Bahamas Out Islands; Which Ones to visit? It is hard to choose
Video of the Bahamas Out Islands
The Abacos, Acklins and Crooked Island, Andros, The Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera and Harbour Island, the Exumas, Inagua, Long Island, Mayaguana, Run Cay and San Salvador are all very different; what they have in common is that they are all part of the Bahamas Out Islands. The Bahamas Out Islands are a fabulous yacht charter location especially to relax with peace and quiet floating on crystal clear waters with miles of pristine pink sand beaches, and shallow waters all around for swimming, snorkeling or other water sports.
Fun in the Bahamas
The Out Islands of the Bahamas are a 500 mile island chain made up of named islands and many bits of uninhabited land or cays waiting in tranquil beauty for you to slip into a secluded anchorage and enjoy being lost where only your footsteps can be seen in the sand. The waters in the Bahamas are generally shallow near the islands and cays, nicely warmed under the tropical sun, and are crystal clear reflecting a myriad of shades of green and blue. Here you can spend hours swimming, snorkeling, shelling, or just having fun splashing. The Out Islands are a great family yacht charter location for everyone including those always on the go or those that like to just sit in the sand and make sand castles.
Warderick Sea Park - Sea Turtle
As the waters are shallow around the islands and cays, the best yacht for yacht charter in the Bahamas Out islands are motor yachts. Those motor yachts that are available for charter in this area are stock piled with water toys and many have a smaller boat in the 20-30' size range, such as an Intrepid that may be rigged for fishing to offer hours of gunkholing and exploring out and away from "home base". The Bahamas Out Islands are a great location for sport fishing, or deep sea fishing and also well known for bonefishing.
Tubing in the Sun
Visiting by yacht is the best way to see many of the Out Islands that cannot be visited any other way. So consider some of the Bahamas Out Islands for your next yacht charter, and your next and your next, as it is impossible to see all of these islands in one charter.
In the Exuma Island chain on a small deserted cay called Allan's Cay is a colony of the rare black iguanas, called the Bahamian Rock Iguana, or the Bahamian Dragon. The adults of this iguana subspecies are a dull gray black and can be found on around 7 cays in the Exuma Islands. Allan's Cay is a easy cruise from Staniel Cay a good location to stop for night on your yacht charter itinerary for the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas, and is actually a group of 3 small islets with an anchorage in the middle. Seeing this rare iguana at Alla's Cay is a great and easy stop during your yacht charter. There are a large number of iguanas on this cay, and they look forward to visits. Anchoring nearby and taking the yacht tender to the beach usually brings iguanas down to the beach area to investigate. They are surprisingly friendly, however this may be from knowledge over the years that visiting yachtsmen usually bring food, so be sure to bring a snack or two to give to these rare creatures.
Iguana at Allan's Cay
For a few hours in a morning or afternoon, visiting Allan's Cay is a very interesting stop on your yacht charter itinerary. How these iguanas came to be here and only here and a few other cays in the Exumas is a mystery. And over time, these iguanas have learned to live together in large groups rather than in the usual territorial manner of other iguanas. Therefore, when you visit, there are a large number of iguanas that you can see, photograph and/or just watch as they seem to need very little personal space, so that a large number of iguanas can be seen with a simply stop on the beach of Allan's Cay. And no worries, as these iguanas are vegetarians and appreciate a snack of fruit or vegetable, rather than any part of you.
posted by Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters at
5:51 PM 0 Comments
Monday, October 26, 2009
Bahamas Yacht Charter; Stalking the Elusive Bonefish
Bahamas Stalking the Bonefish
Bonefishing is a sport unlike any other, even unlike any other type of fishing. And there are only a few perfect bonefishing areas, one of which is Andros Island in the Bahamas. To try your hand at bonefishing, it is easy to visit Andros Island on a yacht charter in the Bahamas. As the largest island in the Bahamas, Andros Island is also the least populated, unless you count bonefish and there are thousands of these tough fighting fish. And, Andros Island bonefish are reputed to be some of the largest bonefish in the world, so it is even possible to catch a trophy sized bonefish on a fishing expedition during your charter. Include Andros Island in your Bahamas yacht charter itinerary and stalk the wild bonefish on your next charter.
Bahamas Andros Island Bonefish
Andros Island has miles of sandy cays hovering just under the surface of the water, which is the ideal feeding ground for bonefish. Fishing for bonefish requires a flat bottomed skiff and pole to glide through the shallow water covering the sandy cays, or high boots for stalking through the shallow water. Catching bonefish is a game of stalking rather than fishing. First the bone fish must be isolated and separated from the rest of the school, and then the game is on. Of course, finding the bonefish is the first challenge as they blend into the sandy surrounds, so that often the only telltale is the shadow of the bonefish seen on the bottom.
