Garden of the Groves & Freeport City Tour: Half-Day Excursion

Waterfalls, limestone cliffs and eighty shops in four hours

A guided half-day shore excursion in Grand Bahamas covers the Garden of the Groves, Port Lucaya Marketplace and the city's landmarks—all timed to your cruise ship schedule so you return to the dock without arranging transport. The tour includes a guide, all entrance fees and stops at the International Bazaar, Church Row and the Sunrise Highway before reaching the garden's trails, waterfalls and chapel, then the marketplace's specialty stores and duty-free shops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Grand Bahamas City Tour and Garden Visit

• Tour industrial part of Grand Bahama
• Discover International Bazaar and Tori Gate
• Drive through Church Row and pine forest
• Stop at Garden of the Groves
• Explore winding trails and waterfalls
• Visit consecrated chapel and Garden Shoppes
• Walk fern grove and limestone boulders
• Relax on Lofty Fig deck
• Head to Port Lucaya Marketplace
• Stroll specialty stores and boutiques
• Return to cruise ship docks

The Experience

The tour starts with a drive through Grand Bahamas' industrial and residential areas, passing the International Bazaar and its distinctive Tori Gate, Church Row and a pine forest along the scenic Sunrise Highway. This opening stretch sets up the two main stops: the Garden of the Groves and Port Lucaya Marketplace, each with time to move at your own pace once you arrive.

At the Garden of the Groves, you walk winding trails past cascading waterfalls, fountains and limestone boulders that tower over both sides of the path. The site holds a consecrated chapel used for weddings and prayer, a Labyrinth, and the Garden Shoppes for browsing. The grounds are certified as a Wildlife Habitat by the U.S. Wildlife Federation, so you'll see birds and butterflies throughout. A fern grove offers shade and a "Lofty Fig" deck where you can buy local snacks and Bahamian drinks if you want to linger.

Port Lucaya Marketplace comes next—twelve island-style buildings on a five-acre peninsula overlooking one of the Bahamas' largest marinas. Eighty specialty stores, boutiques, restaurants and bars fill the space, with duty-free jewelry, china, crystal, perfume and designer apparel. The tour returns you to the cruise ship docks when the marketplace time ends, though you can stay longer and arrange your own taxi shuttle back to the pier if you prefer.

What’s included

• Full guided tour with a live English-speaking guide.
• entrance fees to the Garden of the Groves and Port Lucaya Marketplace.
• timing coordinated with your cruise ship schedule.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Wow A Tour

Is this one for you?Four hours leaves room for the garden's trails and the marketplace's eighty shops without eating into the rest of your port day, and the fixed return time to the dock means you don't have to track the ship's departure yourself.

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Top questions

How long is the Garden of the Groves and Freeport City Tour?

The tour runs four hours total, timed to match your cruise ship's port schedule so you return to the dock without missing your departure.

What is the Garden of the Groves actually like when you get there?

The Garden of the Groves is a landscaped site with winding trails, cascading waterfalls, fountains and a consecrated chapel. You'll walk past limestone boulders in a fern grove, explore a Labyrinth and browse the Garden Shoppes; the grounds are certified as a Wildlife Habitat, so birds and butterflies are common throughout.

What can you do at Port Lucaya Marketplace?

Port Lucaya Marketplace has eighty specialty stores, boutiques, restaurants and bars spread across twelve island-style buildings on a five-acre peninsula. You can shop for duty-free jewelry, china, crystal, perfume and designer apparel, or eat and drink at the cafes and bars overlooking the marina.

Does the tour include getting back to the ship?

Yes, the tour returns you to the cruise ship docks when the marketplace time ends. If you want to stay longer at the marketplace, you can arrange a taxi shuttle back to the pier yourself—shuttles run between the market and pier most of the day.

What does the city tour part of the excursion cover?

The city portion takes you through Grand Bahamas' industrial and residential areas, passing the International Bazaar with its Tori Gate, Church Row and a pine forest along the scenic Sunrise Highway before reaching the Garden of the Groves.

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants are required to sit on an adult's lap during transport.