There are really two Bahamian charter weeks and they are not interchangeable. The Abacos in the north are a sheltered sea of protected sounds and short hops, and the Exumas in the centre are a long thin chain of cays with real passages between them. Which one you pick decides how much sailing you do, how much of the week is spent moving, and what the boat needs to be.
The Abacos week
The Sea of Abaco is protected water: Marsh Harbour, Hope Town, Man-O-War, Great Guana and Green Turtle are all within a few hours of each other, and the outer cays take the ocean swell. It is the easier of the two weeks and the one most bareboat companies base out of, which is why The Moorings publishes its Bahamian range from Marsh Harbour. That range is $5,579 to $24,179 for a 7 day charter for 2 people, with power charters from $6,655 and skippered packages from $12,479.
The Exumas week
The Exumas are strung over more than a hundred miles, which means real passages, tidal cuts that have to be timed and anchorages that are exposed when the wind goes into the north. The reward is the Land and Sea Park, Warderick Wells and water that is the reason people come to the Bahamas at all. It is a more demanding week and it suits a faster boat or a longer charter than seven days.
What the routes do not tell you about the cost
Neither week's price is in the sailing. What moves a Bahamian charter budget is season, boat type and crew: on The Moorings' own published figures a skippered package starts at more than twice the bareboat entry and a power charter starts above the sail one. Fuel matters more here than in the Mediterranean, because the distances are longer and a power charter burns it, and the cruising permit is charged on top of everything.
Questions people ask about bahamas sailing routes
What are the main Bahamas sailing routes?
The Abacos, a sheltered week of short hops out of Marsh Harbour, and the Exumas, a longer chain with real passages and tidal cuts. The Abacos is the easier week and the one most charter bases serve.
How much is a Bahamas charter week?
The Moorings publishes $5,579 to $24,179 for a 7 day charter for 2 people in the Abacos, with power charters from $6,655 and skippered packages from $12,479, read on 9 September 2026.
Do I need a cruising permit in the Bahamas?
Yes, and it is charged to the charterer on top of the yacht. Ask for the current figure when you book rather than assuming it is in the rate.