Exumas

On some of the local islands you will meet warm, friendly locals, on others you will find turtles and rays, small sharks, friendly iguanas and the famous swimming pigs. But no matter where you go, you’ll always be close to a pristine white sand beach, surrounded by palm trees swaying in the breeze, lapped by the bluest ocean you’ve ever seen. Many beaches have no footprints. The sand is soft, the water is crystal blue, and the scenery is stunning… And yes, there are pigs swimming there.

The best time to travel

Peak season runs from mid-December to mid-April, but there’s really no “bad” time to visit. However, please remember that the Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, which is worth taking into account when booking your trip. The summer months are also rainy, but there will be fewer tourists and affordable prices. Visitors are at their lowest in September and October, so plan your trip during these months if you want to visit the Bahamas when crowds are at their thinnest.

What to do in Exuma

Spend the day at the Mile-Long Sandbar

Name Mile-Long Sandbar comes from its one-mile length, but it also goes by several other names: Musha Cay Sandbar, Copperfield Sandbar, or Big Farmer’s Cay Sandbar. The sandbar located south of Big Farmer Cay provides an absolutely surreal experience. It emerges in the middle of aquamarine waters that gradually become lighter, eventually turning into snow-white sand. The amazing thing about this spit is that the water only reaches up to your knees, so you can walk for kilometers into the ocean, collecting beautiful shells and admiring the picturesque view.

Visit the island of swimming pigs

There are many rumors about how these pigs learned to swim. Years ago, Exuma residents worried that food supplies would be affected if internet systems went down. Therefore, several people decided to send some pigs to nearby islands and raise them. Each day someone came to the island to feed and care for the pigs, and since the pigs are intelligent animals motivated by food, they began to associate the sound of the boat’s engines with their meal. Soon the pigs began to stand in the ocean, waiting for food. Then, to the surprise of their keepers, pigs finally started swimming towards the boat.
It’s definitely an interesting experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Do water sports

You can ride jet skis, kayaks and kitesurf here. Diving will take you to mystical blue holes, colorful coral reefs. You can also take a trip to a sunken shipwreck. You can rent your own boat. You can go deep sea fishing or paddleboard in the shallows. Be prepared to spend a lot of time with the snorkel strapped to your head.
The cleanest water is found in the protected Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park, between Shroud Cay and Bell Cay. In Exuma you can dive wherever you want. Colorful fish, sea snails, turtles, starfish and sharks – the snorkeling adventure is unlimited here.

See the plane wreck

Off the coast of Norman’s Cay, which is quite difficult to access unless you are on board of a yacht, is a sunken plane wreck. It probably belonged to drug smugglers, although no one really knows. The plane certainly went down at a time when the island was owned by Pablo Escobar’s friend, Carlos Lehder.

Spend time with the iguanas of Leaf Cay

It is a 40-acre island that at one point was owned by actor Nicolas Cage. In 2006, he bought it for $3 million, but when he saw the large population of iguanas living there, he decided to sell it to the Bahamas government for $1.5 million. Who knows, maybe spending time with iguanas will be one of your favorite parts of your trip.

Swim with sharks in Compass Bay

While swimming with sharks may seem scary, they are actually quite harmless. Nurse sharks are slow moving bottom feeders fish, shrimp and squid.

Places to visit in Exuma Cays

Thunderball Grotto

This is where the famous underwater scenes from Bond were filmed. It’s worth going to Exuma Cays for this place alone. At low tide you can swim through the arches to get to the cave. This cave in the middle of an inconspicuous island is spectacular. Its interior is breathtaking, beautiful both above and below the water. The rocks and corals are illuminated when the sun shines, and the bright colors of the fish shimmer in the rays.

Staniel Cay Exumas

This is one of the highlights of the Exuma Cays. About 100 people live on Staniel Cay, and the only accommodation apart from renting apartments is the Embrace Resort and The Yacht Club, which has existed since the 1960s.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

This is where everyone gathers in the Exumas. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club attracts celebrities, wealthy and influential people who anchor their yachts at sea. It has a wonderful island atmosphere that takes you away from all your worries and instantly transports you to the laid back Caribbean lifestyle.

James Bond and Staniel Cay

The cast and crew of James Bond’s Thunderball spent many nights at the local bar in 1964, drinking the local Kalik beer.

The perfect type of exploration in the Exuma Cays is a yacht charter, giving you access to some of the most amazing places. This is the greatest way to see the Exumas. It is undeniably one of the most romantic, beautiful places in the world.