Nassau: Pearl Island Beach Escape & Bahamian Lunch - Day Trip
Description
No resort wristbands. No day-pass queues. Just a private island for the day. Most Nassau day trips drop you at the same crowded beach. Pearl Island is different — two distinct beaches (one social, one quiet), a working lighthouse you can climb, and a warm, shallow bay waiting the moment you step off the ferry. And getting there is part of it: a short, scenic crossing from Nassau, not a long haul to a far-off cay. Kayaks, paddleboards, water mats and a floating trampoline are all included, not added on. Lunch is cooked fresh on the island, true Bahamian style. Between swims, claim a shaded deck or beach chair and rinse off under a fresh-water shower — no rush to get back. Want to go deeper? Pearl Island sits above a sunken sculpture trail — a plane, statues and a boat resting on the seabed — bookable as a snorkel upgrade on the day. This is the Bahamas the cruise port doesn't show you: quieter, slower, entirely yours.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Pearl Island is cashless — credit and debit cards only
- No outside food or drinks permitted (baby food and formula excepted)
- What to bring: swimwear, beach towel, sun protection, hat & sunglasses | credit or debit card, camera | a spare set of clothes (just in case)
- Children 3 and under: complimentary
- Guests 17 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult
- Snorkel add-on: minimum age 8
- Proof of age required — photo ID needed
- Departure: Paradise Island Ferry Terminal (East Dock, behind Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville)
- Please check-in 15 minutes before your booked departure time
Reviews(213)
We started with a taxi ride, about 10 minutes drive it was $7/pp for our family of 6. When we arrived at the paradise island ferry terminal we were able to purchase cold drinks while we waited. The ferry was on time and the ride was a smooth 15 minutes. On board we were told everything was included- kayaks, paddle boards, first come first serve. We were the second boat to pull up and the peach area was already filling, there were no paddle boards in sight not on the water or available to use, and we only saw 3 kayaks. They had fresh coconuts but told us two different prices $10 then $15 back to back so we spent a smooth $45 on a few sips of coconut water. Then they upsold the snorkel masks charging an extra $25 after we already spent $15 for a mask bur nothing to see in the "free" beach area. The lunch was the most disappointing, the fish was flavorful but the whole plate was cold, the rice and beans were dry and the chicken was well overcooked and cold, the server joked about getting a tip when she literally was dishing out old cold food. The other end of the island that had signs pointing towards the iguana experience was closed off and when I asked a member of the staff she said the iguanas were running around under the bushes. Overall the beach was ok but it wasn't worth the money for a few hours, mediocre lunch.
Charmaine guide was great!! Wonderful tour and beautiful beach:)
Charmaine was 10/10!!!!!!!!
My family I really enjoyed ourselves. The instructions were provided and it was very helpful to find the meeting point especially when you not sure of the location. The beach was very clean and I would totally recommend this excursion
Beautiful getaway Cay Good experience and good fun
Eat before you go I understand it’s lunch but if something you can’t eat they will not give you more of the other options I cannot eat their sweet bbq chicken so I asked for more fish their answer was was no I’m 240lb person and 2 fish nuggets will not do it for me
bad a great time with my partner, price value ratio 9/10!
The island was very nice, water and views were beautiful. Food was not good, no snacks except chips, beer was warm, and the boat was in disrepair. The captain had troubles driving the boat both coming and going. The young man who checked us in and gave instructions was delightful and helpful.
Staff is very friendly and helpful. They did an amazing job. The trip lasted 3 hours and 15 minutes, not the 5 hours they advertised.
The fairy from downtown Nassau to Paradise Island only leaves when it’s full. There is no set times so you must be there extremely early or have to do what we did and take a $30 cab over the bridge to Paradise Island. The tour guide let us know we could ask for the boat to drop us back at downtown Nassau which was really good. Didn’t get any history of the island or anything just the ride over there. The water was a little rough that day so we couldn’t snorkel on the reef, but we did get to snorkel on the other side and saw a lot of fish and the stingray. It’s a little bummer that there wasn’t any real place to swim in the ocean just hanging out in a shallow roped of area. but it was a beautiful island. Very nice to lay in the lounge chair and just look at how pretty everything is. The food was good. And there is a bar to purchase drinks.
