If you've never been to colorful Nassau before, you're in for a delightful treat.  Throughout the Island you will experience the unique island music, along with the arts and crafts inspired by the blend of British, African and Spanish cultures.

     Nassau is modern enough to have its tourism infrastructure work well, yet not so "unfamiliar" as to make less-traveled tourists uncomfortable. At the same time, it has just enough of the exotic side to make you realize you're not at home anymore. When you step off the ship and see the police, dressed in their "bobbie" uniforms and directing traffic that is driving on the left, you will immediately realize you've left home! The old colonial buildings, the lilt of the British language influence, and the West Indian people and festivals help make Nassau a fascinating place to visit. And... the city is compact and easy to leisurely explore on foot.

GEOGRAPHY     The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent, English-speaking country consisting of a group of some 700 Islands and nearly 2,500 small islets or cays. Approximately 30 of these Islands are inhabited.  The terrain of the Bahama Islands is mostly flat with miles of white and pink sandy beaches. The highest point in the country is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island which is 206 feet about sea level. There are no rivers in the Bahamas in part because the Islands of the Bahamas are made entirely of calcium carbonate, which is mainly produced or precipitated by the organisms of coral reefs -- this also contributes to the Bahamas having the clearest waters in the world with visibility of over 200 feet (61 meters). In fact, 5% of the world's coral can be found in the waters of the Bahamas and the Bahamas has the world's third longest barrier reef.

HISTORY     Christopher Columbus landed here in 1492 and found the Arawak Indians inhabiting the islands. But the Spanish decided not to remain when they found there was no gold. The British settlement of the islands began in 1647 and later, in 1783, the islands became a colony.  For many years, pirates and swashbucklers dominated the waters around the archipelago. Blackbeard was among the most famous of these. Civilization was restored in the islands when in 1717, Capt. Woods Rogers, once a pirate himself, was enlisted as governor and initiated a clean-up. He offered a full amnesty to all pirates who lowered their flags. Those who refused were destroyed.

     Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management.

PEOPLE     The two major population centers are the capital, Nassau which is located on New Providence Island and Freeport, located on Grand Bahama Island. The other populated Islands and cays are called Family Islands. 
     The Bahamas have a total population of 350,000 people; 200,000 people live in Nassau.

CLIMATE     The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical, and is moderated significantly by the waters of the Gulf Stream, particularly in winter. Conversely, this often proves very dangerous in the summer and autumn, when hurricanes pass near or through the islands. Typical temperatures range from 70° to 80° Fahrenheit. Rarely does it climb above 90°F on a midsummer’s day or fall below 60°F on a winter’s night. While there are no guarantees regarding rain, rainfall is most unlikely from November through April. Water temperatures range from the low 80s in the summer to about 74°F in midwinter.

CURRENCY/BANKING     The legal tender is the Bahamian dollar, which is equivalent in value to the U.S. dollar. U.S. currency is accepted throughout Nassau and Paradise Island as are most major credit cards and traveler’s checks.  Banking hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Automatic Bank Machines (ATMs) are located at both Paradise Island and Cable Beach casinos, Rawson Square and major banks.

TIME ZONE     Eastern Standard Time is used on all islands. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November The Bahamas recognizes Daylight Saving Time, in conjunction with U.S.

                                                                                                       .
   Click on :Currency Converter                                                                                                

    Use code: USD (U.S. dollar

    and BSD (Bahamian dollar)