Bahamas Yacht Charter Guide: Exumas, Abacos, Eleuthera and What It Costs
Quick answer
A Bahamas yacht charter is best from December to April, with mid-December to March the busiest stretch, and most guests cruise the Exumas from Nassau. Charters pay a combined 14% tax (10% VAT plus a 4% Port Department charter tax), the highest in the region, on top of the base fee, APA and a 15–20% crew tip. Crewed catamarans start around $18,000–$55,000+ a week in peak season, while US-dollar motor yachts typically ask about $80,000 a week around 30m and about $195,000 around 50m.
The Bahamas offers the clearest, shallowest water of any charter destination in the Western Hemisphere, and it is close to the US. Nassau is a short flight from most East Coast cities, many charter yachts winter in Florida, and within a day of leaving the dock you can be anchored off an uninhabited cay in water so clear the anchor chain is visible on the sand. The trade-off is cost: the Bahamas has the highest charter tax in the region, and the shallow banks limit where the largest yachts can go.
Where should you go on a Bahamas yacht charter?
For a first trip, go to the Exumas. The chain of more than 350 cays runs roughly 120 nautical miles southeast of Nassau and holds the wildlife, sandbars and marine park that most people picture. The Abacos suit families and sailors who want protected water and small villages, and Eleuthera and Harbour Island add pink sand beaches and a more social scene.
The Exumas
The Exumas are the core of Bahamas chartering. Starting from Nassau, yachts cross about 35 nautical miles of the Yellow Bank to Allen's Cay, home to protected rock iguanas, and the marina at Highbourne Cay. Farther south are Norman's Cay, with a plane wreck in shallow water, and Shroud Cay, whose mangrove creek can be explored by tender through to a beach on the Exuma Sound side.
At the center is the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a no-take marine reserve with its headquarters at Warderick Wells. Fishing is banned inside the park, and the reefs show it. South of the park, Compass Cay is known for its resident nurse sharks, Big Major Cay for the swimming pigs, and Staniel Cay for Thunderball Grotto, a limestone cave you swim into at slack tide. Most crews end the week around Staniel Cay, Fowl Cay or the sandbars near Rudder Cut, or continue to George Town on Great Exuma.
The Abacos
The Abacos sit roughly 90–100 nautical miles north of Nassau around the Sea of Abaco, a protected stretch of shallow water behind a line of barrier cays. Hope Town on Elbow Cay, with its striped lighthouse, Man-O-War Cay, Great Guana Cay and Green Turtle Cay are the classic stops. The Abacos were hit hard by Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and have rebuilt steadily since. They suit families, sailing yachts and anyone who wants short passages in calm water. Marsh Harbour (MHH) is the local airport.
Eleuthera and Harbour Island
Eleuthera is a long, thin island east of Nassau, roughly 30–50 nautical miles away depending on where you land. Harbour Island, off its northern tip, has a pink sand beach and a busy dining scene, while Spanish Wells is a working fishing village. The Glass Window Bridge, where the island narrows to a sliver between the deep blue Atlantic and the turquoise bank, is worth a stop ashore. The passage to Harbour Island runs past the Devil's Backbone reef, which crews usually navigate with a local pilot. Eleuthera pairs well with the northern Exumas in a 10-night charter.
Bimini and the Berry Islands
Bimini lies about 50 nautical miles from Miami, so yachts based in Florida often stop there on the way in. The Berry Islands, between Bimini and Nassau, are quiet and lightly developed. Both work as add-ons for yachts repositioning from Fort Lauderdale or Miami rather than as a full week on their own.
How do the Bahamas cruising areas compare?
