Grand Bahama Island is the home of Freeport, the island nation's second largest city and a sportsman's paradise for championship golf, tennis, scuba diving, and fishing. In fact, it was designed especially for your enjoyment! Forty years ago, Freeport didn't exist but today it's a fantasy vacation made real on the shores of Grand Bahama, just 55 miles east of Florida. If you're looking for sheer entertainment, there's no better getaway in the Bahamas. As the popular island song says, "If you can't find them — they're in Freeport or they're in jail!" But Freeport's bright ligh ... More
Grand Bahama Island is the home of Freeport, the island nation's second largest city and a sportsman's paradise for championship golf, tennis, scuba diving, and fishing. In fact, it was designed especially for your enjoyment! Forty years ago, Freeport didn't exist but today it's a fantasy vacation made real on the shores of Grand Bahama, just 55 miles east of Florida. If you're looking for sheer entertainment, there's no better getaway in the Bahamas. As the popular island song says, "If you can't find them — they're in Freeport or they're in jail!"
This tour leaves from your hotel for a ride through Grand Bahama’s Millionaires Row, along the South East Highway heading toward Banana Bay. Visit commercial areas and local markets and pass by the home of Count Basie.
A close up encounter with the most fascinating animals in the sea! A short ferryboat ride takes you to Dolphin Encounter. Sit with your feet in the water as dolphins swim around you or step into the shallow water and touch them.
The ferry takes you to swim with the dolphins in the protected water of Sanctuary Bay. The animal care staff provides guidance on interacting with the animals and there to answer all your questions.
A snorkeler’s delight! From beginners to pros, visit a live coral reef where you lay on the surface of the crystal clear water and see a multitude of tropical fish.
Gaze through the picture window to the sea and enjoy tantalizing crystal clear waters of the Bahamas, offering an amazing variety of fish and other denizens of the deep to be admired without getting your feet wet!
All-suite boutique resort on the western tip of Grand Bahama Island, featuring a full service marina – Just 64 miles from the coast of Florida, this cozy boutique resort offers 67 ocean view and ocean front junior suites, and 6 2-bedroom suites. Accommodations include walk-in marble baths and private balconies or lanais with direct beach access. The heated, infinity edge pool, complimentary water sports, bicycles, and a multitude of daily themed activities keep guests busy. The 73-slip full service marina boasts many amenities such as fuel, cable television hook-up, electricity, and docking assistance. Fishing, snorkeling, and more await at this resort in the historic village of West End. This resort is a member of Preferred Boutique Hotels, an AAA Four Diamond Award recipient, and a Virtuoso® hotel.
Adult-friendly luxury beachfront property that's part of a resort complex – This 10-story resort on the island's south shore is across the street from Port Lucaya Marketplace and 5 miles from downtown Freeport. It caters to adults and couples and is the quieter part of a large resort complex. You have access to all the facilities and activities of its sister property.
A cheerful and active family favorite that's part of a 372-acre resort complex – This casual family-friendly resort, just 55 miles from the coast of Florida, borders 7.5 acres of white-sand beach on the island's south shore. You have access to all the facilities and activities of its sister property in the resort complex.
Romantic waterfront hotel with colonial charm, steps from island's best beach – Pastel, gingerbread-trimmed townhouses and a postcard-perfect waterfront setting give this resort the intimate, colonial-era charm of an island B&B (it serves continental breakfast, too). A designated "Small Treasure of the Bahamas," it delivers elegance on a budget, and is within a 5-minute walk of Lucaya Beach, arguably the island's best stretch of sand. Incomparably romantic, this is an ideal choice for couples and newlyweds.
Relax on the white-sand beach, swim in the free-form pool, soak in the relaxing hot tub, and dine at the tiki hut restaurant. Each condo at this family-friendly resort has a full kitchen.
Newly-renovated hotel in downtown Freeport, free shuttles to beach – Perfect for, and popular with, families traveling the Bahamas on a budget, the newly renovated Best Western Castaway's Resort & Suites is a 4-story, Caribbean-style vacation spot in downtown Freeport. Though it lacks a beachfront setting, the hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to the nearby Williams Town Beach. The Flamingo Restaurant has a reputation for serving the best breakfasts on the island.
Casual with an All-Inclusive option, on the south coast of Grand Bahama Island – The accommodations of this Italian-style resort with an All-Inclusive option are housed in 1- and 2-story tan stucco buildings set directly along a palm tree-dotted, powder-soft, white-sand beach. It appeals to singles, couples, and families and is 10 miles from Port Lucaya Marketplace and 12 miles from downtown Freeport.
