The Bahamas will always be one of our favorite places. With over 700 islands there is so much to do and see. We have traveled here many times both by plane and by boat. It is almost impossible to choose favorites because each island has its own unique charm and beauty. To make it a little easier we have split them between two categories, on and off the beaten path. The islands mentioned in this article are relatively easy to get to either by plane or plane and a quick ferry(or boat) ride. We love them each for a different reason and know you will too! Keep reading for the BEST islands in the Bahamas ON the beaten path!
Elbow Cay
Elbow Cay is an island in the Abaco island chain. It was originally populated by British loyalists and you will notice that many of the locals even have a bit of an accent.
Hope Town is the largest settlement on the island. Here you will find brightly colored houses, each with their own name, tropical trees and flowers, and the ever so popular candy-striped lighthouse. For these reasons, Hope Town is the most photographed harbor in the Bahamas. The Elbow Reef Lighthouse is the last remaining lighthouse to be hand-cranked and kerosene burning IN THE WORLD. It is said that the Hope Townees tried to sabotage the building of the lighthouse because they feared it would threaten their wrecking trade. Little did they know it would bring tourist (and money) from all over the world.
Hope Town is filled with delicious restaurants serving fresh fish and conch. The local Hope Town Coffee House is also a gem! If you stop in make sure to try a slice of quiche.
On the southern end of Elbow, it is more resort-style but it is here that you will find Tahiti beach. 
Yes, it deserves the name! White sand, crystal water, and many palm trees make it a paradise and the perfect place to spend the day or build a bonfire at night.
Elbow cay is well known for its fishing but it also home to world class surfing(shhh). With all these options you could spend ample time here without getting bored! The fishing and surfing combined with its colorful town, good coffee, and perfect beaches is why we named Elbow one of the best islands in the Bahamas! To get here you can, of course, take a private boat across the gulf stream from the U.S. or you could fly into Marsh Harbor and catch a ferry over to Elbow Cay. However, you arrive you will not be disappointed!
Green Turtle Cay
Green Turtle is a beautiful 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide and yes, there are lots of turtles! Many of the residents also have ancestors who migrated here from the United States after it became independent.
New Plymouth is a port of entry and has plenty of stores supplying everything from hardware to groceries. We enjoyed lunch at The Wrecking Tree after spending a morning walking around the town. In White Sound, you will find the Green Turtle Club and the Bluff House. Both of these resorts also have marinas with restaurants and nice facilities. We walked over to Coco Bay which was a PERFECT flat water kiteboarding spot in westerly winds. If you continue on to the Atlantic side of the island there is more kiting options in the waves, but beware of the rocks and reef!
The diving on the Atlantic side is also world-class. If you are a scuba diver Brendal’s Dive Center in White Sound can set you up with a day of diving. If you have your own gear and a fast dinghy head out and dive on the scattered coral heads. I guarantee you will see plenty of life and hopefully bring home dinner.
Green Turtle is not only great for its own island but also its close proximity to Manjack
Cay (Nunjack) and No Name Cay. Kayak, paddleboard or even dinghy(incoming high tide) through the mangrove creek that runs through Manjack and you will see tons of turtles, sharks, and rays. South of Green Turtle you will find “Piggyville” on No Name Cay. Here the pigs will swim with you, beg for a snack, and pose for the camera. Rumor has it that these pigs swam to shore way back when and have been residing on the beach ever since.
Green turtle made the list of the best islands in the Bahamas because of its clean and quant town, kiteboarding options, amazing diving, and close proximity to other amazing islands. If you want to visit the island but do not have a boat you can fly into Marsh Harbor and grab the ferry over to Green Turtle similar to how you would get to Elbow Cay.
Staniel Cay
Staniel Cay is part of the Exuma Island chain once again settled by loyalist.
The island grew in popularity after the establishment of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. The club offers accommodations and boat rentals if you want to check out the area yourself. They can also put you in contact with a guide if you prefer guided excursions. There is no doubt you have heard about Staniel Cay before. If it wasn’t for the famous swimming pigs then it must have been from the grotto in the James Bond film “Thunderball”. Both of these activities are a must!
The pigs love fruits and veggies so bring a snack (beware they are known to bite)! Thunderball Grotto is an underwater cave system that is beaming with life. If you are up for a thrill you can climb to the top and jump through the small hole into the waters below. Colorful fish will swarm you and probably have a line of people following you for your next jump.
I suggest to rent a boat to check out the swimming pigs and snorkel through the Rocky Dundas then continue on toward Compass Cay and see all the things that area has to offer. More info about Compass next!
Compass Cay
Compass Cay is well known for its resident nurse sharks who have become famous on Instagram. However, we love the island for a completely different reason.
Rachels Bubble Bath is a naturally made pool. During mid to high tide, the waves from the Atlantic hit the rocky shoreline and poor over into a lagoon. This water movement creates bubbles and foam much like a jacuzzi! You can come here by boat or you can take a scenic hike from the marina. If you plan to hike make sure to grab a trail map in the marina shop.
Another reason we LOVE visiting compass is for its closeness to the Rocky Dundas.
The Rocky Dundas are two large rocks that house stalagmite and stalactite formations. In order to enter, you must dive below the surface to find the entrance. The colors we encountered in here reminded us of a Crayola explosion. The naturally occurring purple and green mixed with the turquoise color of the water is unreal. If that is not cool enough, just outside the entrance there is beautiful coral you could snorkel around for hours. You will even see some critically endangered Elkhorn coral. Take in its beauty but watch your fins and be sure to respect it!
Eleuthera
Eleuthera stretches 90 miles long and has enough to see and do to keep you busy for days on end.
It was settled by the Eleutherian Adventurers in the mid-1600s. These settlers came from England and Bermuda and set up what was probably the first true democracy in the Western world here in Eleuthera. The island is apart of the outer island chain but is easier to get to than most other outer islands because of its multiple airports. On this lush island you will find blue holes, pink sand beaches, world-class surf, naturally made pools and plenty of diving and snorkeling opportunities. I have another article specifically about Eleuthera and it describes a few things you should definitely do while visiting. Click here to find out more! Always remember, No other island will keep you smilin’ like Eleuthera;)
I hope you have added a few places to your bucket list after reading this. The Bahamas is home to numerous gorgeous islands and miles upon miles of crystal clear water. These are just a select few of the best islands in the Bahamas. To find out which islands in the Bahamas are our favorite off the beaten path click here.
If you want to watch more videos from the Bahamas head on over to our YouTube channel 🙂
Sierra
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