Standing on the dock in Nassau with the harbor smelling of salt and diesel, you quickly see that nothing in the Bahamas is a short walk from the next island. Getting around means choosing between a plane, a ferry or a mailboat for the long hops, then a taxi, a jitney or your own wheels once you land. Each island has its own rhythm, and the sea is always part of the plan.
How do you get around the Bahamas?
You get around the Bahamas by combining three layers: planes or boats between the islands, then taxis, jitneys, rental cars or small boats on each island. The country is an archipelago of 16 islands, and most visitors arrive through Nassau, the gateway for air travel. Others fly directly into an Out Island and skip Nassau altogether.
That choice shapes the whole trip. Landing in Nassau gives you the widest set of connections onward, while a direct flight to an island such as Great Abaco puts you on your chosen shore within hours of leaving home. Whichever way you start, expect to mix modes, and expect the sea to be part of daily life.
Flying straight to an Out Island
Great Abaco shows how many doors there are. American Airlines flies daily from Miami and Charlotte to Marsh Harbour, and Aztec Airways serves Marsh Harbour daily from Fort Lauderdale. Tradewind Aviation links Stuart and Fort Lauderdale to Marsh Harbour on five days of the week.
Other carriers fill in the calendar. JSX flies to Marsh Harbour from Opa Locka, Dallas and White Plains on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, while Air Unlimited connects Sanford Orlando with both Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Because days differ by carrier, your arrival day often decides which airline suits you.
Bahamasair fares on sample routes
Bahamasair, the national carrier, lists starting fares that show how the network is priced. They are the lowest fares shown, so your actual price may be higher.
| Route | Starting fare |
|---|---|
| Nassau to North Eleuthera | $80.50 |
| Nassau to Providenciales | $148.00 |
| Nassau to Fort Lauderdale | $172.99 |
| Nassau to Havana | $187.00 |
| Marsh Harbour to West Palm Beach | $226.99 |
A short hop to North Eleuthera costs a fraction of the international legs, which is why many travelers fly from Nassau to an Out Island rather than all the way around. Bahamasair also runs a Frequent Flyer Programme that rewards each flight, handy if you plan to island-hop more than once.
How do you travel between islands?
You travel between islands by air, by ferry or by mailboat. Scheduled flights from certified domestic and international carriers cover the longer distances, chartered planes are available when the schedule does not fit, and Bahamas Ferry Services and regularly scheduled mailboats connect the major islands over the water.
By air: scheduled and chartered flights
Small planes are the backbone of Bahamian island-hopping. On Abaco, Bahamasair flies between Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and LeAir links Treasure Cay with Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands and with Mangrove Cay in Andros on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Those schedules tell you something useful: many inter-island routes run only a few days a week, so it pays to build the itinerary around the flight days rather than the other way around. When the calendar does not match your plans, a chartered flight is the alternative.
By ferry from Nassau to Spanish Wells and Harbour Island
The high-speed passenger ferry M/V Bo Hengy III runs from Nassau to Spanish Wells and Harbour Island on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It leaves Nassau at 8:00 a.m., reaches Spanish Wells at 10:10 a.m. and Harbour Island at 11:10 a.m. The return leaves Harbour Island at 3:40 p.m. and arrives in Nassau at 6:30 p.m.
| Leg | Time |
|---|---|
| Check-in in Nassau | 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. |
| Depart Nassau | 8:00 a.m. |
| Arrive Spanish Wells | 10:10 a.m. |
| Arrive Harbour Island | 11:10 a.m. |
| Depart Harbour Island | 3:40 p.m. |
| Arrive Nassau | 6:30 p.m. |
Bahamas Ferries accepts same-day tickets if seats remain, with check-in one hour before sailing, though booking at least two days ahead is recommended. The line is cashless and takes credit and debit cards, wire transfers and company checks. Each paying passenger may bring one small carry-on and two free checked pieces of up to 45 pounds each.
Extra bags start at $13 per piece, and oversize bags or bags paid for at the vessel start at $26. Coolers over 48 quarts count as oversize and must go as freight. Groups of 20 or more traveling round trip can ask about a discount, and a charter for a party of six to Eleuthera is possible by emailing [email protected].
Mailboats, water taxis and local ferries
Regularly scheduled mailboats connect the major islands, and ferries and water taxis turn up throughout the country, especially between New Providence and the Out Islands. They also link Downtown Nassau with Paradise Island, Great Abaco with its nearby cays, and South Bimini Airport with the resort town on North Bimini. Ferries also serve Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay.
