The BEST Bahamas Islands -Off the Beaten Path 

The Bahamas is just a mere 40 miles off Florida’s east coast. This chain of islands is any boaters paradise. Upon arrival, you will be greeted with some of the clearest water on earth and a plethora of diverse wildlife. There are more than 700 islands that make up the Bahamas, only 22 of which are inhabited. We have cruised a vast majority of these hundreds and have selected the best Bahamas Islands off the beaten path. These islands are not easy to get to but they are absolutely worth visiting! 

Conception  Island

On this island, you will find the MOST beautiful beach you will ever see. The sand is soft, has a tint of pink, and extends over a mile long. As soon as you arrive you are guaranteed to receive a friendly greeting from either a shark or a migratory bird (more than likely both). 

Conception Island was established as a National Park in the 1960’s.  The island was deemed a National park because of its importance as a sanctuary for green turtles, nesting sea birds, and migratory birds. 

It lies in between Cat Island, Long Island, and Rum Cay. The uninhabited island is usually quiet because it is not easy to get to! With no airport or ferry company shuffling people back and forth this pristine island is saved for boats that can make the trek. 

The underwater world here is thriving with numerous types of corals, thousands of species of fish, and a few friendly turtles!  

There is also a mangrove habitat that runs through the center of the island which acts as a nursery for fish, shark, conch, and crawfish.  

This is one of our favorite islands in the Bahamas because it’s stunning wildlife, pristine beach, and seclusion.  

Long Island

As its name hints this is a long island, around 80 miles long in fact. To narrow down our favorite places we will stick to the northern tip of the island. There is a Christopher Columbus monument that offers spectacular views.

If you follow the white cliffs NE from the monument you will find caves that you can admire from afar and few you can dinghy all the way into, like this one! After checking out the caves you can take a dinghy through the creek separating Long Island from Newton Cay. You will find plenty of turtles cruising along with you. All around Long Island, there is amazing diving opportunities. We did not get to check out Deans Blue Hole on the eastern side of the island but we promise to come back!   

Long Cay

Long Cay is a tiny island just south of Crooked Island. It was once populated with over 2,000 inhabitants but now it is one of the least populated in the entire country. In the settlement, you will not find much more than ruins of a jail and a church. The reason we LOVED Long Cay was for its flock of wild Flamingos. With the beautiful water in the Bight of Acklin’s meeting the white beach of Long Cay, the vivid pink flamingos are any photographers dream! We also enjoyed diving around the area. Conch, grouper, and snapper were prevalent in the area which allowed us fresh dinner. 

Another great thing about Long Cay is its close proximity to Crooked Island. Unfortunately, the island was devastated by Hurricane Juaquin but the residents have done a remarkable job rebuilding. Here you will find a grocery store to restock and a delicious homemade meal at Gibsons #2. Willie, the owner and chef, is great company and will tell you all you want to know about the area.     

Double Breasted Cay

One of the northernmost islands in the Bahamas, Double Breasted Cay is also one of the most beautiful! Surround by some of the clearest water in the world you will find beaches and sandbanks with bonefish, rays, and sharks lurking just off the beach. A short dinghy ride east and you will find coral heads scattered everywhere. This area is a spear fisherman’s paradise! Hogfish, groupers, and snapper are rather prevalent so if you are looking to live off the land (or should I say sea) Double Breasted is a great hub to anchor your boat. Double Breasted is also the go-to spot for all the fisherman and spearfisherman staying on Grand Cay to clean their catch. The sharks and rays have become accustomed to their daily handouts and are never far away so make sure your camera is ready! 

Hoffmann’s Cay 

Hoffmann’s Cay is a small island in the Berry Island chain. It is uninhabited but most well known for its 600-foot wide blue hole. From the beach, a hiking trail leads you to a cliff overlooking the blue hole. You can either jump or continue on the trail until you arrive at the cavern below! The times we have visited turtles snacked on oysters around the edge and relaxed on the surface of the water. This is a great spot to hang out for the day. Bring your snorkel gear and waste the day by perfecting your cliff jump and hanging out with turtles.

If your refrigerator is in need of some fresh fish we had great success spearfishing around Fish Market Cays which were just a dinghy ride away. 

Out of over 700 islands these are the BEST Bahamas Islands off the beaten path. They are not easy to get to but they will be well worth the journey to get there. If you are interested in our favorite islands that are on the beaten path click here! You can also subscribe to our Youtube channel for more Bahamas videos! 

Thanks for reading! 

Sierra