“As the Bahamas comprise over 700 islands scattered across the Bahama Bank, I can’t imagine being confined to just one,” says Y.CO yacht charter expert Solenn. For her, the joy is moving. One day it is snorkelling pristine reefs. The next it is a quiet beach that feels like it is waiting just for you. “It’s truly a nature lover’s tropical paradise and a magical way to disconnect,” she adds.
Y.CO yacht charter expert Hume Jones agrees. The Bahamas is built for boat travel. (Hume should know, he is a former captain who sailed these waters and knows them like the back of his hand.) With limited airports across the archipelago, “the best way to explore the Bahamas is by boat,” he says, especially if you want remote islands and “completely empty beaches.”
On land, you commit to one base. On a yacht, you stay flexible and have endless choice. You can wake up somewhere new without packing a bag.
Solenn frames it as an antidote to modern noise. She talks about the “beauty and luxury of simplicity,” and how “getting back to basics can be an important reset for the mind and soul.” That is the real difference here. You do less rushing around and more being present in the moment.
Out Islands and cays to build your itinerary around
Solenn has cruised Abaco, Eleuthera, and Cat Island, and says it can be difficult to pick a favourite. Each one pulls you in for different reasons.
Eleuthera
Eleuthera “tends to be a bit more popular,” Solenn says, largely because of the draw of Harbour Island and its pink sand beaches. This is the Bahamas for beach lovers who want long swims, slow lunches, and their toes in that famous rosy hued sand.
Abaco
Abaco is “a hot spot for big game fishing such as Marlin,” Solenn notes, so you will see serious sportfishing energy here. Her favourite detail is what happens after the lines are reeled in. Many islands have a central marina or yacht club where the day’s catch gets relived over a drink, and the “wildest stories” start doing the rounds.
Andros
Solenn picks out Andros for its flats and “backcountry areas for Bonefishing” along an “inland maze of waterways.” If your group loves fishing, this is the kind of place that makes everyone suddenly want an early start.
She also mentions TOTO, the Tongue of the Ocean, east of Andros, a trench that drops to around 6,000 feet and likely contributes to the area’s marine diversity.
Bimini
Solenn describes Bimini as a long-time fishing destination for people coming over from Florida, chasing everything from marlin to bonefish, plus lobster and of course sunshine. Her personal signature order also needs a spot in your itinerary planning: “Gin & Coconut Water served cold and directly in the coconut.” Good to know!
The Exumas
Activity packed and easy to love. Hume’s favourite is the Exumas, especially Staniel Cay, because so many fantastic experiences can be had nearby: feeding the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, swimming with friendly sharks at Compass Cay, snorkelling Thunderball Grotto, iguana spotting at Bitter Guana Cay, and snorkelling over a sunken plane off Norman Cay.
Experiences you will not replicate on land
Solenn’s Bahamas is a little wet and wild in the best possible way. It’s a place where you have the freedom to try every water sport going. So, it’s perfect for thrill seekers.
Then there is the food, which she treats as essential research. If it is harvested responsibly and prepared by someone local, she says you “MUST” try Bahamian conch in its greatest hits: conch salad, chowder, fritters. Add lobster, mahi mahi, snapper, and you get her point: “Bahamians know seafood and eat very well.”
Hume adds another angle that matters for first timers. The waters around the Bahamas tend to be “incredibly calm,” compared with other Caribbean cruising areas. That changes the whole feel of a trip, especially for groups who want long swim days, easy water sports, and relaxed passages.
When is the best time to go to the Bahamas by yacht?
Both experts say the Bahamas can be considered a year-round destination, but their favourite windows differ, which is actually helpful.
Solenn’s sweet spot is when the winds settle after winter and the water is flat and super clear. She points to May through July and into August, with a note of caution that hurricane season can start later in summer and run into October.
Hume’s pick is February to March, a time he rates as the best of the year.
Insider tips for finding the truly untouched Bahamas
Solenn’s advice is simple and practical. Go with a captain who has cruised the Bahamas for a long time and knows the charts and weather patterns. “The Bahamas are spread out over 760 miles (roughly 100,000 square miles) and impossible to do it all in one holiday!” So, her advice is to choose a few priority activities and let the route follow them. “If you are keen on a particular activity for the week, your Captain will ensure you can enjoy the top spots! (He’s probably saved the coordinates for his favourites).”
Hume echoes that logic from the planning side. Book with a broker who has cruised the Bahamas extensively, and who will only propose yachts with a captain who knows the area extremely well.
