Best Anchorages in the Bahamas
700 islands, the world-famous swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto, the Exuma Land & Sea Park, and the candy-stripe lighthouse at Hopetown — the Bahamas is one of the great cruising destinations. November to May only.
700+
Islands & cays
0.8m
Tidal range (strong cuts!)
Nov–May
Cruising season
2–4kt
Tidal cut currents
Bahamas — Critical Rules for Every Skipper
Tidal range 0.6–1.0m — significantly more than most Caribbean destinations. Plan every anchor depth at high tide and allow for the full tidal drop. The Exuma Banks are extremely shallow (1–3m): draft over 1.8m requires careful routing. Tidal cuts reach 2–4kt — enter Exuma Sound cuts at or near tidal slack only. Exuma Land & Sea Park (Warderick Wells to Shroud Cay): mooring balls only — no anchoring, no fishing, no collecting. Whale Cay Passage (Abacos): do not transit in E-NE winds above 15kt or seas above 1.5m. Man-O-War Cay (Abacos) is a dry island — no alcohol ashore. Northers November–April can bring 30–40kt N winds within hours — monitor forecasts continuously and have an evacuation plan for exposed anchorages. Hurricane season June–November: leave the Bahamas by late May.
Bahamas Entry Requirements
- Q flag mandatory on arrival until customs clearance.
- Cruising Permit ~$300 for 3 months (up to 10 people) — required for all foreign vessels.
- Customs and immigration at first Bahamian port (Nassau, Marsh Harbour, George Town, or other designated ports of entry).
- Fish & Wildlife permit $20 extra if fishing.
- Departure tax BSD $25/person on exit.
- Currency: Bahamian Dollar (BSD) 1:1 with US Dollar — USD universally accepted.
Sailing Regions
Nassau & New Providence
10 anchoragesThe capital island and gateway to the Bahamas — Nassau Harbour handles 5–7 cruise ships daily, making it one of the world's busiest cruise ports. Nassau Yacht Haven is the primary facility marina for cruising vessels clearing customs. Montagu Bay and Coral Harbour offer quieter alternatives. Rose Island (6nm east) provides the first taste of classic Bahamian out-island experience. The 0.8m Nassau tidal range is more than most Caribbean sailors expect — plan anchor depths at high tide. Northers (cold fronts) November–April can bring 30–40kt N winds with little warning.
Customs and immigration at Nassau on arrival. Cruising Permit required (~$300 for 3 months). 0.8m tidal range — plan anchor depths at high water. Northers Nov–Apr: evacuate exposed anchorages immediately.
Explore Nassau & New Providence anchorages →The Exumas (Great Exuma & Cays)
10 anchorages365 cays (legend says one for each day of the year) stretching 130nm — the most celebrated cruising ground in the Bahamas. The Exuma Banks are EXTREMELY SHALLOW (1–3m at low tide): draft over 1.8m requires very careful routing. Tidal cuts from Exuma Sound to the banks reach 2–4kt — time entries and exits at tidal slack. Standout stops: Pig Beach (swimming pigs, very crowded), Staniel Cay (Thunderball Grotto, fuel, provisions), Warderick Wells (Exuma Land and Sea Park HQ — mooring only, no fishing, no collecting), and George Town (annual cruising regatta in April — 200+ boats). The Exuma Land and Sea Park covers 176 square miles of the central cays — the finest marine protected area in the Bahamas.
Exuma Land & Sea Park: mooring only (no anchoring), no fishing, no collecting. Banks draft limit 1.8m. Tidal cuts 2–4kt — enter at slack water ONLY. 0.8–1.0m tidal range critical for depth planning.
Explore The Exumas (Great Exuma & Cays) anchorages →The Abacos (Great Abaco & Cays)
10 anchoragesThe most popular Bahamian cruising ground for US East Coast sailors — the Abacos are the closest Bahamas destination to Florida (80–100nm). The inside passage (Sea of Abaco) connects the cays in sheltered water. Key stops: Marsh Harbour (capital, best provisioning), Hopetown on Elbow Cay (the famous red-and-white candy-stripe lighthouse — one of the last kerosene-operated lighthouses in the world), Man-O-War Cay (boat-building heritage, dry island — no alcohol ashore), and Green Turtle Cay (Black Sound — finest hurricane hole in the northern Abacos). The Whale Cay Passage must be carefully timed — dangerous in E-NE winds above 15kt. Hurricane Dorian (Category 5, September 2019) caused catastrophic damage — verify depths against pre-Dorian charts.
Whale Cay Passage: do NOT transit in E-NE winds above 15kt or seas above 1.5m. Man-O-War Cay: DRY ISLAND — no alcohol ashore. Post-Hurricane Dorian: verify all depths on arrival. Cruising Permit required.
Explore The Abacos (Great Abaco & Cays) anchorages →Bahamas Sailing Rules — Summary
- !Tidal range 0.6–1.0m: The Bahamas tidal range is greater than most Caribbean destinations. Always anchor at the depth you need at LOW tide plus the tidal range. The Exuma Banks (1–3m at LW) and Nassau Harbour (0.8m range) require careful planning. Exuma Sound cuts: 2–4kt tidal current — enter at slack water only.
- !Exuma Land & Sea Park: Warderick Wells to Shroud Cay — mooring balls only (no anchoring), no fishing of any kind, no collecting of anything. Mooring balls ~$25/night, book on VHF 16. Park wardens actively enforce all rules.
- !Northers November–April: Cold fronts can bring 30–40kt N winds with relatively short warning. Exposed anchorages (Nassau West Bay, Pig Beach, Cane Garden-type north-facing bays) must be evacuated immediately on any norther forecast. Always have an escape plan.
- !Whale Cay Passage (Abacos): The only passage between central and northern Abacos on the outside. Do NOT transit in E-NE winds above 15kt or ocean swell above 1.5m. Wait for the right conditions — the inside Don't Rock Passage requires local knowledge and the Explorer Chart.
- !Man-O-War Cay (Abacos) is a dry island: No alcohol is sold or permitted ashore. This is a deeply held community value — respect it absolutely. Keep your drinks on the boat.
- !Hurricane season June–November: Leave the Bahamas by late May. Hurricane Dorian (Category 5, 2019) devastated the northern Abacos — verify all depths and infrastructure against current sources before relying on pre-2019 charts.
For a full overview of anchoring rules by region, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.