A guide to the Bahamas - sweeping sunsets, palm-fringed islands and turquoise waters

History & cultureWhen Christopher Columbus first moored on the shores of the Bahamas in 1492, Arawak Indians inhabited the islands. Following colonization by the British in 1647, the islands became a hotbed of illegal activity. Rum-smugglers and pirates plundered and pillaged the archipelago’s many virtuous assets.  Since gaining independence from the UK in 1973, however, the Bahamas have become a culturally-rich collective of individual islands. Full of Calypso rhythms, tropical wildlife and technicolored coral formations, the scenery and atmosphere of the Bahamas are beyond compare. Island guideA collective of over 700 islands, 2,000 cays and islets, it is easy to feel at sea with where to visit in the Bahamas. To help you make your mind up, here’s our guide to some of the most notable islands. The tranquil Ragged Islands are famed for their pristine fishing spots while The Abaco’s Islands are heralded for their championship golf. Cat Island has a laidback atmosphere with endless nature trails while The Berry Islands are populated with countless secluded spots. Visit Long Island for dramatic cliffs and deep-sea caverns or The Exumas for their untarnished sapphire coastline. Eleuthera and Harbour Island are uniquely dappled with pineapple fields and pinks sands whilst Rum Cay clings to its historical ruins and tropical reefs. A vibrant metropolis of culture and shopping, the Bahamas’ capital - Nassau - has all the amenities for a modern traveler could desire, while birdwatchers flock to the Inagua islands to gawp at over 80,000 native flamingos. If it’s variation or island-hopping that you are in search of, the Bahamas can certainly deliver!