Bimini Flight Info
Bimini Arrival: Flight & Ferry Suggestions
The information below is offered to assist you in making your travel arrangements to Bimini. Please look it over and give me a call with any questions, or if you would like some help deciding the best way to get here.
Most people arrive to Bimini via air, which i recommend, and there is also the option to come by ferry. There is more info on the ferry further down this page. Most fly thru south Florida, either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. For those who don’t want to fly through the US, there is the option of flying through Nassau.
Flying through Nassau: I’ve had a number of European clients book their flights to Bimini by flying through Nassau, avoiding flying thru the US completely. This involves booking two separate flights; your flight to Nassau and then a flight with Western Air for the Nassau to Bimini leg of your journey. Western Air currently flies 9am and 3pm between Nassau and Bimini.
Flying through Florida: American Airlines and Tropic Ocean Airways are the predominant carriers to Bimini through Florida. American Airlines is new to the Florida/Bimini route. It flies out of Miami International Airport, (MIA) currently on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Tropic Ocean Airways is a fun float plane and is fast and simple (brings you straight to North Bimini, excluding the need to take a water taxi), and is typically the more expensive of the two. I suggest checking the dates of your travel with their websites first, and decide which carrier to use.
If you choose American, one way to book your flight is to use your favorite online flight search engine and book your flight from your departing airport straight through to Bimini. (Example; if you are flying out of JFK, just search from JFK to BIM).
Arrivals: The most direct way to Bimini, (airport code BIM), from the US is through the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, (airport code FLL), in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Some airlines, including Tropic and American, are flying out of Miami International Airport (MIA). Tropic’s float planes are landing up at the resort on North Bimini, which uses the airport code of NSB.
Unless you fly from your home airport to Bimini on American Airlines, you typically have to book your flights to Florida and to Bimini separately.
Some clients have in the past arranged to fly into Ft. Lauderdale on an overnight flight, skipping a night in Ft. Lauderdale, and arriving in time to catch a morning flight to Bimini.
Return: Unless arranged otherwise, our trip typically ends on the last day after breakfast, and coordinates at the same time as your accommodations check-out, which is typically 10 or 11am. You can schedule your return flight from Bimini to Florida anytime after that. If your Bimini departure flight leaves the island at 11 am, I would schedule your return flight out of Ft. Lauderdale airport at 3 pm at the earliest, to leave time for clearing customs, etc. Clearing US immigrations usually only takes 20 minutes, unless you get behind a big jet from overseas. Upon clearing immigration, you then claim your luggage, go thru US customs with your luggage, then carry your luggage to another terminal (update – see below*) and go thru security again. I recommend giving yourself a minimum of three to four hours between the arrival of the Bimini flight into Ft. Lauderdale, and the departure of your return flight from Ft. Lauderdale to home.
Tropic Ocean Airways is a float plane that comes to North Bimini (airport code NSB) from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. While the price is higher, landing on a float plane is an amazing experience. Tropic Air’s number is 800-767-0897.
* Re-checking your bags at FLL Terminal 4 once you clear US Customs! There is now a counter on the ground floor of Terminal 4 where certain airlines will accept your bags, you can re-check them there instead of lugging them all the way to the other terminals.
Charter Planes: There are also a number of charter planes you can arrange to get flights with. See a list of other charter possibilities at the bottom of this page***.
Hotels in Florida: If your travel plans include a night in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, there’s an infinite variety of hotels to choose from, based on convenience, budget and location. Some have a shuttle to the airport. You can also get a hotel on the beach, or the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. I’ve recommended a number of hotels over the years, and find that they keep changing prices and specials. The Sleep Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport, 800-346-8357, has rooms for $70 a night and includes a free shuttle to and from Ft. Lauderdale International airport. www.hotels.com and www.travelocity.com are two simple ways to find what you’re looking for.
Orbitz is my favorite website for booking airline travel. Just go to www.orbitz.com and put BIM as your destination code.
If you have booked a trip with me and would like assistance in finding a flight, please feel free to email me and i can assist you in finding the best flight from your city to Bimini.
Travel Insurance and Trip Cancellation Insurance is always recommended! Here are two webpages that compare coverages: Insure My Trip and Squaremouth.
I’m so excited you’re joining us! We’re in for an awesome adventure. We’ll see you in the Bahamas!

The Peters family at the South Bimini Airport. They’ve just arrived from snowy Toronto for a family dolphin trip and they are excited!
** The Ferry to Bimini:
The Balearia ferry that runs three days a week from Ft. Lauderdale to Bimini, Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I have taken the ferry a number of times over the years. It costs approximately $400 round trip and involves approximately 5 to 6 hours of travel time when you include the check-in and disembarking procedures. You can book directly with the ferry company here.
*** Charter flight options:
The following is a list of airlines that charter the whole plane. They occasionally offer a shared charter.
Bahamas Air flies indirect flights from the US and Bimini
For flights within the Bahamas, there is Flamingo Air that flies between Bimini and Freeport (Grand Bahamas) and Western Air that flies between Bimini and Nassau.
| Gulfstream International Airlines | Florida Coastal Airlines |
| http://gulfstreamair.com/ 1-800-231-0856 *Scheduled service through Continental Airlines | http://www.flyfca.net 954-938-8991 |
| Aerborne Aviation | Gold Aviation |
| http://aerborneaviation.com 866.359.2372 | http://www.goldaviation.com/ 876-756-4653 |
| Air Charter Bahamas | Golden Wing Charter |
| www.aircharterbahamas.com 1-866-FLY-ISLANDS | http://www.goldenwingscharter.com (242) 377-0039 |
| Air Flight Charters | Noble Air |
| www.airflightcharters.com (954) 359-0320 | www.nobleaircharter.com 786.251.4345 |
| Air Gate Aviation | Tropic Air |
| www.flyairgate.com 407.585.3545 | http://www.tropicaircharters.com (954) 267-0707 |
| Bahamas Express | Yellow Air Taxi |
| http://flybahamasexpress.com 954.249.6989 | http://www.flyyellowairtaxi.com 954-321-0292 |