The Exumas offer the most variety, the Abacos the calmest water and Eleuthera the best scene ashore. The table below summarizes the trade-offs.
| Area | Distance from Nassau (approx.) | Water and conditions | Highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exumas | 35–120 nm | Shallow banks on the west side, open Exuma Sound to the east | Swimming pigs, nurse sharks, Thunderball Grotto, Land and Sea Park | First-timers, wildlife, snorkeling |
| Abacos | Roughly 90–100 nm north | Protected Sea of Abaco | Hope Town, barrier cays, small villages | Families, sailing yachts |
| Eleuthera and Harbour Island | About 30–50 nm east | Mix of bank and Atlantic coast; reef passages | Pink sand beach, dining, Spanish Wells | Couples, groups who want evenings ashore |
| Bimini and Berry Islands | 50 nm from Miami (Bimini) | Gulf Stream crossing from Florida | Quiet cays, fishing | Yachts arriving from Florida |
How much tax do you pay on a Bahamas yacht charter?
Charters in the Bahamas pay a combined 14% tax: 10% VAT plus a 4% Port Department charter tax. From July 2025 the two were merged into one levy collected by the Port Department. It is the highest charter tax in the Caribbean and Atlantic region, and local politicians have pledged to cut it, but no reduction had been enacted as of 2026, according to 2025 Bahamian press reports.
In practice the tax is charged on the charter fee and shown on the contract. Ask your broker whether it also applies to any delivery fee, and how the yacht will handle permits and clearance. By contrast, the BVI and USVI charge no VAT, which is one reason the Bahamas vs BVI comparison often comes down to budget.
Tax rules change. Confirm the rate and how it is calculated at booking.
When is the best time to charter a yacht in the Bahamas?
December to April is peak season, with the busiest weeks from mid-December to March. Shoulder seasons fall in late April to early May and late October to early November, when availability improves and seas are often calmer.
Winter cold fronts sweep down from the US every week or two between December and March, bringing a day or two of northerly wind. Good crews plan around them, tucking into sheltered anchorages on the right side of a cay. Late spring brings lighter winds and warmer water, which suits snorkeling and the sandbars.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Some yachts still charter in the Bahamas in early summer, when conditions are often settled, but you should book with a hurricane addendum and flexible plans. For more on timing across regions, see our best time to charter a yacht guide.
How much does a Bahamas yacht charter cost?
Expect about $18,000–$55,000+ a week for a crewed catamaran in peak season, about $80,000 for a typical 30m motor yacht and about $195,000 around 50m, before APA, the 14% tax and tips. Most Bahamas yachts are priced in US dollars.
| Yacht type | Typical weekly rate (USD) | Plus APA | Plus 14% tax | Plus tip (15–20%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crewed catamaran, 45–70 ft | About $18k–$55k+ (peak, often near-inclusive) | Small or none on inclusive terms | On the fee | $2.7k–$11k |
| Motor yacht, 27–33m | About $80k | About 35–40% | About $11k | $12k–$16k |
| Yacht, 37–43m | About $114.5k | About 35–40% | About $16k | $17k–$23k |
| Superyacht, 46–55m | About $195k | About 35–40% | About $27k | $29k–$39k |
These are typical asking rates from 2026 listings, not quotes. Holiday weeks usually cost more, and rates vary by season and yacht. Smaller yachts in the Bahamas often charter on inclusive terms, which fold meals and some fuel into the rate. Larger yachts use MYBA terms with a separate APA for fuel, food, drink and dockage. Fuel can be a large share of APA spending in the Exumas, where the run from Nassau and back adds up. See our yacht charter cost guide for a full breakdown.
How do you get to a Bahamas yacht charter?
Most guests fly into Nassau (NAS), which has direct flights from many US cities, roughly an hour from Miami. Nassau's airport also has US Customs preclearance, so you clear US immigration before boarding the flight home. Exuma International (GGT) at George Town has direct service from a few US gateways and suits charters starting or ending in the southern Exumas.
Several cays, including Staniel Cay, have small airstrips that private or charter aircraft can use, which makes one-way charters easy: board in Nassau, fly out of Staniel Cay or George Town. Yachts arriving from Florida can also collect guests in Fort Lauderdale or Miami and cross the Gulf Stream, though that adds a long passage day.
What does a 7-night Exumas itinerary look like?
