Escape to Nassau

Flamingo yoga, indigenous tradition, and more await at megaresort Baha Mar.

by Paul Rubio

Aerial view of a large beachfront resort with multiple pools, palm trees, and lounge areas overlooking a turquoise ocean under a partly cloudy sky. A tall modern hotel building lines the left side of the image.

Since its grand debut in 2017, Baha Mar (bahamar.com) has redefined the concept of the megaresort. The complex manages to marry scale with sophistication, a feat that has been tried before but rarely goes this well. Along fabled Cable Beach in Nassau, three trusted hotel brands—the expansive Grand Hyatt, the inventive SLS, and the refined Rosewood—together span 1,000 acres and 2,300 rooms, delivering a world-class experience at the forefront of Caribbean luxury.

Aerial view of a large beach resort with multiple high-rise buildings, pools, palm trees, and landscaped gardens on a white sand beach beside clear turquoise water under a blue sky.

While its massiveness can conjure images of Vegas-style casino action (it’s home to the Caribbean’s largest gaming floor), waterpark thrills (500,000-gallon wave pool included), and an endless parade of dining and drinking venues (45 and counting), beyond the high-octane entertainment is another side of Baha Mar that caters to the pursuit of calm, restoration, and holistic wellness.

A man and a woman lie face down on separate massage tables outdoors, covered with beige sheets, overlooking palm trees and the ocean under a clear blue sky.

The resort houses two premier sanctuaries: the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA and Sense, a Rosewood Spa. ESPA occupies its own 30,000-square-foot standalone building, connected to the Grand Hyatt’s seventh floor. The holistic brand and particularly this facility set the gold standard in spa wellness with advanced skincare and bodywork designed for a head-to-toe reset. Guests enter single-sex hydrotherapy and relaxation zones through the Hallways of Affirmation: marble-clad passageways with soaring ceilings, uplifting words etched beneath your feet, and the sounds of soothing music. From there, master therapists guide you into a state of deep renewal. Meanwhile, at the intimate Sense Spa (six treatment rooms and amenities within the Rosewood resort), guests opt for facials and body treatments by Maison Caulières and EviDenS de Beauté. The spa’s signature Lost Remedies treatments harness native ingredients and the healing traditions of the Bahamas’ original inhabitants, the Arawak Indians and the Lucayans, to restore balance and enhance circulation.

The fitness center at ESPA rivals big-city mega-gyms, featuring NordicTrack Mirrors, Peloton Bikes, TRX suspension training, and an extensive lineup of cardiovascular machines. Those who prefer a boutique gym setting will find dedicated fitness centers at both Rosewood and SLS, offering an intimate alternative to ESPA’s expansive facilities.

Four people practice yoga on a grassy lawn, sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, surrounded by several pink flamingos. Palm trees and a large building are visible in the background.

Beyond its treatment rooms, Baha Mar’s commitment to wellness extends to daily outdoor programming, from instructor-led, beachfront yoga to the resort’s signature Flamingo Yoga. Stretch, breathe, and pose alongside a flamboyance of pink-feathered classmates, whose curiosity and chatter make for a one-of-a-kind practice. You might outshine them in downward dog, but don’t expect to best them in flamingo pose. For more time with the island’s most charismatic residents, book a private flamingo meet-and-greet. The interactive session blends feeding time with a Q&A session about the official bird of the Bahamas.

A woman wades in clear turquoise water inside a sunlit, rocky cave with natural arches and openings, surrounded by bright blue reflections and rugged stone formations.

Among other things, the “mega” in megaresort here references a wealth of facilities. Throughout the three resorts, guests readily find opportunities to settle into a laid-back rhythm. A collection of quieter pools, beachside lounge areas, and a lazy river offers spaces to unwind, while dedicated kids’ pools and high-energy water attractions keep the younger crowd entertained somewhere else. For golfers who find their zen on the fairway, Royal Blue Golf Course—a Jack Nicklaus Signature design—offers 18 holes of pristine play amid rolling dunes and turquoise vistas. With its dynamic mix of excess and serenity, the modern megaresort caters to every tempo of travel, ensuring a restorative escape in the heart of the Bahamas.