Any traveler can go to The Bahamas and enjoy the white-sand beaches and powder-blue seas, or sip a rum cocktail underneath a palm tree. Join AFAR Experiences this June, however, and you are guaranteed an opportunity to travel deeper into this culturally rich nation of some 700 islands dotting the Caribbean.
While others dive along the famous coral reefs, you’ll plunge into the islands’ music, art, and culinary scenes with unparalleled access to Bahamas’ taste-makers and cultural leaders. As you explore in the company of like-minded travelers, including AFAR’s founders and editors, you’ll experience the best of this fascinating destination.
5pm – 7pm
Welcome Reception, The Island House, upstairs terrace
Meet fellow travelers and the AFAR team over cocktails and heavy canapes, hosted by The Island House. Hear welcome remarks from the Minister of Tourism, Dionisio D’Aguilar, followed by cool jazz from local favorites The Jazz Cats. (For those wishing to dine afterwards, we recommend trying one of the two excellent restaurants on property.)
9am
Depart from Island House lobby
9:45am – 10:30am
Speaker session: Bahamian History and Culture
Master storyteller and notable historian Arlene Nash Ferguson leads an enchanting session around the country’s history, including the roots of Junkanoo, a spirited tradition of Bahamian cultural expression.
11am – 12pm
Courtesy Call with the Governor General
Prior to lunch we’ll receive an official welcome to Nassau by the Governor General of The Bahamas, Dame Marguerite Pindling.
12:15pm – 1:45pm
Lunch at Graycliff
Proprietor Enrico Garzaroli and son Paolo Garzaroli will personally host us for lunch at this beautiful, historic restaurant and hotel. Afterwards, Enrico will take you down into his spectacular wine cellar, featuring more than 200,000 bottles!
2:15pm – 4:30pm
Breakout Activities – day one
Small-group breakout activities give you the chance to spend one-on-one time with locals, enjoying special experiences on their beloved island. See descriptions below.
4:30pm – 6:15pm
Free time
6:15pm
Depart from Island House lobby
7pm – 10pm
Music, Food, Art.
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is the perfect setting for a celebratory evening of dinner and drinks, featuring a delightful Rake-n-Scrape performance by Rhythm N’Youth, fascinating talks about culinary history and Bahamian art by experts Patricia Glinton Meicholas and John Cox, and a look the Gallery’s collection alongside local artists.
9am
Depart from Island House lobby
9:30am – 12pm
Breakout Activities – day two
Small-group breakout activities give you the chance to spend one-on-one time with locals, enjoying special experiences on their beloved island. See descriptions below.
12:30pm – 2:30pm
Garden Luncheon and Pop Up Shop
Enjoy a delicious lunch of local cuisine in the lush, private garden of Bahamian art collector, Dawn Davies. Meet Tyrone Ferguson, whose metalwork features prominently in Ms. Davies’ collection, chat with straw culture expert Pam Burnside, and browse a gorgeous assortment of merchandise from Bahamian makers and craftsmen in a specially curated Pop Up shop.
2:30pm – 5:30pm
Free time
Take a few hours on your own to get in a spa treatment, lounge by the pool, or take a leisurely nap before the night’s festivities begin.
5:30pm
Depart from Island House lobby
6pm – 10:30pm
Boat Cruise and Farewell Beach Party
You’ll travel by boat to our evening party location, the beachfront homestead of the Maillis Family. Meet our gracious hosts and an array of local friends, including some of our beloved speakers and hosts, for an evening of delicious local fare and the music of legendary local reggae band, Willis and the Illest, plus an entertaining surprise!
Who better to lead a session on print-making techniques than one of the most influential artists in the Bahamas, John Cox, who is also the founder of Popop studios. With personalized direction from John, you'll explore ink rolling, image transfer, ghost images, and stencils. During this break-out session you'll learn about the specialized tools involved in print making and at the end you'll have an original mono-print artwork to take home-a truly unique souvenir from your visit to The Bahamas.
