Off the Beaten Bahamas Path: The Out Islands

The Bahamas are made up of 29 beautiful islands, yet few visitors ever see more than one or two. While Nassau, on tiny Providence Island, and the Grand Bahama Island are the major flight deals and cruise ship destinations, there are so many more beautiful Bahamian landscapes to discover. When you book airline discount deals on cheap flights to the Bahamas, plan to head away from the beaten path and explore the aptly named Out Islands.

While some travelers choose complete vacation packages to the Bahamas, you can book flights to the Bahamas yourself for incredibly low airline prices and design your own trip. Plan a visit to the world’s third-largest barrier reef on Andros Island. Andros is actually the biggest island of the Bahamas. You can also have adventures like cave diving and reef fishing on Andros. The chain of Bahamian islands closest to the U.S. is the Bimini Islands, famous for once being home to Ernest Hemingway and also for great marlin and tuna fishing. If you’re a fan of sailing, head to Exuma, a series of small cays that host regular regattas all year round. On Eleuthera Island, named for the Greek word for freedom, see local pineapple farms or check out the pineapple festival if you can get cheap tickets to the Bahamas in June. Eleuthera is also a hot spot for surfers. On nearby Cat Island, diving and snorkeling are the sports to try along pink sand beaches. The Abacos Islands, a 120-mile chain of tiny islands, have quaint colonial towns to explore and are renowned for their calm seas, perfect for boating and sailing, and their diverse wildlife. Interestingly enough, the only working traffic light of the Out Islands is here on one of the Abacos. The Abacos’ Hope Town is also home to the famous candy-striped Elbow Bay lighthouse built in 1863. Long Island has perhaps the most dramatic scenery of the Out Islands, with steep cliffs on one side and gentle, sandy beaches on another, with mangroves creeping out towards the sands. Long Island is also home to a memorial statue at Columbus Point.

Any travelers interested in seeing the real Bahamas should make it to the Out Islands during their airline discount vacation in the Caribbean. These islands lack much of what makes Nassau famous, like casinos and high rise hotels, but for that reason they can be a more intimate, relaxing destination. They are also more of a center for ecotourism and hobbies like bird watching than the busier, more populated islands. The Out Islands have small, charming hotels like bed and breakfasts and boutique properties where you are more likely to get to know locals and have a taste of local Bahamian culture. Search for cheap tickets to Bahamas and book last minute flights now and you could be in the sunny Out Islands by the weekend.