A quieter alternative to the resort-fronted Lucaya Beach, Taino Beach sits a few kilometres east of Port Lucaya and attracts a more local crowd. The sand is fine and white, the water calm and shallow for some distance, and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than managed. A cluster of casual restaurants and bars backs the beach, serving conch salad, fresh fish, and Bahamian cuisine at local prices.
Sunday afternoons are the most animated: Bahamian families picnic and swim here while music plays from the beach bars. The snorkelling directly off the beach is decent. For visitors looking to experience the island as locals use it rather than the groomed resort version, Taino Beach is the better choice. Accessible by taxi from Port Lucaya, about 10 minutes.