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Nearly 10 million people arrived in the Bahamas via cruise ship last year. If conspicuous consumption, crowds, and casinos align with your concept of an authentic Bahamas experience, you can stop reading now and skip to the next story.
On the other hand, if quiet, secluded islands—with the same climate, beaches, currency, and language as Nassau, but otherwise the complete opposite—appeal to you, the jewels of the archipelago known as the Out (or Family) Islands are calling. Only 340,387 visitors experienced this side of the Bahamas in 2024, and most arrived by private aircraft—the only practical way to see what astronaut Scott Kelly called “the most beautiful place from space.” It’s just as breathtaking from 1,000 feet.
If you have a pilot’s license—and especially if you own an airplane—the Bahamas are within easy reach, likely closer than you think.
Benefits
This pilot’s paradise makes for the ultimate bucket list trip.
1) The View: The mesmerizing Caribbean tapestry of iridescent turquoise, emerald, and aquamarine defies description. These colors must be seen to be believed.
2) Island Hopping: This pilot’s paradise makes for the ultimate bucket list trip. After landing at a baker’s dozen airports, I’m still not even halfway through the 30+ public-use GA airports scattered across 700 islands and 2,000 cays.
3) Weather: Shorts, T-shirts, and sandals vs. toques, parkas, and boots? That’s an easy choice.
4) Beachcombing: Conch shells are piled by the truckload next to fishing piers. Take as many as you want (but clean them with bleach to satisfy customs).
5) Solitude: Whether your favorite sand is white or pink, powdery or coarse, you’ll find miles of it—often to yourself. Several runways are just steps from deserted beaches. Unlike the “private” cruise ship cays overrun with tiki bars and beach chairs that we overflew, these are truly untouched. Rent a boat to fish, dive, snorkel, or simply cruise the shoreline at your own pace. Switch to “island time”—there’s no rush.
6) Stargazing: With no urban light pollution, the night sky here reveals a galaxy’s worth of stars invisible to most mainland residents. It’s an entirely different kind of nightlife.
7) Unique Sights & Experiences: At the Glass Window Bridge, just 30 feet separates the calm, shallow, turquoise Caribbean from the deep blue Atlantic. Dean’s Blue Hole, a free diving mecca, plunges to 663 feet with 200 feet of visibility. Wrecks, abandoned plantations, and swimming pigs are all worthy stops.
8) History: From Columbus’ first landing on San Salvador in 1492 to the first permanent British settlement on Eleuthera in 1648, much of the Bahamas’ rich history is rooted in the Out Islands.
The mesmerizing Caribbean tapestry of iridescent turquoise, emerald, and aquamarine defies description.
Planning Guides
- Pilot’s Guide to the Bahamas published by AOPA – comprehensive and well worth the $39.95.
- Pilot’s Guide from the Bahamas Tourist Office – less detailed, but free.
- VFR Flight Planning Chart – available from the Bahamas Tourist Office.
- “Flying Your Plane to the Bahamas” checklist – available from the Bahamas Tourist Office.
What the Guides Don’t Tell You
The best stories often come from the worst planning—but these tips may help you avoid the kind of “memorable” experiences that test a pilot’s patience.
In the Out Islands, expect prices similar to the Keys, plus 10% VAT, 5% credit card fees.
1) Fuel Costs: Claims that fuel prices are “similar to South Florida” are a stretch. During our trip, rural Florida averaged $4.50/gal, metro areas like Fort Lauderdale $6.50, and the Keys $8.50. In the Out Islands, expect prices similar to the Keys, plus 10% VAT, 5% credit card fees, and VAT on those fees—bringing total cost near $10/gal.
2) Crosswinds: Most Bahamian runways are oriented north-south, but prevailing winds are east-west. Be comfortable with crosswind landings.
3) WhatsApp: This is the primary means of communication in the Bahamas. Don’t expect email replies; texts are hit or miss. Download and set up WhatsApp in advance.
4) Limited Availability: Remote tranquility comes at a cost. Groceries, fuel, and menu choices are often limited and expensive. Supply boats typically visit weekly.
5) Payment Methods: Internet and power outages are common. Credit cards may not work for fuel, food, or customs. Most locals are accommodating and may bill you later, but carrying extra cash is wise.
The Cruising Permit must be presented each time you land at an airport with customs.
6) Cruising Permit (C7A): This form must be presented each time you land at an airport with customs. You’ll need one to exit the country. Officials don’t always return the form after inspection, so bring extra copies.
7) Insect Repellent: Some beaches have sand flies. Their bites don’t hurt at first, but intense itching begins hours later and lasts for days. I was lucky—others, not so much.
