The 10 Best Beaches in the Bahamas in 2025

With so many incredible beaches in the Bahamas, it is a nearly impossible task to pick the best one, but Tropic of Cancer Beach is one beach that has it all. This beach, also known as Pelican Beach, is located on the island of Little Exuma.

It is a crescent-shaped beach that gives it the feeling of a perfect blue lagoon. It is also the longest beach on this island, and one of the largest in the Exumas, a region known for its amazing sand, as well as its shallow and well-protected waters.

Swimming here feels like you are exploring a giant emerald pool. You can swim or SUP board in the protected waters and walk along the soft, inviting white sands for ages. Best of all, since it is off the typical tourist path, it is not nearly as crowded as some other top beaches in the Bahamas.

While this amazing beach is remote and relatively untouched, there is a snack shack that serves hot dogs, burgers, and cocktails, which is perfect for those who want to spend a full day in this unparalleled location.

Located on Great Exuma, Coco Plum Beach is the crowned jewel of Great Exuma and is by far the island’s top attraction. Like many great beaches in the Bahamas, it can be challenging to reach – as you need a boat or a car that can handle bumpy roads and large puddles of mud.

But once you arrive, this beach has everything a family could hope for in a tropical beach paradise. Perfect soft sand, water with stunning clarity, safe shallow waters, and even a swing in the water. Some of the water is so shallow here that large sand bars appear and disappear with the tides.

At low tide, there are several sand bars you can walk on and explore safely as a family, and at other times you can snorkel to spot the many starfish, sand dollars, and tropical fish in the waters just offshore. There are even some shade trees for those looking for a break from the sun and a food vendor selling snacks and ice cream.

Nassau is the capital and largest city in the Bahamas. It is also the main hub for most people traveling in this island Nation. There is a major airport, top resorts, and a cruise port all within this city. It is also a great place to stay for those looking to explore some of the best dive locations in the Bahamas. Many visiting this area are here for a limited time and will want to go straight for the best beach in the area, and this is unquestionably Cable Beach.

Cable Beach, located west of Nassau, on the northern coast of New Providence Island, Cable Beach feels lightyears away from a city. The water is clean and inviting, and the sand is soft and powdery to the touch. Cable Beach features tons of resorts, restaurants, and beach activities for all ages.

It also happens to be a fantastic place for snorkeling. Even though this is a popular beach with lots of activity, it is easy to escape into the crystal clear waters that border this beach and feel a world away from civilization. For those without a car, Cable Beach is a fantastic option, as you can easily take the bus here.

Almost every sandy stretch of beach in the entire 700-island chain of the Bahamas is worthy of a postcard. The white sand, lush palm trees, and emerald or turquoise blue waters are all photogenic, but there is one exceptional beach that steals the show. Pink Sand Beach, located on Harbor Island, is special for the exact reason that its name suggests – the beach is pink.

The sand here is made a pinkish hue by species of local coral, and the result is a most captivating and trippy beach scene worth capturing on film. The pink is more pronounced when the sand is wet, so a tide changing from high to low results in the best photos usually.

Regardless, this beach always provides great photos. This unique Bahamas beach is also 3 miles long, which makes it easy to enjoy solitude, and its waters are great for all sorts of fun water activities once you finally put your camera down.

Andros Island is the largest island in the Bahamas, and even though it is not the most visited, it has many amazing reasons to visit. Perhaps the top reason to visit Andros is its incredible snorkeling and some of the best scuba diving opportunities in the Caribbean.

Just offshore of Andros is the world’s third-largest barrier reef system, which offers incredible underwater viewing opportunities. You can even experience great snorkeling from from. There are many beaches you can snorkel from on Andros, but one of the most beautiful and arguably the best-situated beaches for snorkeling is Small Hope Bay.

Small Hope Bay meets at a point and has calm sandy shores, making it easy to enter the water with your snorkel gear. The reef is also very close and easy to swim to without much effort – which is not always the case in the Bahamas. There is a nearby resort with accommodation and dining offerings as well, making this a perfect place for those who want to wake up and explore the magic in the water first thing in the morning.

Cat Island is one of the lesser-visited islands in the Bahamas, but this is part of its allure. It is located southeast of Eleuthera Island and has a population of less than 2,000 people. This Island is one of the best places to visit if you are looking to completely unplug from your reality and detach yourself from society and technology.

Just like the island itself, its beaches are serene and sparsely inhabited. While nearly all of the beaches in Cat Island are ideal for escaping tourists and people in general, Pigeon Cay is perhaps the most stunning of these uninhabited stretches of sand. Pigeon Cay is a pristine stretch of sand and swimmable water.

You are unlikely to see other people on this beach apart from one of the very few guests staying in the handful of cottages on this island. If an island escape from it all is what you are after, consider booking a stay at one of the few accommodations on Pigeon Cay, or somewhere on Cat Island.

Many western-facing beaches are great for sunsets in the Bahamas, but Sandy Point in Great Abaco is famous for some of the most stunning and memorable sunsets in the Bahamas.

Sandy Point, located on the southwestern point of Great Abaco, has an ideal position for viewing long and epic sunsets throughout the year.  This beach and its surrounding area are not built up with giant resorts but instead have traditional Bahamas homes and a more calm neighborhood feel.

This only adds to the charm and tranquility of golden hour and sunset time. You can enjoy the sunset from the soft white sandy beach or at a nearby bar and grill with a tropical cocktail.

For those looking for a balance of tranquil and picture-perfect beach bliss and the pampering of various resort amenities, consider booking a stay around Emerald Bay Beach. This beautiful bay is located on Grand Exuma and has multiple resorts to choose from. These accommodations include the all-inclusive Sandals Resort at Emerald Bay, as well as the luxurious Grand Isle Resort & Residences, which offers various types of lodging offerings.

The offerings depend on the resort, but the beachfront resorts offer beach services, including chairs, umbrellas, beverages, equipment rentals, and more. Walk a few feet toward the resorts, and there are various restaurants, bars, and entertainment options.

All of these options but without the busy, congested feeling you can sometimes get in Nassau and other more populated Bahamas regions. For those looking to have a vacation where you just want a picture-perfect beach located within their resort in the Bahamas, Emerald Bay Beach is the perfect option.

The Bahamas has no shortage of entertainment and no shortage of beaches. This is amazing for those looking for a perfect balance of serene beach vibes and lively entertainment. If you are looking for the ultimate beach for cocktails, entertainment, and nightlife once the sunsets, then look no further than Paradise Beach.

Paradise Beach is located on Paradise Island, with some of the best hotels, bars, and restaurants in the Bahamas. There is the renowned and gigantic Atlantis Resort complex, which is a short walk from this beach and has endless entertainment, including the largest casino in the Caribbean.

Regardless of your vibe and desires, you are sure to find something to your liking near Paradise Beach. Another great aspect of this beach is that although there is a lot of action, there is also a long stretch of gorgeous beach, with some fantastic snorkeling and safe swimmable waters.

Located within Lucayan National Park, Gold Rock Beach is a stunning long stretch of white sand surrounded by important protected natural habitats. Gold Rock Beach is located on Grand Bahama Island and is arguably the best beach on the island and certainly the most natural. It is just 40 miles from Freeport, and this beach feels like its own quiet slice of paradise.

The National Park has various trails to explore, with multiple habitats, including mangrove and pine forests. The Park also protects a vast underground cave system, several of which are visible when walking through the park.

Gold Rock Beach has beautiful soft white sand and clear waters great for swimming. It also stretches on for miles, making it a great beach to walk along and forget about your worries. It is best to go to the beach when the tide is going out, as the narrow beach grows larger instead of shrinking.