Baleària Caribbean’s morning ferry from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades reaches Bimini in roughly two hours, with one-way fares from $115 plus tax — a straightforward start to a seven-day sweep across three very different Bahamian islands.
Seven days, three islands, one ferry, and two inter-island flights — the classic Bahamas island-hopping route runs about $1,800 per person on a budget, $2,800 mid-range, or $4,800 for a luxury trip (2026 pricing).
This itinerary works best for active travelers who want a real mix — beach-hopping, swimming with stingrays and nurse sharks, Atlantis water slides, and the famous Exuma pigs — all in one week. The catch: inter-island flights have limited capacity, and the ferry can occasionally cancel in rough seas. Book everything early, build in a buffer day if you can, and you’ll cover more ground than most visitors see in two weeks.
Adventure seekers
First-time island hoppers
Families with kids 8+
Your 7-Day Bahamas Island Hopping Route at a Glance
The route: Fort Lauderdale → Bimini (ferry, ~2 hours) → Nassau (Western Air, ~30 minutes) → Great Exuma (Bahamasair, ~45 minutes) → Nassau → home. You’ll spend two nights on Bimini, three on Nassau/Paradise Island, and two on Great Exuma — enough time to get a real feel for each place without feeling rushed.
| Island | Nights | Key Adventure Highlights | Est. Cost/Person (mid-range) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bimini | 2 | Radio Beach, Honeymoon Harbour stingrays, golf cart exploration | ~$550–700 | Laid-back beach days, snorkeling, fishing |
| Nassau & Paradise Island | 3 | Atlantis Aquaventure, Blue Lagoon, historic downtown, Arawak Cay fish fry | ~$1,000–1,500 | Water park thrills, culture, dining variety |
| Great Exuma | 2 | Swimming pigs, Compass Cay nurse sharks, Thunderball Grotto, Tropic of Cancer Beach | ~$700–1,000 | Wildlife encounters, turquoise waters, iconic photo ops |
Note: Per-person cost estimates include accommodations, activities, and inter-island transport but not international flights to/from Fort Lauderdale or Nassau. Prices are as of 2026 research — confirm current rates at booking.
Days 1–2: Bimini — The Easiest Island to Reach, the Hardest to Leave
The Baleària ferry departs Port Everglades around 9:00 AM, and check-in closes 90 minutes before that — so you’re aiming to arrive by 7:30 AM. The crossing cuts across the Gulf Stream, and dolphins often appear alongside the hull. By 11:00 AM you’ve cleared customs and are on your way to Alice Town.
Drop bags at your hotel — Bimini Big John’s (from ~$160/night, walkable to the ferry dock and Radio Beach) or Resorts World Bimini (from ~$280/night, the island’s largest resort with a pool complex and casino) — then head straight for Radio Beach. A beach chair costs about $10, and the water is calm enough for easy snorkeling right off the sand.
Lunch at Stuart’s Conch Stand is a ritual: fresh conch salad made to order, a few dollars, and exactly the kind of local spot that makes island hopping worthwhile. Afternoon means exploring Alice Town’s colorful streets and Hemingway-era bars, or renting a golf cart (~$80/day) to cover more of North Bimini.
Book the Baleària ferry at least two weeks ahead, especially for weekend crossings — midweek departures can run about $50 less than Friday or Sunday sailings.
Day two starts with breakfast at Captain Bob’s — try the johnny cakes — before a morning snorkel tour to Honeymoon Harbour, where you swim with stingrays in shallow, clear water. The tour runs about $60 per person and usually includes a stop at the Sapona shipwreck if conditions allow.
You’ll need to allow roughly 30 minutes to reach South Bimini’s airstrip via water taxi and a short cab ride. Western Air’s last Bimini–Nassau flight departs mid-afternoon (around 3:20 PM), so plan your day around that cutoff. The flight itself is about 30 minutes, landing in Nassau around 3:50 PM — just enough time to get to your hotel and catch a sunset walk on Cable Beach.
Days 3–5: Nassau & Paradise Island — Water Parks, History, and a Blue Lagoon Day
Western Air is the only airline flying nonstop Bimini–Nassau, with about eight flights a week spread between 10:20 AM and 3:20 PM. Capacity is genuinely limited — book this leg the same time you book the ferry.
