Why visit Bimini Islands
I started and finished my Bahamas trip in Bimini Islands. The main reason is because is only 50 miles away from Miami. I went sailing and took a bit more than a day, If you go with a power boat can take only 2 hours. Ferries and chartered flights are also available. Charter planes charge 230 USD return to Fort Lauderdale.
Bimini Islands is a very welcoming village, specially if you stay in the south part of North Bimini (Alice Town) where you can experience the local culture. The north part is taken by resorts, a casino and fancy restaurants (I skipped this part).
If you arrive by plane you will do your immigration in the local airport, otherwise the immigration for boats is made in Big Game Marina where you have access for free high speed WIFI without password.
Where to eat
Bahamas is famous for the coconut bread and there are only 2 places in town that make them: Nate’s and Charlie’s. It is a must try!
If you want to eat local I recommend Chef Sam, a very sympathetic Bahamian that gave up his job in a hotel restaurant in Nassau to open his own business in Bimini, that he considered more peaceful and slow pace.
Captain’s Bob, right after the Bank of Bahamas (the only ATM in the south part of the island) offer breakfasts daily and if you bring your fresh seafood they cook it for a price. Conch shell salad or conch fritters is a must try and very famous Bahamian food.
Where to shop
If you need to buy groceries, that are a few shops around town, but the most complete one is Sue and Joes, where you can also buy Bahamian SIMCard and cuban cigars.
What to do
There is a wide range of activities to do in Bimini Islands.
If you are not into walking, rent a club car available for 30 to 50 USD according to your power of negotiation. Hitchhiking in club cars is very easy as well (locals will take you up and down for free, some tourists will stop if they have space and if you are very white). Taxis run all the time and will charge you about 5 USD for pretty much any distance.
The first thing you can do is enjoying a day on the gorgeous beach and check out the big wreck dive nearby. Right behind the beach, local bars offers drinks and food.
The day you rent the club car you can drive to the north end of the island and have a look on the resorts and casino. On the way there, don’t miss a few spots where local fishermen dump conch shells, is pretty much impressive. By Stuart conch salad stand there is a big amount of conch shells and they sell the best conch salad in the Bahamas.
If you are into diving, Neal Watson dive center has cage diving with bull sharks (they feed them daily in the Big Game Club Marina – highly recommended not to enter the water there).
The same diving center has dive offshore with reef sharks, eagle rays and turtles. They also do hammerhead sharks feeding dive for 300 USD. I did the dive with reef sharks and was the best of my life (from 42 dives in 13 countries).
If you like party there are plenty of places to go. Either the resorts area or local bars around the island. Ask a local for recommendations. The bar Island House is always open and the music is so loud that if you enter there is not possible to talk with anyone.
Whenever you are doing a charter trip, a week trip from Florida, or crewing in a sailing boat, Bimini Islands is a must see in the friendly Bahamian islands.
