Traveling from Miami to Freeport Bahamas by boat is a popular way to reach the archipelago. It lets you enjoy a Bahamas day trip to enjoy some of the sites without having to worry about accommodations or local transportation.
However, not many people realize that skipping the Miami to Bahamas ferry is in their best interests as they can embark on another type of excursion altogether.
Read on to find out more.
Miami to Freeport Bahamas by Boat for a Bahamas Day Trip
Miami to Bahamas Ferry: What to Know
As mentioned, the boat from Miami to Bahamas is the best way to tour the island nation. While it’s popular, most tourists don’t realize the downsides that go along with it:
A Long Journey
Traveling from Miami to Freeport Bahamas by boat requires you to arrive at the ferry terminal at 6 am for check-in. Add in the 2-3 hours of travel time it takes to reach Freeport, and you’re looking at a total of around 9 hours spent in lines or in transit.
Unsurprisingly, that also means that by the time you finally reach Freeport, it’ll feel like it’s time to go home before you know it.
An Uncomfortable Experience
Unfortunately, travel time isn’t the only issue with traveling from Miami to Freeport Bahamas by boat. The journey, in general, is also uncomfortable.
Tourists are shoved onto a crowded boat with no information conveyed to let them know what’s going on. The ferry then crosses over rough and choppy waters, causing many to feel ill.
Freeport Bahamas
Unfortunately, once the Miami to Freeport Bahamas by boat finally docks, many travelers feel a bit disappointed with what they find.
While Freeport is beautiful (everywhere in the Bahamas is), it’s also touristy and overdeveloped since the island houses the busiest cruise ship port in the country.
If you’re looking for an authentic Bahamas experience, you won’t find it at Freeport.
Traveling from Miami to Freeport Bahamas by boat doesn’t take you to Swimming Pigs Island.
Day Cruise to Bahamas By Plane
Luckily, you aren’t stuck traveling from Miami to Freeport Bahamas by boat any longer. Many travelers are ditching the Miami to Bahamas ferry and are instead traveling by plane.
Flying is a great way to travel between the two countries as it avoids many of the problems that go with the boat.
Efficient and Convenient
While a day cruise to Bahamas by plane takes two hours from Miami, that includes a stop at Andros Island to clear customs. You also don’t have to worry about checking in 3 hours in advance at the crack of dawn.
Saving time getting both to and from the Bahamas gives you more time to spend sightseeing.
From sandbars to the Exuma Pigs, a Bahamas day trip by plane lets you see many spectacular sites.
Smooth and Comfortable
Far from sharing your vessel with crowds of people, skipping the boat from Miami to Bahamas and flying by plane ensures you get a comfortable, personal experience.
At most, you’ll travel with several others on your luxurious private-class plane. If you want, you can even charter a plane for a completely private experience.
Either way, expect unbeatable views of the stunning islands and water beneath you from the window!
Skip the boat from Miami to Bahamas and travel by plane for views like this.
Explore the Exumas
The Exumas are more isolated and therefore lack the crowds that populate Freeport. With palm-fringed beaches, azure water, and fun local sites, you’ll thank yourself for not traveling from Miami to Freeport Bahamas by boat once you land.
As it’s a day trip, you’ll also get to see several different spots with a tour guide. You won’t just get shuttled to a Freeport beach before then being left to fend for yourself.
Compare the Boat to Plane: Bahamas Day Trips from Florida
- Bahamas Day Trip by Plane
- $875per person
- Fly to Exuma Islands
- Stunning Aerial Views
- Visits 7 Exuma Attractions
- Guaranteed Small Group Size
- Weather Cancellation Rare
- Inclusive Pricing
- Private Upgrades Available
- 5-Star Reviews
- Bahamas Day Trip by Ferry
- $300per person
- Ferry to Freeport
- 3 hour journey, each way
- Does not visit Swimming Pigs
- 600+ People per Ferry
- Frequent Cancellation
- Price is Transport only, no Tour included
- No Private Options
- Very poor Reviews
See the Swimming Pigs
Regardless of your travel preferences, one site that everyone loves is Big Major Cay (nicknamed Pig Island), which is home to the famous Exuma Pigs.
Day cruise to Bahamas by plane to see the friendly Swimming Pigs.
The Swimming Pigs inhabit an island without any people, making their presence in the Exumas something of a local mystery. However, as nearby islands have fed them for years, they’re now friendly and conditioned to greet newcomers.
You won’t get to see the pigs if you take the boat from Miami to Bahamas, so make sure to instead sign up for a day cruise to Bahamas by plane!
Enjoy Other Top Sites
As mentioned, you get to visit several sites in the area with a guide – not just Pig Beach.
Some of the other top things to do in Exuma destinations you can look forward to visiting include:
- Staniel Cay, the beautiful island you fly into
- Compass Cay, home to a school of nurse sharks
- Bitter Guana Cay, home to iguanas
- Pipe Creek, the place to see beautiful sandbars
- Thunderball Grotto, a system of underwater caves
- An underwater plane wreck that crashed decades ago
Bahamas Day Trip: Choose the Plane
If you’re thinking about traveling from Miami to Freeport Bahamas by boat for a Bahamas day trip, you might want to reconsider. A much better option is to travel to beautiful Exuma by plane to see the Swimming Pigs and other top sites.
Contact us today to start planning your Miami to Bahamas day trip!
