NEW PROVIDENCE and PARADISE ISLAND are the undeniable heart of the Bahamian archipelago. Despite its tiny size - 21 miles long and 7 miles wide - New Providence has more than two-thirds of the country's population and is home to the capital Nassau , a thriving city of around 100,000 residents. Initially gaining renown for its sheltered harbour and strategic location on the shipping route from the New World to Spain, the island has during its nearly 230-year history been a refuge for pirates and privateers, site of illicit smuggling, haven for fishermen, and formidable centre of tourism, with nearly two million visitors now arriving annually.

Stretching east to west, New Providence offers a wealth of lovely, uncrowded beaches , while on its northeastern shore Nassau runs six blocks deep and features the shopping arcade Bay Street , located along Prince George Wharf . A lengthy toll bridge east of downtown Nassau connects to Paradise Island , a glitzy tourist enclave that includes the mega-resort Atlantis , as well as many other hotels, shops, restaurants and spas. The island's main highlight is Cabbage Beach , covering most of the north coast and featuring deep blue water and trade winds that cool even the hottest of afternoons.

Although much of eastern New Providence has been covered by urban sprawl, the areas west of Nassau include stunning stretches of beach, though the main draw of Cable Beach is increasingly peppered by exclusive resorts, private estates, condominiums and time-shares. More worthwhile, the western shores , twelve miles of sand from Cable Beach to the western point , are the most dazzling parts of the island, with isolated Love Beach near Compass Point a particularly appealing spot.

Beyond the western point is exclusive Lyford Cay , where celebrities like Sean Connery live in hermetically sealed luxury. New Providence's south shore has few notable beaches, and even fewer hotels, though diving and snorkelling draw many enthusiasts to the shore's outer reef and reef walls.

Although the central interior of New Providence is marshy scrub, several local eco-tourism operators offer kayaking on Lake Killarney and combination biking-kayaking tours as well.