Once in Nassau, you’re based on New Providence for three nights. Atlantis Paradise Island (from ~$390/night) includes Aquaventure access for guests, which can make it cost-competitive if you’d otherwise buy day passes. Margaritaville Beach Resort (from ~$210/night) is a solid mid-range option walkable to Bay Street and Junkanoo Beach.
Day three belongs to Atlantis Aquaventure. Non-guest day passes must be bought in advance through the Atlantis website or app — daily quantities are capped, and popular dates sell out. Pricing is seasonal: from roughly $195 per adult (13+) and $95 per child (4–12), climbing past $250 on peak spring-break and holiday dates. The Leap of Faith slide and Predator Tunnel aquarium are the headline acts, but the miles of beach and resort pools are just as good for a full-day splash.
Day four shifts to downtown Nassau: the Queen’s Staircase, Fort Fincastle, and Parliament Square are all within walking distance of each other. For lunch, Arawak Cay (the Fish Fry) serves grilled snapper, conch fritters, and cold Kalik beers at half the price of resort restaurants. Evening options include Bay Street bars or the casino at Baha Mar.
Day five is a Blue Lagoon Island excursion — dolphin encounters, beach time, and water activities run about $189 per person, including boat transfer from Nassau. It’s a half-day trip that leaves your afternoon free for last-minute souvenir shopping or another spin down the Atlantis slides if you’re a resort guest.
Atlantis day passes for non-guests are capped daily and regularly sell out — especially during U.S. spring break and Christmas holidays. If you’re not staying overnight, buy your pass as soon as your travel dates are firm. Children 3 and under enter free.
Days 6–7: Exuma — Swimming Pigs, Nurse Sharks, and the Best Beach in the Bahamas
Bahamasair flight UP370 departs Nassau at 6:50 AM and lands in George Town, Great Exuma, 45 minutes later — the early bird slot that puts you on the water in time for a full-day pig tour. Round-trip fares typically run $180–$250. Pineapple Air and Western Air also serve the route, with about 20 flights a week combined, but the early Bahamasair departure is your best bet for maximizing day one.
Shared full-day boat tours from Great Exuma run $275–$400 per person and include lunch, multiple stops, and transfers — most operators depart from Barraterre Dock, about a 55-minute drive north of George Town. Confirm whether transfers are included when you book.
The tour hits four iconic spots. Big Major Cay is where the swimming pigs paddle out to greet arriving boats — only feed what the operator provides, and aim for a morning visit before the Nassau day-trip boats arrive. Compass Cay lets you swim with nurse sharks in a protected marina; they’re generally calm, but follow crew instructions and avoid touching them. Thunderball Grotto is a limestone cave you snorkel through — sunlight shafts through ceiling openings and illuminates schools of tropical fish. Iguana Beach hosts critically endangered Bahamian rock iguanas; handling or feeding them is prohibited under the Wild Animals (Protection) Act, so keep your distance and follow your guide’s rules.
Book your Exuma pig tour before you leave home — slots sell out, and the shared tours are capped. If you have a group of eight, a private charter runs around $3,350 total, which can work out cheaper per person than the shared option.
Day seven is your buffer: a morning at Tropic of Cancer Beach (regularly cited as one of the world’s best), then a flight back to Nassau to connect home. If you booked the later Bahamasair departure (UP374 at 5:33 PM), you have a full beach day before heading to the airport.
For accommodation on Exuma, Peace & Plenty Resort in George Town (from ~$180/night) is a Bahamian classic with easy boat-tour pickups, while Augusta Bay Bahamas (from ~$210/night) sits steps from Jolly Hall beach. Both are a short drive from Exuma International Airport.
Planning Your Island Hopping Budget & Logistics
The three-island route can be done at very different price points. The biggest cost drivers are accommodation choice and whether you book Atlantis day passes or stay overnight. Here’s where the real money goes.
Budget Breakdown by Style
| Category | Budget (~$1,800/person) | Mid-Range (~$2,800/person) | Luxury (~$4,800+/person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport (ferry + flights) | ~$550 | ~$700 | ~$1,000 |
| Accommodation (6 nights) | ~$600 | ~$2,000 | Not specified in research |
| Activities | ~$900 | ~$1,100 | ~$1,500+ |
| Food & drinks | ~$500 | ~$700 | ~$1,000+ |
Note: These are per-person estimates from 2026 research. Budget travelers can save by staying in Alice Town (Bimini) instead of Resorts World, skipping the Atlantis day pass in favor of free Cable Beach access, and booking the swimming pigs tour from Great Exuma rather than as a fly-in day trip from Nassau (which runs $750–$850 per person).
