Day trips · Nassau · Bahamas
4 best day trips from Nassau
Where to go when you want a day away from Nassau, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Whoisjohngalt, CC0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Nassau is Exuma Cays (About 1.5–2 hours each way by speedboat). The closest option is Blue Lagoon Island, about 8 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- Blue Lagoon Island (8 km)
- Most popular
- Exuma Cays
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exuma Cays | 130 km | About 1.5–2 hours each way by speedboat | Organised speedboat tour or small-plane excursion | First-timers, Couples, Families |
| Rose Island | 13 km | About 30 minutes by boat | Organised boat trip from Nassau or Paradise Island | Couples, Families, Beach |
| Blue Lagoon Island | 8 km | About 30 minutes by boat | Ferry included with tour packages | Families, Beach |
| Harbour Island, Eleuthera | 90 km | About 2–3 hours by fast ferry | Fast ferry from Potter's Cay or a short flight | Couples, Quiet stays |
The day trips
130 km · About 1.5–2 hours each way by speedboat
1.Exuma Cays
A chain of cays known for sandbars, very clear water, the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, the Thunderball Grotto snorkel site and iguanas at Allan's Cay. It is a long, full day by speedboat.
- Getting there
- Organised speedboat tour or small-plane excursion
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Families
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13 km · About 30 minutes by boat
2.Rose Island
A long, mostly uninhabited island east of Paradise Island with quiet beaches and shallow reefs used for snorkelling and beach-day excursions.
- Getting there
- Organised boat trip from Nassau or Paradise Island
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Beach
8 km · About 30 minutes by boat
3.Blue Lagoon Island
A private island east of Paradise Island, also known as Salt Cay, with beach day packages, dolphin and sea-lion encounters and calm lagoon swimming.
- Getting there
- Ferry included with tour packages
- Best for
- Families, Beach
90 km · About 2–3 hours by fast ferry
4.Harbour Island, Eleuthera
A small island off Eleuthera known for its pink-sand beach, pastel clapboard houses in Dunmore Town and golf carts instead of cars. Ferry day trips run on certain days.
- Getting there
- Fast ferry from Potter's Cay or a short flight
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Carry exact change in small bills, and ask the driver to tell you when to get off.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Nassau?
Exuma Cays. A chain of cays known for sandbars, very clear water, the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, the Thunderball Grotto snorkel site and iguanas at Allan's Cay.
+How long does it take to get from Nassau to Exuma Cays?
About 1.5–2 hours each way by speedboat — Organised speedboat tour or small-plane excursion, about 130 km.
+How long does it take to get from Nassau to Rose Island?
About 30 minutes by boat — Organised boat trip from Nassau or Paradise Island, about 13 km.