Travel Guide: Taking a Day Trip to BimiNI FROM MIAMI, FLORIDA
The other weekend, I decided on a whim at 9:00 PM to book a day trip to The Bahamas the next morning. I will say this is quite on brand for me, haha. I had heard that it is possible to do a day trip to the island of Bimini from Miami and had been wanting to check it out.
So, after watching a couple of travel vlogs on YouTube for research, I booked the ferry tickets, packed a day bag with a swimsuit and my camera, and woke up bright and early the next day to drive up to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to begin my adventure.
If you’re visiting or are based in South Florida, a day trip to Bimini in The Bahamas is surprisingly doable, but it does require planning, especially around ferry schedules and timing.
Below is a detailed breakdown of traveling to Fort Lauderdale to Bimini and back in one day: what it was like, what I spent, and travel tips from start to finish.
The Details
Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to the US, located just about 50 miles off the coast of Florida. Because of that, it’s one of the few places you can realistically visit internationally for a single day if you’re based in Miami or Fort Lauderdale.
That said, it’s not quite as simple as hopping on a boat and showing up. The ferry ride itself is about 2 hours each way, plus customs, check-in, and waiting time. This makes it a long day, but still very doable if you go in with the right expectations.
Getting to Bimini: Ferry from Fort Lauderdale
The ferry experience is very similar to the European ferries in the Mediterranean
I took the Balearia Caribbean ferry from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The drive from Miami (Brickell/Downtown) is roughly 30 minutes, depending on traffic. I gave myself extra time to find parking in the parking garage as well as show up to the port for check-in and customs - more on this soon.
Booking Ferry Tickets
You can book your Bimini ferry tickets on the Baleria Caribbean website. I recommend purchasing the roundtrip tickets in advance so you have proof of onward travel with customs.
Also, I planned to visit Resorts World Bimini, so I purchased a day pass add-on for $30 USD, which saved me $10 USD compared to booking through their website.
Important tips to know before you book:
The ferry does not always offer same-day roundtrip options. Some days require an overnight stay, so check schedules ahead of time if you don’t plan to spend the night
Treat the ferry like a flight, not like a casual boat ride or tour, which means arriving early for check-in
Since this is international travel, this means you can expect to go through customs/passport checks, so don’t forget your passport! And make sure to purchase your return ticket or onward travel in advance
US visitors do not need a visa for a day trip to Bimini, but if you are a citizen of another country, check the requirements beforehand
The ferry ride itself is about two hours, though with check-in and customs, expect to spend around 3-4 hours each way when you factor in check-in, customs, and boarding
Port Everglades Arrival & Check-In Timing
As I noted above, I arrived at Port Everglades (which leaves from Fort Lauderdale) in advance. Check-in opens 3 hours before departure, and terminal doors close 1 hour before departure. Baleria strongly suggested arriving between 6:15 and 6:45 am for a 9:00 am departure.
After you book your tickets, Baleria will send an email with specific details around check-in times for your departure - it’s important to note these, especially if there happens to be traffic in Miami.
Traffic in Miami is not only limited to morning or evening rush hour during the week: if it’s Miami Music Week/Ultra Music Festival (end of March), Swim Week (May), F1 Races (May), Art Week/Art Basel (beginning of December), or any other large event that draws visitors, there may be considerably more traffic, so plan ahead!
I’ve personally missed ferries in the past (to St. Barts and Uruguay) by underestimating check-in timing…don’t make that mistake here!
Arriving in Bimini:
This is what the shuttles look like when you arrive - they can drop you off at Fisherman’s Village or Resorts World
Day-trippers got off the very first, and we walked through the customs area. We didn’t need to fill out the customs immigration cards since we weren’t staying overnight.
When you arrive at the port, there are a bunch of clearly marked areas for the various shuttles (which are essentially large golf carts with plenty of seats) that can take you to Resorts World or Fisherman’s Village. If you buy a Resorts World day pass, the golf cart shuttles are included and run every 15-20 minutes. If you plan to rent a golf cart, you can do so after getting dropped off at Fisherman’s Village.
Things to do on a day trip to Bimini:
There are a few boutiques and souvenir shops in Fisherman’s Village
Bimini is a very small island, yet there are quite a few things to do on a day trip. Consider:
Spending some time at the Resorts World Bimini Beach Club and hit the beach, pool, or grab lunch
Renting a golf cart and driving around the island, stopping at beaches along the way
Grabbing a light bite and visiting the shops at Fisherman’s Village for clothing and souvenirs
Trying conch (a Bahamian food staple), either fried or in a conch salad
Joining a boat tour for scuba diving or snorkeling (this might take some time - so if you are visiting for a day trip, this might need to be your main/only activity. Otherwise, I’d recommend spending the night so you have more time)
Resorts World Bimini: Day Pass Review
The pool at Resorts World Bimini beach club
Beach chairs at Resorts World Bimini
I purchased a Resorts World Bimini day pass online for $30 (you can save $10 by bundling it with your ferry ticket). This is one of the most popular activities to do in Bimini. If I had more time, I would have loved to have joined a boat tour for some snorkeling, but perhaps on the next visit that can be on the list!
