Bahamas picture gallery

Welcome to our Bahamas picture gallery, brought to you in association with The Bahamas Tourist Office. Cast your eyes over the crystal clear aquamarine seas, clear blue skies, white sandy beaches and vibrant local life. And if all this makes you long for an escape from the UK winter, then enter our fantastic competition to win a holiday to The Bahamas. The winner and a friend will be whisked away to explore the picturesque towns of the Abacos, swim with dolphins on the southern shore and sip cocktails while watching the sun set over the ocean.
  
  


Two islands of the Bahamas
Blue wonder: boasting more than 2,000 cays — small, low islands consisting mostly of sand and coral — a trip to the Bahamas doesn’t have to involve glamorous hotels and fancy restaurants. The cays offer a quieter, more romantic way to experience the islands, with wonderful views across the ocean and tranquil, sandy beaches. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
A clapboard house in the Bahamas
Picture-perfect: clapboard houses dot the Out Islands, so called because they’re located in the most remote part of the archipelago. More than 1,000 islands make up the chain, but only 14 are inhabited. At 2,300 square miles, Andros is the largest and least explored of all the islands. The southernmost island of the chain, Inagua, is home to a population of 1,000 people and more than 80,000 flamingos. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
A market trader in the Bahamas
Bags of fun: tired of sunbathing and sightseeing? Then why not pick up a bargain from one of the many market traders dotted around the islands. The Bahamians are big on handcrafted goods — bags, belts, sandals, hats and the like — which helps give any gift for a loved one back home a wonderfully personal touch. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
Jetboating in the Bahamas
The need for speed: jetboating is probably the most fun way to get around the islands, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. For a more leisurely mode of transport, scheduled ferries connect most of the islands (see bahamasferries.com) or you can charter a yacht with a skipper and sail between the islands, stopping to swim or dive on deserted coral quays. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
Horse riding in the Bahamas
A far cry from donkey rides on Blackpool beach: the sunny sands of Coral Harbour, about 25 minutes from the capital Nassau, are a popular destination for horse riders, along with the Abacos and Grand Bahama Islands. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
Diving in the Bahamas
Sunken treasure: wreck-diving and snorkelling are extremely popular in the Bahamas. And with its miles of unspoilt coral reefs, there’s no excuse not to have a go. Who knows what you might find? For more adventurous souls, there’s even the chance to try shark-diving. But be warned, we won’t be paying your laundry bill. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
Dancer at Junkanoo festival in the Bahamas
The beat goes on: Junkanoo, a Bahamian festival that takes places during the dark hours of morning on December 26 and again at first light on New Year’s Day, is an occasion not to be missed. It’s an explosion of colour, sound and dancing reminiscent of Mardis Gras, with participants organised into huge groups, and cash prizes at the end for the best costumes, music and presentation. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
Canoes in the Bahamas
Paddle your own canoe: the unique ecosystem of the mangrove swamp is an environment where land and sea systems meet. If you fancy a change from lazing on Lucaya beaches or living the limbo in Freetown, hire yourself a kayak and hunt for rare orchids or spot one of the 28 unique species of birds found only on these islands. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
Woman swims with a dolphin in the Bahamas
His counter-intuitive punt on Bear Stearns will cost Bahamas-based Joe “the Boxer” Lewis dear. Even though JP Morgan upped its rescue offer to $10 a share, the legendary British currency trader will see his $2.5bn fortune shrink by around one billion dollars. (Read the article) Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
Golf in the Bahamas
Top hole: blue skies and warm sunshine, even in the depths of a northern winter, have always attracted holidaymakers to the Bahamas. The capital, Nassau, averages seven hours of sun each day. But many more visitors are now being taken in by the world-class golf courses across the islands, including an 18-hole, 72-par, 6,000-metre course at the Cable Beach Resort, which boasts 13 lakes and 50 sand traps. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
A wedding in the Bahamas
Marriage made in heaven: it’s always been a popular destination with newlyweds escaping on their dream honeymoon, but the Bahamas is increasingly attracting couples looking to tie the knot abroad. And after last year’s miserable UK summer, it’s not hard to see why the Bahamas’ guaranteed combination of sun, sea and sand is proving so hard to resist. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
Preparing fish for dinner in the Bahamas
Dinner is served: the coral cays of the Bahamas are home to thousands of species of fish which not only makes it a great place for diving and snorkelling, but an excellent spot for seafood lovers. Restaurants range from roadside shacks, to five-star resort dining. No trip is complete without tasting one of the local delicacies, conch — a large mollusc with firm, white flesh — Bahamian rock lobster or baked land crab. Photograph: Bahamas Tourist Office
 

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