How much does a superyacht charter in the Bahamas cost?

Bahamas charter rates range from €50,000 to €500,000+ per week. A 40m motor yacht typically costs €100,000–€180,000/week in peak season (December–March). The Bahamas is a VAT-free jurisdiction, which can represent significant savings compared to Mediterranean charters. The APA is typically 30–35% to cover fuel (island-hopping requires more fuel than coastal cruising), provisions, and dockage.

What is the best Bahamas charter itinerary?

The classic 7-day Exumas itinerary starts in Nassau, heads south to Norman's Cay, then through the Exuma Cays to Staniel Cay (swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto), Compass Cay (nurse sharks), and the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. For a longer charter, combine the Exumas with Eleuthera and Harbour Island. The Abacos offer an alternative route for those seeking a more secluded, reef-protected cruising experience.

When is hurricane season in the Bahamas?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the peak risk period from August to October. The prime charter season (November–April) falls entirely outside the peak hurricane risk. Modern weather forecasting provides ample warning, and charter companies have well-established protocols for any tropical weather events. Many guests also charter successfully in May and early June.

Do I need a visa to charter in the Bahamas?

US, UK, EU, and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. The Bahamas has its own immigration requirements separate from the US. Your yacht clears customs and immigration at the first port of entry (usually Nassau). Charter guests should carry a valid passport with at least 6 months' validity.

Superyacht anchored in the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas Exumas

Caribbean & Atlantic

Yacht Charter
The Bahamas

Seven hundred islands and cays scattered across the clearest water on earth. From the Exumas' swimming pigs to Harbour Island's pink sand beaches, the Bahamas is the ultimate Caribbean charter destination.

View All Yachts

The Islands of the Bahamas

700 Islands of Paradise

The Bahamas archipelago stretches 760 miles from just 50 miles off the Florida coast to the northern tip of Hispaniola. With 700 islands and over 2,000 cays — most of them uninhabited — the Bahamas offers a level of privacy and natural beauty that is increasingly rare in the Caribbean.

What sets the Bahamas apart is the water. The shallow Bahama Banks create water of such extraordinary clarity that you can see the sandy bottom at 60 feet. The shifting sandbars, tidal creeks, and coral gardens create an ever-changing palette of blues and greens that photographers and artists have tried to capture for centuries.

The Bahamas is also the most accessible Caribbean charter destination from the United States, with Nassau just a 45-minute flight from Miami. This proximity makes it ideal for shorter charters of 3–5 days, as well as the traditional week-long itinerary.

40+ Yachts

Caribbean fleet

700 Islands

Endless exploration

VAT-Free

Significant savings

340 Days

Of sunshine per year

Charter Season

When to Charter in the Bahamas

Month	Air Temp	Sea Temp	Crowds	Highlight
November	27°C	26°C	Moderate	Season opens, excellent conditions
December	25°C	25°C	High	Holiday season, Junkanoo
January	24°C	24°C	High	Peak season, whale watching
February	24°C	24°C	Peak	Perfect weather, calm seas
March	25°C	24°C	Peak	Spring break, fishing tournaments
April	27°C	25°C	Moderate	Shoulder season, excellent value

Key Destinations

Bahamas Charter Destinations

The Exumas

The Exuma Cays are the crown jewel of Bahamian yachting — a 365-island chain stretching 130 miles through some of the most impossibly turquoise water on earth. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is the world's first marine reserve, where nurse sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays thrive in protected waters. Staniel Cay is home to the famous swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, Thunderball Grotto (featured in the James Bond film), and the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. The northern Exumas around Highbourne Cay and Norman's Cay offer pristine anchorages with absolute privacy.

Swimming PigsThunderball GrottoExuma Cays Land & Sea ParkStaniel CayCompass Cay Sharks

Best: November – April

Nassau & Paradise Island

The Bahamian capital is the gateway for most charter itineraries. Nassau's colonial architecture, the Queen's Staircase, and the vibrant Fish Fry at Arawak Cay offer a taste of Bahamian culture before heading to the Out Islands. Paradise Island is home to Atlantis Resort, and the harbour can accommodate the world's largest superyachts. Many charters begin or end here, with easy access to Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Nassau HarbourAtlantis ResortFish Fry at Arawak CayFort CharlotteCable Beach

Best: Year-round

The Abacos

The Abacos are the Bahamas' boating capital — a 120-mile chain of cays protected by a barrier reef that creates calm, shallow waters ideal for water sports. Hope Town on Elbow Cay, with its iconic candy-striped lighthouse, is one of the most photographed spots in the Bahamas. Green Turtle Cay's New Plymouth is a loyalist settlement frozen in time, and Man-O-War Cay maintains a boatbuilding tradition dating back centuries. The Abacos are rebuilding beautifully after Hurricane Dorian, with many facilities now better than ever.

Hope Town LighthouseGreen Turtle CayTreasure Cay BeachMan-O-War CayTahiti Beach

Best: November – May

Eleuthera & Harbour Island

Harbour Island — known simply as 'Briland' to locals — is the Bahamas' most exclusive destination. Its three-mile Pink Sands Beach is consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful beaches. The island's colonial clapboard cottages, painted in sherbet pastels, house boutique hotels like The Dunmore and The Landing. Eleuthera itself is a 110-mile-long island with dramatic Glass Window Bridge, where the dark Atlantic meets the turquoise Caribbean in a single breathtaking vista.

Pink Sands BeachGlass Window BridgeThe DunmoreGovernor's HarbourSurfer's Beach

Best: November – April