A classic Exumas week starts in Nassau and works south through the Land and Sea Park to Staniel Cay. Your captain will adjust it for wind and tides.
| Day | Route | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nassau to Allen's Cay or Highbourne Cay (about 35 nm) | Rock iguanas, first swim, sunset on the bank |
| 2 | Norman's Cay and Shroud Cay | Plane wreck snorkel, tender ride through the mangrove creek |
| 3 | Warderick Wells | Land and Sea Park reefs, Boo Boo Hill walk |
| 4 | Cambridge Cay and the Sea Aquarium | Reef snorkel, quiet anchorage |
| 5 | Compass Cay | Nurse sharks, Rachel's Bubble Bath rock pool |
| 6 | Big Major Cay and Staniel Cay | Swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto at slack tide |
| 7 | Sandbars near Rudder Cut or Musha Cay area | Sandbar picnic, beach dinner |
| 8 | Disembark at Staniel Cay or run back toward Nassau | Fly out or return by sea |
For a 10-night trip, add Eleuthera and Harbour Island at the start, or continue south to George Town and fly home from GGT.
Which yacht is right for the Bahamas?
Draft matters more in the Bahamas than almost anywhere else. Much of the bank is only a few meters deep, so catamarans and shallow-draft motor yachts reach the most anchorages. Large superyachts do cruise the Exumas, but they anchor farther out and rely on fast tenders. Ask your broker for the yacht's draft and how the captain plans to use the banks.
Catamarans suit families and groups who want space, stability and easy swimming. See our catamaran charter guide and our family yacht charter guide for how to choose. Motor yachts suit groups who want speed between the Exumas and Eleuthera and a full complement of water toys. For a wider look at the region, see our Caribbean yacht charter guide.
How far ahead should you book?
For Christmas and New Year in the Bahamas, book more than a year ahead, as popular yachts sell out early. For other peak-season weeks, start in April or May for the following winter. Shoulder-season dates can often be arranged with a few months' notice, though the best catamarans still go first.
Rates, taxes and fees change. Figures on this page reflect 2026 sources; confirm all costs with your broker at booking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yacht charter in the Bahamas cost?
Crewed catamarans run about $18,000–$55,000+ per week in peak season. Motor yachts priced in dollars typically ask about $80,000 a week around 30m, $114,500 around 40m and $195,000 around 50m. Add an APA of roughly 25–40%, the 14% charter tax and a 15–20% crew tip.
What is the charter tax in the Bahamas?
Charters pay a combined 14%: 10% VAT plus a 4% Port Department charter tax, merged into one Port Department levy from July 2025. Political pledges to reduce it have been made but not enacted as of 2026. Tax rules change, so confirm the rate and how it is calculated at booking.
Where do you see the swimming pigs on a Bahamas yacht charter?
The best-known swimming pigs live at Big Major Cay, often called Pig Beach, next to Staniel Cay in the central Exumas. Yachts anchor off the beach and guests take the tender in. Crews usually advise against feeding them by hand and keep a respectful distance.
When is the best time to charter a yacht in the Bahamas?
December to April is peak season, with the busiest weeks from mid-December to March. Late April to early May and late October to early November are shoulder seasons with better availability. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
Do you fly into Nassau or Exuma for a Bahamas yacht charter?
Nassau (NAS) has the most direct flights from the US and US Customs preclearance for the trip home, and most Exumas charters start there. Exuma International (GGT) at George Town suits charters that start or end in the southern Exumas. Small airstrips such as Staniel Cay can be reached by private or charter flight.
Is the Bahamas good for a catamaran charter?
Yes. The Bahama Banks are shallow, often only a few meters deep, so a catamaran's shallow draft opens anchorages that deeper monohulls and large motor yachts cannot reach. Wide decks and swim platforms also suit the snorkeling and sandbar stops that define an Exumas week.
Charter rates, APA, VAT and fees quoted are approximate, vary by yacht and season, and change often. Confirm current figures with your broker at booking.