But Freeport's bright lights and good times aren't the whole story. The island itself has been settled for centuries, and the historic, rustic environment provides an alternative to the city flash. The easternmost edge of the island has beautiful deserted beaches. The towns of the West End, which during prohibition were popular hideouts for rum-runners, have an Old World charm. In the parks, you can find remnants of the island's earliest Arawak natives and the pirate invasions that form the backdrop of Grand Bahama's spellbinding, often shady past. Topping it all off is the legendary friendliness of the Bahamian people!
New York City 3.25 hrs
Boston 5.25 hrs
Miami 1 hr
Philadelphia 3 hrs
Los Angeles 6 hrs
Chicago 4 hrs
Dallas-Fort Worth 4 hrs
San Francisco 6.75 hrs
Thanks to the Bahamas' favorable geological composition, it has some of the clearest, cleanest water in the world. Grand Bahama is mostly covered in scrub or Caribbean pines and palms. In the north there are marsh and mangrove swamps, while much of the coast supports the attractive sea-grape tree. Flowers and fruit trees are plentiful. Limestone caves, cliffs, sand dunes, coves, harbors, and rock formations give the Bahamas a great geological diversity. There are innumerable beaches, and coral reefs lie just out to sea.
Called the "Isles of Perpetual June" by George Washington, the nickname stuck for many years because the island weather is almost always ideal, yet there is a bit of variety in what you can expect. Winter is the dry season, and summer is the rainy season, though showers are usually intense brief episodes followed quickly by sunshine. The heart of hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare. When threatened by a hurricane strike, one should expect a 2-day displacement from evacuation to safe return.
Spring: average 73° with less than 3 inches of rain per month.
Summer: average 82° with 5-7 inches of rain per month.
Fall: average 77° with 4-6 inches of rain per month.
Winter: average 68° with less than 2 inches of rain per month.
Weather-wise, your visit to the Bahamas is unrestricted. The Gulf Stream sweeps its warm waters along the Western shores, and the brilliant sun and gentle Southeast trade winds continuously bathe the islands. Winter is the most popular season, when people escape the cold and snow of the north. The most perfect weather comes in spring and autumn, and summer is the season of the Goombay festivals.
Dazzling Weather: Great weather means great fun. Everything seems perfect when the sun is shining, especially if you are escaping the icy roads and dark evenings of the north. While there is much on Grand Bahama to keep you busy and entertained, many people still enjoy simply getting away from it all and soaking up the rays on the beach, forgetting all the responsibilities left behind.
Island Culture & Scenery: The people of Grand Bahama are laid back and ever so friendly to visitors. The island was once very quiet and remote, and it still retains a noticeable old world ambiance, but in the 1950s developments in Freeport began attracting more and more vacationers, especially from the US. Today you can stay in the comforts of a city hotel and still explore the little villages and geological features of the island. Apart from pristine beaches, you also find 3 national parks and one of the world's largest networks of caves.
Entertainment & Active Pursuits: All your favorite beach and ocean activities are found on Grand Bahama, and across the island are places to explore and events to take part in. Though most revered for its diving, snorkeling, and fishing, the island also offers horseback riding, gambling, bird watching, and a host of other things to do in the hot Bahamas sun.
Robinson Crusoe Snorkeling Tour: Sail through the clearest waters in the world to remote islands where you will spend the day relaxing on the sun-drenched beach, snorkeling over coral reefs, and exploring the island's winding paths and tidal pools in true castaway style. Have a picnic on an out island and then stretch out in a hammock under a palm while calypso music plays against the surf. It's a day you won't want to end!
Scuba Diving: Play with dolphins, face down sharks, and discover centuries-old shipwrecks. Never been diving? The basic instruction available through UNEXSO (The Underwater Explorers Society), will have you within inches of sea creatures in no time. Grand Bahama won Scuba Diving magazine's Diver's Choice Award for Best Big Animal Dive! Discover a wide range of sites from cave dives to wall dives, reefs to wrecks.
Dinner Cruises: A scenic and romantic way to spend an evening, cruising along Freeport's picturesque waterfront. The crew prepares an all-you-can-eat Bahamian buffet and there is usually music or a show aboard. Join one of the livelier cruises, and you may find yourself cajoled into a limbo contest! How low can you go?
Beaches: Many guests frequent Xanadu Beach, a gathering place for water sports. The premier shore is Gold Rock Beach, a secluded beach with BBQ pits and picnic tables. Just north of the beach are the Lucayan Caverns, the world's longest underground surveyed cave system. Travel down to Barbary Beach where you'll find beautiful seashells and a spectacular summer display of white spider lilies. In Lucaya, there is a string of three beaches that are never crowded. The further east you go, the less civilization you'll find!