I spent around two hours at Resorts World Bimini. Here’s what I thought:
The welcome drink was better than expected
The water was beautiful: white sand beaches and clear, turquoise water - exactly what you picture when you think of Caribbean beaches!
The beach long chairs were hit-or-miss (they are made with the plastic strip style; some were really worn out)
The pool chairs were significantly more comfortable than the beach chairs
The DJ was good! He played some house music mixed with open-format to appease all types of audiences, including families
Speaking of, there are separate sections of the pool for families and adults-only
I didn’t rent a cabana (extra cost), but would consider it with a group
The lunch menu was pretty limited, which is why I chose to eat elsewhere
Food in Bimini: Where I Ate:
I ate at Smitty’s, mainly because it was less than a 10-minute walk from the beach club and I wanted to be mindful of ferry timing. I was actually warned by staff there to keep an eye on the return ferry time, which I greatly appreciated!
I’ve also heard great things about:
Stuart’s Conch Salad Shack - probably the most talked about location on social media, plus recommended to me by a friend
Fresh fish restaurants near the southern point of the island (next time)
A quick search on Google Maps can help you find some other restaurants around the island. If you have a golf cart, it’ll be faster/easier to get around than on foot or taking the shuttles
What I ordered for lunch:
Fried conch bites
Lychee Kalik beer (recommended from a YouTube video)
Total: $21 after tax. Island prices aren’t cheap like parts of Central America or Southeast Asia, but it felt reasonable.
This was my first time trying conch, and it was good! It had a similar consistency to calamari, in my opinion.
Returning to the US:
Make sure to get back to the ferry port on time! Allow at least 90 minutes, ideally two hours, to arrive back at the Bimini port to get in the line for customs. Our passports were checked by The Bahamas customs agents, and the ferry tickets were scanned at the same time.
There will be a check-in cutoff on the return ferry - consider setting a reminder on your phone for when you need to leave to go back to the port so you don’t get caught up and forget to go back.
TIP: Sit near the exit on the ferry if you can - the customs line gets long when you return to the US, so the faster you get in line, the faster you can leave the port to go home.
We waited about 30 minutes after docking before being allowed off the boat, and US customs took about 15-20 minutes once in line.
Total travel time:
Left Miami at 6:30 AM for the 9:00 AM ferry from Fort Lauderdale
Got home around 9:00 PM
Internet, WiFi & Working Remotely
Even though it was a day trip and I visited on a Sunday, I still did this trip through a digital nomad lens. Since I visited during the winter holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas), I had a LOT of freelance client work to do for my marketing clients related to Black Friday/Cyber Monday. I wanted to take advantage of the time on the ferry to jam out some work, but the WiFi wasn’t that great.
WiFi on the Ferry:
I bought the $7 premium WiFi on the ferry, which worked for texting or general browsing on social media, but it wasn’t strong enough to use Canva. There was VIP WiFi ($12), which might be better, but I didn’t try it - I wasn’t sure if it was worth upgrading again, considering the “premium” version didn’t work.
In terms of outlets on the ferry - the ferry outlets are European-style round 2-pin, different than the North American-style flat 2-pin, since the ferry company (Baleria) is from Spain. If you want to plug your phone or laptop in on the ferry, you’ll need to bring a travel adapter for the plug, though the outlets are sparse around the ferry and not included by each seat.
I brought a portable phone charger so I didn’t need to plug in during the day. (Once you arrive in Bimini, if you need an outlet, they use the same ones as North America with the flat 2-pin style.)
WiFi on the island:
The Resorts World WiFi showed up as an option but didn’t work for me. This is likely due to it being busy that day or just not being that strong.
However, I have a plan with T-Mobile that allows free roaming for internet speeds between 2G and 5G while traveling, so I was able to work from my phone (and use Canva!) for about an hour on the beach before I went swimming.
What I Spent - Full Budget Breakdown:
Tickets + Transportation:
Roundtrip ferry tickets: $235
Resorts World day pass ticket: $30
Parking garage: $20
On the ferry:
Ferry water bottle + Diet Coke: $5.50
Ferry WiFi: $7
On the island:
Food & drink for lunch: $21
Gift for my mom: $44
Earrings for myself: $24
Total:
$311.50 before shopping
$379.50 after shopping
I did not pay for:
Snorkel rentals
Boat excursions
Golf cart rental
Extra food or drinks
Transportation to/from the Fort Lauderdale port (since I drove myself)
Safety & General Feel
I felt completely safe the entire day, even while traveling solo. Bimini is small, the locals were friendly, and the pace felt very relaxed. It felt easy to navigate and welcoming, especially for a quick trip.
So Is a Bimini Day Trip Worth It?
If you’re:
Based in Miami or Fort Lauderdale (or visiting and have an open day on your itinerary)
Craving a quick international escape
Okay with an early morning and a long day
Then yes, a day trip to Bimini can absolutely be worth it!
That said, if you want to snorkel, do multiple excursions, or truly slow down, an overnight stay might make more sense. Personally, I’d love to go back and stay 1-2 nights next time, though I love having had the opportunity to get a quick glimpse and a refreshing travel reset for a day.
Would you do a day trip to Bimini, or would you stay overnight?