The Bahamas is a beautiful tropical destination for your next beach vacation! The water is bright blue, the food is delicious, and there are a lot of activities and excursions that can help you create lasting memories. Also, the heat and sunshine will certainly boost your mood and leave you with a great tan. It doesn’t get much better than that! I visited the Bahamas in February, so I was leaving the cold Michigan winter in search of some sunshine. I spent a week in Nassau and will share with you what activities and experiences you should find to ensure you have an amazing trip.

Visit the world-famous pigs in the Bahamas

Believe it or not… there are numerous pigs that are now residents in the Bahamas. Nobody is quite sure how the pigs arrived, since some of the islands were uninhabited and the pigs are not native to the island. I have heard some different theories such as the pigs might have arrived after a shipwreck. Regardless, visiting the pigs has become an exciting attraction for tourists. I mean, come on! Not everybody can say that they have fed island pigs and swam with them. I can’t say that I loved pigs before my trip, but I knew that it would be an interesting and memorable experience. After my delightful time with my new pig friends, I found myself wishing I had a little piglet as a pet!

There are several islands where you can see numerous pigs roaming the beach. Pig Beach is by far the most common island. Pig Beach is on Big Major Cay in Exuma. Another popular island for visiting the pigs is Rose Island. I planned on visiting the pigs at Pig Beach, but my original excursion was cancelled due to high winds. You should be aware, if you are staying in Nassau and hope to get specifically to Pig Beach, you can expect a 3-hour boat ride one way. If you just want to see pigs on any island, there are several excursion options that are nearby. Since my original grand excursion was cancelled, I booked a more local excursion which worked out well. I was able to see the lovely pigs which is what I wanted after all.

If you expect great weather and have your heart set on Pig Beach, I would recommend looking at potential tours through Shore Thing Escapes. They have some incredible day trips planned. I was super excited about the excursion, but I know that the weather is out of their hands and they were ensuring we would all stay safe. If you are staying in Nassau and just want to enjoy your time with pigs nearby, there are several tour companies near the water. I have heard some stories about people getting bitten by pigs, but the pigs I visited were extremely nice. Of course, don’t be that tourist that harasses the animals!

This activity was a priority of mine for the trip, and now, I get to keep the great pictures and memories. For more pictures and a couple videos of my experience, check out my travel Instagram account.

Explore Downtown Nassau

To really experience the culture in the Bahamas, I recommend leaving your resort or other accommodations and interacting with the locals. Nassau has a wonderful downtown area with plenty of shops, restaurants, and beach bars. The picture above was taken at the famous Straw Market. This is where all of the tourists can go to get local souvenirs. It is amazing how big this place is and how many locals sell their items here. You can expect to barter with the workers. I got a beautiful beach bag for only $15 USD.

Eat Conch

If you like seafood, you should try conch on your trip, because it is indigenous to the Bahamas. Conch is a sea snail that can be prepared in many ways. At many of the restaurants you can find conch bites, conch fritters, or conch salad. The picture above is of conch bites. I was able to try conch bites and conch fritters while traveling. They are both very delicious! They taste quite different as conch fritters have thick breading and seasoning.

Conch is extremely popular on the island, so it isn’t hard to find. A local recommended trying conch from either Twin Brothers or Oh Andros. Both of these restaurants are downtown Nassau. I ended up eating at Twin Brothers. Twin Brothers is pretty well-known, because the restaurant has been referenced on television. This restaurant has been on the Food Network, CBS, NBC, and Top Chef! I hope you get the chance to eat conch and other local cuisine at this famous restaurant.

Visit Atlantis Bahamas

The Atlantis resort is nothing short of spectacular! Atlantis is popular for obvious reasons. The resort is breathtaking and has plenty of activities to keep the family busy.

Atlantis has several hotels to choose from. I stayed at The Coral at Atlantis. If you are able to stay at Atlantis, I would certainly recommend it, but if you are booking accommodation elsewhere, you can still get a day-pass to Atlantis.

There are countless incredible activities to do while visiting Atlantis! Of course, start off with Aquaventure to find the thrilling waterslides, exciting river rapids, resort pools, and white sandy beaches. Explore to find the marine exhibits with sting rays, sharks, fish, and eels. I recommend shopping in Marina Village and grabbing a bite to eat in this cute and fancy downtown area. If you enjoy nightlife, you can take your chances at a casino or dance the night away. You have access to all of these activities with your day-pass! There are also experiences that you can pay for at the resort such as swimming with dolphins, interacting with sea lions, or learning about sting rays.

If you stay at an Atlantis resort, there are additional activities that can keep you entertained! There is a complimentary movie theatre with multiple new movie showings per day, fitness classes, and activities such as bingo that you can enjoy.

Clearly, Atlantis has it all! For more information on Atlantis, check out their website.

Experience a Junkanoo Celebration

Junkanoo is a lively street parade that is a cultural tradition in the Bahamas. From the picture, you can see how vibrant and fun this experience is. The music and commotion certainly draws the crowd in. You can find these celebrations around the island such as downtown Nassau, but I was able to watch the performances in Marina Village at the Atlantis resort. That’s right, I said “performances”. One celebration was not enough, so I went back to enjoy another joyful night! The Junkanoo parades take place in Marina Village on Tuesdays and Fridays at 9:00 p.m. (subject to change).

Other Excursions in the Bahamas

If you are not interested in making friends with the pigs or want to find an additional excursion, there are numerous tour companies around the island. There are tours where you can snorkel around beautiful reefs, snorkel the site of a Pablo Escobar plane crash, rent jet skis, sail at sunset, etc. See the island while you’re there!

Enjoy the sunshine

You have to soak in the sun while at a dream tropical destination like the Bahamas! If you are at the famous Atlantis resort, you will have access to several pools and beautiful beaches. The resort has all of the loungers you will need to have a long comfortable day in the outdoors. If you are not staying at a resort, there are numerous beaches to claim a spot at. Some of the most popular beaches in Nassau include Cable Beach, Montagu Beach, and Jaw’s Beach.

Have a fruity drink and relax

And then, of course, grab yourself a delicious fruity beverage and enjoy your vacation!

For more travel inspiration for future trips, check out my destinations tab on my website. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers to taking a vacation and making connections around the world!