Bahamas

The Bahamas is an archipelago consisting of many islands in the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida. The country is made up of about 2,000 islands if you include the cays, which are small islands that are formed on coral reefs. Not densely populated, the Bahamas is famous for its natural beauty, unique culture and is a popular tropical vacation destination.

Introduction

The word Bahamas is of Spanish origin and means "Shallow Water".

History of Bahamas

Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador Island in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. The Bahamas were also infamous as a pirate nest with some even trying to form a pirate Republic. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

Music

There are many types of music known in the Bahamian culture but the four most prevalent forms of music are Calypso, Soca, Junkanoo and Rake and scrape. The music of the Bahamas is associated primarily with junkanoo, a celebration which occurs on Boxing Day and again on New Year's Day. Parades and other celebrations mark the ceremony. Groups like The Baha Men, Ronnie Butler and Kirkland Bodie have gained massive popularity in Japan, the United States and elsewhere.

Weather in Bahamas

Tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream.Hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage. Can be cool if trade winds shift. During summer months, temperature in the Bahamas rarely goes above 90°F (32°C). The normal climate during winter is mild with temperatures around 60°F (16°C). The Northern and Western islands, Grand Bahama Island, Great Abaco, Andros and Eleuthera are somewhat cooler than the southern islands. The Bahamas hurricane season runs between June and November and rain storms are expected during this period.

Geology

The Bahamas archipelago are in fact the tops of banks that were formed some time between 90,000 and 120 years ago from coral reef formation. The well known pink sand beaches of the Bahamas get their vibrant appearance from the fractured pieces of seashell combined with the sand. The highest point in the Bahamas is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, which is 63 meters (over 200 feet) high.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Bahamas contains various species. Many different breed of crabs can be found on the beaches. Hermit and Cardisoma guanhumi are two of the land crabs to be noted frequently in the island. The wild horses of Abaco are famous in The Bahamas.

During a tour of the Bahamas, tourists can come across various other species including the Bahamas Hutia, numerous frogs, rocky raccoon, snails such as Cerion, cicada, blind cave fish, ants and reptiles.

Bahamas wildlife features a wide range of amazing birds. Parrots and pigeons are two of the most common and popular birds found in The Bahamas.

The Bahamas is also home to numerous aquatic life. Sharks, manatees, dolphins, frogfish, angelfish, starfish and turtles can be viewed in the waters surrounding The Bahamas. Apart from numerous species of fish, tourists can spot several types of worms also.

Electricity

Officially 120 V 60 Hz, which is identical to the U.S. and Canadian standard. Outlets are North American grounded outlets, identical to standard U.S. and Canadian wall outlets. Occasionally non-grounded outlets may be found, which do not accept the third, round pin present on grounded plugs and require an adapter. Older North American outlets may not be polarized (with one slot wider than the other). Otherwise, adapters are available which accept a polarized plug and adapt it for use with a non-polarized outlet.

Islands of Bahamas

New Providence (Nassau, Paradise Island) Dominated by the capital Nassau and paired with smaller Paradise Island, home to the gigantic Atlantis casino resort.

Grand Bahama An ecological playground featuring an underwater limestone cave system. The centre of eco-tourism, offering nature tours, national parks and botanical gardens.

Bimini

Abacos and Elbow Cay

Eleuthera

Exuma

Long Island

Berry Islands

Mayaguana

Other Muslim friendly Cities in Bahamas

• Nassau - Capital
• Freeport

Other Muslim Friendly Destinations in Bahamas

Several cruise lines operate private island retreats in the Bahamas. Disney Cruise Line owns Castaway Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line owns Great Stirrup Cay, Princess Cruise Line owns Little Stirrup Cay, Carnival Cruise Line owns Half Moon Cay and Royal Caribbean owns Coco Cay. To visit these islands you usually have to be a passenger on the cruise line that owns the island.

Dolphin Encounters is an all natural seawater dolphin facility with Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins and California Sea Lions located on Blue Lagoon Island (Salt Cay), a private island retreat and tourism attraction 5 km (three miles) from Nassau, Bahamas.

Travel to Bahamas

Entry requirements

Muslims of the United States, Canada and EU countries do not require a visa to visa to enter the Bahamas.

Visitors do not need to complete the Customs form.

If you require a visa to enter the Bahamas, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Bahamian diplomatic post.

British diplomatic posts charge £150 to process a Bahamian visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in the Bahamas require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in the Bahamas can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.

Travellers returning to the United States from the Caribbean must display their passport to get back into the States. This applies to minor children as well as adults. US immigration pre-clearance facilities are available at Nassau and Freeport.

What is the best way to fly to Bahamas

The largest airports in the Bahamas are at the capital Nassau, on New Providence and Freeport, on Grand Bahama. Smaller airports are scattered amongst the other islands. The Bahamas has six international airports the largest being the Lynden Pindling International Airport on the west side of Nassau.

For those who own a pilot's license: as the first country to accept Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) Pilot license from the US, to fly in on your own plane may be a great option. It would not only provide you with the great scenery throughout your flight into Bahamas, but also become the most convenience way to get around those islands. The same privileges and limitations as if you are flying in the US apply.

