Island hopping in the Bahamas: flights, ferries and mail boats

About Island hopping in the Bahamas: flights, ferries and mail boats

By the ULTIMATE The Bahamas Editorial Team

Site Editor: Tara de la Motte

The Bahamas is a nation of 700 islands and 2,400 cays, and getting between them is half the fun. Here is how the pieces fit together, from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to the farthest cays.

The short version

Fly when distance matters, take the fast ferry when it goes where you’re going, and save the mail boat for when you have time to spare. The Bahamas is a nation of 700 islands and 2,400 cays, and most trips combine all three.

From Florida

From Miami, American Airlines flies to Nassau several times a day and daily to Freeport, George Town (Exuma), Marsh Harbour and North Eleuthera, according to the official flight table. From Fort Lauderdale, JetBlue and Western Air fly to Nassau every day. Aztec Airways flies from its own private terminal at Fort Lauderdale to North Eleuthera twice a day, Marsh Harbour and Governor’s Harbour daily, and Rock Sound, George Town, South Bimini, Treasure Cay, Andros and the Berry Islands on set days, while Tradewind Aviation flies semi-private routes to Nassau, Marsh Harbour and North Eleuthera.

Seven hundred islands and 2,400 cays: getting between them is half the fun.

Through Nassau

Many Out Islands connect through Nassau. If you change planes at Lynden Pindling International Airport, allow at least 1½ hours to clear immigration and customs before checking in at the domestic terminal. Bahamasair, Southern Air and Western Air fly the domestic network, and Titan Air books flights to Staniel Cay, Black Point and Fresh Creek. Small airlines often don’t appear on travel sites, so book on their own websites.

Small planes and seaplanes

Tropic Ocean Airways flies seaplanes from Fort Lauderdale to North Bimini daily, and Makers Air serves small airstrips such as Staniel Cay, Stella Maris, Rock Sound and New Bight on Cat Island. Note that Governor’s Harbour airport on Eleuthera closes from 1 October 2026 for a few months; Southern Air is flying to Rock Sound and North Eleuthera instead.

Fast ferries

Bahamas Ferries sails from Potter’s Cay Dock in Nassau to eight destinations: a high-speed service to Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, and cargo-passenger routes to North and South Eleuthera, Marsh Harbour, George Town and, on Wednesdays, Freeport. From Florida, Baleària sails from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini and to Freeport.

Mail boats

The traditional mail boats still carry cargo and passengers from Potter’s Cay to the Out Islands; Inagua, for one, has a weekly mail boat from Nassau. Sailings follow the freight and there is no official online timetable, so ask at the dock and allow plenty of time.

The last mile

Short ferries do the rest: Harbour Island is five minutes by boat from North Eleuthera, local ferries link Marsh Harbour with Elbow Cay, Man-O-War and Green Turtle Cay, water taxis cross from George Town to Stocking Island, and twice-daily ferries link Acklins and Crooked Island.

On the ground

Nassau and Grand Bahama have jitneys, public buses that run from about 6.30am to 7pm (have the exact fare ready). Taxis wait at hotels and airports, with fares set by law, and the Aqua Rides app books licensed taxis. Car hire is available on most islands, and on the smaller ones golf carts rule. The Bahamas follows UK road rules, so drive on the left.

Good to know

Weather can change sea crossings and small-plane schedules at short notice, so check your operator’s alerts and leave slack before an international flight. Hurricane season runs from June to November.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Island hopping in the Bahamas: flights, ferries and mail boats before you go.