Planning a Trip

Getting There

Note: A passport or an original birth certificate or a voter's registration card with a government-issued picture ID is required of everyone for entry to Bimini (bring your passport, to be on the safe side), and an outbound (return) ticket also must be presented to Bahamian Customs before you will be allowed entry. Starting January 1, 2008, a passport will be required for all U.S. citizens. A departure tax is included in all airfares.

By Plane -- The island's only airstrip is at the southern tip of South Bimini, a time-consuming transfer and ferryboat ride away from Alice Town on North Bimini, site of most of the archipelago's hotels and yacht facilities.

The best way to avoid this transfer is to fly for 20 to 30 minutes via the small Chalk's Ocean Airways (tel. 877/924-2557; www.flychalks.com). The airline has a fleet of 17-passenger amphibious aircraft that depart from the runway at Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and land in the waters near Alice Town. The baggage allowance per passenger is 30 pounds; if you're carrying heavy travel or fishing gear, you'll be hit with overweight charges. Note: Chalk's doesn't allow any hand luggage on board -- every piece of your luggage must be weighed and checked in.

Also, Island Air (tel. 800/444-9904 or 954/359-9942; www.islandaircharters.com) flies four times a week from Fort Lauderdale to South Bimini. Finally, Western Air (tel. 242/347-4100; www.westernairbahamas.com) wings in from Nassau's domestic air terminal to South Bimini.

By Boat -- In the old days, the way to get from Nassau to Bimini was by a slow-moving boat; you can still do it, and it'll take you 12 hours. You can go by sea on the MV Bimini Mack, which leaves from Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau and stops at Cat Cay and Bimini. The vessel leaves Nassau Thursdays at 2pm. For details about departure, call the dock master at Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau (tel. 242/393-1064).

Getting Around

If you've taken our advice and traveled lightly to Bimini, you can walk to your hotel from the point where the seaplanes land in Alice Town. If not, a small minibus will transport you for $2 (£1.05) per person. If you arrive at the small airport on South Bimini, you'll need to pay for a $5 (£2.65) taxi and ferry ride to Alice Town.

You won't need a car on Bimini -- and in fact, you won't find a car-rental agency here. Most people walk to where they want to go (though your hotel may be able to arrange a minibus tour or rent you a bike or golf cart). The walk runs up and down King's Highway, which has no sidewalks. It's so narrow that two automobiles have a tough time squeezing by. Be careful walking along this highway, especially at night, when drivers might not see you.

This highway, lined with low-rise buildings, splits Alice Town on North Bimini. If you're the beachcombing type, stick to the side bordering the Gulf Stream. It's here that you'll find the best beaches. The harborside contains a handful of inns, along with marinas and docks where supplies are unloaded. You'll see many Floridians arriving on yachts.