The Exumas chain alone includes more than 365 islands and cays. Some of the most striking features here — sandbars that emerge and disappear with the tide — don’t appear on any map, and they’re the reason you’re not just bouncing between resorts. This itinerary strings together the hidden beaches and tidal sandbars that make island hopping in the Bahamas worth the logistics, covering Bimini, Nassau, and Great Exuma in seven days.
Over 700 islands and 2,000 cays make up the Bahamas, but the temporary sandbars that surface only at low tide are where the real magic happens — and most visitors never see them.
This route works best if you’re comfortable with a ferry ride plus two inter-island flights in a week. The payoff is sandbars you’ll have to yourself and beaches that feel discovered, not curated. Skip it if you want a single-resort week — this itinerary is built for movement, not lounging.
Adventure travelers
Families with older kids
Couples seeking seclusion
Island Hopping Route at a Glance
Four stops over seven days, each with a specific hidden-beach or sandbar payoff. The table below maps the route and what you’ll find at each.
| Stop | Hidden Beach / Sandbar | Highlight | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bimini (Days 1–2) | Honeymoon Harbour sandbar | Swim with stingrays in shallow water | Snorkelers, families |
| Nassau (Days 3–4) | Rose Island sandbar | Pristine sandbar a short boat ride from the capital | Quick escape from city energy |
| Exuma (Day 6) | Private sandbar lunch on pig tour | Grilled lunch on a tidal sandbar after swimming pigs | Bucket-list seekers |
| Exuma (Day 7) | Coco Plum Beach & Starfish Beach | Natural sandbar pathways at low tide | Families, photographers |
Bimini: Honeymoon Harbour Sandbar & Radio Beach
The ferry from Fort Lauderdale runs about two hours, and the Baleària Caribbean morning departure gets you into Bimini just before noon. Check-in closes 90 minutes before the ferry leaves, so arriving at Port Everglades by 7:30 a.m. is the move — confirm current schedules and fares on the Baleària site. Once you clear customs, a $15 taxi ride drops you at your hotel in Alice Town, and you’re on Radio Beach by early afternoon.
Radio Beach is the main stretch — soft sand, calm water, $10 chair rentals from a small vendor. But the real sandbar experience here is Honeymoon Harbour, reachable by a short boat tour that runs roughly $60 per person. The water is shallow enough to stand, and stingrays glide through the sandbar shallows. Tours typically include snorkel gear and last a couple of hours, leaving you back on North Bimini by lunchtime the next day.
By late afternoon, explore Alice Town on foot. Stuart’s Conch Stand serves fresh conch salad, and Big John’s Bar & Grill is the spot for sunset dinner. Rent a golf cart (~$80/day) the next morning to cover North Bimini’s coastline before your flight to Nassau.
Western Air’s Bimini–Nassau flight departs mid-afternoon — the last departure window is roughly 15:20. You need to cross from North Bimini to South Bimini Airport by water taxi plus a short cab ride, which takes about 30 minutes total. Plan to leave Alice Town by 14:30 at the latest.
Nassau: Rose Island Sandbar & Flipper Beach
Nassau is the transit hub, but it also holds two sandbar-style escapes that most resort visitors miss. The first is Rose Island, a 20-minute boat ride from the capital. Several operators run half-day excursions to the sandbar that extends off the island’s western tip — shallow, clear water where you can wade hundreds of feet from shore. Book your Bimini–Nassau flight with Western Air to arrive early enough for a same-day afternoon Rose Island trip, or save it for the next morning.
The second is Flipper Beach on the west side of Nassau. It’s accessible by road but secluded enough to avoid the Cable Beach crowds. The snorkeling is decent here, and if you head southeast along the shoreline, you’ll reach the BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden — an underwater art installation that doubles as a snorkeling trail. It’s a quiet alternative to the Atlantis day-pass chaos, and it costs nothing beyond a taxi fare.
Atlantis Aquaventure is worth a visit if you have the budget and a full day to burn, but day passes are capped and seasonal — check availability and current pricing on the official Atlantis site well ahead of your trip. A cheaper alternative: stay one night at the resort, which includes water park access and often costs about the same as two adult day passes.
Exuma Day 1: Big Major Cay Sandbar & Thunderball Grotto
The early flight from Nassau — Bahamasair UP370 departing 06:50 — lands in George Town at roughly 07:35. That puts you on Great Exuma in time for a full-day boat tour that covers the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park highlights. Shared tours run from roughly $275–$400 per person and include lunch on a private sandbar, multiple stops, and transfers from George Town hotels.
The pigs swim out to meet boats in the shallows. Tour operators provide the food — don’t bring your own snacks. Time on the sandbar: roughly 30–40 minutes. Book your early Nassau–Exuma flight on Bahamasair to arrive in time for the morning pig stop.
Nurse sharks swim in the marina shallows. You can stand on the dock and watch them glide through clear water. No feeding or touching required — they’re used to visitors.
Most tours stop at a tidal sandbar for a grilled lunch. The sandbar is submerged at high tide, so timing depends on the day’s tidal window. You’ll have 45 minutes to an hour to swim, wade, and eat with no one else around.
A snorkeling stop inside a cave system where light filters through rock openings. Featured in the 1963 James Bond film Thunderball. Tide and current affect swim comfort — your guide will time the visit for the best conditions.
Iguana Beach is a stop on some tours where critically endangered Bahamian rock iguanas rest in the sand. Handling or feeding them is prohibited under the Wild Animals (Protection) Act. Look, take photos, keep distance — fines apply.
If you want to skip the shared tour and go at your own pace, private charters from Great Exuma start at roughly $3,350 for up to eight people. That buys you flexibility on timing and stops, but the shared tour covers the same highlights for a fraction of the cost.
