Bahamas Day Trips from Miami

Less than 300 kilometres from Miami in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean lie 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 top things to see and do during your trip to Miami.

Although The Bahamas is made up of up to 700 islands and cays, most of them are uninhabited, with 16 of them being the main ones whose capital is Nassau. Their varied natural environments serve as an example of the islands' impressive biodiversity. Most people who decide to take a trip from Miami to The Bahamas are motivated by the idea of spending a relaxing holiday 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 don't have much time but don't want to miss out on the fantastic scenery of these special islands, I recommend you book a day trip to the Bahamas. You can find a large number of companies that offer this tour all year round, as its privileged climate makes it possible to visit at any time of year.

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

Some ferry companies offer the option of booking a premium ferry ticket, which gives you priority boarding and seats with the best views, among other advantages. Once there, you'll have several hours free to enjoy the beaches, sample 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't miss the many water sports and activities on offer in The Bahamas, 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 most companies charge upwards of €200.
• Duration: day trips last approximately 17 hours.
• Means of transport: the means of transport 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 don't want to miss out on 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 won't be able to see the islands in their entirety.

If, on the other hand, you're travelling 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 convenient and recommended option is to hire one of the excursions offered by several companies that come with round-trip transportation included.

These tours usually take you on a ferry that leaves early in the morning from the port of Port Everglade, although they often pick you up from your hotel. During the trip you'll be able to enjoy wonderful views of the ocean, as well as the option to buy something to eat or drink, as they have a bar service to buy food on board.

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

Some of the best-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 affordable option of looking for a hostel or renting a holiday flat.

Details of interest

• Price: this tour is available from 300€
• Duration: the duration of the tour is two days, leaving Miami early in the morning and returning the following day around 21:00 - 22:00 at night.
• Means of transport: the means of transport 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, there are a host of tours and excursions available in the surrounding area, whether it's a tour of the Everglades National Park or a trip to the fantastic Bahamas. This time, the getaway I'm going to propose is to Bimini, a paradisiacal jewel just 80 kilometres from Miami, being the closest Bahamian island to the coast of Florida.

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

Of course, you'll also find numerous luxury beachfront resorts, as well as restaurants and souvenir shops. As with day trips to The Bahamas, these organised tours include a round-trip transfer from Port 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 transport: the means of transport used to get to The Bahamas would be the ferry.
• Advantages of this option: this option is perfect if you want to get to know The Bahamas but you don't want to waste too much time on transfers, as being the closest island the journey time is shorter and you will be able to spend more time there.
• Disadvantages of this option: the main disadvantage of this option is that as Bimini is further away from the rest of The Bahamas, you won't have the opportunity to go on excursions between the islands.

If you're lucky enough to have enough time to visit the Bahamas at your leisure, a fun and convenient way to do so 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, as well as being able to do so more quickly.

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

You can do some water activities in the clear waters of the capital, visit the lively Freeport on Grand Bahama Island or swim in the beautiful Half Moon Cay are some of the things you can do there. Plus, if you're travelling to Miami at Christmas time you might be lucky enough to get your cruise to coincide with Boxing Day, when Junkanoo, one of the Caribbean's most famous carnivals, is celebrated.

Booking a four-day Bahamas cruise will cover both transfer and accommodation, plus you'll find it much easier to get around the islands as the ship docks at a different port each day. Departing from the port of Miami, these excursions also include access to facilities such as swimming pools, restaurants, spa and casinos.

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

Details of interest

• Price: this tour is available from around €250 per person.
• Duration of the tour: the duration of the tour is four days.
• Means of transport: the means of transport used to get to and around The Bahamas would be a cruise ship.
• Advantages of this option: this option is perfect if you want to get to know the exotic Bahamas Islands in depth and with peace of mind while enjoying the comforts offered by a cruise of this type.
• Disadvantages of this option: the disadvantages of this option are that the price is higher, you will lose more time and that not all services are always included in the initial price, so you will have to be careful 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 experience the incredible experience of a helicopter ride, if you're the kind of person who enjoys the heights, it's also possible to get to 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 when you take the private plane, but the experience is much more complete because, as well as offering a return transfer, this tour includes a series of guided excursions throughout the day to visit the most emblematic places on the islands. So, if you have the option to spend a little more money, don't hesitate and book this tour for an unforgettable day out.

Interesting details

• Price: from around 850€ per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts one day. Departure time would be at 6:45 in the morning and arrival at 18:30 in the evening.
• Means of transport: the means of transport 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, as well as having a fun trip with fantastic views.
• Disadvantages of this option: The main disadvantages of this option are the high cost and the fact that it is only a day trip and you won't have enough time to see the whole Bahamas.

Here are a few tips to ensure that you are well prepared for your little trip to paradise and enjoy the experience to the fullest.

The first tip I'm going to give you for your getaway is to book your excursion in advance, especially if it takes place during the high season, which starts in December and ends in April.

Although there are a large number of companies that offer these types of tours and excursions, the high tourist influx can cause you to run out of places on the dates of your trip, so don't forget to get ahead of the rest by booking the activity as early as possible.

As discussed earlier in this article, the best (and most common) 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 departure time, as the boarding and passenger confirmation process takes some time and the organising company cannot be held responsible if you do not arrive to board at the scheduled time.

The Bahamas enjoys a fantastic tropical climate with minimum temperatures between 18ºC and 24ºC and maximum temperatures varying between 25ºC and 32ºC throughout the year. In addition, its geographical location means that the humidity is usually quite high, which means that the wind chill is sometimes higher.

With these facts in mind, the recommended clothing for a trip to The Bahamas will always be summery and cool clothing. In addition, as the main tourist attractions of these islands are their beaches and the water activities that take place on them, you can't forget your swimming costume and sandals.

In case you are planning to do some hiking, you can't forget to bring comfortable shoes and a good backpack to carry water, sun cream and the rest of the things you need for such a route.

The sun shines almost every day of the year in the Bahamas, so sun protection is a must for this tour. In addition, swimming in the sea and water activities make exposure to the sun more dangerous, so you will need 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 polarised.

Although the ferries on the above excursions almost always have a bar service and snack and drink outlets, the prices on board are usually quite high. So if you think you might get a little hungry along the way, I recommend that you take some food with you to avoid unnecessary overspending.