The Best Ways to Get to the Caribbean and the Bahamas
Community
Nov 30, 2025
The Great Southern Migration is Officially Underway
The SeaPeople map is waking up, and we’re seeing an incredible amount of cruisers heading down the U.S. East Coast toward warmer waters. The great southern migration is officially underway, and thousands of boaters are choosing their route: slip down the ICW or head straight offshore into the Atlantic? With over 9 million nm logged on SeaPeople, there’s more real-world insight available than ever. The SeaPeople Explore feature lets you see what other boaters are doing in real time: browse recent trips, read logbooks, compare offshore vs. ICW decisions, search by boat type, discover the best anchorages and marinas, or even find someone to buddy-boat with. Here are a few of our favorite recent trips from cruisers heading south!
Banner photo by SeaPeople user @svswell
Taking the Offshore Route
📍Norfolk, VA to St. Thomas, USVI
"During our 9.5 days at sea we experienced days on end without a cloud in the sky, views of the Milky Way every night, tons of dolphins and we were able to fly every sail in our inventory including our Code 0 and asymmetrical spinnaker! We enjoyed several trivia nights, tons of great meals (including an early thanksgiving feast) and even made some new friends on other sailboats we came across making the same passage!"
- Forrest Hardy
What we love about this route:
If your vessel and your crew are ready for a few days offshore, departing from NC and North on the East Coast, and making as much Easting as possible, is a fabulous way to get to the Caribbean fast. As you can see on SeaPeople's explore trips map, Easting is key. Why? If you aren't out close to 65 deg for your last couple days into the Caribbean, you will meet the trades with wind forward of the beam. Get out to 65 deg and you can sail into the islands with your final few days of trade winds on the beam.
To consider:
This is a legit offshore journey. The N Atlantic is no joke, and cold fronts begin happening regularly right around the season for heading South. These fronts can be used to your advantage, to make some Easting as the wind clocks from NW to N to NE then E, BUT sometimes they are stronger than forecasted. It's a rough piece of ocean. Go only if you are prepared and your crew is ready.
Taking the ICW down Eastern USA
📍ICW Day 16: Skidaway narrows > Crescent river
"The Georgia ICW is no ditch. We wound down creeks and rivers and crossed several bays. Saw plenty of dolphins but sadly none were in the mood to play with us. We’ve seen few other southern migration boats - we assume folks are either skipping this section for the outside or are passing this week to visit family for Thanksgiving. Dropped the hook in Crescant Creek off Creighton Island and had an excellent shore visit with Maisie!"
- Michael Robbins
What we love about this route:
The Atlantic ICW is beautiful. Bald eagles, small towns, endless views. It's also a great chance to make miles South when conditions offshore are rough or winds are unfavorable. You can visit historic American towns while enjoying the calm protected waterways of the Intracoastal.
To consider:
It's long. Considering daylight hours, current, bridge openings, and the winding path of the ICW (especially in states like SC and GA), the 1,000(ish) miles from Norfolk to a nice Bahamas crossing point can take almost a month or more. The ICW is also restricted to boats with an air draft (mast height) of less than 65ft. It’s a great option if you have the time, the patience, the desire to enjoy the ride, and don’t get frustrated by all the curves (there are times you find yourself snaking N though Georgia creeks).
The FL Long Jump
📍 Nunjack Cay, The Bahamas
"Last minute weather window lined up for a nice motor crossing, overnight at Great Sail then awesome wind for the last 40 miles and straight onto our mooring at Manjack.
Trip highlights included skinnny dipping on the bank, date night cocktails at sundown, and such a still night it felt like we were sailing through space.
Lowlights were two broken water pump belts, one broken alternator belt, a wrongly furled jib, and that we were missing our first mate (🐾)"
- Ahlani & Kyle
What we love about this route:
If you found yourself in FL, you have three options for crossing to the Bahamas. Abaco, Bimini, or the deep water around to the Berry's (or straight to Nassau). The crossing to Abaco is your farthest N option. Abaco is gorgeous, with your first good stop being Great Sale Cay, about 100 miles from Palm Beach. If you want to get to the clear waters of the Bahamas fast. Many people skip Abaco and continue farther south in Florida before crossing to the Exumas or the southern Bahamas. It’s a shame, because Abaco is one of the prettiest parts of the entire Bahamas.
