Cabbage Bay beach

There is nowhere better for finding fun than on this typically Caribbean beach. Stretching for nearly 3 km in length, it offers a wide range of possibilities: water scooters, water skiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, banana boats, etc. The white sand and crystalline waters do honour to the Caribbean and are yet another reason to come to this fantastic place.

The Riu Palace Paradise Island hotel is located on the sea front alongside the large Atlantis leisure complex, which has the largest casino in the Caribbean, an enormous open-air aquarium and an aqua park.

Pirate’s Cove beach

Very close to Cabbage Bay, this space is free from constructions and not very crowded. It is a good place to come with a water scooter, or simply to sit down on the sand and enjoy the heavenly Caribbean.

Nassau

Nassau, the capital of the island of New Providence, linked to Paradise Island by a bridge, has beautiful avenues with elegant colonial buildings. The influx of visitors can be felt in the area’s carefully-renovated buildings and good tourist organisation:

Old town: Crossing the wooden bridge from Paradise Island will lead you to the picturesque 18th and 19th-century houses. Cumberland House and the Deanery, with their wooden balcony and colourful facades, are two of the best examples of Bahamian colonial architecture. The Anglican Cathedral stands out for its lovely rose windows and the impressive wooden beams that support its structure.

If you would like to see the changing of the guard, a British tradition that has survived since colonial times, head for Government House. This lovely ceremony is carried out twice a month, to the music of the National Police Band.

On Prince George Wharf, in the main dock, you can hire horse-drawn carriages to take you around the most beautiful areas of the town.

Pirates of Nassau Museum: Like the rest of the Caribbean, the Bahamas were the hunting ground of pirates for a large part of the 18th century. This place, a favourite amongst children, tells of the life and customs of these mythical figures, that were a constant nuisance to the powers of the era.  

Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Park: This zoo is a good place to take the children. Even though it is not very large, it houses several endangered indigenous species such as the Bahama parrot and the huti, a sub-species of the guinea pig. You will also see caimans, monkeys and jaguars. The most enjoyable part of the visit is the flamingos, which are trained to move and strut following the orders of a keeper.

Nassau Botanical Garden: To stroll around these gardens is to enter a world of tropical plants with fountains, small waterfalls and several lagoons surrounded by lush vegetation. The gardens’ 11 hectares are a natural oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the town.

Visiting Atlantis

This huge complex, located just a few metres from the Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island, offers the widest range of leisure activities you could possibly imagine: casino, aqua park, natural lagoons and an aquarium. And it is all on a large scale - no expense or effort has been spared here to make it the largest leisure centre in the Caribbean. The result is quite spectacular:

Aquarium: Thanks to some long underwater tunnels you will be able to enter the deepest of its tanks and see dolphins, sharks, giant manta rays, turtles and 200 other species from close quarters.

The complex also offers several interactive activities in its natural lagoons. You can swim here and touch the dolphins, feed the rays and visit different spaces devoted to shark reproduction.

There is also an enormous and shallow tank that is especially prepared for snorkelling amongst tropical fish, turtles and other species. This is a fantastic experience for both children and adults.

Aqua Park: Get ready for a day of fun, shouts, laughter and excitement in this fabulous entertainment centre. The attractions of Atlantis are amongst the best in the world: vertical drops, slides winding down through the pitch dark, descents down rapids and waterfalls, etc.
The most spectacular slide is the “leap of faith”, where after a vertical 25m drop you will plunge into a tank full of sharks through a transparent tube. The experience is simply unique.

Those who prefer calmer activities will choose the long ride on a float that takes you down a river with rapids, waterfalls and areas with waves, all of it surrounded by tropical vegetation. Both children and adults will enjoy this place where the fun never seems to end.

The complex also has a large variety of swimming pools, many of them especially designed for smaller children.

We remind you that access to the aquatic complex is not free.

Casino: If you want to try your luck at black jack, baccara or Caribbean poker, Atlantis has the largest casino in the Caribbean. The luxurious surroundings, with elegant sculptures, are an invitation to play. This Mecca of gambling is always open, as its fruit machines work 24 hours a day.

Swim with dolphins

A short trip will take you to Blue Lagoon on the uninhabited island of Salt Cay. In this natural lagoon with shallow, crystalline waters you can swim amongst rays, dolphins and tropical fish. Shows are also organised here with several marine species in which the public, and in particular children, are invited to take part.

Diving and snorkelling

The waters of Paradise Island are a good place for starting out in these sports. There are numerous schools which, after a short teaching programme, will guide you to the main immersion points. One of the most popular ones is the coral reef of "School House", with its dense schools of tropical fish. Because it is shallow this place is recommended for beginner divers and snorkelling.

Experienced divers will prefer Lost Blue Hole: a vertical cavern with an abundance of sharks and manta rays. These types of geological formations are very common in the Bahamas. If you are interested in discovering them, the Riu hotel will put you in touch with the best excursion operators in the area.

Family fun: Underwater excursions

If you want to explore the depths without getting wet, it can be done. The submarine excursions of the Seaworld Explorer will enable you to discover the wonderful reefs in the Sea Gardens Marine Park. Its waters contain many species of tropical fish, dolphins, sharks, rays and turtles. This is a very popular experience amongst the youngest members of the family.
Another very enjoyable option is the underwater scooter. With this kind of water quad, which includes a mask to breath underwater, you’ll be able to roam the seabed at will.

Golf

Cable Beach Resorts Golf Club: This course, located in Nassau, is a par 72 with lakes and tropical vegetation that will accompany you right up to the last hole. There is no better place on the neighbouring island to practise your swing.

Specialities

Apart from the fish and seafood, most of the other products are imported due to the low level of farming there is on the islands. The most typical species of fish are grouper and sea snail, but unfortunately their popularity has brought them to the brink of extinction. Surprisingly enough, they are still served in nearly all restaurants so the choice is yours…
Other common species in the area are tuna, lobster and prawns.

The island of Nassau is also a big producer of rum, although the sugar is imported. The Bacardi factory offers guided tours where you can taste and purchase the rum if you wish.

Shopping

The main shopping attraction in the Bahamas is its duty free shops. There are sales on all year round here. Under the arcades of Bay Street, in the centre of Nassau, you will find anything ranging from Swiss watches to Italian fashion. You can also buy local craft products like coral necklaces, wood carvings and leather articles.