There’s no secret that the Bahamas are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world; visited by travellers of all kinds. The Bahamas are particularly popular with celebrities, who visit the area at all different times of the year in search for sun and solitude. Located in the North Atlantic Sea, the Bahamas consist of over 700 islands, not including atolls or cays, most of which are uninhabited.

Here we give you seven reasons why you should visit the Bahamas:

The beaches

The Bahamas consist of hundreds of islands, offering many stunning beaches for you to choose from. The water is warm almost all year around, and it’s always clear, clean and pristine which is great for both swimming and diving. All of the beaches have squeaky white sand! The beaches of the Bahamas are like something out of a movie.

While you’re in the Bahamas, make sure to visit Gold Rock Beach; it’s one of the most popular beaches in the island area and for all the right reasons – it’s basically heaven on earth.

MORE: THE MAYAN TEMPLE – THE COOLEST WATER SLIDE IN THE BAHAMAS

Junkanoo

Easily the biggest event in The Bahamas is Junkanoo; a festival held on Boxing Day (26th December) and New Year’s Day (1st January). The festival is a street parade, where groups of people dress up and rush through the streets wearing costumes and capes made of coloured crepe paper. The festival includes distinctive loud music which makes for a great dancing in the street. Imagine costumes, music and colour; it all sounds like a good time!

Nature

The Bahamas are home to a distinct group of tropical flora and fauna and they’re definitely a highlight to any trip to the area. In the water, you can see all different kinds of aquatic life including turtles, starfish, sharks, dolphins, manatees and various breeds of tropical fish. On land, there are raccoons, frogs, crabs, wild horses and a vast array of colourful parrots.

Make sure to take a visit to the Lucayan National Park which showcases all of the beautiful wildlife in a protected zone. A lot of the areas in the Bahamas are eco-friendly, and most monitor the wildlife so please think twice before moving shells or small animals.

Diving

The Bahamas offer some of the best diving spots in the world, as the water is almost always warm and clear. There have been a few sunken ships along the coastline of New Providence Island which divers find fascinating.

The Lucayan National Park has a six-mile underground freshwater cave which is the longest in the world, offering a freshwater diving experience where you can see eels, shrimp and a species of crustacean which has been found nowhere else in the world.

Grand Bahama Island is littered with fantastic reef systems which are colourful and interesting, as they are also home to the Caves where another ship wreck exists, called Theo’s Wreck. Popular diving spots are called Treasure Reef, Spit City and Rose Garden and tours go daily to each of these locations.

Paradise Island

This is a place that certainly lives up to its name and a trip to the Bahamas wouldn’t quite be complete if you didn’t visit Paradise Island. It’s the place to be for all sorts of entertainment; casinos, night clubs, bars, restaurants, shopping, and it’s also home to the world-famous Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.

This is the place to be if you want to spot sunbathing celebrities, or if you feel up for splurging on five-star accommodation, enjoying fine dining and expensive champagne. It’s your holiday, why not go a little crazy?

Water sports

Water sports are easily the most popular activity in the Bahamas, because there’s so many things to choose from. All of the beaches are open to jet skis, wakeboarding, surfing, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, kiteboarding and so much more. You have the option to so many different exciting things that will be sure to get your heart racing and your blood pumping.

The weather

The Bahamas are great all year round. There’s an obvious peak season, but don’t let that fool you because the area is equally as beautiful (and not too cold) in the cooler months. You can expect long days of sun and warm temperatures almost all year around and that’s what makes the Bahamas such a great holiday location.