Take a walk back in time as you venture into the Primeval Forest National Park with Pericles Maillis, the country's forest conservationist (and highly engaging storyteller!). The park is the last remaining habitat that reflects the flora, fauna, and geological conditions from the time of the earliest Lucayan inhabitants of the islands. Pericles will delight you with stories of hidden treasures and rare plants. To complement this easy nature walk, Eric Carey of The Bahamas National Trust will accompany the group and offer an introduction to the long tradition of bush tea and medicine.
Create your own work of art in collaboration with one of the Bahamas' leading artists. Antonius Roberts is famous for his sculptures built in situ, using old tree trunks, driftwood, and even plastic debris. All across the islands there are traces of his interventions and many of them have become local landmarks. For this break-out session, Antonius invites you into his private home and studio, and will then lead you across the street for a plein-air session on Love Beach. With the turquoise ocean as inspiration, participants will create their own pieces under the guidance of Antonius who will then co-sign the finished works.
Get a new perspective on the Bahamas-from below the sea. You'll join the Executive Director of Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), Casuarina McKinney Lambert, for a guided snorkel tour to Goulding Cay off of New Providence. After exploring the BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden, an innovative fusion of art, conservation, and education, and you'll continue on to an underwater coral restoration project. No previous snorkeling experience is necessary and all gear is provided for this two-hour adventure. (bring your own swim suit)
The Bahamas is home to countless warm, friendly locals who graciously welcome visitors into their homes through the country’s People to People program, matching up visitors and residents for engaging conversation and activities. One such local is Henry Lightbourne, a fabulous cook who invites you into his home to learn the fundamentals of true Bahamian “down home” cooking. You’ll no doubt come away armed with some new cooking techniques and a few island-flavor recipes to add to your collection!
The 30 rooms at The Island House, the official hotel partner for AFAR Experiences, embrace the environment and culture of The Bahamas. Works by Bahamian artists decorate the rooms and the generous terraces offer sunset views of the property’s gardens and the ocean beyond. The contemporary bathrooms with soaking tubs and rain showers are accented with Portuguese tiles and stocked with Bamford Spa amenities. With their comfortable day beds, organic cotton sheets and other thoughtful touches, The Island House’s rooms are ideal retreats after a day of exploring Nassau.
The Island House is offering a special rate for all AFAR Experiences Attendees:
$495/night (2-night minimum. Includes breakfast, all taxes, based on double occupancy)
For booking: Contact info@the-island-house.com or 1-242-698-6300
State your Afar Experiences Bahamas confirmation number to receive the discounted rate.
The Island House will be the meeting point for our event, please note that space at The Island House is extremely limited, and we advise booking your room as soon as possible. If you are unable to stay at The Island House, there are nearby hotels we can recommend.
Dawn Davies has long been a central figure in The Bahamas’ art scene—a collector who knows all of the country’s leading artists. In 2012 she published Love & Responsibility, The Dawn Davies Collection, celebrating Bahamian art as seen through her collection (a second volume will be published this year). She is on the boards of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and Popopstudios International Center for the Visual Arts.
A captivating storyteller and an expert on all things related to The Bahamas, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas has devoted her career to researching the art, culture, and history of the islands. She is also a poet and the author of 20 books including a monograph on Bahamian folktales. She has contributed to the Grove Dictionary of Art, the Oxford University Press Dictionary of Caribbean and Afro-Latin American Biography, and Routledge’s Companion to International Children’s Literature.
Few people in The Bahamas have been more instrumental in establishing the country’s art scene than Antonius Roberts, OBE. Born in Nassau and educated at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, Roberts founded The Bahamian Art Gallery in 1991 and helped restore the Villa Doyle to serve as the home of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. An accomplished sculptor, Roberts’ most famous work is Sacred Space at the Clifton Heritage site.
Few people are better guides to the flora and fauna of the Bahamas than Eric Carey. He is currently the Executive Director at the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) after having served as their Director of Parks and Science. He was formerly the Wildlife Conservation Officer with The Bahamas Ministry of Agriculture and, as a member of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds, he served two 2-year terms as President.
