Everyone knows the postcard Bahamas, all sunny shores and cocktails. But while laid-back beach vibes are an undeniable perk of this Caribbean destination, The Bahamas have so much more on offer for curious explorers: exotic wildlife, dynamic mix of modern and colonial culture, and fabulous travel adventures both on land and water.
And there’s never been a better time to go – from July 2016, British Airways (ba.com) will be flying to The Bahamas using the more spacious 777, doubling their premium cabin capacity to offer an even more luxurious way to jet off to paradise, and all at a competitive price.
Wild islands, wild life
The Bahamas are made up of sixteen main islands plus hundreds of islets and many are teeming with wildlife. Andros, the biggest of the islands with a small range of simple and luxurious hotels, is a birdwatchers’ paradise. Little-visited Inagua is most notable for the 80,000 flamingos that call this area home. Offset against the white-blue sand and sky, these pink-feathered creatures are a sight to behold on the salt flats of Great Inagua National Park. Joining them in Inagua are around 140 other species of birdlife, including Bahama Parrots, pelicans, and hummingbirds.
One of the most entertaining wildlife sights in The Bahamas is the swimming pigs of The Exumas. Around 20 pigs inhabit a shore aptly named ‘Pig Beach’ on the island of Big Major Cay, and when they’re not sunning their bellies on the sand they paddle around in the waters to cool off. It’s unknown how the pigs found themselves here, but they (understandably) seem happy enough and will swim around with passing visitors.
Further out to sea, groups of dolphins circle many of the islands. Species found here include spinner, striped, and bottle-nosed.
Dolphins are also a regular sight for divers, as are an abundance of reef fish, rays and colourful collections of coral. Lucky underwater wanderers might even spy – though they’re slightly rarer – hawksbill turtles, humpback whales and hammerhead sharks.
Carnival culture
A smile is essential in The Bahamas. The relaxed nature of life on these islands has cultivated a specific kind of people – easy-going, cheerful and proudly Bahamian, the unique result of their Caribbean, African and colonial cultures. This has led to vibrant annual events, and Junkanoo Carnival is one of the nation’s most electrifying.
Held over two weekends in April and May, this carnival has a packed schedule of live music and cultural workshops. The main event is undoubtedly Road Fever, a street parade that explodes through Nassau, the nation’s capital city. Men and women don bejewelled and feathered get-ups and sing and dance through the streets, and you’re welcome to join in as long as you follow suit with a costume too.
The food and drink of The Bahamas is as rich and fiery as its people. As a country made up of islands, it comes as no surprise that seafood is a major player on any Bahamian menu. Try conch (pronounced “konk”), an ocean mollusc cooked in chowders, fried, or uncooked and sprinkled with lime and spices. Lobster and crab are also common, as well as fresh fish dishes prepared in stews with vegetables.
Wash your meals down with a cool Kalik, a Bahamas beer brewed in Nassau. For something a little stronger, sip on a Yellow Bird – a mix of rum, banana liqueur, Galliano, orange juice and pineapple juice – or a Goombay Smash, which varies in recipe but usually blends rum with pineapple and lemon juice and anything else the bartender cares to throw in. All are best accompanied by a Bahamas sunset.
Get Active
For hiking in The Bahamas, make your first stop Grand Bahama Island. Gentle trails snake through the island’s Lucayan National Park, an area that spreads over Grand Bahama’s south coast. Here, a system of boardwalks take visitors over leafy mangrove creeks and to the beach. Kayak tours also run through the park, offering a chance to glide past the tropical foliage and view it from a unique perspective.
However, a further, secret part of the park lies beneath the earth, where a huge network of caves can be found. Two of these are open to the public, and visiting the limestone caverns – part of one of the world’s largest underwater cave systems – is like stepping into a mysterious subterranean world, where you could spot bats grabbing some summer shade.
Back above ground, the highest point in The Bahamas is easily reached by foot. Mount Alvernia sits on Cat Island at a humble 63 metres above sea level, and a path leads directly to the top. A stone hermitage built in 1939 by a Roman Catholic priest called Father Jerome sits on the summit. It’s a peaceful place to walk around for a moment of reflection, while taking in the 360 degree views of the lush green that sprawls out across the island beneath your feet with the ocean sparkling in the distance.
But the space and relaxation offered by The Bahamas isn’t just limited to the islands. Whether you’re heading there to swim with dolphins, walk in its underground cave worlds or join its foot-thumping festivals, with British Airways launching the more modern and spacious 777 aircraft, your Caribbean adventure can begin the moment you step onto the plane…
British Airways offers 7 nights holidays to the Bahama’s from £929pp*
For more information, visit ba.com/Bahamas.
* Availability might be extremely limited, particularly during peak periods. All prices include return flights from London Heathrow to Bahamas. British Colonial Hilton Nassau, Bahamas price is in GBP per person based on two adults sharing 4* accommodation for 7 nights on an accommodation only board basis for selected travel between 05/09/16 – 21/09/16. Prices correct as of 08/12/15. Bookings must be made by midnight 02/06/16. Some payment methods might attract a handling fee. Holidays are ATOL protected (number ATOL5985). For full terms and conditions, visit ba.com.