Lucayan National Park: Kayak through mangroves and wander along nature trails. Follow knowledgeable guides into caves and learn local history. Top off your explorations with a relaxing swim and a seaside picnic at Gold Rock Beach.
Biking Nature Tour: Cyclists experience a part of Grand Bahama that few people get to see, on a tour of the south shore with sweeping vistas and diverse eco-systems. The easy trail is 10 miles long and leads you to the Lucayan National Park. Along the way, you'll see the ruins of one of the earliest Bahamian settlements.
Sport Fishing: Game fish abound in the waters of the Bahamas. Ernest Hemingway frequented these waters, and you too can angle for "The Big One" in one of the many international tournaments. Over 50 fishing records have been set in the Bahamas!
Garden of the Groves: This serene 12-acre botanical garden is brimming with hummingbirds, orchids, ferns, duck ponds, and waterfalls. Native birds such as Cuban Emeralds and Greater Antillean Bullfinches can be spotted among the lush foliage. The gardens have over ten thousand plants, making it among the most photographed locations in the Bahamas.
The Dolphin Experience: A short ferry ride takes you to Sanctuary Bay, home to a pod of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Observe these friendly animals close up, take pictures from the observation deck, and ask questions of the animal care staff. Step into waist-deep water and interact with these amazing animals. Don't forget your camera!
Pirates of the Bahamas Theme Park: A beachfront theme park where kids and grown ups alike can spend a whole day playing or relaxing. Water sports, miniature golf, restaurant, bar, lounges, children's activities on a supervised playground, bonfires, live entertainment, and hammocks give you a variety of ways to enjoy yourself. In the heart of a "sunken" pirate battle ship are the galley and grog serving meals and refreshments. Dance contests let you show off your lowest limbo or funkiest macarena for travel prizes!
Bird Watching: Among the unique birds on Grand Bahama are the colorful Stripe-headed Tanager, the ground-foraging Red-legged Thrush, and the acrobatic nectar- and insect-eating Bananaquit. The Nature Conservancy declares Grand Bahama "a wonderful birding experience with species nowhere else to be found in the world!"
Horseback Riding: One of life's most riveting experiences, horseback riding along a Caribbean shore is a must! Rides also take you through a pine forest, rocky groves, and wetlands. The horses are well-trained and pace is leisurely. No riding experience is necessary.
International Bazaar & Downtown Shopping: The Bazaar is one of the oldest shopping areas in Freeport. It's divided into sections representing different parts of the world such as the Mideast, France, The Orient, Scandinavia, and South America. In each, you'll find shopping and dining from that region of the world. On the other side of the street, across from Colombian Emeralds and the Straw Market, is a perfume factory where you can mix your own scent! Downtown is the local shopping district, a great place to get a true Bahamian meal.
Seafood rules in Bahamian cuisine, with conch, crab, grouper, snapper, mahi mahi, and other fresh local catches fixed into tasty recipes from beachside stands to the most elegant of restaurants. Conch is a staple for many Bahamians, prepared as fritters or "cracked," coated in batter and fried, while conch salad is made from raw, shredded conch, onion, lime, lettuce and tomatoes. Local fruit trees bring sapodilla, mango, breadfruit, sugar apple, and pawpaw to your table. For favorite sweets, try soursop ice cream, coconut tarts, and sugar bananas, which have an apple flavor. Guava duff is a popular dessert, and tastes a bit like jam rolypoly pudding, topped with guava sauce flavored with rum. Whatever you choose, you're in for a treat because traditional island cuisine is undergoing a renaissance, with a new generation of Bahamian chefs reinterpreting traditional dishes!
