Best 7-Day Bahamas Yacht Charter Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Nassau

Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is usually the best starting point for any Bahamas skippered yacht itinerary, as air travel from your source is convenient. Our itinerary starts and ends in Nassau, keeping this convenience of air travel in mind. Once you alight and get yourself tucked in the comforts of the best resort hospitality that Nassau can offer, start with some hobnobbing in the city. Nassau is as crowded as the Bahamas gets.

Whether you are arriving as a family, a couple, or solo, there’s a lot that Nassau offers. We recommend trying your luck in the world-famous casinos that stretch on the island or just head for some beach time on Paradise Island. Towards the night, get ready for some grown-up indulgence at a luxury spa, a fine diner, or maybe just some cozy time back on the yacht.

Sailing in Nassau – Things to Know

• Nassau is a crowded part of New Providence, the 11^th-largest Bahamian island

Mooring in Nassau – Things to Do

Day 2 – Highborne Cay

This is where things get interesting. Highborne Cay, or Highbourne Cay, is a private island that invites you into the vast stretch of the breathtaking Exumas. Interesting because cruise ships and cruises can’t go in, and this is where your tropical Bahamas holiday yacht charter actually begins.

If the dreamy waters of the Nassau beaches weren’t enough, here are some more options for the pristine turquoise along the 3-mile stretch. After mooring at the central marina, walk into the island to explore any of the eight wide beaches on the island for some “me” time. We recommend the pristine East Beach that’s yet untouched by the vagaries of mankind.

However, the best thing to do in Highborne Cay is to take a dive boat and explore the rich coral ecosystem around the Austin Smith shipwreck that rests 60 feet below. It was a 90-foot Bahamian Defense Force patrol vehicle that was decommissioned in 1995. Today, the wreck is a lively example of nature’s power to regrow, as you’ll find exotic coral, sponges, and sea fans lining the wreck. Quite an experience if you’re a serious diver.

Sailing in Highborne Cay – Things to Know

• Highbourne Cay Marina and Resort charges for fuel, dockage, and power

Mooring in Highborne Cay – Things to Do

• Dive to the wreck of an old cutter (Austin Smith), down 60 feet
• Visit the Horseshoe Bay, an anchorage named after its shape
• Engage in scuba diving, swimming, and snorkeling
• Visit the marina restaurant Xuma
• Swim with or feed the nurse sharks around the marina

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Day 3 – Norman’s Cay

Just like Highborne Cay, Norman’s Cay is also partly uninhabited. Hence, there is no dearth of beautiful corals and the exotic underwater flora and fauna in the turquoise waters that splash on the resplendent beaches. Walk on the sandy beachfront lined with palm trees and spend the day ambling around.

While Norman’s Cay wears a calm look throughout the year, it’s amusing to note that it was once a haven for drug smugglers and pirates in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Post the turn of the millennium, when the Bahamas experienced globalization, the cay was bought and turned into a private island. However, it still has a whiff of its olden days, with the remains of a mansion and plain wreckage dotting its shallow waters.

Sailing in Norman’s Cay – Things to Know

• Norman Cay is a private island

Mooring in Norman’s Cay – Things to Do

• Visit the wreckage of a mansion on a beach and a plane underwater

Day 4 – Warderick Wells Cay

This is the day when you and your Bahamian chartered yacht enter the mid-section of the Exuma stretch. Warderick Wells Cay, officiated in 1958 as a land and sea reserve extending to more than 112,000 acres, still maintains its ecological balance. This is one prime reason why your charter will be piloted with more care. As you can guess, fishing is strictly prohibited.

Despite the ecological boundaries, you can explore much of Warderick Wells on foot. The beaches offer a blend of scenic views and a fresh breeze from the southwest. Its thriving marine life calls for a definite snorkeling dip underwater, which is bound to be one of your best experiences in the Bahamas.

Sailing in Warderick Wells – Things to Know

• Fishing is prohibited (no-take reserve) in Warderick Wells due to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
• Mooring can cost $20 and upwards.

Mooring in Warderick Wells – Things to Do

• Hike through one of the walking trails.
• Snorkeling or swimming in the shallow waters near the reserve.

Day 5 – Staniel Cay

Day 4 calls you to shun the snorkeling tubes and go for your swim of a lifetime.

That’s right! A day stop at Staniel Cay signals one of the most Instagram-worthy experiences of your life: playing with the Bahamas’ famous swimming pigs. We mean, what is a Bahamian holiday without a picture with these permanent residents of the Cay, majorly located at the Big Major’s Spot (Pig Island)? There’s also plenty of room (without the pigs) on the waters and the beaches for some kayaking and family picnicking respectively.

Spend your afternoon at the Thunderball Grotto and see if you can guess the spot from not one but two yesteryear James Bond films. Or skip the underwater hike and go swimming with the baby sharks near the Staniel Cay marina.

Sailing in Staniel Cay – Things to Know

• Staniel Cay is an inhabited island with a population of roughly 100.
• Staniel Cay Yacht Club charges for fuel, dockage, and power.
• Carry some food like carrots and celery for the pigs.
• The pigs may bite, so be careful.

Mooring in Staniel Cay – Things to Do

• Visit the Thunderball Grotto.
• Play with the Bahamas beach pigs at Big Major’s Spot.
• Swim with a rich marine life consisting of parrotfish, grunt, and angelfish.

Talk to a Yacht Charter Expert

Day 6 – Eleuthera

Eleuthera is the last stop in our 6-day Bahamas yacht itinerary and thus comes with an obvious relaxation memo. This is because the cruise from Staniel Cay can take most of the day.

The small island itself, located on the easternmost edge of the Bahamas, is fascinating, with one side offering blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean for deep sea diving and the other the trademark Exumas sandy beaches with shallow Caribbean waters. But swim or dive, and you are bound to run into the incredible marine life (mostly turtles) that’s so omnipresent in these waters you’ll be tempted to stay a bit longer. The Edwin’s Turtle Lake Marine Reserve is one such spot to focus on.

Eleuthera is one of the most underrated islands in the Bahamas, and a pit stop is definitely worthwhile. Or, say, our patrons who prefer to enjoy a laidback evening on the island before heading back to Nassau. There are several resorts for a night stay or more if you’d like to extend your Bahamas yacht itinerary.

Sailing in Eleuthera – Things to Know

• 4^th most populated island in the Bahamas; population 11,000.
• French Leave Harbour Resort charges for dockage and resort stay.

Mooring in Eleuthera – Things to Do

• Explore the Glass Window Bridge, the skinniest road on the island, cutting the Atlantic and the Caribbean.
• Visit the French Leave Beach in the Governor’s Harbor.

Day 7 – Back to Nassau

The sail back to Nassau is the longest and can take about 6 hours. But thankfully, there’s respite at the end as saying goodbye to the Bahamas and getting ready for your trip back home will be easier. The sail itself will be enthralling as you can sit back and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Bahamas archipelago at a meandering pace.

We recommend spending a few hours post anchor on the island and exploring local delicacies and concoctions. By sundown, head to the airport in a taxi.