The Bahamas is renowned for its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and low taxes, but the Caribbean archipelago is more than just a playground for the wealthy. The country consists of more than 700 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, one of which was the first island on which Christopher Columbus landed when he discovered the Americas in 1492.
Sunny side up
Thanks to the trade winds from the north-east, the Bahamas has a tropical climate with highs of around 28C and lows of about 20C. On average, there are 10 hours of sunshine per day in the capital Nassau during the summer months. It is warm enough to swim in the Atlantic all year round, but watch out for hurricane season (June 1 to November 30).