Things to do in San Salvador
12 places and activities across 4 areas: beaches, reefs, caves, settlements, food and the outings worth a boat or a long drive.
A car or local guide makes the island circuit practical. Lighthouse, cave and wildlife access may need permission.
Everything here is a real place or a real local activity, checked against local sources. Photographs are used with permission and credited below, and appear only where one exists for that exact place or activity. We do not show star ratings from other platforms. Each entry says how you reach it, roughly how long to allow and what to confirm locally, because access on the Out Islands changes with tides, weather, private ownership and the season.
Cockburn Town and west coast
History
Landfall Park and Columbus memorial
Visit the memorial at the traditionally identified landing site.
- Where
- Long Bay
- Getting there and time
- Car · 1 to 2 hours
Confirm access locally. The exact 1492 landing location remains debated.
Beach
Bonefish Bay Beach
Enjoy a secluded stretch of pale sand.
- Where
- Bonefish Bay
- Getting there and time
- Car / public approach · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Use confirmed public access outside resort areas.
Scuba
Runway 10 wall dive
Dive a dramatic wall off the island's lee side.
- Where
- Leeward west-coast dive sites
- Getting there and time
- Dive operator / reservation · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. Wildlife sightings and route depend on conditions.
Culture
Cockburn Town settlement walk
Explore the island's main settlement and waterfront.
- Where
- Cockburn Town
- Getting there and time
- Car / walk · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Combine with a locally arranged meal.
North and northeast
History and scenery
Dixon Hill Lighthouse
Visit the historic lighthouse and surrounding views.
- Where
- Dixon Hill
- Getting there and time
- Car / keeper permission · 1 to 2 hours
By arrangement. Confirm tower access with the keeper.
Geology
Reckley Hill Pond Water Cave visit
Learn about the island's water-cave geology.
- Where
- Northeastern San Salvador
- Getting there and time
- Specialist guide / permission · About 2 hours
By arrangement. Specialist access only. Do not assume ordinary cave-tour facilities.
South and southwest
Beach
Grotto Beach
Explore one of the island's quieter southern beaches.
- Where
- Sandy Point
- Getting there and time
- Car / local approach · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Ask about the current access road.
Beach and boating
Snow Bay beach and lagoon outing
Explore the bay's beaches and shallow-water scenery.
- Where
- Snow Bay
- Getting there and time
- Car or boat / local guide · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. Choose the approach for current wind conditions.
History
Watling's Castle and Sandy Point Estate
Explore plantation ruins and the historic estate landscape.
- Where
- Sandy Point
- Getting there and time
- Car / local guide · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm current approach and avoid unstable structures.
Nature
Watling's Blue Hole viewpoint
See an inland blue hole connected to saltwater.
- Where
- Southwestern San Salvador
- Getting there and time
- Car / local directions · 1 to 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Arrange site directions and suitable access locally.
Great Lake and offshore reefs
Scuba
San Salvador reef dive
Explore locally selected reefs on the island's lee side.
- Where
- Devil's Claw / Vicky's Reef
- Getting there and time
- Dive operator / reservation · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. Exact site and wildlife depend on the day's conditions.
Nature
Great Lake birdwatching and nature visit
Explore the lake's surrounding bird and mangrove habitat.
- Where
- Great Lake protected area
- Getting there and time
- Local guide / permission · About 4 hours
By arrangement. Sensitive wildlife areas require locally approved routes.
Want help putting San Salvador together?
Tell us your dates, your base and what caught your eye on this list. We will suggest a realistic order, the boats or drivers you need, and the places that are worth confirming first.
Photo credits
- Unattributed photographs: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, used with permission.
- Cockburn Town settlement walk: tripadvisor.com
- Landfall Park and Columbus memorial: sandshotelsansalvadorbahamas.com
- Bonefish Bay Beach: fashionmagazine.com
- Runway 10 wall dive: ridingrock.com
- Dixon Hill Lighthouse: Rüdiger Stehn from Kiel, Deutschland, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Reckley Hill Pond Water Cave visit: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
- Grotto Beach: personal.denison.edu
- Snow Bay beach and lagoon outing: sansaltours.com
- San Salvador reef dive: xray-mag.com
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