have done.  It would be very hard to do all the things required to see here on a super tight budget. It’s a vacation that requires saving up for, and is worth the wait.

Final Thoughts

You want to spend at least FIVE days to take in the Bahamas.  Though it can definitely be a relaxing vacation involving only beach bumming, it also can be a very busy trip considering there is a lot of wildlife to see and activities to do.  Whatever suits your soul!  I would say when you go, make sure it counts.