Exuma Day 2: Coco Plum Beach Sandbars & Starfish Beach
Your last full day in Exuma is the one for slow exploration. Two spots on Great Exuma and Stocking Island deliver the sandbar experience without a tour operator involved.
Coco Plum Beach sits on the southern coast of Great Exuma, a 20-minute drive from George Town. The water stays shallow far from shore, and as the tide falls, sandbars emerge, creating natural pathways across the bay. You can wade out several hundred feet in water that barely reaches your knees. There are no facilities here — bring water, snacks, and an umbrella for shade. The beach is wide and typically empty on weekdays.
Starfish Beach is on Stocking Island, a barrier island across Elizabeth Harbour from George Town. You’ll need a water taxi from the main dock — roughly $20 round trip. The beach is named for the starfish that rest in the shallows, visible in the clear water. Do not pick them up: starfish survive only three to five minutes out of water, and they’re fragile. Snorkel to appreciate them in their natural environment instead.
Starfish Beach is best visited on a falling tide when the water is clearest. The sandbar adjacent to the beach extends into Elizabeth Harbour at low tide, giving you a second wading area. Water taxis run from George Town — confirm the return schedule before you cross so you don’t get stranded.
If you have a late flight out of George Town, Tropic of Cancer Beach on Little Exuma is worth the 30-minute drive. It’s a long stretch of white sand named for its position on the latitude line. A small kiosk sells drinks and snacks, but there’s no shade — bring your own umbrella. The road in is rough and unpaved, so a rental car with decent ground clearance helps.
Getting Around: Ferry, Flights & Timing
The logistics of this itinerary are straightforward but not flexible. The Baleària Caribbean ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini runs roughly $115–$230 one-way depending on season and day of the week — midweek fares run about $50 lower than Friday or Sunday departures. Check the official Balearia site for current schedules and book at least two weeks ahead during peak season.
Inter-island flights are the tight link in this chain. Western Air flies Bimini–Nassau roughly eight times a week with departures between 10:20 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. — no early-morning or evening option. Bahamasair runs two daily flights between Nassau and George Town: UP370 at 06:50 and UP374 at 17:33. The early flight is the one you want for the Exuma pig tour. Book all inter-island flights as early as possible — capacity is limited and sells out weeks ahead in high season.
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with peak risk from mid-August through September. A storm can cancel the ferry or a small inter-island flight at short notice. If you’re traveling in that window, book refundable rates and consider travel insurance that covers weather disruption.
The best months for this route are December through April for reliable weather, or May and November for similar conditions at roughly 30% lower prices. A valid U.S. passport booklet is required — passport cards are not accepted on inter-island flights, only on certain closed-loop sea crossings.
Before You Go — Bahamas Island Hopping
Can I do this trip in five days?
Yes, but you’ll drop one island. Skip Bimini and fly direct to Nassau (two nights), then Exuma (two nights). The swimming pigs tour is the hardest stop to cut — it’s the itinerary’s signature experience. A four-day version works too: Bimini by ferry (two nights) plus Nassau (two nights), but you miss the Exuma sandbars entirely.
How far ahead should I book the pig tour?
As soon as you book flights — popular tours sell out weeks in advance, especially from December through April. Shared tours from Great Exuma run roughly $275–$400 per person. The Nassau-based fly-and-boat version costs $750–$850 per person and bundles the return flight; booking from Exuma is significantly cheaper for the same experience.
What’s the real cost of this trip?
Per person, budget about $1,800 for a budget version (ferry, basic hotels, local food, one tour), $2,800 mid-range (better hotels, Atlantis day pass, a couple of tours), or $4,800 for luxury (private charters, resort stays, seaplane transfers). These are rough estimates as of 2026 — confirm current flight prices on Western Air’s site and factor in seasonal swings.
Is the ferry reliable in rough weather?
Baleària cancels a handful of sailings each year when seas are too rough, usually in winter cold fronts or during tropical storms. If you’re on a tight schedule, book a refundable fare and have a backup plan — flying from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau and picking up the itinerary from there. Swimming pigs tours operate rain or shine unless a storm warning is in effect.
Can I use a passport card instead of a booklet?
No for the inter-island flights. You need a valid passport booklet for the ferry to Bimini and for all domestic flights between islands. The U.S. Department of State recommends six months of validity beyond your return date. Leave the passport card at home — it’s only accepted on certain closed-loop cruise or ferry itineraries.
Finding Your Own Sandbar
The tidal sandbars that appear and disappear with the daily tide cycle are the real reward of this route. They don’t have docks, entry fees, or Instagram-tagged coordinates — just clear shallow water and the sense that you found something that wasn’t laid out for you. That’s the point of moving between islands instead of staying put on one. If you’re already thinking about which stretch of the Bahamas to explore next, our guide to building a custom Bahamas itinerary covers the routes that go deeper into the Out Islands.
References
Yacht With Us. “Bahamas Island Hopping Guide: Costs, Itineraries, Where to Stay & the Best Way to Explore the Exumas (2026).” Yacht With Us, 2026. ↗
Bahamas Shopping. “Bahamas Island Hopping Itinerary.” Bahamas Shopping, 2026. ↗
Islands.com. “Secret Gorgeous Beaches in the Bahamas Tourists Often Miss.” Islands.com, 2025. ↗
The Moorings. “Bahamas Hidden Gems.” The Moorings, 2025. ↗
If you’re already sketching out a longer trip, our guides on hidden waterfalls and secret caves in the Bahamas and private island retreats and exclusive experiences cover the quieter corners worth adding to any island-hopping route. And if you’re planning around the fishing calendar, our bonefishing guide will help you time the flats right.
Explore Places to Stay in the Bahamas
Feel free to zoom in and out of the map to explore the area and find the best place to stay for your trip.