The Bahamas is home to 700 gorgeous islands that feature postcard-perfect beaches, aquamarine water, and unique attractions like the Swimming Pigs. However, most travelers stick to accessible hubs like Nassau and Freeport, leaving much of the archipelago unexplored. This is a shame, and while you won’t have time to tour the entire archipelago, you’ll want to at least make a stop at one other part of the country: Exuma Island Bahamas.
Famous for its bright blue water and secluded, picturesque cays, Exuma encompasses 365 of the country’s islands. In this post, we’ll highlight the top Exuma islands worth visiting. You’ll also learn how to get there, where to stay, and how to explore the region, including on a day trip from Nassau.
Exuma Island Bahamas: The Beautiful Bahamas Island of Exuma
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The Exuma Islands in the Bahamas
The Exuma Cays are a chain of 365 islands stretching southeast of Nassau. They’re part of The Out Islands – an area outside of the bustling capital. When you visit, expect the atmosphere to be quieter, the crowds thinner, and all the laid-back vibes the word “paradise” brings to mind.
While you could easily spend weeks exploring Bahamas Island Exuma, here are some top destinations you’ll want to check out:
The Island With Pigs
Pig Beach is officially called Big Major Cay.
Perhaps the most famous destination in Exuma, Big Major Cay is the official name of The Island With Pigs. Located around 80 miles (128 kilometers) southeast of Nassau, Pig Island is easy to visit on day trips from the capital. Air travel even makes it possible to reach the island on day trips from Miami.
The Swimming Pigs have lived on their uninhabited island home for years, becoming a true bucket list destination in the process. While their exact origins remain a mystery, nearby farmers likely transported the pigs to the island decades ago, returning by boat to feed them. This caused the pigs to become friendly and associate boats with feeding time, causing Pig Island to become the international sensation it is today.
When you arrive at the Exuma Island Bahamas, don’t be surprised to see a handful of Exuma Pigs paddling out to greet your boat. Following that, you’ll have time to swim alongside the pigs and enjoy the stunning tropical scenery Big Major Cay offers.
Georgetown
Unlike Nassau, which has a population of around 230,000 residents, only around 2,500 people live in Georgetown full-time. Nevertheless, the town is one of the biggest in the area and serves as the capital of Exuma.
Home to an international airport, Georgetown is one of a couple of popular entry points to Exuma. That said, it’s more than just a transit hub – the town has a history that stretches back hundreds of years. There are also a collection of shops, restaurants, and other venues worth checking out.
Stocking Island
Located next to Great Exuma, Stocking Island is a top-rated travel destination.
Located just off of the port of Georgetown, Stocking Island is a top contender for the prettiest Exuma Island Bahamas. With sand dunes, hidden coves, salt flats, and dry rainforests, the cay showcases the varied landscapes found throughout the Bahamas.
Beneath the waves lapping softly against the shore, Stocking Island is also home to incredible beauty. The waters by the island are teeming with marine life, making it a popular snorkeling and diving destination. There’s also a mysterious blue hole that looks like something out of a surreal film.
Little Exuma
Driving south on Great Exuma’s Queen’s Highway takes you to a bridge, which connects to the island of Little Exuma. While all of Exuma is renowned for its brightly colored water, the water around Little Exuma features some of the most vivid colors in the world.
The Exuma Island Bahamas is home to the Tropic of Cancer Beach. Also known as Pelican Beach, the area is quiet, postcard-perfect, and serves as an official welcome to the tropics.
Little Exuma is so beautiful that it’s served as the backdrop to several famous Hollywood movies. Pirates of the Caribbean filmed on the island, with Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom reportedly being huge fans of it.
Moriah Harbour Cay National Park
Moriah Harbour National Park is a popular destination for water sports like kayaking.
Established in 2002, Moriah Harbour Cay National Park encompasses 13,440 acres of Exuma Island Bahamas. Like the Everglades of South Florida, visitors can explore several distinct biomes, including sand dunes, beaches, mangrove creeks, and seagrass beds.
Among the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas it encompasses, Moriah Harbour Cay National Park is also home to a wide variety of wildlife. Conch, oysters, fish, and birds like ospreys all reside within the park’s borders.
Getting to Exuma
Despite being a remote paradise, Exuma is easier to visit than you might think. Planes and boats make the islands accessible to travelers, although air travel is the clear winner for most people.
Flying to Exuma is the most efficient and comfortable option. Flights from Nassau to Staniel Cay (an island near Pig Beach) take just 30 minutes, while flights to Georgetown take around 45 minutes to one hour.
The airports in Georgetown and Staniel Cay make it easy to travel to Exuma.
Boat travel is possible to some Bahamas Island Exuma destinations but requires more time and patience. While charters operate between Nassau and northern Exuma, the journey takes around two hours. Boats also leave you more exposed to the elements, making the trip potentially uncomfortable for some travelers.
If you’re looking for a smooth, scenic, and time-saving journey, flying is the best way to experience the Exuma Cays.
Exuma Island Resorts and Places to Stay
Exuma Island Bahamas offers a variety of accommodation options, from laid-back beachfront bungalows to luxurious all-inclusive resorts.
On Little Exuma, private rentals near Tropic of Cancer Beach offer quiet and scenic escapes perfect for travelers looking for solitude. Nearby, Great Exuma is home to different Exuma Island resorts like Beaches Emerald Bay and Grand Isle Resort, both located along the famed Emerald Bay Beach, while Stocking Island features offshore options like Kahari Resort and Peace and Plenty.
If you want to be close to the Swimming Pigs, the island of Staniel Cay is another great option. Home to a collection of colorful bungalows, the location puts you near several top Exuma Island Bahamas attractions.
Staying on Little Exuma puts you steps away from Tropic of Cancer Beach.
Day Trips to Staniel Cay
While you can stay at one of the Exuma Island resorts, you can also book day trips from Nassau to see the Swimming Pigs. And while the Exuma Pigs are the stars of the show, you also get to stop at several other amazing attractions.
Named after the James Bond film, Thunderball Grotto is a snorkeler’s dream, with colorful marine life hidden away inside a mysterious cave. Nearby, the sandbars at Pipe Creek emerge at low tide to reveal white-sand pathways surrounded by turquoise water. You can also look forward to visiting Compass Cay, where docile nurse sharks glide through the water.
Day trips to Exuma Island Bahamas let you enjoy those destinations and more, all without needing to worry about travel logistics like transportation or accommodations.
Sandbars at Pipe Creek are a highlight of Pig Island day trips.
Tour Exuma and Go Swimming With Pigs
Popular destinations like Nassau and Freeport have their charm, but no trip to The Bahamas is complete without at least a day spent in Exuma. One of the most beautiful areas of the archipelago, the Exuma Cays are home to everything from stunning natural beauty to the famous Swimming With Pigs experience.
Booking with Bahamas Air Tours makes it easy to tour the island chain. Comfortable, private-class flights let you day trip to see the Swimming Pigs, while charter options give you the freedom to create a custom itinerary around the region.
Ready to get your dream Bahamas vacation started? Book a Swimming Pigs tour with us today!
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