The sea is the prevailing feature of the Bahamas. Consisting of more than 700 islands with approximately 75% of the country underwater, the Bahamas’ shores are rimmed by some of the world’s most spectacular barrier reefs. The sea is everything to the Bahamian lifestyle –recreation, livelihood and inspiration all in one. Talk to any local painter, diver, boat builder, fisherman or chef and they are all likely to agree: the sea is the heart of the Bahamas, influencing all aspects of island life and pleasure.

Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is located on New Providence Island. Connected by a single bridge, Paradise Island offers a variety of experiences from non-stop excitement to utterly peaceful relaxation. Paradise Island and Nassau present a special charm that captures the elegance of the old world while at the same time incorporates the most modern features available. In Nassau one will find well-preserved colonial buildings, duty-free shopping, one of the largest straw markets in the Caribbean, thrilling sea sports, pristine beaches and delightful cuisine all set in unrivaled new-world luxury.
 
For encounters of a different kind, visitors can venture east and cross the bridge from the town of Nassau to “Paradise,” with its luxurious beaches, resorts, the largest casino in the Bahamas and exciting nightlife. For years the island stood completely undeveloped, its beaches and tropical splendor sadly unnoticed by the world. However, with the addition of plush hotels and a radiant casino, it transformed into one of the most glamorous and celebrated resort centers in the world, combining exclusive tranquility with a swarm of action.

Even though visitors can reach the Island in less than an hour’s flight from the Florida coast, the country’s natural beauty and exotic appeal make it seem more like a far-flung outpost. The water ranges from pale aqua to deep sapphire, the spectrum changing hourly as the Bahamian sun sweeps across the island sky. In many ways, visitors realize that things have changed very little since Christopher Columbus arrived here in 1492.