To consider:
Your Gulf Stream crossing needs to be timed with favorable weather. Winds from the N can turn the Gulf Stream into hell. But we wont dive into crossings in this post. It can be a bit cooler in Abaco in the winter. Some people opt for the Abacos on their way N in the spring if they are headed back to the USA. If you aren't, don't miss Abaco. You can hop from Eastern Abaco to Eleuthera in a daylight sail then another daylight sail to Exuma.
The FL Classic
📍Great Sale Cay, The Bahamas
"Crossed the Gulf Stream, waved to a few cruise ships, and cruised through a very flat sunrise"
- Hailey
Here's the Great Sale Cay crossing, mentioned above.
Bimini Bash
📍Bimini
"Farewell Florida!
Made it to Bimini with the dog! Customs all cleared and she is free to explore with us & run on the beaches!"
- Darlene Boyles
What we love about this route:
Bimini is VERY close to Florida. About 50NM actually. A short sail, all in daylight, ending in clear waters and a cold Kalik beer.
To consider:
The Gulf Stream is cruising N at about 3kts in this area. The farther S you start the better. Making it to Miami is the best trajectory for non-planing boats to hit Bimini. Starting farther N in Florida will put you against the gulf stream. Also, the banks from Bimini to Chub Cay (the standard route to points S) is a pretty shallow bank and not recommended for boats with over 6ft drafts.
Florida to BVI - The thorny path.
📍USVI and BVI
"Punching into short steep waves was a wet experience. Nice to be able to hold 9 + kts into that junk. The trip back to Marathon will likely be an easy trip and we will likely go non-stop."
- Scott Evangelista
What we love about this route:
So you made it to Florida, and opted to cruise the Bahamas before heading to the Caribbean. It's very common and you will have plenty of company. There is so much to see in the Bahamas and they remain gorgeous all the way South. Becoming more remote as you go. The Turks and Caicos are a great stop, and give you a very short hop, down to the Dominican Republic. This route provides almost no overnights underway, and a daylight hours kind of itinerary.
To consider:
The trade winds will get their revenge. No matter how you slice it, unless you are doing this trip in mid summer (not recommended for heat and hurricanes), once you get to the Dominican Republic, you will be head into the trade winds until you reach the USVI (and really more like St Martin). Many people end up doing the D.R. coast at night to take advantage of the land breeze that can shift the trades near shore. But your daylight fun is over. It's days of pounding to windward if you take this route, so just keep that in mind.
Skipping the ICW
📍Wilmington to West Palm Beach
"We left Southport with coats and arrived in Riviera Beach in shorts: what a difference three days makes. A wonderful journey with flat seas (for the most part), some fishing action (some false albacore/little tinny/bonita), and a wee bit of sail time. Unfortunately, the winds weren’t always in our favor, but we were thankful for the calm seas and our crew members who helped with the night watches!
Each day turned the water a different shade of blue. The nights were dark as pitch but gave us an excellent view of the stars. We even got a little lightening show to the east as we motored along. All-in-all a pretty perfect passage-PTL"
- David and Linda Schafer
What we love about this route:
If your mast is too high, if you’ve done the ditch before, or if you’re in a time crunch, a near-coastal offshore run to Florida to cross to the Bahamas may be your best bet. A common route out of Beaufort NC is to go back inside again at Wrightsville Beach, NC to avoid going out and around Frying Pan Shoals. Then getting in the ocean again at the Cape Fear Inlet at Southport (a really nice class A inlet). As you head South you are able to run 24/7, avoid the shallows of the ICW, and get South faster. You’re also almost always close to an inlet where you can duck in for cover if needed.
To consider:
The Gulf Stream is off your port side. Go too far offshore and you'll be fighting it. Stay too close to shore and you'll be constantly effected by the current pouring in and out of the hundreds of inlets along the coast. Watch your water temps to know if you are in the stream. And watch your weather so you know when a front is coming and when you should duck in to avoid foul offshore conditions.
