Things to do in Exuma
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Exuma
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
High season: dry, cooler, calmest seas; book boats and rooms early.
Warm and quieter; good value.
Hot with afternoon storms; warm water.
Hurricane season: lowest rates, highest risk; small operators may close.
What's on
- Exuma Regatta April
Traditional sloop racing in George Town; the island's biggest week.
- Junkanoo 26 December and 1 January
Parades in George Town.
- George Town Cruising Regatta February/March
The cruising community's annual gathering.
Best things to do in Exuma
Pig Beach
The swimming pigs; go early morning before the tour boats arrive.
Thunderball Grotto
Sunlit snorkel chamber; go with a guide at slack low tide.
Compass Cay
Nurse sharks gather in the shallows; look, do not grab.
Iguana Beach
Endangered rock iguanas come down to the beach.
Staniel Cay
Tiny cay at the center of the northern cays circuit.
Stocking Island
Beaches and trails across the harbor; Sunday is pig roast day.
Tropic of Cancer Beach
Calm uncrowded beach on the latitude line; combine with Santana's.
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
No-take marine park; the healthiest reefs in the Exumas.
Where to stay in Exuma
George Town
Emerald Bay
Staniel Cay
Across the harbor
Think twice about
- George Town without a boat plan, if the cays are the point
You will pay for a day trip every time; budget for it or base at Staniel Cay.
- The far north of Great Exuma
Long dark drives back from dinner and nothing around after sunset.
- Staniel Cay without booking dinner ahead
Only a handful of tables on the cay; walk-ins can wait.
Best restaurants in Exuma
Santana's
Tiki bar at the tip of Little Exuma; order the cracked lobster.
Chat 'N' Chill
Beach bar famous for the Sunday pig roast.
Shirley Fish Fry
The local fish fry: fried snapper and conch fritters at picnic tables.
Big D's Conch Spot
Conch salad chopped to order; the traditional Bahamian lunch.
Palapa Grill
Modern Bahamian cooking; the fancier dinner on Great Exuma.
Tropic Breeze Beach Bar & Grill
Beachfront grill near town; the easy sunset dinner.
Outdoor things to do in Exuma
Moriah Harbour Cay National Park
Mangrove creeks and sandbars; the best kayaking in the Exumas.
Sapphire Blue Hole
Inland blue hole for a swim or a jump; part of a cays boat day.
Hooper's Bay
Sea turtles graze in the shallows close to shore.
Little Exuma
Empty beaches and the Tropic of Cancer marker; a slow driving day.
Best hotels in Exuma
Staniel Cay Yacht Club
13 bungalows and a marina; the cay's social center. Book far ahead.
Peace & Plenty
Historic waterfront hotel in the heart of town; own boat to a beach club.
EMBRACE Resort
Small all-inclusive on the George Town waterfront.
Regatta Point
All-suites hotel with harbor views in George Town.
Sandals Emerald Bay
Couples-only all-inclusive on the mile-long beach.
Grand Isle Resort & Residences
One- to four-bedroom villas with spa and golf.
Lumina Point Resort & Spa
Eco-minded waterfront villas with farm-to-table restaurants.
Is Exuma expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | BSD 150 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | BSD 380 a person |
| Splurge | BSD 800 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Pig Beach: a few days ahead
- Thunderball Grotto: a few days ahead
- Compass Cay: a few days ahead
- Iguana Beach: a few days ahead
- Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park: a few days ahead
- Sapphire Blue Hole: a few days ahead
- Staniel Cay Yacht Club: weeks ahead
- Palapa Grill: a few days ahead
- The pigs/grotto day trip: book days ahead in high season, boats fill.
- Staniel Cay Yacht Club rooms and restaurant: book far ahead.
- Rental cars in George Town: book ahead in winter.
Is Exuma safe?
- Very safe; the crime is petty theft from cars and beach bags. On the water, follow the captain: life jackets, do not touch the nurse sharks. Emergency: 911.
Exuma travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The cheapest pigs trip: overcrowded boats that rush every stop; pay for the smaller boat.
- Midday pig visits mean dozens of boats and tired pigs; morning trips are better.
- Expecting nightlife: George Town is quiet after dinner.
Getting around Exuma: public transport and more
- Bahamians drive on the left; book rental cars ahead in high season.
- Water taxis run from the George Town dock to Stocking Island.
- The famous sights need a boat: the pigs/grotto/iguanas day trip is a full day.
- Staniel Cay is reached by short flight from Nassau or by boat; no bridge.
Who Exuma suits
| Solo travellers | OK |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Exuma your trip
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