Why You Need to Visit America’s Beloved Island Paradise

① The Bahamas: A Favorite Vacation Spot for Americans

The Bahamas ranks as the most beloved vacation spot for Americans. Officially called The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the paradise consists of over 700 islands in the Caribbean. Enjoying a year-round mild climate, it is a popular vacation site that attracts over 10 million tourists annually. Due to its proximity to the Florida peninsula, it’s trendy among Americans.

The Bahamas has a population of approximately 360,000, with most people living on New Providence Island, where the capital, Nassau, is located. Among other Caribbean countries, the Bahamas is the most known for its public safety. It boasts a beautiful natural environment and is a dream island for enjoying various marine activities.

It’s particularly famous for scuba diving, allowing visitors to explore the dazzling underwater world.
Its unique emerald-colored sea is so inviting that you’ll want to jump in. Of course, you can fully enjoy the extraordinary sea view as well.

The best time to visit the Bahamas is from mid-December to mid-April. While the Bahamas is a great place to visit any time, avoiding the hurricane season from June to November is best. The cost of living in the Bahamas is reasonably high as it survives on tourism and resorts. You can expect prices to be similar or even higher than those in the United States.

The Bahamas is home to many small islands owned by individuals or resorts. Many wealthy people visit these islands by private planes or jets. When staying at a luxury resort, pickup services are provided by airport shuttles or helicopters. You can commonly see luxury resort destinations in the Bahamas.

You can take a flight from LA, which takes about 6 hours to get to the island. Another reason the Bahamas is so loved is because it is a tax haven. It’s known for not imposing corporate or individual income taxes, making it a popular tax haven for the wealthy.

② The Unique Island Where Pigs Rule

The Bahamas boasts a place with a singular landscape. A “Pig Island,” officially Big Major Cay, is on Exuma Island.

Pigs virtually rule this uninhabited island. It’s home to about 20 pigs. Tourists often head to this place to view the pigs. It’s one of the Bahamas’ top tourist attractions.

There is no need to be afraid because the pigs are very friendly to humans. As soon as tourists arrive on the island, the pigs line up to greet them.

You can have a unique experience of swimming with the pigs. You must apply for a tour package to swim with the pigs. The price is about $420, which is quite expensive but popular because it offers a unique experience.

There are several stories about how Pig Island came to be. One of them is that hundreds of years ago, European sailors released pigs on the island for food consumption when they returned. However, they could not return to the Bahamas, and the pigs took over the island. Another story is that pigs raised by humans went wild and formed Pig Island in the 17th century.

You can choose between a boat or a small plane to get to Pig Island. While the plane arrives in 30 minutes, the boat ride takes about 2 hours. The boat is much cheaper, but it can cause seasickness.

Visitors who have been to this place have left reviews such as, “As the boat approached, the piglets started jumping into the water to get closer to the boat. It was adorable”, and “You must come here if you’re in the Bahamas. It’s an awesome experience”, “Be careful though, they can be very aggressive when hungry.”

③ The Place Where You Can Swim with Sharks

There’s also a Shark Island in the Bahamas where you can swim with sharks. This place is called ‘Compass Cay’ on Exuma Island. You can see blacktip reef sharks here. The sharks living here are known not to pose a threat to humans. You can spend a memorable time with sharks in the clear sea.

To swim with sharks, you must be accompanied by a professional guide and follow safety guidelines.
You can spend a leisurely time among sharks. When a real shark passes by, it can be scary and fascinating. To visit Shark Island, you also need to seek a tour package.

While snorkeling in the Bahamas, it is not surprising to see sharks swimming nearby. However, there have been fatal incidents due to shark attacks, so individual caution may probably be helpful.