When to Go
December through April delivers the most reliable weather (75–85°F, low rainfall) but the highest prices. May and November are the sweet spot — similar weather with roughly 30% lower rates. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with peak risk from mid-August through September. If you travel August–October, book flexible fares and consider travel insurance covering weather disruption. The ferry to Bimini gets cancelled a handful of times a year in rough seas, and Western Air’s limited Bimini–Nassau schedule means a missed flight could strand you for a day.
What to Pack
Essentials include a valid U.S. passport booklet (the card won’t work for inter-island flights), reef-safe sunscreen, snorkel gear if you have your own, a waterproof phone case, seasickness medication for the ferry, and insect repellent. Pack light — inter-island flights have small overhead bins, and you’ll be moving every few days. Turn on airplane mode when you leave the U.S.; Bahamas roaming charges can run over $10 per MB. Download offline maps and use hotel WiFi.
U.S. citizens need a valid passport booklet for both the ferry to Bimini and inter-island flights. The passport card is accepted only for certain closed-loop sea crossings — not for flying between islands. Six months of validity is recommended.
Before You Go — Bahamas Island Hopping
Can I do this trip in 5 days instead of 7?
Yes — skip Bimini and fly direct to Nassau (2 nights), then Exuma (2 nights). You lose the ferry adventure and Bimini’s laid-back beach rhythm, but you still hit the swimming pigs and Atlantis. For families with kids under 5, the shorter route with more downtime works better.
How far ahead should I book flights and tours?
Book the Baleària ferry at least two weeks out, inter-island flights as soon as your dates are firm (capacity is limited on Bimini–Nassau and Nassau–Exuma routes), and the swimming pigs tour as early as possible — it genuinely sells out. You can wait on restaurant reservations and golf cart rentals until you arrive.
What happens if the Bimini ferry gets cancelled?
It happens a handful of times a year, usually in rough winter weather. The Baleària crossing can be bumpy — pack seasickness medication regardless. If you’re on a tight schedule, flying directly to Nassau as a backup plan keeps your itinerary intact. Travel insurance covering weather disruption is worth it June through November.
Is the Atlantis day pass worth it for non-guests?
It depends. At roughly $195 per adult and $95 per child (seasonal, and often higher on peak dates), a one-night stay at Atlantis that includes Aquaventure access can cost about the same as two adult day passes — and you get a beach and room to boot. If you’re staying elsewhere, book the pass online in advance; walk-up sales are not guaranteed.
Are the swimming pigs tours suitable for young children?
Yes, but with caveats. Kids love the pigs and nurse sharks, but the full-day boat tour runs 7–8 hours with multiple stops. Children under 5 may tire on the boat. The early-morning flight to Exuma is a 4:30 AM wake-up call — factor that into your family’s rhythm. Kids 8 and up tend to handle the full itinerary well.
The Short Version: Three Islands, One Week, Zero Regrets
This route packs the essential Bahamian spectrum — a ferry adventure across the Gulf Stream, a world-class water park, colonial history, a fish fry dinner, and the absurd joy of swimming with pigs in turquoise water — into a single, well-paced week. The logistics take some advance work, but the payoff is a trip that feels like three distinct vacations in one. For more ideas on what to do with your time in the Out Islands, check out our guide to 10 must-see spots beyond Nassau and Paradise Island.
References
Bahamas Shopping. “Bahamas Island Hopping Itinerary.” bahamashopping.com, 2026 (verified July 2026). ↗
Destination Magazines. “Island Hopping in the Bahamas: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Paradise.” destination-magazines.com, accessed 2026. ↗
Christoph Albeck. “Bahamas for Backpackers: Islandhopping & Budget.” christophalbeck.com, accessed 2026. ↗
Must See Spots. “Bahamas Island Hopping Guide: Choosing Your Perfect Tropical Adventure.” mustseespots.com, accessed 2026. ↗
If you’re still planning your route, our guides to Exuma’s swimming pigs and hidden caves and Morgan’s Bluff on Andros dig deeper into specific islands. For food lovers, our Bahamas foodie adventure tour covers the best eats from Nassau to Eleuthera.
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