The Exumas
A 120-mile chain of 365 cays with the clearest water in the country, the swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto and a protected land-and-sea park.
Boat rentals, yacht charters and sailing in The Bahamas
The Bahamas is best seen from the water, and the options range from a small powerboat for a day to a crewed yacht for a week. We help you choose the right boat for your group and the waters you want to explore, then arrange it with licensed operators.
The Exumas and the Abacos are the country's two great cruising grounds. The Exuma Cays offer the clearest water and the most famous sights, best explored on a crewed charter or a captained day boat from Great Exuma or Staniel Cay. The Sea of Abaco, sheltered by its barrier cays, is the centre of bareboat sailing, with charter bases in Marsh Harbour and short hops between Hope Town, Man-O-War and Great Guana Cay.
From Nassau and Paradise Island, day charters run to Rose Island, the sandbars off the northern Exumas and the reefs along the south coast of New Providence. Fishing charters are available almost everywhere; Bimini and the Tongue of the Ocean are the deep-sea centres, while the flats of Andros, Abaco and Grand Bahama are world-known for bonefish.
Boats in The Bahamas are operated under Bahamian regulations, and visiting boaters on their own vessels must clear customs and immigration at a port of entry and obtain a cruising permit. Charter operators handle this for their guests.
What falls under boats and charters
- Crewed yacht charters
- Sail or motor yachts with captain and crew, typically for several days in the Exumas or Abacos.
- Bareboat sailing
- Skipper-your-own catamarans and monohulls, mainly from Marsh Harbour in the Abacos.
- Captained day boats
- Centre consoles and small cruisers with a local captain for a day of cays and sandbars.
- Fishing charters
- Bonefishing skiffs with guides and offshore sportfishing boats.
Where boats and charters matter most
The Abacos
The sailing capital of The Bahamas: Marsh Harbour, the barrier cays of Hope Town, Man-O-War and Great Guana, and a sheltered sea in between.
Nassau and New Providence
The capital and main gateway: colonial streets, Cable Beach, Junkanoo, and the easiest connections to every other island.
Paradise Island
Resort island across the harbour from Nassau, home to Atlantis, Cabbage Beach and a cluster of restaurants, marinas and golf.
Bimini
The closest Bahamian island to the United States, famous for big-game fishing, Hemingway, the Bimini Road and water a short crossing from Miami.
Harbour Island
Three miles of pink-sand beach, pastel cottages in Dunmore Town and golf carts instead of cars, a short water taxi off Eleuthera's north end.
Need boats and charters for your trip?
Send a request with your dates and island. We check availability with verified suppliers and reply with specific options.
Common questions
Do I need a licence to rent a boat in The Bahamas?
Requirements depend on the operator and the vessel. Small powerboats are commonly rented to visitors with boating experience; bareboat charters require a sailing résumé. We will tell you what each operator asks for.
What is the best area for a sailing charter?
The Abacos for sheltered water and short passages between settlements, the Exumas for the clearest water and the most dramatic cays. Both are superb; the choice depends on experience and what you want to see.