If you need something a touch more peaceful and serene, consider visiting The Bahamas Out Islands, if only for a day. The Abacos, Exumas, Eleuthera, Cat Island and Long Island are among the favourite islands to visit.

One of the region’s finest Out Island adventures is POWERBOAT ADVENTURES (393-7126) which leaves Nassau and zips down to the pristine EXUMA CAYS, 40 miles away, in just an hour. There you spend a day of beachside bliss, feeding 3-foot iguana lizards, stingrays and sharks. Wild hogs that swim, drift snorkeling and exploring the bush are among the natural attractions. The all-inclusive excursion includes drinks and a delicious lemon grouper for $175 pp. It’s the daytrip the world’s travel writers rave about.

ISLAND WORLD (363-1000) also offer a beautiful daytrip to the EXUMAS on a fast diesel powerboat. The all-inclusive trip features superb beaches, lunch, drinks, snorkeling and a thatched hut island retreat.

Also from Nassau Harbour, BAHAMAS FERRIES (323-2166) has a big, comfortable and fast catamaran that reaches beautiful HARBOUR ISLAND in 3 1/2 hours. On the way it stops at quaint SPANISH WELLS (the richest island per capita). On Fridays and Sundays it travels to GOVERNORS HARBOUR, in central ELEUTHERA where you can escape on long, deserted beaches.

HARBOUR ISLAND is perhaps the most-loved island in the country. On one side is a historic and picturesque fishing village, Dunmore Town. On the other side is the famous 3 mile Pink Sand Beach. Transport-only on Bahamas Ferries is $100 for adults or $60 for children. Best value is the $149 DAYAWAY special ($89 for children) which includes roundtrip transport, beach pavilion and conveniences such as chairs, towels and umbrellas. Also enjoy a Bahamian lunch at famous Coral Sands Hotel. Rent a golf cart for $40-$60 a day to explore this charming island.

Best to go any day except Sunday when the ferry returns two hours earlier than usual. The service leaves Nassau at 8:15am and returns from Harbour Island at 3:55pm. On Fridays there’s an extra trip at 1:30pm–great if you want to stay overnight at the upscale Coral Sands Hotel. Special packages are available from Majestic Holidays (328-0908).

Many FISHING CHARTER BOATS (cabin cruisers) are available for fishing as well as Out Island excursions. See our BOATS - RENTAL & CHARTER Heading for Charter information. Typically boats hire for $600-$700 per day but you can strike a deal for a longer passage. If you have a group–say, six people or more–this is an economical way to enjoy a luxury cabin cruiser and a personalized itinerary. Drinks and food are usually extra. Chartering just for a day can allow you to beach, snorkel and fish off ROSE ISLAND, the EXUMAS and even the BERRY ISLANDS. Favourite long range charters include the length of the EXUMAS (superb views, waters, beaches, islands, diving and snorkeling); The ABACOS (numerous quaint harbours, beaches, restaurants and watersports); the BERRY ISLANDS (beaching, fishing and diving); and LONG ISLAND, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR and RUM CAY (less traffic, superb watersports, beaches and diving).

SCUBA DIVE OPERATORS also take group charters for long range dive excursions. They can even customize overnight stays at Out island inns. The benefit here is that they know where the great dive sites are. Popular long range dive excursions include the famous walls off the world’s third longest barrier reef in Andros Island’s Tongue of the Ocean, which is one of the steepest marine canyons on the globe. The Current Cut on the tip of North Eleuthera is also an exciting drift dive.

Blue Holes, wrecks, walls and reefs with multitudinous grottos are among the sites available. Dive trips can also include beaching and other fun. See our SCUBA DIVING Heading.

BAHAMASAIR (377-5505) flies daily to Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma (George Town), Grand Bahama (Freeport), Long Island and San Salvador.

The national flag carrier also flies to Acklins (Tue, Sat); Cat Island (Tue, Fri & Sun); Crooked Island (Wed, Sat); Inagua (Mon, Wed & Fri) and Mayaguana (Mon, Wed & Fri).

To reach certain islands or cays you may need to take a taxi ($3-$7) and a ferry ($4-$15) after your flight: ie: to reach Green Turtle Cay from Treasure Cay airport; to reach Guana Cay or Hopetown from Marsh Harbour airport, and to reach Harbour Island or Spanish Wells from North Eleuthera airport.

For AIRPLANE CHARTERS see our AIRLINES Heading. Most charter companies operate at Nassau International Airport from General Aviation (377-6100), Executive Flight Support (377-3355) or Million Air (377-3108). Twin engined aircraft charters are: $1,000-$1,300/hr for a 19 seater, $450/hr for a 9 seater and $450/hr for a 5 seater.

A SEAPLANE is also a good way to visit the Out Islands. Safari Seaplanes (393-2522), the only seaplane charter company in The Bahamas, takes 3 or 4 persons depending on weight for $350/hr. They also do excellent Out Island Safaris at special rates. Personal service, no waiting or officialdom, spectacular views and the convenience of being able to land on beaches and harbours make seaplanes convenient.

MAIL BOATS are the slowest, most native way to travel. They are an authentic adventure and you’ll certainly meet some characters! Boats, which come in all sizes and configurations, are all seaworthy and some have airconditioned cabins. Dinner is often included. Voyages range from $25-$60 and take one night to the nearest Out Islands or two for the more distant. Bring snacks and drinks. They all leave from Potters Cay under the eastern Paradise Island Bridge. Call the Dock Master’s Office for schedules (393-1064). Each boat travels once or twice a week to their allotted island.

For more information on resorts, activities and attractions in The Bahamas Out Islands call The Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board in Ft Lauderdale at: www.bahama-out-islands.com or 1-800-OUT-ISLANDS.

For AIRLINES flying overseas, see our AIRLINES Heading. Chalk’s Ocean Airways (363-3115) flies to Fort Lauderdale Florida, from Paradise Island Seaplane Terminal and Heliport. It offers 7 flights a day and is a faster, more convenient way to travel than flights out of Nassau International Airport.

Besides a long list of services to the US, Canada and Europe, international services from Nassau International Airport include flights to Cuba and Turks & Caicos.