Exploring The Bahamas: Island-Hopping Transportation Guide

The Bahamas is a tropical destination made up of 700 inhabited and uninhabited islands, rocks, and cays. With a little planning, it is possible to fit multiple islands into your Bahamian adventure. There are several ways to get between the islands, including by plane, ferry, private boat, water taxi, and local mailboats. Inter-island flights are considered the easiest way to move around the Bahamas, with flights to popular locations costing around US$125 to $150 and flight times ranging from 25 to 60 minutes. Bahamas Ferries is the national ferry service, providing services between Nassau, the Abacos, Andros, Cat Island, the Exumas, Eleuthera & Harbour Island, and Freeport. Boats and ferries also have scheduled rides throughout the day, and some islands, such as Harbor Island, are only accessible by boat.

Inter-island flights

There are seven major airlines that offer regular flights around the islands, with Nassau being the main hub for out-island flights. There are also options for direct flights between islands in the Northern Bahamas, including Bimini, Grand Bahama, and Abaco. Domestic airlines such as Bahamasair, Flamingo Air, and Southern Air fly to the Out Islands daily. Flights to popular locations such as Andros, Harbour Island, Eleuthera, the Exumas, and the Abacos cost around $125 to $150, with flight times ranging from 25 to 60 minutes.

Keep in mind that these carriers are not always listed on major travel websites or booking platforms like Kayak or Expedia, so you may need to book directly through their websites. Additionally, there are private charter operators available that can provide on-request charters to various airports throughout the Bahamas. These charter services are a common method for groups and families, and many companies also offer single seats.

When packing for your flight, it's important to pack light as most planes are smaller with only one row. However, you won't need to worry about carry-on restrictions since bags can be checked.

Ferries

In the Abacos, you can island-hop via ferry boats and water taxis. Ferries make scheduled runs between the “mainland” of Great Abaco and the outer islands across the Sea of Abaco. G & L's Ferry Service operates out of Marsh Harbour and offers the best rates on the island. Further north, the Green Turtle Ferry runs from Treasure Cay to Green Turtle Cay eight times a day.

On the north end of Eleuthera, a government ferryboat will take you to Spanish Wells, and a fleet of taxi boats will take you to and from Harbour Island. Both trips are only about five minutes. Bahamas Ferries also offers passenger services into Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, Eleuthera.

If you're travelling to or from the United States, Baleària Caribbean operates a fast ferry service from Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale) to Bimini.

For those who want to island-hop on their own schedule, chartering a boat is also an option.

Private boats

The Bahamas is a tropical destination spread across 500 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, comprising 700 inhabited and uninhabited islands, rocks and cays. If you have a private boat, you can create your own island-hopping route and itinerary. There are countless marinas throughout the islands, so the options are limitless.

If you're entering the Bahamas by boat, your first stop must be an official Port of Entry. Once you've cleared Customs and Immigration, you're free to explore at your own pace.

If you want to island-hop within a specific region or island chain, your best option will be to charter a private boat. In the Bahamas, renting a boat is often more common than renting a car. If you want total freedom to explore as you please, this is the way to go.

Local ferries serve as water taxis, taking locals and travellers from one cay to the next. You can also take a water taxi to Harbour Island from Nassau or Eleuthera. From Nassau, ferries depart daily in the morning and return in the evening. From Eleuthera, a water taxi to Harbour Island is a much cheaper option at only $5, and they leave every five minutes.

Some islands in the Bahamas are only accessible by boat, such as Harbor Island. Bahamas Ferries offers a wide variety of inter-island services from Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, Andros, the Exumas, and Long Island.

If you're staying in a resort, ask the staff there for advice on how to get around by boat. They will be happy to give you the inside scoop on how to get from one island to another.

Taxis

While taxis are a common mode of transport in the Bahamas, they are not the best way to travel between islands. This is because taxis are not metered in the Bahamas and have fixed rates based on distance. This means that taxis can become expensive when travelling long distances, such as between islands. In addition, taxis are not readily available on all islands. While taxis can be hailed in more populous cities, it is recommended that you ask your hotel to order you a taxi on the Out Islands.

If you are set on travelling between the islands by taxi, it is important to be clear on the cost of the journey before getting into the taxi. Negotiating the rate at the start of the trip is also advised, especially in the Out Islands where taxis are not metered.

If you are travelling to the Bahamas and want to island-hop, it may be more cost-effective to travel by plane or ferry. Inter-island flights to popular locations such as Andros, Harbour Island, and the Exumas cost around $125 to $150, with flight times ranging from 25 to 60 minutes. Bahamas Ferries is the most popular inter-island ferry service, offering travel from Nassau to Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, The Abacos, Long Island, Andros, and The Exumas.

Buses

The jitney bus service runs from 6 am to 7 pm, but there is no set timetable, and you will need to flag one down. You can also get off anywhere—simply yell "stop" when you are ready to disembark. Fares are paid on board, and exact change is required.

Frequently asked questions