The Bahamas Islands can offer you the vacation dreams are made of.

If you’re considering a Bahamas vacation, it’s never too early to do your research and learn about what the islands have to offer. The Caribbean offers many islands for a beautiful beach vacation, but if you’ve never been to the Bahamas, your experience can be as diverse as the people on the islands. Here are some facts that can tip the scales for your first Bahamas vacation.

The Bahamas is a 100,000-square-mile archipelago that stretches from southeastern Florida to Haiti. The Bahamas has more than 700 main islands and many smaller cays (pronounced clave) that cover more than an area of ​​5,382 square miles. Combining all the islands together, the land mass is about the size of Connecticut. About 20 of the Bahamas Islands are inhabited.

The Tropic of Cancer runs through the island chain. The semitropical marine climate is moderated by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. And unsurprisingly, 5% of the world’s coral can be found in Bahamian waters, including the world’s third-longest barrier reef, found off the coast of Andros Island. All the islands are relatively flat; the highest point of all the islands is 206 feet above sea level is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island.

The largest island in the Bahamas is Andros, measuring approximately 100 miles by 40 miles. Grand Bahamas Island is one of the largest islands and is home to two excellent resort towns, Freeport and Lucaya. Grand Bahamas Island measures 80 miles wide by 16 miles at its widest point and covers 530 square miles of total land area; the highest point on the island is only 68 feet.

Each of the Bahamas Islands offers something a little special. If you’re looking for the quieter, less-developed side of the islands, like the underwater cave at Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahamas Island or The End of the World Bar on Bimini. Perhaps you are interested in a megaresort in Nassau or Paradise Island. Visit the outer islands, which are practically an unchanged world from those days of Columbus. Some of these are so rustic that you will enjoy your time there without electricity.

Whether you are looking to relax sitting under the fronds of a large palm tree, snorkel or snorkel along the coral reefs or gamble in one of the casinos, the Bahamas can offer you a very special and unforgettable vacation. Be sure to consult with a qualified Bahamas travel advisor who can help you get the right vacation to match your dreams and your budget.