Bahamas Day Trips from Miami

Less than 300 kilometers from Miami in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean are the Bahamas Islands, known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, as well as a rich vegetation that makes its dreamy landscapes hard to forget. Considering both its proximity and the attractiveness of this destination, it is not surprising that it has become one of the main things of interest to see and do during your trip to Miami.

Although The Bahamas are made up of up to 700 islands and cays, most of them are uninhabited, being 16 the main ones whose capital is Nassau. Their varied natural environments serve as an example of the impressive biodiversity of these islands. Most of those who decide to take a trip from Miami to The Bahamas, do it motivated by the idea of spending a relaxing vacation surrounded by the luxury offered by its exclusive resorts. And of course, for its paradisiacal beaches of crystal clear water and white sand.

If you do not have much time but you do not want to miss the fantastic landscapes of these special islands, I recommend you to book a day trip to the Bahamas. You can find a great number of companies that offer this tour all year round, since its privileged climate makes it possible to visit at any time of the year.

The excursion to The Bahamas starts at the Port of Fort Lauderdale, although it depends on the organizing company whether or not they offer hotel pick up. The approximate duration of this type of excursion is at least 17 hours, otherwise it would be too little time to enjoy the experience. Early in the morning, you will board a ferry to The Bahamas that will take approximately three hours to reach its destination.

In some companies you will find the option to book a premium ticket on the ferry, with which you will have priority boarding and seats with the best views among other advantages. Once there, you will enjoy several free hours to enjoy the beaches, taste the local cuisine, take a tour of the islands and much more.

Although Miami also offers a wide variety of water activities to have fun with, you can not miss all the options of sports and activities in the sea that The Bahamas offers, especially considering the beauty of its crystal clear turquoise waters.

These excursions include round-trip transfers, so when it's time to return, you'll board the ferry again to make your way back to Miami.

Details of interest

• Price: this excursion is available from 140€, although in most companies the price goes up to more than 200€.
• Duration: day trips last approximately 17 hours.
• Means of transportation: the means of transportation used to get to the Bahamas would be the ferry.
• Advantages of this option: this option is perfect if your time in Miami is somewhat limited but you do not want to miss the experience of getting to know these fantastic islands.
• Disadvantages of this option: the main disadvantage of this option is that your time in The Bahamas will be quite short, so you will not be able to see the islands in their entirety.

If, on the other hand, you are traveling to Miami for a week or more, you may have the opportunity to get to know The Bahamas in more depth by taking a two-day excursion to The Bahamas from Miami. To get there, the most comfortable and recommendable option is to hire one of the excursions offered by several companies that come with round-trip transportation included.

This type of tour usually takes place on a ferry that departs early in the morning from the port of Port Everglade, although it often includes pick-up from the hotel. During the trip you can enjoy wonderful views of the ocean, as well as the option to buy something to eat or drink, as they have bar service to buy food on board.

Some companies also offer the option to purchase a day pass to the facilities of The Hilton at Resort World Bimini for an extra charge. Once there, you can explore the islands independently and even take island hopping excursions, water activities, sunbathe on the beach or take advantage of your resort perks.

Some of the top-rated hotels in the area include The Coral at Atlantis Resort and the Grand Isle Resort & Spa, two luxurious accommodations with pools, private beach access, restaurants, spa, and more. If staying in a luxury hotel chain doesn't suit you, you can consider the more economical option of looking for a hostel or renting a vacation apartment.

Details of interest

• Price: this excursion is available from 300€
• Duration: the duration of the excursion is two days, leaving Miami early in the morning and returning the next day around 21:00 - 22:00 at night.
• Means of transportation: the means of transportation used to get to The Bahamas would be the ferry.
• Advantages of this option: this option is perfect if you have the opportunity to extend your trip to Miami and want to enjoy the beauty and the numerous activities that this place has to offer.
• Disadvantages of this option: the main disadvantages of this option are that the price will be higher than with the day trip and that you will lose more time of your trip to Miami.

From the bustling city of Miami, you can take an endless number of tours and excursions in the surrounding area, whether it is a tour to the Everglades National Park or a trip to the fantastic Bahamas. This time, the getaway I am going to propose is to Bimini, a paradisiacal jewel just 50 miles from Miami, being the closest Bahamian island to the coast of Florida.

Unspoiled beaches, soft white sand and crystal clear turquoise waters where you will have the opportunity to dive, snorkel and even swim with dolphins in this natural paradise. This island is also known for having been the intermittent home of Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway.

Of course, you will also find numerous luxury beachfront resorts, as well as restaurants and souvenir stores. As with day trips to The Bahamas, these organized tours include round-trip transportation from the Port of Fort Lauderdale and sometimes hotel pick-up.

Some companies include a pass to enjoy the Hilton at World Resorts Bimini, where you'll find pools, restaurants, a casino and more. After a fantastic day at the beach, the ferry will take you back to Miami.

