From beaches and warm weather to theme parks and more, Florida has a lot to offer travelers. But while many people make a trek there each year, few people take advantage of its fantastic geographic position. Next time you’re in the Sunshine State, consider taking advantage of it by signing up for a Miami day trip to Bahamas.
With Swimming Pigs, world-famous beaches, and a unique island atmosphere, the Bahamas is a must-visit destination. The Exuma Cays are particularly spectacular, and, as they’re only a two-hour flight from Miami, serve as the perfect day trip option.
If you’re wondering what you can see on day trips to Bahamas, you’ve come to the right place. Listed below are seven of the top attractions you’ll get to see on a Miami to Bahamas day trip.
Read on to get started!
Flying to the Bahamas lets you see stunning views of the archipelago from above.
Miami Day Trip to Bahamas: 7 Day Cruise to Bahamas Attractions
1. The Gateway to the Exumas
When you sign up for a Miami day trip to Bahamas that travels by plane, the first island you fly into is Staniel Cay. Known as the gateway to the Exumas, the stunning island houses a regional airport that accommodates flights from Miami, the Bahamas, and other nearby places.
While it might be where you first touch down, Staniel Cay is more than just a landing strip on a pretty island. It’s home to a charming little town along with beautiful beaches, tall palm trees, and everything else you’d expect from an island in the Exuma Cays.
On your Miami to Bahamas day trip, you’ll spend some time on Staniel Cay after you land. You’ll switch over to a powerboat at the island’s harbor, and once the tour concludes, will make your way back there for lunch.
On your Exuma day trip, you’ll stop for lunch on Staniel Cay.
2. The Exuma Pigs
While Florida has beautiful beaches, it doesn’t have the Swimming Pigs. That’s something that you can only see on a Miami day trip to Bahamas!
If you’re unfamiliar with them, the Exuma Pigs are a collection of pigs that reside on Big Major Cay. Also known as Pig Beach, Big Major Cay is an uninhabited island, so no one can say for certain how they arrived there in the first place.
Some people believe that farmers brought them to Pig Island with the intention to eat them but then never returned. Others will tell you that the pigs were shipwrecked and swam to shore. Regardless of how they originally arrived, nearby islanders have fed them for years, so they’re now friendly and happy to greet everyone who arrives to visit them.
The friendly Exuma Pigs are just a quick plane ride away from Miami.
On your day trip to Bahamas from Miami, you’ll have plenty of time to meet the pigs, hang out in the water with them, and explore their island home.
3. Nurse Sharks
While the Swimming Pigs might be a major highlight of a Miami day trip to Bahamas, they’re not the only animals you get to see. While in the Exuma Cays, you can also look forward to going swimming with sharks.
The Compass Cay nurse sharks are a highlight on a Miami day trip to Bahamas.
At Compass Cay, another island near Big Major Cay, the owner of the local marina has managed to tame a school of nurse sharks. They’ve stuck around the piers ever since and have put Compass Cay on the map – so much so that documentaries have featured the island in their programs.
When you arrive at the island, you’ll immediately see the massive fish swimming and splashing around the water. After a quick safety briefing, you’ll then have the opportunity to hop in the water with them. While it certainly feels exhilarating to float amongst them, the guides help ensure that the experience remains safe for all the people and sharks there.
4. Rare Iguanas
Bitter Guana Cay is another island in the vicinity of the Exuma Pigs, making it another stop on a Miami day trip to Bahamas. Besides being one of the most gorgeous islands in the region, it’s also the place to go to see another special creature: the Bahamian northern rock iguana.
The Bahamian northern rock iguana resides on Bitter Guana Cay.
This species of lizard has, unfortunately, seen its population decline in recent years, making Bitter Guana Cay one of the only places to see them. Watching them slither out from the vegetation as you walk along the pristine beach is another highlight on a day trip to Bahamas from Miami.
Plus, boat tours don’t usually visit Bitter Guana Cay. When you’re there, there’s a good chance that you’ll have the beach (and the iguanas) all to yourself!
5. An Underwater Plane Wreck
Decades ago, a drug smuggling plane traveling from Colombia crashed into the warm Exuma waters. Loaded with marijuana, the pilots weren’t able to escape the crash. But despite meeting a watery grave, their vessel has become a place of life.
Today, the underwater plane wreck offers one of the top snorkeling opportunities on a Miami day trip to Bahamas. The water around the plane wreck is shallow, making it possible to dive down and examine the vessel up close.
As you float around the site, you can expect to see fish, coral, and other marine creatures in the water with you. Seeing them and learning about the underwater plane wreck’s history makes it another highlight of a day trip Miami to Bahamas.
There are a couple of underwater plane wrecks scattered around the Exuma waters.
6. Thunderball Grotto, a System of Underwater Caves
Day trips to Bahamas give you the opportunity to snorkel around an underwater plane wreck, but that’s not the only underwater experience offered. At Thunderball Grotto, you also get to snorkel through a system of underwater caves.
When the tides recede, the low water levels make it possible to float through the narrow entrances and into the main grotto. Once you’re inside, you’ll find yourself surrounded by tropical fish and coral. Depending on how lucky you are, you might even come across a sea turtle or another creature.
Day trips to Bahamas by plane let you visit Thunderball Grotto.
While Thunderball Grotto offers a glimpse into the rich marine life of the Bahamas, it also showcases the relationship that the Bahamas has had with Hollywood. Thunderball Grotto was a filming location for the James Bond film Thunderball, which is where its name comes from.
7. Sugar-White Sandbars
Although Miami is full of beautiful sites, a Miami day trip to Bahamas will let you see the true beauty of the Caribbean. In the Exuma Cays, perhaps the prettiest attraction you’ll visit are sandbars at Pipe Creek.
Another low tide attraction, the sandbars you visit are sugary-soft and right in the middle of a sea of blue. When you’re standing there with your feet sinking into the warm sand, you won’t know where to look, as everywhere is a feast for the eyes.
Pipe Creek might be the prettiest stop on a Miami to Bahamas day trip.
One of the best parts of visiting sandbars at Pipe Creek on day trips to Bahamas is that many boat tours don’t visit them. When you’re there, there’s a good chance you’ll have the entire area to yourself.
Day Trip Miami to Bahamas: The Ultimate Experience
A Miami day trip to Bahamas is an experience you won’t want to pass up on. From meeting the Swimming Pigs on their island home to swimming with nurse sharks and snorkeling in underwater caves, saying that your day will be full of excitement would be an understatement.
While it’s hard to say what your favorite site will be, one thing that’s certain is that air travel is the way to day cruise to Bahamas. While boat tours from Miami exist, they’re not able to reach Exuma and offer a much more uncomfortable experience, in general.
Sign up for a Florida to Swimming Pigs day trip and tours today!
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