Bahamas Bonefishing
Once a bonefish strikes your lure, expect a swift run out of over 100 feet of line as the bonefish tries to shake the hook. As one of the swiftest and strongest game fish, it is then up to you to bring the fish in, which is the true test with this fish. And one or the other of you will win, and often with bonefish, it is the fish! Head over the Andros Island on your next charter in the Bahamas and spend an afternoon stalking the bonefish across the sandy submerged cays.
Your yacht could be located right here at the Atlantis Hotel Marina on Paradise Island for boarding and starting your yacht charter vacation in the Bahamas off with a bang. Or stay several days before or after your charter to wind up or wind down. Overlooked by the hotel complex, the marina is tucked into the harbor front of the resort. Surrounding the marina are the Marina Village Shops ringing the docks. The Atlantis Hotel and Marina is an impressive, sprawling resort with services for families, children, and honeymooners.
Royal Towers, Atlantis Resort
Three separate towers, a beach villa, and the world's largest open air marina make up the Atlantis Bahamas resort. Hotel and marina guests have access to the 24-hour casino located on the hotel grounds, as well as the many pools and restaurants.
The Royal Towers building is the tallest building on Paradise Island, as well as the newest addition to the Atlantis hotel Bahamas. The Royal Towers is easily the most upscale tower at the Atlantis hotel Bahamas and features a luxury suite on the 17th floor. The Royal Towers is also located within easy reach of the hotel marina and the underwater streets for viewing that are filled with fish and artifacts. The Royal Towers is also located right next to the Casino and multiple hotel restaurants.
Coral Towers, Atlantis Resort
The Coral Towers are located between the Royal Towers and the Beach Tower and feature mid-priced hotel rooms at the Atlantis in the Bahamas. The Coral Towers are located right next to Predator Lagoon where families will enjoy viewing predator wildlife lagoons. The Coral Towers rooms are the smallest at the hotel, but are clean and comfortable none the less.
Predator Lagoon, Atlantis Resort
The rooms in the Beach Tower are the least expensive rooms in the hotel, as the Beach Tower is the oldest building in the hotel. Guests of the Beach Tower will still have full access to all of the great amenities and attractions features at Atlantis in the Bahamas. The Beach Tower is on the east side of the hotel and located near the hotel Lazy River and the River Pool.
Lazy River, Atlantis Resort
Outside, there are numerous pools, water sports, beaches, and other water fun including water toys, and the Lazy River Ride and the Power Tower. Visit the marine life exhibits, include the Underwater Viewing Tunnel and the Royal Stingray Lagoon. Relax in the Spa or be entertained in the night club, casino or large screen movie theatre. There is full family fun for all age groups in the complex.
The Exumas Island Chain, located in The Bahamas stretching 120 miles south out of Nassau, is an excellent charter location. Miles of pristine deserted beaches stretch beside multicolored clear blue and green waters. We loved cruising there. Yours may be the only footprints in the white and sometimes pink powdery sand. You can swim, snorkel in shallow waters for hours, and the shelling is excellent. This is a charter location perfect for fun in the sun and really enjoying warm tropical waters.
Feeding Pig Great Major Cay
Swimming Pig, Great Major Cay
Half way down the Exumas, and only accessible by yacht, is Big Major Cay, deserted except for the pink pigs and the few cats that live there. A favorite stopping place for visiting yachtsmen, the pigs and cats survive from the largess of their visitors, and survive very well. The piggiest of the pigs have learned, for first crack at the offerings, to swim out and greet the visiting ship's tenders. I learned firsthand that lettuce is at the bottom of the food choices, Cheez-Its were far preferred. We watched the older pigs teaching the piglets how to swim, a new example of ecological adaptation. But be careful, as the overzealous pig has been known to try to board for extra snacks.
Staniel Cay
Big Major Cay is in the area of Staniel Cay and Thunderball Cave. You could spend several days there. Staniel Cay offers two restaurants and on Saturday nights a big outdoor barbeque is held where all diners mingle together at big communal picnic tables. Snorkel the nearby grotto Thunderball Cave appropriately named as the James Bond movie Thunderball was filmed there as well as the movie Splash. Shafts of light pierce through the rock formations into the blue pools in the grotto creating a mystical setting in which to snorkel over the coral formations and through the schools of tropical fish.
