Bahamas packing list by month, island and activity

How the planner works

Every list starts from the same core: travel documents, cards and some US dollars in small notes, sandals and walking shoes, a beach cover-up, mineral sunscreen, a hat, a rash guard, water shoes, prescription medicines, insect repellent, a first aid kit, a phone charger and a power bank. The rules below then add, count or explain.

Counting clothes. One top per night, up to a maximum of 10, on the assumption that you can wash clothes on a longer stay. Shorts or light trousers come to a third of the nights rounded up, never fewer than two. Swimsuits are two for trips of up to three nights and three for anything longer, so one is always drying.

The month.

The islands. Choose the Family Islands and the cash line notes that cash matters more there, the power bank gets a reason, and inter-island ferry or flight tickets join your documents with a warning that small planes may limit bag weight.

Your plans. Each activity adds its own items:

• Snorkelling: your own mask and snorkel, a reason for the rash guard, and a waterproof phone pouch.
• Boat days: a dry bag for phone, keys and a towel, a motion-sickness remedy you have used before, and the same rash guard note and phone pouch.
• Hiking: trainers or light trail shoes, because limestone trails are sharp.
• Fishing: polarised sunglasses and a long-sleeve sun shirt for spotting fish on the flats.
• Nicer dinners: one smarter evening outfit.
• Church: clothes with covered shoulders and a longer hem.
• Children: children's sunscreen, and swim nappies or float suits as needed.

Wherever you stay, the charger line reminds you that Bahamian sockets take US plugs. The planner accepts stays of 1 to 60 nights.

Worked example

Take a January week: 7 nights in George Town, Exuma, with snorkelling and boat days ticked.

Clothes. Seven tops, three pairs of shorts or light trousers and three swimsuits. January falls in the cold-front months, so a light sweater or long-sleeve layer is on the list for breezy evenings and spray on the boat. It is outside the wet season, so there is no rain jacket.

Documents and money. Travel insurance carries no hurricane note in January. The cash line reminds you that cash matters on the Family Islands, and your inter-island tickets come with the bag-weight warning; our guide to island-hopping the Exumas explains the ferry, mail boat and small-plane options.

Sun and sea. The core items, with a note on the rash guard (back and shoulders burn first in the water), plus your own mask and snorkel, a dry bag and a motion-sickness remedy you have used before.

Tech. The power bank is flagged for long days away from a socket, and a waterproof phone pouch joins the charger.

What it can't tell you

Entry rules. Every traveller must show proof of citizenship on arrival, and visa and immigration requirements depend on your nationality. Check the official rules for your passport before you fly.

Baggage limits. The bag-weight warning is a reminder, not a figure; check limits with your airline or ferry.

The weather in your week. The month rules follow the usual seasons, not a forecast. Our month-by-month weather guide explains what each season tends to bring.

Dress codes. Beachwear is out of place in churches, restaurants and casinos, and swimsuits should be covered when you walk through town. Smarter restaurants may set their own rules, so check when you book.

Quantities of sunscreen or medicine. The list names the item, not the amount. The sunscreen planner works out how much to pack, and your pharmacist can advise on medicines.

Sources

• The Islands of The Bahamas: travel FAQ (official tourism site)
• The Islands of The Bahamas: entry requirements
• National Hurricane Center: tropical cyclone climatology
• Bahamas Department of Meteorology

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a sweater in the Bahamas?

From December to March, yes, a light one. Cold fronts pass through in winter, and a breezy evening by the water or a fast boat ride can feel genuinely cool. Fronts can also arrive in late October, November and April, so a layer is worth packing then too; in high summer you are unlikely to need one.

Do I need a plug adapter in the Bahamas?

Not with US devices. Bahamian sockets are 120 volts and 60 cycles and take US plugs. Visitors from Britain or Europe need a flat two-pin adapter, and a converter for any appliance that only runs on 220 volts.

Should I bring cash to the Family Islands?

Yes. Some places there take cards, but not all, and the official tourism advice is to carry cash. The Bahamian dollar is held at par with the US dollar, and both are accepted on every island.

When is hurricane season in the Bahamas?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. Travel in those months and the planner reminds you to check your insurance covers storms.