The Staniel Cay Airport isn’t big. It only has one runway and three private hangars, meaning that it can’t accommodate any medium or large-sized planes. That said, its presence on Staniel Cay opens up golden opportunities for exploring the surrounding region. And exploring the Exumas is something you’ll want to do! With bright blue, crystal-clear water, world-famous beaches, and unique local attractions, the region of the Exumas is a jewel in the crown of the Bahamas.
In this guide, we’re going to highlight why traveling by air on a day trip to Staniel Cay is the best way to experience the area. Once you finish reading, you’ll have the knowledge you need to book Staniel Cay flights and get your dream trip started.
Read on to learn more!
Time moves a bit different on the island!
Staniel Cay Airport: Your Gateway to the Exumas:
Staniel Cay 101
If you’re unfamiliar with it, Staniel Cay is an island in the Exumas, a chain of 365 islands south of Nassau. Staniel Cay is a little more than 80 miles away from the country’s capital, making tours to Staniel Cay by plane a great way to traverse the region. When you fly with Bahamas Air Tours from Nassau, your journey will take you around a half hour.
Bright colors, man-made and natural, are everywhere on Staniel Cay.
With an area of less than two square miles, the Staniel Cay Airport is one of the largest structures on the island. However, there’s also a quaint Bahamian village on the Western shore. There, you’ll find buildings that cater to tourists and the island’s 118 residents alike, including restaurants, shops, a post office, a church, and marine supply shops.
While the island is quaint and relatively laid-back, it has an abundance of natural beauty that spills out of everything around you. From the clear water lapping against the shores to tropical flora that blows in the breeze, the moment you land at Staniel Cay Airport, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to an alternative, postcard-perfect reality.
The village of Staniel Cay is just a short walk from Staniel Cay Airport.
The Staniel Cay Yacht Club
One of the highlights of the island and something you’ll get to experience on a Staniel Cay day trip is the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.
Founded in 1956, the club has become one of the top hidden gems in the region. So what makes it so great? Its ability to fill several roles at once!
Enjoy a delicious lunch and cold drink at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.
The club serves as a marina, housing all sorts of boats in its harbor. However, it also features several seaside bungalows with private porches, a private airstrip, and a surprisingly lively restaurant and bar. All of that means that no matter what you’re looking to do on a Staniel Cay day tour, you can probably do it at the yacht club.
When you sign up for tours to Staniel Cay with Bahamas Air Tours, you’ll have time to stop at the yacht club for lunch. Like everyone who stops at the establishment, you’ll find it to be the perfect spot to rest, enjoy a delicious meal and drink, and appreciate everything you’ve done so far that day.
Reaching Staniel Cay
Of course, before you can appreciate the Staniel Cay Airport and all the other sites that the island and region have to offer, you’ll need to find a way to get there. We already mentioned how tours to Staniel Cay Bahamas that travel by plane are the best way to reach the island. But astute travelers might realize that you can also reach the Exumas by boat. So why should you travel by plane instead of the ferry?
The views when you land at the Staniel Cay Airport will take your breath away.
Skipping the Ferry
While a Bahamas cruise might sound dreamy, most people find the reality to be a bit different. For one thing, to get to the Exumas by ferry, the boat has to cross over rough, open waters. This leads to an uncomfortable experience, with many passengers ending up feeling sick.
The ferry is also the more popular option. While the Staniel Cay Airport by plane will have you sharing your vessel with just a couple of other travelers (and zero others if you book a private trip), the ferry operator crams you onto a boat with hundreds of other people. You’ll quickly realize that it’s much less a Bahamas cruise than another overpriced tourist trap.
Finally, the ferry ride is also long. It takes a couple of hours to reach the Exumas, and when you’re trying to embark on a day trip to Staniel Cay Bahamas, that’s time that you don’t want to waste.
Flying on a private-class plane is a much more comfortable and luxurious experience.
Cruising Through the Air
In contrast, skipping the ferry and flying by plane to Staniel Cay Airport sidesteps all of those problems. You get to enjoy a much more comfortable and luxurious experience, avoid the crowds, and end up reaching the island in a fraction of the time.
However, another one of the biggest perks of traveling by air is the views. The Exumas are so bright and colorful that astronauts can see them from space. When you’re flying through the air and look out the window, you’ll quickly understand why.
The island of Staniel Cay Bahamas seen from above.
Other Highlights in the Region
While Staniel Cay has some exciting things to offer, Bahamas Air Tours will use it as your base for exploring other islands in the region. After departing their Staniel Cay flights, travelers will hop on a boat and cruise around to some of the other top sites in the region.
The Exuma Pigs at Pig Beach
Most people have seen the famous images of pigs splashing around in the water. While many places in the Bahamas and around the world have sought to emulate that classic experience, you’ll get to see the original pigs at Big Major Cay on a Staniel Cay day trip.
While different people believe different stories, most agree that farmers from nearby islands brought the pigs to Big Major Cay a couple of decades ago. They’ve called the island home ever since, becoming an international sensation in the process.
The Exuma pigs are one of the highlights of any Bahamas vacation.
After decades of farmers pulling up to the island to feed them by boat, the pigs have become friendly and eager to greet anyone who arrives on the shores of their island. You’ll see them hop in the water to come out and greet you and will happily hang out with you once you’re on their beach.
When you travel by plane to the Staniel Cay Airport, you’ll have more time to spend with the pigs than you otherwise would if you traveled by boat.
Nurse Sharks at Compass Cay
Compass Cay is another island close to Staniel Cay Bahamas. It’s also another spot where you’ll stop on a Staniel Cay day tour with Bahamas Air Tours.
While Big Major Cay is famous for its water-loving pigs, Compass Cay has made its mark on the map through the presence of a different species: nurse sharks. That’s because the owner of the local marina is a shark fan who’s managed to “tame” some of the sharks in the nearby waters. Over the years, they’ve multiplied and have stuck around ever since!
Today, the Compass Cay marina is the perfect spot to see these massive yet peaceful sharks up close. You can even jump in the water with them if you’re so inclined!
Tours to Staniel Cay: Bring Your Dream Bahamas Vacation to Life
The Staniel Cay Airport might not be big, but it allows you to explore the stunning islands in the region. From swimming pigs to sharks and so much more, you’re going to want to soak up the magic of the Exumas for as long as you can. Traveling by plane with Bahamas Air Tours lets you do that.
Sign up for a Staniel Cay day tour today!
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