8) Ramp Readiness: Expect loose gravel and no chocks or tie-down ropes. Anchor cables are common. Be cautious during runups.
9) Car Rentals: Major agencies are absent. You’ll rent from locals. The vehicles work, but they’d fail a mainland inspection. One host charged $40 to drop off the car at the airport and another $40 to retrieve it (plus fees). Budget around $90/day for a small SUV.
We brought a battery-powered compressor, tools, and oil—and used them all.
10) Maintenance: Basic needs like tire inflation or oil top-offs can be a hassle. We brought a battery-powered compressor, tools, and oil—and used them all.
11) Accommodations: We booked beachfront homes via VRBO and AirBnB for three-night stays on several islands. It was perfect for our group of four.
12) Hurricane Aftermath: Hurricane Dorian hit Abaco hard in 2019. Many trees are gone. Fires from deadfall wood were common and smoky—one even forced us to move aircraft on the ramp. No fire crews were seen.
Island hopping requires repeated customs paperwork. Keep a binder with completed forms and passports handy to save time.
13) Commercial Travel Option: The women in our group weren’t interested in flying over open water in a single-engine plane, so they flew commercially to the Out Islands and joined us for inter-island hops. They loved those shorter flights, always within sight of land. Bonus: we made it home to Canada in the RV-10 before they did.
14) EAPIS Tips: File both outbound and inbound manifests at the same time. Bahamas-bound trips are easy. U.S. returns require more coordination: file a flight plan (DVFR or IFR), call U.S. Customs at your entry airport an hour before arrival, provide your tail number, eAPIS confirmation, ETA, and get the officer’s name or code.
15) Safety Gear: Buy a comfortable, suspender-style life vest. Rent a life raft—preferably somewhere cheaper than an FBO. A satellite tracker/PLB is essential. Review ditching procedures. Ocean crossings here are survivable with planning.
16) Customs Binder: Island hopping requires repeated customs paperwork. Keep a binder with completed forms and passports handy to save time.
17) Database Coverage: Our GPS splits North and South coverage into two memory cards. We had to swap cards mid-trip from Canada to Florida to the Bahamas. Make sure you have full coverage for your entire route.
The Out Islands of the Bahamas earned their place on my bucket list, and I encourage you to add them to yours. They’re exotic yet accessible. A different country—but with the same language and currency. Untouched tropical islands—with paved runways, friendly locals, and the kind of serenity that makes you want to stay.
Words alone are inadequate. Pictures help, and video comes closest to capturing the experience.
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- Friday photo: flying up the Tyndall Glacier - April 19, 2024
My wife and I and another couple flew to Treasure Cay in the Abacos from the Northeast a couple of weeks ago in our SR22. We stayed in Treasure Cay and did trips to some of the nearby islands via ferry. But the highlight of our trip this time, as it was the first time we visited the Bahamas six years ago, was an aerial trip at a 1000 to 2000 feet just off the coast over a number of the island chains. We flew to the south end of the Abacos, flew over Eluthera, and then over the Exumas, landing at Exuma International for a pit and gas stop before making our way back. The views are difficult to describe – the colors of the water are so varied even within a relatively small area that it looks like an artist has created a particularly colorful seascape. I second everything you have written about in your article. Avgas (and groceries) are expensive, the Abacos are still recovering from Hurricane Dorian, and the Bahamas has hiked Customs fees sharply on private aircraft. But all of that is a small price to pay for long walks on soft white sand beaches wading through the warm water. To say that the beaches were uncrowded is an understatement – the Treasure Cay beach that was steps away from our VRBO was 3 miles long and there were a maximum of 20 people along the entire length at any one time, and sometimes we were the only people on the beach. In short, fly to the Out Islands of the Bahamas. You won’t regret the trip.
Cutis. How did you get all the video footage? Especially from out sid the plane.
Remotely controlled GoPro cameras mounted to exterior of aircraft, including a couple of 360s on booms behind tail and in front of wing.
Thank you for the inspiring article. Please remind your readers that many US Customs offices in Florida, including GA-popular KFPR, KPBI, KSUA, KEYW, and KBCT require **2 hours** notice by phone call before arrival when returning to the United States (which is earlier notice than mentioned in your articale). A week ago we returned from Treasure Cay (MYAT) to Ft. Pierce (KFPR), and we discovered the morning of departure that US CBP in KFPR opens at 10am, and they require 2 hour notice. We called and reported with the KPBI customs office, and the agent graciously accepted our notice, reminding that it is suppose to be at least 2 hours prior to arrival.
Good catch! Thank you.