Travel by boat to Bahamas

The Bahamas are a popular port of call for cruise ships plying the Caribbean. The capital, Nassau, on New Providence Island is one of the world's busiest cruise ship ports and is well served by ships that originate from Florida. Freeport on Grand Bahama Island is a growing destination as well.

Most island groups have customs and immigration available for those arriving by yacht. The customs fee for a private yacht is $150 for 35' and under and $300 for over 35'.

Royal Caribbean has their own island in the Bahamas called Coco Cay. This island is leased by Royal Caribbean, rather than being fully owned such as Disney's ownership arrangement for Castaway Cay. It is strictly for Royal Caribbean cruisers. The island has 25 little shops for souvenirs and their own private beaches, as well as water games in the middle of the clear crystal blue ocean. They have a bbq and main picnic area with the cruise employees as well as the people that Royal Caribbean hire to live and work on the island. Royal Caribbean is busy all year round because of the hot climate in the Bahamas, that they have frequent travelers through all the months of the year.

Disney's Castaway Cay, formerly known as Gorda Cay, is a privately owned island near the island of Abaco, close to Sandy Point. This island differs from most of the leased cays in the fact that it is privately owned by The Walt Disney Company and has its own dock so that tendering is not necessary. Castaway Cay has separate areas for families, teens an adults. The island also contains a fiber optic network which connects to the ship.

Additionally, a regular passenger ferry operated by Baleària Caribbean runs daily between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Freeport, in the Bahamas.

How to get around in Bahamas

What is the best way to fly to Bahamas

Bahamasair offers a comprehensive network radiating out from Nassau and covering most population centers. However, fares are expensive, frequencies are low, planes are small and the airline is notorious for extensive delays and many travellers in a hurry opt to charter planes instead.

Travel by Bus to Bahamas

Nassau/New Providence have a system of buses called jitneys, discussed in the Nassau article. Bus travel on the other islands (with the exception of Grand Bahama) is very limited.

Best way to travel in Bahamas by a Taxi

Taxis are very expensive. A short ride from the airport to Cable beach costs $18, to downtown is $26.Between Cable beach and downtown expect to pay $15-$20 with no room to negotiate.

By boat and yacht

• Mail boats serve almost all populated islands in the Bahamas and are amongst the cheapest way to reach many areas, though far from the fastest or most comfortable.
• Windward Islands, a yacht charter company, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed yacht in the Bahamas (starting Abaco).

What to see in Bahamas

• Lucayan National Park and Port Lucaya in Freeport
• Dolphin Cay on Paradise Island
• The Thunderball Grotto in Exuma
• Flamingos, iguanas and other tropical wildlife.
• Fort Fincastle, the Old Town and the Pirate museum in Nassau

Shopping in Bahamas

Money Matters & ATM's in Bahamas

The local currency is the Bahamian dollar (B$), but it's tied to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio and US dollars are accepted everywhere at par. There is thus no need for Americans to change money and many tourist-oriented businesses will even give change back in US$. Keep an eye out for the famous (but now rare) three-dollar bill and 15-cent coin, both made to ease the 1966 transition from British pounds to dollars, $3 being roughly equivalent to £1 and $0.15 approximating a shilling.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Bahamas

There is very little made in the Bahamas, but some luxury goods can be purchased at a bargain. Salespeople in the straw market have a very direct but often humorous manner of negotiating the price of a product. A sense of humor is greatly appreciated in this island nation.

Beware of purchasing Cuban cigars. The vast majority of "Cubans" for sale in the Bahamas are counterfeit. Only buy cigars from reputable and dedicated tobacconists, do not buy on the street, in the market, or from rinky-dink combination cigar/liquor shops. Real Cubans cost upwards of $30 per cigar. If the price is $10, it's 100% fauxhiba. If you do plan to buy cigars, some online research may assist you in identifying authentic Cubans.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Bahamas

A very limited number of resorts offer Halal food on advance reservations.

Please visit https://flights.ehalal.io for a full list.

Muslim Friendly Hotels in Bahamas

Accommodation on the Bahamas is expensive and the cheapest hotels start from around US$ 70 and most hotels cost US$200-300/night, with the very best resorts easily pushing up above US$2500. Deals may be available in the summer off-season though.

Be aware the Bahamas charge a Service Fee or Resort Fee to every person staying overnight. Hotels collect the fee of $18 per night per person as well as a $6 per person one time bellhop fee. This is an addition to the rate of the room and is not optional and cannot be waived. Often tourists first hear about this when checking into their hotel for the first time.

Most hotels and resorts in the Bahamas are located in New Providence (Nassau) and neighboring Paradise Island. The rest of the country remains rather off the beaten track for tourism and places like Eleuthera, despite being 100 miles long, has only three hotels.

Study as a Muslim in Bahamas

School attendance in Bahamas is required between the ages of 5 to 16. Out of the 210 primary schools run in the country, 158 are operated by the government. The remaining 52 schools are operated by private owners. Higher education is also offered by many non-Bahamian colleges in the country.

The College of the Bahamas is the main institution that offers post secondary education in the country with several schools including and undergraduate business school, an undergraduate social science. Other tertiary educational institutions in the country include Success Training College, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and Nova Southeastern University. The University of the West Indies also has a campus in the Bahamas.

There are also some international universities that offer programs in the country such as the University of Miami's MBA programme.

Telecommunications in Bahamas

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