Paradise Island in March: Weather, Sea, Crawfish Season and Things to Do

On a March evening the Marina Village drums start up, cowbells and whistles rattling off the harbor wall while a Junkanoo Rush steps through the crowd in feathers and bright cloth. The air has loosened after winter, the light lingers a little longer, and the sand on the north shore is warm by midmorning. March on Paradise Island suits travelers who want a resort island at a comfortable temperature, with the sea warming and the last of the crawfish season on the plate.

A beach on Paradise Island in winter · Illustration

What is the weather like in Paradise Island in March?

March is warm and mostly dry, with afternoons made for the beach and evenings that call for a light layer rather than a coat.

Month	Average high (°F)	Average low (°F)	Rain days	Sea (°F)
February	80.0	65.0	4.3	76.0
March	81.3	66.0	4.5	77.5
April	83.7	69.1	5.8	78.7

Mornings start soft and fresh, pleasant for coffee on a balcony or a walk along the marina before the sun climbs. By early afternoon the sun is strong enough that a hat and shade matter, though the heat is not the sticky kind that arrives later in the year. Daylight lasts a little over twelve hours in the middle of the month, so there is time for a full beach day and still a long, unhurried dinner.

Rain, when it comes, tends to arrive as a brief shower that passes over the harbor and moves on, rather than a gray day that cancels plans. Expect only a handful of wet days in the month. Evenings are mild enough to eat outside, but a breeze off the water can feel cool after sunset, so a thin sweater or wrap earns its place in the bag.

Can you swim in Paradise Island in March?

The water is warm enough for a proper swim for many people, though it still feels refreshing at first, and a quick dip is the usual pleasure at the start of a beach day.

The north shore faces open Atlantic, and the sea there can change with the wind from one day to the next. Cabbage Beach is the long, pale stretch most visitors head for, and its far end drifts away from the resort towers toward a quieter feel. Sea conditions differ along the shore and from morning to afternoon, so take a look at the water before going in, and again before children do.

Snorkel masks are worth packing if you like to look at fish near rocks, and a rash shirt helps if your skin has not seen sun since autumn. The sea at the beach is usually calm and clear, though conditions change. Those who want the water to feel most inviting will lean toward April, while the middle of March stays comfortable for a dip and a long walk along the sand.

What to do in Paradise Island in March

March is the last month of crawfish season, and it shapes the table. Bahamian crawfish is the local spiny lobster, and the season closes at the end of the month, so menus lean on it while the catch is still fresh. Order it as a cold salad with onion, sweet pepper and lime, or as a stew in brown gravy.

Menus often use crawfish and lobster as the same word, and any other kind of lobster is named as such. Across the bridge at Arawak Cay, Gone Fishing serves Stew Lobster at breakfast, which makes an unusual and memorable start to a morning for anyone willing to cross to the mainland side of Nassau.

Atlantis, Aquaventure and the marine habitat

Atlantis is an ocean-themed resort spread across 154 acres, and it gives the island most of its character. Aquaventure is the water park, with slides, river rides and pools, including the Mayan Temple and its Leap of Faith slider. Mild March air makes the waterpark more pleasant than in high summer, when the sun can be punishing on the stairs and queues.

The resort is also home to what it calls the largest open-air marine habitat on earth, a walk-in aquarium in which glass and tunnels bring you past fish and rays. It is a good rainy-hour plan because it is largely a covered, wandering visit. Casinos, restaurants and shops fill the rest of the complex, and some are open to people not staying there.

Cabbage Beach and a quieter walk

Cabbage Beach is the island’s main stretch of sand on the north shore, running about 1.3 miles from the Atlantis end. You can reach it on foot by a path that heads north from Casino Drive beside the RIU resort. Early in the day the sand is firm, the light is soft and the beach is at its calmest.

Walk east past the clusters of umbrellas and the scene thins out, with just a few walkers and the long line of surf. This is the place for a picnic from the village shops and for watching the water color change through the day. Bring sandals for the hot sand around noon.

Marina Village and the Junkanoo Rush

Marina Village is where the island’s evenings gather, with restaurants facing the yachts and a lively crowd after dark. On Friday and Saturday evenings visitors can watch a Junkanoo Rush there, the Bahamian parade tradition of goatskin drums, cowbells, horns and elaborate costumes in motion.

It is short, loud and joyful, and it works best with a table already in hand and a drink nearby. Children tend to love the noise and the colors. After the rush, the walk along the water under the lights is a fine way to end the night.

