Caribbean travel destinations have gotten complicated with all the “you MUST go to Nassau” first-timer advice flying around. As someone who’s spent years exploring the Bahamas beyond the resort corridor and studying what makes the western islands different from the popular destinations, I’ve learned everything there is to know about why Bimini deserves to be on every American’s list — and why so few Americans have ever heard of it. Today, I’ll share it all with you.
The Bahamas get about 7 million visitors a year, and the vast majority of them go to Nassau and Paradise Island. A smaller number make it to Exuma or Harbour Island. Almost none get to Bimini — which is remarkable given that Bimini is 50 miles from Miami, closer to Florida than any other Bahamian destination, and offers an experience that nothing in the more popular Bahamas can replicate.
Where Bimini Actually Is
Bimini is two small islands — North Bimini and South Bimini — located in the western Bahamas, about 50 miles due east of Miami. The crossing by fast ferry takes about two hours from Miami’s Bayside Marketplace. By private boat, experienced offshore boaters make the crossing in under two hours in good conditions. There’s a small airport with service from Fort Lauderdale that takes approximately 20 minutes in a small aircraft.
The proximity to South Florida has made Bimini historically significant as a sport fishing destination. Ernest Hemingway famously spent time here in the 1930s, drawn by the big game fishing — marlin, tuna, wahoo, and bonefish — that the surrounding Gulf Stream and Bahama Banks waters produce. The Bimini Big Game Club, established in 1936, is one of the oldest fishing lodges in the hemisphere. That’s what makes Bimini’s history endearing to us who study Caribbean travel — the fishing heritage runs deep and it’s visible in everything from the tackle shops to the restaurant menus.
The Water: What Makes Bimini Special
Bimini sits at the edge of the Great Bahama Bank, where the shallow, brilliant turquoise water of the bank meets the deep blue of the Gulf Stream. This transition creates a dramatic visual contrast visible from the beach and from the air that’s genuinely striking. The bank water is warm, clear, and shallow (often 3-15 feet over large areas), making it exceptional for snorkeling and shallow-water activities even without a boat.
Probably should have led with the shark diving, honestly — it’s the thing that draws serious divers from around the world. The Gulf Stream brings nutrients and cold water upwellings that support a richer marine ecosystem. Hammerhead sharks are commonly encountered in Bimini waters — the area is one of the best places in the Atlantic to reliably see hammerheads in season (January through March is peak). Lemon sharks gather here in large aggregations. I’m apparently one of those travelers who plans entire trips around wildlife encounters rather than beaches, and Bimini works for both.
The Bimini Road: The Mystery That Draws Attention
No discussion of Bimini is complete without the Bimini Road — a formation of large rectangular limestone blocks in approximately 15 feet of water off the northwest coast of North Bimini. Discovered in 1968, the formation immediately generated speculation that it was a man-made structure, potentially the remains of Atlantis (which Edgar Cayce had predicted would be found near Bimini). Subsequent geological study concluded the formation was natural — beach rock that fractured along tidal channels into rectangular shapes — but the Atlantis narrative has proven far more durable than the geology.
Frustrated by the oversimplified “it’s just rocks” dismissals, I’d argue the Bimini Road is worth visiting regardless of its origin. The rectangular blocks, each several feet across, are covered in marine growth and surrounded by reef fish and nurse sharks. Whether you’re drawn by the mystery or just the snorkeling quality, it’s worth a few hours on any Bimini visit.
What Bimini Is Not
Bimini is not Nassau. There are no mega-resort casinos, no cruise ship crowds, no Atlantis waterpark. The main settlement on North Bimini — Alice Town — is small, walkable, and relaxed to a degree that can feel disorienting if you’re accustomed to more developed island destinations. The restaurant scene is small. The nightlife is local-bar level. The shopping is minimal. This is either the appeal or the problem, depending entirely on what you’re looking for.
The resort that opened on South Bimini added amenities including a casino and swimming pool. But even with this addition, Bimini is fundamentally a destination for people who want proximity to excellent fishing and diving, warm shallow water, and the particular pleasures of a small island that hasn’t been optimized for tourist consumption. If that sounds like what you need, Bimini is closer than you think — probably the closest genuine escape from Florida that most Floridians don’t know exists.
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