Currency:

The legal tender is the Bahamian dollar (B$1), which is equivalent in value to the U.S. dollar. Both U.S. and Bahamian dollars are accepted interchangeably throughout the islands. Most credit cards and travelers cheques in dollar denominations are widely accepted. There are ATMs in Nassau/Paradise Island, on Grand Bahama Island, Abaco, Exuma, Eleuthera and Harbour Island.

Electricity:

Electricity is 120 volts/60 cycles, which is compatible with all U.S. appliances. British & European appliances require a flat two-pin adaptor and 220 voltage converter.

Language:

English

Time Zone

Eastern Standard Time GMT -4 is observed within The Islands of The Bahamas.

Country Information

The Islands of The Bahamas form a 100,000-sq-mile archipelago that extends over 500 miles of the clearest water in the world. Over 700 islands, including uninhabited cays and large rocks, total an estimated land area of 5,382 sq. miles, and register a highest land elevation of 206 ft. on Cat Island.

The Bahamas has the world’s third longest barrier reef and about 14. 5% of the world’s coral can be found in Bahamian waters. The islands are made entirely of calcium carbonate, which is mainly produced or precipitated by the organisms of coral reefs. There are no rivers in The Bahamas.

With so many islands spread out over 100,000 sq. miles of ocean, The Bahamas offers the largest assortment of fishing destinations of any tropical country. Islands are circled by cays (pronounced “keys”). Some cays are surrounded by uninhabited rocks. Which island or cay is right for your fishing vacation? With 14 main islands that serve as hubs for the remaining 686 islands, our knowledge of this beautiful country is invaluable.

The trade winds that blow almost continually throughout The Islands of The Bahamas give the islands a warm, agreeable climate which varies little year round. The most refreshing time is between September through May, when the temperature averages 70-75F degrees.

The rest of the year is a bit warmer with temperatures between 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit. The Islands have a temperate climate ranging from 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity in the summer months to 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Nighttime temperatures are generally cooler by 5-7 degrees. In the more northerly islands, winter temperatures are approximately 5 degrees lower than the southern islands. Sea surface temperatures vary between 74 degrees in February and 84 degrees in August.

Getting to the Bahamas

By Air : There are approximately 57 airports throughout The Bahamas, including three International airports (Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, and The Exumas); 24 of these airports are official ports of entry to The Islands Of The Bahamas.

Customs and Immigration

Arrival : Upon arriving in The Islands of The Bahamas, everyone must fill out and sign an Immigration form, keeping a portion of the card in hand until departing. An oral baggage declaration is required. Each adult visitor is allowed to bring 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes or one pound of tobacco, one quart of spirits, and a variety of personal effects (personal radio headsets, bicycle, two still cameras, etc.). Purchases up to a value of one hundred dollars are permitted by all arriving passengers.

Departure : Departures to the United States must go through US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance. U.S. visitors can take home $800 worth of duty-free goods, if they have been outside the country for 72 hours. If less than 72 hours, the duty-free exemption is $200; the next $1,000 is taxed at 4%. Gifts valued up to $50 may be mailed home duty-free. One litre of wine, liqueur or liquor and five cartons of cigarettes may be taken duty-free. Canadian residents outside the country for 48 hours may take home up to C$200 worth of duty-free merchandise. Canadian visitors outside of the country for at least seven days may bring home C$500 of duty-free goods.

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