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Junkanoo: what it is and how to experience it in The Bahamas
What Junkanoo is, where it comes from, and how to see the Boxing Day and New Year's Day parades in Nassau or experience the music at any time of year.
Nassau tours: history walks, boat days, snorkelling, Junkanoo and the Exuma cays
Nassau has the widest choice of tours in The Bahamas, from a two-hour walk through the capital's history to a full day among the Exuma Cays. Most leave from downtown, the cruise port or the marinas on Paradise Island, and most can be joined from any hotel on New Providence. Here is what is on offer.
The city on foot
Downtown Nassau is compact and walkable. Guided history walks take in Parliament Square, the Queen's Staircase, Fort Fincastle and the water tower, the Straw Market and the Pompey Museum; food tours stop at bakeries, rum shops and the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay. Junkanoo experiences range from visits to the shacks where costumes are built to performances arranged for groups, and the educational centre downtown shows the costumes and music year round.
On the water
Boat tours leave the harbour for Rose Island and Blue Lagoon Island, with beach time, snorkelling and, at Blue Lagoon, encounters with dolphins and sea lions. Sunset and catamaran sails round Paradise Island, and sportfishing charters run to the drop-offs within sight of the city. Dive operators on the south and west coasts run shark dives and wall dives daily, and snorkel trips cover the reefs off Rose Island and the Clifton Heritage area.
Day trips further afield
From Nassau, operators run long day trips by powerboat to the swimming pigs and the Exuma Cays, and fly-and-boat combinations via Staniel Cay. There are also day trips to Harbour Island and Spanish Wells by boat or small aircraft. These are long days with an early start; they suit travellers who are based in Nassau for the whole trip.
What we can arrange
Downtown history or food walk
Queen's Staircase, forts, Parliament Square and the Fish Fry with a local guide.
About this placeRose Island or Blue Lagoon boat day
Beaches, snorkelling and lunch a short ride from the harbour.
Shark or reef dive
Daily boat dives off the south-west coast for certified divers.
Junkanoo experience
Shack visits, workshops and performances arranged for groups.
Exuma Cays day trip
Powerboat or fly-and-boat to the swimming pigs from New Providence.
About this place
Ready to plan it?
Send your dates, group and what you have in mind. We check availability with verified local operators and reply with real options, free of charge.
Common questions
What are the best tours in Nassau?
For most visitors: a downtown walk for the history, a boat day to Rose Island or Blue Lagoon for the water, and, if you have a full day, the Exuma Cays trip for the pigs and sandbars.
Can I see the swimming pigs from Nassau?
Yes, on a long day trip by powerboat or by flying to Staniel Cay and boating from there.
Is Nassau safe for walking tours?
Downtown and the tourist areas are busy and well patrolled by day. Guided walks stay on the main streets. Take usual city precautions at night.
Guides
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What to eat in The Bahamas: a visitor's guide to Bahamian food
The dishes worth seeking out in The Bahamas, from conch salad and cracked conch to peas and rice, boil fish and guava duff, and where locals eat them.
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How to visit the swimming pigs of Exuma
Where the swimming pigs are, how to reach Big Major Cay from Great Exuma, Staniel Cay or Nassau, what a day trip includes, and how to behave around the animals.