The Bahamas is one of the world great motor yacht destinations, an archipelago of 700 islands, 2,500 cays and 16 named inhabited islands spread across 260,000 square kilometres of shallow, brilliantly clear water. A motor yacht charter here moves between very different experiences within a single week: the civilised restaurants and marinas of Nassau, the vast emptiness of the Exumas, the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay and the coral gardens of the Abacos. The combination of distance, diversity and genuine beauty is difficult to match anywhere in the Caribbean.
The Bahamas charter fleet runs to more than 160 motor yachts, one of the largest concentrations in the Caribbean region. Vessels range from 28-metre sports cruisers through mid-size 40 to 50-metre family yachts to 80-metre flagships with full crew and every toy imaginable. The shallow draft requirements of the Exuma Cays suit certain hull designs over others, and a good charter broker will match yacht to itinerary before contracts are signed.
Weekly motor yacht charter rates in the Bahamas begin around 50,000 euros for a well-found 30-metre vessel and rise to 600,000 euros and above for the largest superyachts. The advance provisioning allowance of approximately 30 percent covers fuel, food, berthing and drinks. Peak season runs from December through April, with a slight premium in February and March. May, June and November offer excellent conditions at reduced rates.
A Bahamas motor yacht week rarely follows a fixed template. Nassau is the standard embarkation point, giving access to the Exumas via a two-hour run south. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a no-take marine reserve, offers the best snorkelling in the Bahamas. From Staniel Cay and Thunderball Grotto the route pushes south to Georgetown, or turns north toward the Abacos, Eleuthera or Harbour Island depending on the time available.