Dionisio James D’Aguilar, the Minister of Tourism and Aviation for The Bahamas, will join AFAR Experiences for our opening cocktail reception. There are few people better suited to welcome us to his country. D’Aguilar has been a leader in the business community for decades, and was elected to Parliament and named the Minister of Tourism in 2017. D’Aguilar’s knowledge extends beyond The Bahamas—he is also chairman of the 26-nation Caribbean Tourism Organization.
As the owner and manager of Doongalik Studios Art Gallery in Nassau, Pamela Burnside has made the creative exhibition space and fine art store an essential stop for anyone interested in Bahamas’ art scene. She is also the Secretary of Transforming Spaces, a Bahamian art tour organization, and President of Creative Nassau, a non-profit organization that “promotes Bahamian Art, Culture and Heritage” with particular emphasis on Bahamian straw craft and the Junkanoo Festival.
An artist and blacksmith, Tyrone Ferguson combines welding, metal fabrication, and machine shop work to create a craft which is singularly his own. His pieces—doors, gates, furniture, and signage—are both functional and inspired and have been included in exhibitions at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, The Hub, and other galleries. Ferguson’s enthusiasm for his art, and life in general, makes him one of the most fascinating artists in The Bahamas today.
One of the leading figures in the Bahamas’ art scene, John Cox is known not only as one of the country’s most important artists, but also a passionate advocate for the arts community. His work has appeared at The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, where he served as Chief Curator, as well as at galleries in Asia, Europe, and the United States. He also founded Popopstudios and is currently Baha Mar’s Creative Arts Director.
On a visit to Hawaii in 2007, Mallory Raphael developed a passion for scuba diving and sharks. She continued her journey by becoming a dive instructor in Grand Bahama and later, in 2013, she joined the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) where she oversaw the creation of the BREEF Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden. In 2017, Mallory was named the organization’s Research and Environmental Education Officer.
Arlene Nash Ferguson’s passion for Bahamian culture dates back at least to when she was four years old and participated in her first Junakoo parade. Over 24 years as an educator, including nine as the principal of St. John’s College in Nassau, she introduced thousands of students to the Bahamas’ history and culture. She was also the Director of Culture, Heritage & Entertainment at the Ministry of Tourism for six years.
Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, the Executive Director of the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), has a long interest in the marine environment—her first experience in the ocean was when she was five days old. She has a degree in Marine Biology and Environmental Policy from Duke University and taught at the Cape Eleuthera Island School before joining BREEF. Casuarina is also on the boards of the One Eleuthera Foundation and the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund.
Owner of the world-renowned Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant, Enrico Garzaroli moved to the Bahamas just after independence and became a pioneer in the country’s hospitality industry. Enrico will welcome guests at this historic estate where his passion for fine cuisine and wines has made the award-winning Graycliff Restaurant one of the Bahamas’ top culinary destinations.
Paolo Garzaroli has spearheaded the revitalization of West Hill Street where guests will be welcomed to Graycliff’s Heritage Village to experience true Bahamian heritage, history, and artistry. From the Heritage Museum to the Artists’ Studios—along with the Graycliff Cigar Company, Graycliff Chocolatier, and the new Bahama Barrels Winery—it’s an opportunity to admire the art of the Bahamas and taste local flavors.
Pericles Alexander Maillis is a man of many talents: He is a lawyer, farmer, historian, fisherman, and conservationist. His vast knowledge of Bahamian culture, nature, marine life, and history is paired with a formidable ability and love of storytelling. Pericles is a founding member of The Bahamas National Trust, a director of the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Life Institute, and considered the doyen of the archipelago’s naturalists.
Marv Cunningham’s route to becoming the lead mixologist at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort surprisingly included a career in finance. His involvement with the tourism industry rekindled a passion for arts and creativity. From his first job as a bar back in 1998, he went on to become one of the Bahamas’ most celebrated bartenders, racking up many distinctions and prizes. Combining science and art, Marv creates cocktails that are always inspired—and delicious.
