The Bahamas

The Bahamas were first settled by Indians called the Arawaks. The British settled on the islands in the seventeenth century after their discover by Columbus who first arrived on San Salvador . The islands were given self-government in 1964 and became an independent nation in 1973.

The islands, especially Nassau, have had a dubious reputation for piracy over the years, and due to its strategic location, close to the United States , it is still regarded as a hub for the trafficking of illegal drugs and illegal immigrants to the U.S. The main industry of the islands is tourism, although the international banking and investment industry and shipping are also very prominent.

The Bahamas is understandably a major tourist destination in the Caribbean area. Its tranquil waters and cool tradewinds have given the islands a fantastic reputation for water sports. There is a great abundance of sealife, due to the Gulf Stream . It is a popular destination for sportfishing, where records are often set. The islands with its amazing reefs and underwater parks are a wonderland for SCUBA divers and snorkellers. For beach lovers, the Bahamas have some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the world. Many of the islands have beaches of pink sand, which is actually crushed coral. Inland, there are national parks with some rare species of birds and animals.

The Bahamian people are known for the friendly, laid back attitude and hospitality and their good native cuisine. There is much natural beauty to be explored and you can island hop, or explore by bicycle, or plane. Enjoy some golf, cricket or tennis. There is great shopping and lots of native craft markets to explore.

Facts
Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II (1952)
Governor-General: (2001) Ivy Dumont
Prime Minister: (2002) Perry Christie
Population: 301,800 approx.
Capital: Nassau
Time Zone: UTC -5
Currency: Bahamian Dollar
Country Dialling Code: 242

Climate / Weather
The Bahamas has a marine tropical climate which is near perfect, moderated by warm waters of the Gulf Stream . There are persistent trade winds from the east. The summers temperatures rarely rise as high as 90F, and in winter the temperature rarely drops below 60 F. The average year round temperature is approx. 70 F. The humidity is quite high during the summer but the constant breeze compensates for it. The islands can be prone to hurricanes and tropical storms during the season from June-Nov.

Health
Travel Insurance for travel to the Bahamas
We recommend purchasing World Wide (exc. USA & Canada) Travel Insurance for cover.

Links
www.bahamas.com is the official site of the Ministry of Tourism for the Bahamas . It gives information on just about anything you need to know.

Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure this information is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy.

* Inclusion on this guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in this country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries for which the F.C.O. advise against travel to.

** At the time of writing, the F.C.O. advised against travel to countries, or areas thereof, marked thus at the time of writing. Travel Insurance is not available in areas where the F.C.O. advise against travel to.

You are strongly advised to visit the F.C.O. web site for up to date information and general travel advice before you travel.