Scattered like a handful of pirate s gold across 100,000 sq miles of turquoise ocean, the islands of the Bahamas could practically patent the word paradise. Emily Matchar, Lonely Planet WriterOur PromiseYou can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet writers visit the places we write about, each and every edition. We never accept freebies for positive coverage, and you can rely on us to tell it like we see it.Inside This Book 2 expert authors64 days of research43 maps135 beaches combedInspirational photosClear, easy-to-use mapsIn-depth backgroundDiving featureComprehensive planning toolsEasy-to-read layout