In the Abacos, local ferries are the way to reach the cays, and the Exumas have water taxi services. Around Harbour Island and Eleuthera, a boat is the best way to understand the islands that surround them.
Arriving in your own boat
Boaters must clear customs at a specified port of entry. In the Abacos these include Green Turtle Cay, Marsh Harbour, Spanish Cay, Treasure Cay and Walker’s Cay. Others include Alice Town in Bimini, George Town in Exuma, Matthew Town in Inagua, Cockburn Town on San Salvador, and any marina on New Providence.
On Grand Bahama the ports are Freeport Harbour, Lucayan Marina Village and Port Lucaya, and Old Bahama Bay at West End. Eleuthera has Governor’s Harbour, Harbour Island, Rock Sound and Spanish Wells. Chub Cay and Great Harbour Cay serve the Berry Islands.
How do you get around on one island?
On one island you get around by taxi, jitney, rental car or, in the cays, by boat. Nassau on New Providence has the most choices, and traffic there is the main thing to plan around. In every case you drive on the left side of the road.
Taxis from Nassau’s airport
Taxis wait outside the US, International and Domestic terminals at Lynden Pindling International Airport at any hour. Fares follow set zones, and they are based on two passengers, with each additional passenger paying $5.00. Children under three ride free.
| Extra | Amount |
|---|---|
| Each additional passenger | $5.00 |
| Each piece of luggage beyond two per person | $2.20 |
| Oversized bags, golf bags and boxes | $3.30 |
Airport transfers can also be arranged through livery and tour operators, and private chauffeured service is available for those who want it. For taxi inquiries, the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union can be reached at 242-323-5818.
Jitneys, rental cars and the road
Licensed, privately operated jitneys are the local buses, with rides from $1 to $3. You recognize them by the route and number on the vehicle. They stop often and sometimes without warning at undesignated stops, so expect a lively ride.
Car rentals at the Nassau airport offer a wide selection of vehicles for exploring New Providence. Seatbelts are required for drivers and passengers, and helmets are compulsory on scooters and motorbikes. Traffic congestion in Nassau is severe, drivers can be aggressive or careless, and accidents involving pedestrians on New Providence are common. Roads in Nassau and Freeport often flood during and after rainstorms.
Cays, harbors and private cruise islands
On the smaller islands the water is the road. Water taxis in the Exumas and local ferries in the Abacos replace the bus, and in Bimini a short boat link joins the airport to the resort town.
Cruise lines own several uninhabited islands: Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian Cruise Line), Little Stirrup Cay or Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean International), Little San Salvador Island or Half Moon Cay (Carnival Corporation) and Castaway Cay (Disney Cruise Line). Only Castaway Cay has a pier for docking, while the others use tender boats.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, and says most crime occurs in Nassau on New Providence and in Freeport on Grand Bahama.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and storms can disrupt flights and sailings, so keep some slack in an island-hopping plan. Ferry fares, taxi extras and luggage fees are all quoted in U.S. dollars. Ferries are cashless, so keep a card handy, and keep an eye on the weekdays your flight or ferry actually runs.
Sources
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Island hopping (https://www.bahamas.com/getting-here/island-hopping), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Flying to the Bahamas (https://www.bahamas.com/getting-here/flying), checked October 10, 2026
- Wikipedia, Transport in the Bahamas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_the_Bahamas), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamasair, home (https://www.bahamasair.com/), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ferries, Your travel (https://bahamasferries.com/your-travel/), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ferries, FAQ (https://bahamasferries.com/faq/), checked October 10, 2026
- Lynden Pindling International Airport, Transportation options (https://nassaulpia.com/to-from/transportation-options/), checked October 10, 2026
- Lynden Pindling International Airport, Taxis (https://nassaulpia.com/to-from/taxis/), checked October 10, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, The Bahamas Travel Information, Traveling and transportation (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Island hopping (https://www.bahamas.com/getting-here/island-hopping), checked October 10, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, The Bahamas Travel Advisory, Level 2 (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 10, 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 10, 2026
To plan your stay
- Best Time to Visit the Bahamas: Weather, Hurricane Season, Sea Temperatures and Junkanoo
- Things to Do in the Bahamas: Beaches, Blue Holes, Swimming Pigs and Fish Fry
- Where to Stay in the Bahamas: Best Islands, Resorts, Boutique Stays and How to Choose
- Know Before You Go to the Bahamas: Entry Rules, Money, Getting Around and Local Customs