Empire Journal | Yacht Charter
Miami to the Bahamas by Yacht: Routes, Customs, and a Realistic Itinerary
Bimini is roughly 50 nautical miles from Miami — close enough for a long weekend. The crossing, the paperwork, and the itinerary that works.
The Bahamas are the great payoff of a Miami-based yacht: Bimini sits roughly 50 nautical miles off the coast, near enough that a capable motor yacht makes the crossing in a few hours on a calm morning. It is one of the most rewarding short international runs in boating — and one where preparation, not distance, decides the trip.
The Crossing
Most charters cross on the early-morning calm, leaving Miami before sunrise to arrive in Bimini's glassy shallows by late morning. The route crosses the Gulf Stream, so the captain watches wind direction closely — north wind against the stream's current builds steep seas, and a professional will wait a day rather than punch through it.
The Paperwork
Everyone aboard needs a valid passport. The yacht clears Bahamian customs and immigration on arrival — the captain handles the vessel's entry, fishing permits, and cruising fees — and on the return, everyone reports to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which many captains now handle through the CBP ROAM app. None of this is difficult, but all of it is mandatory, and it is one more reason a term charter with an experienced crew beats improvising.
A Realistic 3-to-4-Day Bimini Itinerary
- Day 1: Dawn departure from Miami, crossing to Alice Town, clear customs, afternoon swim at Radio Beach.
- Day 2: Slow cruise the Bimini chain — anchorages over sand flats, snorkeling the SS Sapona wreck, conch shacks ashore.
- Day 3: Move to a quiet anchorage or a marina night; sunset on the flats.
- Day 4: Weather-checked morning crossing home, clearing back into the U.S. by early afternoon.
Longer trips add the Exumas: Staniel Cay and its swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto, and a chain of cays that could absorb two weeks without repeating an anchorage.
What It Costs and How It Prices
A Bahamas run is a term charter: weekly base rate plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance for fuel, food, dockage, and entry fees. Fuel is the big variable — plan for the allowance to be meaningfully used. Our charter fees guide breaks down the structure before you get quotes.
Fifty miles of ocean separates two completely different shades of blue. The crossing is the point as much as the arrival.
When you are ready, browse yachts with Bahamas range on YATR — look for range, stabilizers, and a crew that has done the run dozens of times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get from Miami to the Bahamas by yacht?
Bimini is roughly 50 nautical miles from Miami — typically a few hours in good conditions. The Exumas require a longer trip or multiple days of island-hopping.
Do I need a passport for a Bahamas yacht trip from Miami?
Yes. Everyone aboard needs a valid passport, and the vessel clears Bahamian customs on arrival and U.S. Customs on return.
What size yacht do I need for a Miami to Bahamas crossing?
A well-maintained motor yacht with offshore range and an experienced crew. Most Bahamas-bound charters run on yachts in the 60-foot-plus class, though capable smaller boats make the crossing in settled weather.
Sources
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