How far is the Bahamas from Miami? If you’re planning a South Florida vacation or reside in the area, you might be wondering how easy it is to reach the islands of the Bahamas. Luckily, visiting the island nation isn’t difficult as the islands are right off the coast.
Read on to learn all about day trips to Bahamas from Miami.
How Far Is the Bahamas From Miami? Day Trips to Bahamas
Day Trips to Bahamas From Miami: What’s the Distance?
How far is the Bahamas from Miami? The short answer is: it depends on where you’re going. With 700 islands, some are right off the coast of Florida while others are much further south.
Here are the distances from Miami to some of the most popular Bahamas islands:
- Bimini (the closest island): 53 miles
- Freeport: 110 miles
- New Providence (with the capital, Nassau): 184 miles
- Big Major Cay (home of the Swimming Pigs): 258 miles
- Great Exuma: 314 miles
Given the distances, the Miami to Bahamas ferry can only take you to the two closest islands: Bimini and Freeport.
However, a day cruise to Bahamas by plane lets you reach Big Major Cay and the Exuma Pigs.
Day trips to Bahamas from Miami have you flying into beautiful Staniel Cay.
Day Cruise to Bahamas: How Long Is the Journey?
While answering the question of “how far is the Bahamas from Miami?” is straightforward, calculating the travel time required to get there is more of a challenge.
It depends on how you plan on traveling!
Travelers looking to enjoy day trips to Bahamas from Miami can get there in one of two ways:
- By boat
- By plane
As mentioned, when you travel by boat, you’ll only be able to get to Freeport or Bimini. The travel time for these destinations is around 2-3 hours, with 3 additional hours spent checking in before departure.
If you fly by plane, distance is no longer a constraining factor. You can sign up for a Swimming Pigs Bahamas tour and be on the ground in Exuma in 2 hours (which includes a stop at Andros Island to clear customs).
Other Benefits of Flying to the Bahamas
While flying is much more efficient than the Miami to Bahamas ferry and lets you reach farther (and more exciting) destinations, those aren’t the only benefits.
Choosing to fly to answer the question of “how far is the Bahamas from Miami?” also offers a much more comfortable experience, in general.
While the Miami to Bahamas ferry is crowded, wet, and bumpy, a private-class plane is anything but. There are no crowds or rough waves to cross over, and if you want a truly personal experience, you can even book a private tour.
You’ll also be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful view than the Exumas from the sky.
What to Expect Upon Arrival
While a day cruise to Bahamas by plane is primarily a Pig Island tour, the island of Big Major Cay doesn’t have an airport. Because of that, you first fly into nearby Staniel Cay.
Known as the gateway to the Exumas, Staniel Cay gives travelers access to the Swimming Pigs and many other amazing local sites.
That said, Staniel Cay is more than just a tropical landing strip. With incredible beaches, fun shops, and a yacht club where you can eat lunch, it’s a beautiful island in its own right.
After landing on Staniel Cay, you’ll then switch over to a powerboat. From there, day trips to Bahamas can commence!
What to See in the Exumas
Swimming Pigs Bahamas
How far is the Bahamas from Miami? The Exuma Pigs live around 258 miles away from South Florida. While that might seem far, the pigs are friendly and welcoming hosts.
When you pull up to the swimming pigs island, you’ll see many pigs hop in the water to come out and greet you. Years of nearby residents traveling by boat to feed them have made them gregarious, to say the least.
After arriving, you’ll have plenty of time to hang out with them on their beach, splash around in the water with them, and explore their beautiful island home.
A day cruise to Bahamas by plane lets you visit the Exuma Pigs.
Other Sites
While the answer to the question of “how far is the Bahamas from Miami?” might be farther than you’d expect, air travel gives you enough time to see other sites besides the Exuma Pigs.
After visiting Staniel Cay and Big Major Cay, you can also expect to see:
- Nurse sharks at Compass Cay
- Underwater caves at Thunderball Grotto
- Sandbars at Pipe Creek
- Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
- An underwater plane wreck
Miami to Bahamas Ferry: Travel by Plane Instead
How far is the Bahamas from Miami? While many people looking to visit the Bahamas might plan on taking the Miami to Bahamas ferry, traveling by plane is the way to go.
Discover all our Bahamas Day Trips and Exuma Excursions.
Flying is more comfortable, saves time, and lets you visit the Exuma Pigs.
Contact us to sign up for day trips to Bahamas from Miami today!
