Stingrays, turtles and dolphins in Nassau
Nassau is one of the easiest places in the Caribbean to meet stingrays, turtles and dolphins. The main choices are a dolphin swim and stingray encounter at Blue Lagoon Island, a boat trip away, and hands-on stingray and dolphin habitat at Atlantis on Paradise Island, reached by the harbor ferry. Both are built around animals you can touch or swim with.
Places to go
Blue Lagoon Island
Blue Lagoon Island is a private island off Nassau where a day trip centers on snorkeling, stingray and sea lion encounters, and dolphin swims. It is a boat day rather than a walk.
Dolphin Cay, Atlantis
Dolphin Cay is a 14-acre marine environment inside the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, where visitors meet dolphins, stingrays and other sea life.
Tours to book
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
What to expect
Visitors can take a dolphin swim, see sea lion and stingray encounters, and snorkel. It is a full day trip of about 6 to 8 hours.
Atlantis on Paradise Island is the other main option. Its Stingray Experience is a hands-on encounter with hundreds of cownose stingrays and colorful tropical fish. Dolphin Cay, a 14-acre environment, shows marine animals in a setting that is part of the wider resort. The ferry from the port crosses the harbor with city views, and a taxi or walk covers the rest.
Where to go
- Stingray Experience, Atlantis. Hands-on encounter with hundreds of cownose stingrays and tropical fish. By port ferry to Paradise Island, then taxi or walk.
- Dolphin Cay, Atlantis. A 14-acre environment on Paradise Island showing marine animals. By port ferry to Paradise Island, then taxi or walk.
Getting there
For Atlantis, a ferry crosses the harbor to Paradise Island, and it leaves every 30 minutes during a limited morning window. Use a licensed yellow-plated taxi for any trip on land.
When to go
Both options run year-round. December to April is the driest and most comfortable stretch in Nassau. Plan Atlantis for the morning so you catch the limited ferry window.
Good to know
- Reef-safe sunscreen is required at Blue Lagoon Island, so pack one before you leave.
- Pay the jitney driver in exact fare if you travel by bus. The jitneys stop running around 6 PM.
- Use only licensed yellow-plated taxis, and accept rides only from licensed operators on land and sea.
- US dollars are widely accepted in Nassau at a 1:1 rate with the Bahamian dollar.
Questions
Can you swim with dolphins in Nassau?
It is a day trip of about 6 to 8 hours, so plan the whole day around it, and book the boat with an operator.
How do you get to the stingray encounter at Atlantis?
Take the ferry across the harbor to Paradise Island. It leaves every 30 minutes during a limited morning window. From the ferry, reach Atlantis by taxi or on foot.
Is Blue Lagoon Island a good choice for a short visit?
Not really. Blue Lagoon takes most of the day, about 6 to 8 hours including the 30-minute boat ride. The Atlantis stingray and Dolphin Cay options take less time.