Gourmet
Ruby Swiss serves Freeport's finest gourmet Bahamian cuisine with a touch of Europe. Fresh ingredients, Bahamian delicacies, and top-notch service are complimented by an extensive wine list to reward every craving. Live entertainment adds a touch of fun to a flawless meal! West Sunrise Bay & Atlantic Way
China Palace is undoubtedly the most elegant Chinese restaurant in Freeport, the China Palace eagerly serves food as high in quality as the lovely authentic decor. There is plenty of seafood on the menu, as well as other typically Chinese options. Overall the China Palace is an excellent value, serving delectable Chinese food in a grand setting. International Bazaar, Freeport
Highly Recommended
Pier One Seafood Restaurant is, without a doubt, the most popular seafood restaurant in town. It serves only the freshest food delivered daily, and has an incredible setting right in Freeport Harbour, with pilings suspending it out over the ocean.Not only do the hues of sunset reach your table, but Pier One adds a wildlife encounter to your evening by feeding sharks every night just a few feet from your outdoor table! Freeport Harbour
Geneva's Place is an restaurant popular with the locals is a sign of good food. At Geneva's, food is prepared the old fashioned way, and they specialize in the most Bahamian of foods: conch. Sample this shellfish stewed, cracked, fried, in savory chowder, or even raw. This is also an excellent place to try grouper, also prepared in a number of interesting ways. Be sure to wash it all down with a bartender's special, a Bahama Mama. Kipling Lane, Freeport
Local Flair
Tony Macaroni, the famous conchmaster, prepares his secret recipes on Taino Beach. A favorite of the natives and a popular tourist stop, Tony prepares his roast conch and conch salad in an 8x8 hut right on the beach. As charismatic as he is talented, he has even been invited to put on his cooking show in the Smithsonian Folklore Festival of the Americas and throughout the Caribbean! Taino Beach, next to the Surfside Restaurant & Lounge
The Pepper Pot uniquely specializes in takeout Bahamian food. Located in a shopping mall east of the International Bazaar, it is perfect for grabbing a midday snack without resorting to the usual snack food you find back home. Their guava duff is superb, and said to be the best on the island. You can also choose from conch chowder, cracked conch, and fish sandwiches. East Sunrise Highway at Coral Road
Romantic
The Stoned Crab, a sophisticated restaurant set right on the ocean, has been popular for so long it can justly be called a landmark. It has a nautical decor of fish nets, buoys, and boating memorabilia, and tables are set both inside and out. Romance comes easily when you're sharing a delicious meal over fine wine, with trade winds ruffling the flowers and moonlight reflecting in your eyes. Taino Beach
Luciano's: Since the 1970s Luciano's has been one of the finer restaurants on Grand Bahama. Food here is exquisite, and the chef carefully prepares each meal from an assortment of fresh ingredients. The menu ranges from locally inspired grouper and sole, to the more traditional strip choice sirloin steak and filet mignon. The setting is utterly romantic, with stunning views of the moonlit marina and candles lighting the elegant interior. Port Lucaya Marketplace
Freeport was developed for tourists seeking tropical fun, so nighttime entertainment naturally makes a big splash. A classy casino with a Las Vegas-style show, and an ample supply of nightclubs keep you entertained into the early morning hours. Kalik, the local beer brewed in Nassau, has won several international prizes. The local rum is Bacardi, around which popular drinks like Bahama Mammas, Yellowbirds, and Island Woman are created. And remember to bring your dancing shoes, because there's live music every night. You can always find local music, known as Goombay, at a lively club along with disco and jazz. Also, check out Port Lucaya's open-air Count Basie Square for live bands, fire-eaters and local entertainers. If you like your good times more laid back, head for one of the many beach bars and share a drink with new friends or slow dance on the sand with the moon in place of a disco ball.
Casinos: Are you a high roller, or are slot machines more your speed? Whatever you prefer, Grand Bahama Island's 2 world-class casinos, the Princess Casino and the Lucayan Beach Casino, have you covered. Games include slot machines, blackjack tables, roulette wheels, and dice tables. Also, you'll be entertained nightly, with Las Vegas-style shows and cabaret revues!
Count Basie Square, Port Lucaya Marketplace: Live entertainment features local bands and dancing. Limbo Shows are held several nights a week, and audience participation is highly encouraged. There are many varied restaurants and bars in the marketplace, making it one of the more popular places to bar hop and party the night away.
Club WRLX: The "Calypso Rose Revue Variety Show" is always a hit with its talented company performing crowd-thrilling fire dances, gravity-defying limbo, comedy female impersonations, steel drum music, and singing.
Potpourri of Nightclubs: Many clubs feature varied entertainment throughout the week, including disco night, live bands, and vibrant Native shows with flamboyant island costumes and festive calypso dance and music. Other popular events include Bahamian buffets and audience participation limbo parties. Some favorite venues are Club Tropicana, Le Utopia, Princess Country Club, Jokers Wild, Safari Lounge and Studio 69.
