description Bahamas Overview
The Bahamas is an archipelago of about 700 islands and cays in the western Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida and northwest of Cuba, with Nassau on New Providence as its capital. It became independent from Britain in 1973 and remains a Commonwealth realm with the British monarch as head of state. Christopher Columbus made his first recorded landfall in the Americas on a Bahamian island in 1492, encountering the indigenous Lucayan people. The economy relies mainly on tourism and financial services, and the islands are known for white-sand beaches and clear shallow waters.
help Bahamas FAQ
Where in the Bahamas can you swim with the famous pigs?
The swimming pigs live on Big Major Cay in the Exuma chain, an uninhabited island nicknamed Pig Beach. Tours from Nassau and Staniel Cay bring visitors out to swim with them in the shallow water.
When is hurricane season in the Bahamas?
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the highest risk in late summer and early autumn. Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm in 2019, devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama, so travel insurance and storm awareness matter for late-season trips.
Can I use US dollars in the Bahamas?
Yes — the Bahamian dollar is pegged one-to-one with the US dollar, and US cash is accepted everywhere alongside local notes. Many prices are simply quoted in dollars interchangeably, so there is no need to exchange money.
What is there to do around Nassau?
Nassau, the capital on New Providence island, sits next to Paradise Island and the giant Atlantis resort with its Aquaventure water park and marine habitats. Downtown Nassau also offers colonial architecture and the straw market, and the country has been independent from Britain since 1973 while keeping the British monarch as head of state.
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