City Fun and Island Charms: Miami & The Bahamas Coastal Combo

Rise and shine for your first full day in Miami; there’s not a moment to waste. Boasting immense beaches, lively neighbourhoods and top-notch cultural offerings, there’s plenty to keep you busy in the ‘Magic City’. After breakfast this morning you’ll be met by a clued-up local guide, who’ll be taking you on walk through some of the city’s can’t-miss cultural enclaves, including South Beach, with its Art Deco architecture; the ultra-chic Design District; and Wynwood, which is known for its vibrant street art scene. This walk is a great way to see the city through the lens of a local and learn more about life in Miami – its history, politics, arts, food scene, culture… whatever comes to mind!

Today is yours to spend further discovering the delights of Miami at your own leisure. You can continue admiring the many Art Deco constructions that line the pristine streets of the city; visit the historic Moore building in the Design District, which features a monumental installation by Zaha Hadid; stroll through Miami City Cemetery, the city's first cemetery; enjoy a game of chess or dominoes in Maximo Gomez Park; or simply kick back and relax with a good book on the soft sand of South Beach. We could also arrange for you to head out for an airboat safari in Everglades National Park or a boat ride around the luxurious artificial islands of Biscayne Bay.

Wave goodbye to the long beaches of Miami as you make your way to the delicate stretches of pink sand that line the paradisal Bahamas. After breakfast, head to the airport to catch a speedy one-hour flight to North Eleuthera. From here you can catch a taxi to the pier followed by a 15-minute boat ride to Harbour Island. We promise the multi-stage journey will all be worth it when you arrive in your next accommodation: a luxurious colonial-style hotel located on a small promontory overlooking a superb pink-sand beach where you’ll be hanging up your hat for the next four nights. Once you’ve made yourself at home, head down to reception to collect your electric buggy and head out for an afternoon of beach-hopping around the island.

Today is yours to spend soaking in the cultural offerings of Harbour Island and the nearby colonial town of Dunmore. Once the capital of the Bahamas, Dunmore Town is home to a collection of pristine and picturesque Victorian houses which line the flower-filled streets. You could also don your finest clothes for mass at one of the island’s many welcoming churches. When you’re ready for a dose of adventure, turn your nose to the ocean for offshore snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, boating and beach horse riding. You could also simply spend today resting under the shade of a palm tree, soaking in the beauty of your magical surroundings and watching the fishermen pull up to the beach with their ultra-fresh catch.

Your final two days here are all about rejuvenating in paradise and savouring the delights of island life. Spend your days moving between the pool and the ocean, before enjoying one too many Bahama Mama cocktails at the charming beach bars in the evenings. At some point over the next two days, you’ll also have the opportunity to take part in the People-to-People programme, which pairs up travellers with local families as a way of exchanging cultures and traditions.