Golf where the runway used to be

The island’s airport closed in 1999, and the old airfield now holds an 18-hole golf course. Golfers will enjoy the sea air and the feel of playing on land that once saw planes. For anyone who prefers a quieter pleasure, Paradise Island connects to New Providence through a pair of bridges spanning Nassau Harbour, with the first having opened in 1966 and the second arriving in the late 1990s. Crossing on foot or by road, the harbor view from the span is worth a pause in the clear light of March.

A two-day itinerary for Paradise Island in March

Day 1 begins early at Cabbage Beach, when the sand is cool, the light is low and the far end belongs to walkers. Reach it on the path from Casino Drive and go east for as long as you like. By late morning the sun is higher, so move to shade, a pool or a beachside lunch of crawfish salad.

In the afternoon, wander the walk-in aquarium at Atlantis, where the glass tunnels are cool and the crowds spread out. Sunset is the cue for a drink at the marina, then dinner at Marina Village. On Friday or Saturday, time your meal to catch the Junkanoo Rush as the drums start.

Day 2 is for Aquaventure while the morning is gentle. Try the Leap of Faith slider and the river rides before the sun peaks, then dry off and eat lunch on the grounds. If the weather turns, the casinos, shops and aquarium are all good places to wait out a shower.

Later, cross a bridge to Nassau for a stroll at the harbor, or play a round at the golf course where the runway once lay. For a last supper, find a table with stew lobster or crawfish on the menu, since the season closes with the month.

Is Paradise Island busy in March?

March is a lively month on the island, with spring-break families and visitors escaping the northern winter, though it rarely feels as packed as the peak holiday weeks.

The beach and waterpark see the most movement at midday, while mornings and early evenings are calmer. Marina Village is busiest on weekend nights when the Junkanoo Rush draws a crowd. The resort restaurants fill with families early, and the later dinner hours often feel more relaxed.

As a habit, book rooms early for the school-break weeks and later for the quieter stretches. Atlantis guests who stay four nights or more can find an offer with savings, a resort credit and breakfast for two, which can sway the choice of hotel. Guests are welcomed at The Cove, The Royal, The Coral, The Reef and Harborside Resort, so you can choose the vibe that fits you.

Restaurant tables at Marina Village are worth securing for a Friday or Saturday evening if you want to see the Rush from a seat. Weekdays are easier, and a spontaneous dinner is more likely to work then.

What to pack for Paradise Island in March

Pack for warm days, a few cool evenings and a lot of time outdoors.

Swimsuits and a rash shirt, since the sea is pleasant but the sun is strong.
A wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen for the long beach mornings.
A light sweater or wrap for breezy evenings at Marina Village.
Sandals for hot sand and a pair of walking shoes for the harbor and golf grounds.
A snorkel mask if you want to look at fish near the rocks.
A compact rain jacket for the brief showers that pass through.

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.

March falls outside the official hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. Paradise Island sits beside Nassau, joined by two bridges, so day trips across the harbor are simple to picture. Most visitors stay near Atlantis or Marina Village, and your plans should center on the north shore and the evenings in the village.

Paradise Island in March vs February and April

Moving earlier to February brings slightly cooler air and a sea that still feels sharper on entry. The days are a touch shorter, and the crawfish season has a full month still ahead. It suits travelers who prefer a cooler beach and a bit more space between loungers.

Moving later to April brings warmer water and longer days, with a bit more rain. The crawfish season has closed by then, so menus change. It suits people who care most about swimming and long evenings outside.

Stay in March if you want a balance, with comfortable heat, the last crawfish and a sea that is on its way up. Shift to April for the warmest water, or to February for the coolest air.

Is March a good time to visit Paradise Island?

Yes, for travelers who want warm beach days, a lively evening scene and a plate of fresh crawfish before the season ends.

It will please families, couples and golfers, and anyone who wants resort comforts without midsummer heat. It is less ideal for people who want very warm swimming water or a deserted shore, since the sea is still gaining warmth and school breaks bring company.

Once you get there, make Cabbage Beach your first stop and go early, ease into the pace of the place, and save one Friday or Saturday night for the Junkanoo Rush. March here is the month when the last crawfish of the season meets the first real beach weather, and the drums at Marina Village carry it all.

Sources

NOAA NCEI, GHCN-Daily station BF000078073 (Nassau Airport), normals 1991-2020 computed from the daily record (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=daily-summaries&stations=BF000078073), checked October 10, 2026
Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 10, 2026
sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, crawfish season (https://www.bahamas.com/blog/its-crawfish-season), checked October 10, 2026
Atlantis Paradise Island, accommodations (https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/accommodations), checked October 10, 2026
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