Expo Bahamas Songest: A swinging, open air concert billing some of the most talented Bahamian performing artists including soloists, live bands, gospel chorales, and rake & scrape ensembles. January
Pro-Am Golf Tournament: One of the most prestigious golf tournaments, drawing scores of professional & amateur players from across the globe to the courses at Bahamia, the Ruby & the Emerald, and the Lucayana Country Club. January
Garden of the Groves Art Festival: A full day of fun family activities, with Bahamian arts & crafts, music, food, pony rides & more including a sky diving exhibition! March
Sailing Regatta: Sailing sloops from across The Islands of The Bahamas converge in the waters off Grand Bahama Island in a challenging showdown for the "Championship of the Seas." June
Bahamas Fling Flotilla: A must for boating enthusiasts and yachtsmen cruising to the Bahamas for the first time. Make the five-day crossing from Florida to the Bahamas in the company of a flotilla of boats! June
International Independence Celebration: Parrot Jungle's Garden of the Groves celebrates American and Bahamian Independence with cultural displays of dance, food and music from both cultures, as well as kids activities and a fireworks grand finale. July
Emancipation Day: This public holiday commemorates the emancipation of slavery in 1834. A highlight is an early morning "Junkanoo Rush-Out" followed by an afternoon of cookouts, cultural events such as "climbing the greasy pole," and the plaiting of the maypole. August
Junkanoo Carnival: An exciting weekend of cultural festivities, with a spectacular parade blending Bahamian Junkanoo and Trinidadian influences. There is also an open-air concert featuring the hottest local bands and performing artists, and a gospel concert. September
Kalik Junkanoo Rush-Out: A colorful Junkanoo "Rush out " and parade in which the major Junkanoo groups on Grand Bahama compete for bragging rights to the Best Music title. October
McLean's Town Conch Cracking Contest: In a lively count down, contestants compete to extract the highest number of conchs from shells in the shortest time limit. This full day with many other fun events takes place in the quaint fishing village of McClean's Town. October
Lucaya Golf & Country Club Pro-Am Golf Tournament: Over 200 professional and amateur golfers from around the world converge on Freeport/Lucaya in a week of challenging meets. December
Festivale Noelle: This popular annual event at one of the island's premier nature retreats includes wine tasting, arts & crafts, live music, and much more! December
Wahoo Championships: Anglers take up the tough challenge of baiting one of the fastest fish in the ocean that can reach speeds up to 70mph. December
Dress style throughout the islands is casual. The finer restaurants may require jacket and tie, especially during the high season. Bahamians are easy-going yet dignified people, and bathing suits and scanty clothing should remain on the beach and not be worn in shopping areas or most restaurants. In the Out Islands, clothing custom is even more casual.
We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.
Gambling/Drinking: Minimum age of 18 required.
Sunburn & Heatstroke: The tropical sun can be quite harsh, especially in summer, so wear plenty of sunblock and a hat.
English is the official language, spoken in the engaging dialect of Bahamianese. Listen closely and you will note British, Irish, and African influences. Don't hesitate to ask if you need a bit of translation!
The current runs on 120 volts/60 cycles AC, so you will not need an adapter for your American appliances.
Entry: US citizens staying for 8 months or less need one of the following: a) passport, b) certified copy of their US birth certificate and a government-issued picture ID, or c) naturalization papers and a picture ID. US residents need their residency card (green card) and a passport from their home country.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Effective January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including US citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to US citizens traveling to or returning directly from a US territory. US citizens returning directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. US territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Bahamas Customs: Each adult visitor over 21 years old is allowed to bring 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes, or 1 pound of tobacco; 1 quart of spirits; and personal items. You will be given an immigration card to complete and sign; keep the carbon copy to turn in at departure. Minors under the age of 16 traveling alone or with only one parent/adult guardian must present a notarized consent form from the absent parent(s). If the child's circumstance is not covered by this requirement, check directly with a Bahamian consulate for instructions.
US Customs: Upon return to the US, visitors may bring in $600 worth of merchandise without paying duty. The next $1,000 worth of merchandise is charged at 10%. Gifts of up to $50 may be sent home duty free. One quart of alcoholic beverage may be brought in duty free, as well as five cartons of cigarettes. Conveniently, US Customs is pre-cleared out of Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama.
Departure Tax: A $15 departure tax will be charged when exiting the country.
US Embassy: Queen Street, PO Box N-8197, Nassau, Bahamas, phone 242-322-4753
Bahamas Tourism Development Authority: PO Box N 3701, Nassau, Bahamas, phone 242-322-7500, fax 242-328-0945
Chicago: 8600 W Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 820, Chicago, IL 60631, phone 773-693-1500
Dallas: World Trade Center, 2050 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 116, Dallas, TX 75258, phone 214-742-1886
Fort Lauderdale: 1100 Lee Wagener Blvd., Suite 204, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, phone 800-688-4752 or 954-359-8099
Los Angeles: 3450 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 208, Los Angeles, CA 90010, phone 800-439-6993
Miami: 1 Turnberry Place, 19495 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 809, Aventura, FL 33180, phone 305-932-0051
New York: 150 E 52nd St., New York, NY 10022, phone 212-758-2777