Three ways to go beyond the beach in the Bahamas

Every year, millions of international travellers flock to the Bahamas for one thing — the beach!

And who could blame them? With roughly 2,000 cays and 700 islands, not to mention white, pink, and even purple sands, the Bahamas offer the perfect place to unwind. Even the country’s wildlife is in on the fun — one of the most famous tourist attractions in The Bahamas is the renowned Pig Beach, a small island in Exuma that can only be reached by boat. Here, tourists will find wild pigs who somehow ended up on their very own private island, and they love nothing more than swimming in saltwater and basking in the sun.

A pirated past

But beaches aside, there’s so much more to the Bahamas than meets the eye, as the residents who live there year-round know, and there are plenty of other places to visit besides Nassau, Freeport, and Grand Bahama.

The Bahamas are full of history, and it’s actually the first place that Columbus reached in 1492. In 1718, it became a British Colony, but before that, piracy ran rampant throughout the country’s islands. From the 18th to the 19th centuries, the Bahamas were the perfect spot for raiding, pillaging, and trading, and the infamous Blackbeard himself was a frequent guest. 

The Pirates of Nassau Museum takes travellers back in time to 1716, when piracy first started infiltrating the Bahamas. Packed with history, authentic artifacts, and interactive exhibits, the museum is a great place to learn more about the country’s early beginnings.

In 1718 the Bahamas became a British colony and the crackdown on piracy was in full swing. A series of fortresses still exist in parts of the Bahamas, including Fort Fincastle, Fort Charlotte, and Fort Montagu. Fort Fincastle, built in 1793, rests on top of Bennet’s Hill, and served as both a means of protection and as a lighthouse for residents of Nassau. 

Today, there are daily guided tours through the remnants of the fort. The largest of the three, Fort Charlotte was built in 1789 and served as a means of protection, although it never saw battle. Forty-two cannons still protrude from the fort’s walls, and the site provides great views of Paradise Island from above sea level. Fort Montagu, the oldest fort in The Bahamas, was built out of limestone in 1741 and is the smallest fort. Admission is free, and it’s located close to downtown at the eastern end of Nassau Harbour.

Underwater worlds await

Surrounded by coral reefs, snorkelling and diving are two of the most popular activities in the Bahamas, and Dean’s Blue Hole is an absolute must for the more adventurous traveller. Second only to the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, Dean’s Blue Hole reaches depths of 663 ft. and has a diameter of roughly 82-115 ft. It’s located on Long Island in a bay west of Clarence Town. 

Life inside the hole is just like life in the reefs, with sightings of seahorses, sea turtles, and thousands of colourful fish coming to the surface. 

Grab a bite

And, last but not least, no authentic trip to the Bahamas would be complete without a fish fry. No matter what local restaurant you pick, given the abundance of fresh seafood in the region, if you’re served up a heaping portion of battered snapper or conch fritters, you’ve come to the right place!