Thunderball Grotto, The Exumas
All this in only a few days of a crewed yacht charter itinerary to be enjoyed in The Exumas.
Contrary to popular thought, the Bahamas is an excellent charter location in Spring, Summer and Fall, and not necessarily in the dead of Winter. Unbeknownst to many, it can snow in Nassau in the Winter. Perhaps only once every 30 years and perhaps there is never any accumulation, however the weather can dip low enough for snow to fall. Cold weather in the Bahamas in the Winter is usually part of a winter storm that might blow through in several days, and then the weather returns to warm and sunny. So you can still consider chartering in the Bahamas and take your chances that a storm will not blow through, or if a storm does, take solace in the fact that it probably will not last for your whole week of charter. April and May are excellent charter times in the Bahamas, with days of bright sunny weather and clear warm waters. June through November can be excellent charter times as well, although the occasional hurricane can come through, so you should be sure to consider the purchase of Trip Cancellation Insurance for that time period. Most charter in the Bahamas starts out of Nassau. For a first charter, heading down to the Exumas is an excellent destination. Following is a suggested charter itinerary for a charter to the Exumas out of Nassau: The Exuma Islands - 7 Days Click on the "Read More" Button Below to View the Itinerary.
The Exuma Islands 7 Days Join your yacht in the capital city of Nassau to cruise 34 miles to another world. There are more than 700 islands in The Bahamas, with the Exuma chain reaching 120 miles. Arrive at the Allan's Cay group of islands to explore nearby beaches and to meet the large population of protected native iguanas on Leaf Cay or Southwest Allans Cay, which always comes out to greet visitors. Good snorkeling and fishing surround this collection of some 13 small islands and reefs.
In the morning cruise to uninhabited Hawksbill Cay, one of the prettiest cays in the Land and Sea Park. Walk along the beautiful expanse of beaches and climb the large hill for a panoramic view of the anchorage. In the afternoon hike the trails to explore ruins of Loyalist plantations dating from 1783 and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Hawksbill Cay beach
After breakfast, cruise to Warderick Wells, headquarters of the Exuma Land and Sea Park, where you will be greeted by an amazing display of water colors and sand banks upon approach. Snorkeling is excellent on nearby reefs. On shore, check out the sperm whale skeleton on the beach and enjoy the park's four miles of walking trails. Legend has it a ship carrying missionaries once wrecked off this island and the locals swear on moonlit nights a ghostly congregation can be heard singing hymns. Listen for them as you dine al fresco. Enjoy a lazy tropical breakfast before cruising to Staniel Cay where you can visit its quaint settlement of brightly colored houses. Snorkelers will enjoy exploring Thunderball Cave, the site of the movies 'Splash' and 'Thunderball'. Have dinner on board or ashore at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.
Thunderball Cave
Cruise to the eight-mile-long Pipe Creek, an area generally deserted as many yachts avoid its tricky shifting shoals and endless coral heads. This is a water sport paradise providing endless fishing, exploring and snorkeling opportunities.
Enjoy breakfast before cruising north to Shroud Cay. After anchoring, take the dingy through unspoiled mangrove creeks for a private lunch on a spectacular unspoiled ocean beach. Hike along the trails to see a variety of birds and wildlife.
Probably not, however if you charter a yacht in the Bahamas, you can see pigs swim! Swimming Pig Big Major Cay
Click on the "Read More" Button Below to Learn More about Chartering the Bahamas.
Charter a yacht to cruise on your yacht out of Nassau down into the Exumas. Just south of Staniel Cay is the uninhabited Big Major Cay. Uninhabited by humans at least, as the main inhabitants are large pink pigs. The story is that a pig was stranded on Big Major Cay some years ago and visiting yachtsmen helped keep the pig alive. The pig realized that yachts offered a food source and learned how to swim out to the tenders seeking food. That particular pig is no longer with us, but there are still pigs on Big Major Cay. Apparently, the locals have learned how to fatten up their pigs on the yachtsman's wallet. There are usually several large pigs, along with baby pigs as well. Bring your tender around and anchor off of this cay and watch the larger pigs swim out to visit, surrounded by several smaller swimming baby pigs, learning how to become "tender beggers" and keep up with their elders. And do bring something for them to eat, as that is the point! Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters can tell you that contrary to any information that suggests that pigs prefer lettuce; these pigs are looking for something far more substantial. And do be sure to feed them plenty and keep offering, or you may have a pig in the tender with you making sure there is nothing left in your pockets! A sight only to be seen via private yacht charter, feeding swimming pigs is just one of many activities available off the beaten track in private yacht charter.