Details of interest

• Price: this tour is available from 140€
• Duration: the duration of the tour is at least 16 hours, leaving Miami early in the morning and returning to Fort Lauderdale around 20:00 in the evening.
• Means of transportation: the means of transportation used to get to The Bahamas would be the ferry.
• Advantages of this option: this option is perfect if you want to visit The Bahamas but do not want to waste a lot of time in transfers, since being the closest island the duration of the trip is shorter and you will be able to take advantage of more time once there.
• Disadvantages of this option: the main disadvantage of this option is that since Bimini is farther away from the rest of The Bahamas, you will not have the opportunity to make excursions between the islands.

If you are lucky enough to have enough time to visit The Bahamas at your leisure, a comfortable and fun option is to book a cruise from Miami. This way, you will be able to move around the islands with all the comforts offered by the cruise, besides being able to do it faster.

Some of the companies that offer this type of excursions are Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.

Practice some aquatic activity in the transparent waters of the capital, visit the lively Freeport in Grand Bahama Island or swim in the beautiful Half Moon Cay are some of the things you can do there. In addition, if you travel to Miami at Christmas time, you may be lucky enough to have your cruise coinciding with Boxing Day, when Junkanoo, one of the most famous carnivals in the Caribbean, is celebrated.

Hiring a four-day cruise in The Bahamas will cover both transportation and accommodation, plus it will be much easier to move between the islands since the ship docks each day in a different port. Departing from the port of Miami, these excursions also include access to its facilities such as swimming pools, restaurants, spa or casinos.

When choosing the room you will stay in, the price can also vary a lot, since depending on the type of room the cost increases or decreases considerably. During the day you will be free to explore the islands, and at night you will have a luxurious ship to sleep on that will wake you up in a wonderful new paradise every day.

Details of interest

• Price: this excursion is available from about 250€ per person.
• Duration of the excursion: the duration of the excursion is four days.
• Means of transportation: the means of transportation used to get to The Bahamas and move between them would be a cruise ship.
• Advantages of this option: this option is perfect if you want to know the exotic Bahamas Islands in depth and with tranquility enjoying the comforts that a cruise of this type offers you.
• Disadvantages of this option: the disadvantages of this option are that the price is higher, you will lose more time and that not all the services are always included in the initial price, so you will have to be attentive when booking your trip.

Although most day trips are done by ferry, you can also do it by air. Just as in Miami you have the option to live the incredible experience of taking a helicopter ride, if you are one of those who enjoy the heights, it is also possible to reach The Bahamas in a small private plane. To book this tour you will have to do it through the Bahamas Air Tours website.

The cost of the trip inevitably goes up, but the experience is much more complete since, in addition to offering the round-trip transfer, this tour includes a series of guided excursions throughout the day to visit the most emblematic places of the islands. So, if you have the option to spend a little more money, do not hesitate and book this tour that will make you live an unforgettable day.

Details of interest

• Price: from about 850€ per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts one day. Departure time would be at 6:45 a.m. and arrival at 6:30 p.m.
• Means of transportation: the means of transportation used to get to The Bahamas would be a private plane.
• Advantages of this option: this option is perfect if your budget is a little higher and you want to make the most of your day in The Bahamas, besides taking a fun ride with fantastic views.
• Disadvantages of this option: the main disadvantages of this option are its high cost and the fact that it is only a one-day excursion, so you will not have enough time to get to know the Bahamas completely.

Below, I am going to share with you a series of tips so that during your little excursion to paradise you are properly prepared and can enjoy the experience to the fullest.

The first tip I am going to give you for your getaway is not to forget to book the excursion in advance, especially if it takes place in the high season, which begins in December and ends in April.

Although there are a large number of companies that offer this type of tours and excursions, the high tourist influx can cause you to run out of places on the dates of your trip, so do not forget to get ahead of the rest by hiring the activity as soon as possible.

As already discussed during this article, the best (and most usual) way to get to The Bahamas from Miami is by ferry. Therefore, I recommend that you arrive at the departure address at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time, as the boarding and passenger confirmation process takes some time and the organizing company is not responsible if you do not arrive to board at the scheduled time.

The Bahamas enjoys a fantastic tropical climate where minimum temperatures range between 18ºC and 24ºC and maximum temperatures vary between 25ºC and 32ºC throughout the year. In addition, its geographical location means that the humidity is usually quite high, which causes the thermal sensation to be sometimes higher.

Taking these data into account, the recommended clothing for a trip to The Bahamas will always be summery and fresh clothes. In addition, as the main tourist attractions of these islands are their beaches and the water activities that take place in them, you can not forget the swimsuit and sandals.

In case you plan to do some hiking route, you can not forget to wear comfortable shoes and a good backpack to carry water, sunscreen and other things necessary for a tour like that.

In the Bahama Islands the sun shines almost every day of the year, so sun protection is a must for this excursion. In addition, swimming in the sea and water activities make sun exposure more dangerous, so you will have to take care of your skin as much as possible.

Sunscreen should be appropriate for your skin type and the time you will be exposed to the sun and sunglasses should have UV protection and it is recommended that they are also polarized.

Although the ferries of the mentioned excursions almost always have bar service and establishments where you can buy drinks and snacks, the prices on board are usually quite high. So, if you think you might get a little hungry on the way, I recommend that you take some food with you to avoid unnecessary overspending.