What’s the Best 7-Day Bahamas Catamaran Charter Itinerary?
The best 7-day Bahamas catamaran charter itinerary starts in Nassau and sails through the Exumas. What to expect? Warm turquoise water (around 80–83 °F), beach bars, and adventures like swimming with pigs, diving into caves, visiting James Bond’s film locations, and dining on private islands.
Welcome Aboard! Your Bahamas Catamaran Adventure Starts Here
So, you’re craving turquoise water, cold drinks, and a tan that screams I live my best life? Perfect. This 7-day Bahamas catamaran itinerary takes you from lively Nassau to the jaw-dropping Exumas, with no less than 365 islands of reefs, beach bars, and stories you’ll never tell your in-laws.
Quick-Glance Bahamas Catamaran Itinerary
Day
Destination
Highlights
1
Nassau → Allen’s Cay & Norman’s Cay
Iguanas + sunken plane + McDuff’s bar
2
Shroud Cay & Warderick Wells
Mangrove maze + Boo Boo Hill
3
Compass Cay
Swim with nurse sharks
4
Big Major’s Cay & Fowl Cay
Famous swimming pigs + fine dining
5
Staniel Cay
Thunderball Grotto + James Bond film locations + Yacht Club cocktails
Day 1: Nassau to Allen’s Cay & Norman’s Cay: Meet the Iguanas
You’ll kick things off in Nassau, where your catamaran is waiting, stocked with provisions, sunscreen, and good vibes. After a short sail, drop anchor at Allen’s Cay, famous for its friendly iguanas that wander right up to greet you, and don’t be afraid to feed them fruit (from a safe distance!), take your phone out, and watch them pose for Jurassic Park-like photos.
Next, set your course for Norman’s Cay, known for its calm anchorage and shallow coral gardens, making it perfect for snorkeling. Swim through water so clear it looks airbrushed, then head ashore for dinner or cocktails at McDuff’s Bar & Grill, a laid-back island favorite with open-air seating and that “we’re never leaving” energy.
Sailor Tip: Water averages 80 °F (26 °C), making it perfect for your first Bahamas catamaran cannonball.
After breakfast on deck, make your way to Shroud Cay, a labyrinth of mangrove creeks within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Take the dinghy through winding channels, where baby turtles and rays glide beneath you, until you reach a breathtaking beach on the Atlantic side. This is where time stands still.
Welcome to the Caribbean paradise!
Then it’s off to Warderick Wells, the park’s headquarters and a must-see stop. Here, you can grab a mooring ball and explore the crescent-shaped bay. Hike up Boo Boo Hill, where sailors leave driftwood plaques bearing their boat names, a charming maritime tradition. From the top, you’ll see the water shift from sapphire to turquoise to pale jade, layer by layer.
Sailor Tip:Don’t miss the low-tide sandbars, they’re nature’s infinity pools.
Day 3: Compass Cay: Sharks & Shrimp on the Barbie
At Compass Cay, the Bahamas sailing experience turns up the excitement. This island’s marina is home to friendly nurse sharks, gentle and curious creatures that glide gracefully in shallow water. You can swim alongside them, if you’d rather keep your feet dry, watch them swirl around the dock as the sun catches their fins.
Stay for lunch at Rachel’s Bubble Bath, a nearby lagoon where ocean waves spill into a calm pool surrounded by rocks, a must-see on any catamaran itinerary in the Bahamas.
Sailor Tip: Bring your waterproof camera; these memories deserve a replay.
Day 4: Big Major’s Cay & Fowl Cay – Pigs, Please and Thank You
Yes, pigs, and they swim better than you. Hop in your dinghy early (they’re morning eaters) and bring some fruit to feed them from the water. These pigs are surprisingly graceful swimmers and attention seekers.
After your piggy selfies, set sail to Fowl Cay, a private island where the only thing better than the view is the cuisine. If availability allows, reserve a table at the island’s restaurant for a gourmet dinner with panoramic sea views, featuring dishes like lobster tail, fresh mahi-mahi, and champagne as the sun sets into the horizon.
Sailor Tip: Midday water temps reach 83 °F (28.5 °C), your post-lunch swim will feel like heaven.
Day 5: Staniel Cay: James Bond Moments & Bar Stories
Staniel Cay is the social heartbeat of the Bahamas catamaran circuit, lively, friendly, and oh-so photogenic! Dock at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a sailor’s institution famous for its conch fritters, strong rum punch, and friendly dockside chatter.
Just offshore lies the legendary Thunderball Grotto, a hidden underwater cave featured in James Bond: Thunderball. Snorkel inside at low tide and watch the light filter through holes in the rock, illuminating schools of tropical fish in a kaleidoscope of color.
In the evening, toast your adventure back at the yacht club bar, where new friends are easy to find, and tomorrow feels a million miles away.
By now, you’re probably mentally packing your bag. Before you set sail, check out our Bahamas Catamaran Packing List for everything from reef-safe sunscreen to beach-day must-haves.
Book Your Bahamas Catamaran Charter with Virgin Island Sailing®
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Sailing Catamaran or Power Catamaran: Which Will You Choose For Your Bahamas Adventure?
Day 6 & 7: Highbourne Cay: Luxury Sailing in the Bahamas
Your grand finale is Highbourne Cay, a five-star private island with white-sand beaches and an effortlessly luxurious vibe.
Dine at Xuma’s Restaurant, where you’ll eat accompanied by the ocean breeze, or hike the island trails that overlook the reef below. If you wander near the docks at dusk, you’ll likely see nurse sharks gathering for scraps from local fishermen, a mesmerizing spectacle of nature.
End your trip with a sunset swim in 81°F water that glows orange and pink beneath the fading light. This is the farewell the Bahamas does best: soft, salty, and unforgettable.
Sailor Tip: Your final swim is a must. End your week the right way, barefoot, blissful, and utterly in love with Bahamas sailing.
Why a Bahamas Catamaran Charter Is Pure Paradise
A Bahamas sailing vacation is more than a trip; it’s a love story between sea and sky. You’ll wake up to coral sunrises, spend your days barefoot on deck, and fall asleep to the gentle rhythm of waves against your catamaran hull.
With Virgin Island Sailing®, you’re not just renting a yacht charter; you’re unlocking a floating world of freedom, flavor, and fun.
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