The Exumas island chain is divided into Great Exuma, Little Exuma and the Exuma Cays. This three-part layout offers a wide range of discoveries: from an early land and sea park to beaches and underwater caves, and a regatta featuring music and boat races. So if you’re planning a trip to Exuma, it’s worth distinguishing between the places and the experiences each offers.
Parks, Coastlines and Natural Features
The Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park covers 176 square miles and was established in 1958 as the world’s first land and sea park. Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, between Great Exuma and Little Exuma, offers a different landscape. Its features include sand dunes and beaches, as well as mangrove channels and seagrass meadows. The combination of coastline and shallow-water landscapes defines the area.
Moriah Harbour Cay and the surrounding areas offer opportunities for kayaking, snorkeling, kitesurfing, bonefishing, hiking and photography. Activities range from exploring the water to discovering the land. On Stocking Island, meanwhile, white-sand beaches, blue holes, coral gardens and underwater caves are among its natural features. Stromatolites are also found on the island’s Atlantic beaches.
Tropic of Cancer Beach, also known as Pelican Beach, is on Little Exuma. With its crescent-shaped stretch of white sand and turquoise water, it is the island’s longest beach. Great Exuma and Little Exuma are connected by a bridge—a useful point of reference when distinguishing between the two parts of the island chain.
Experiences on and Under the Water
Big Major Cay is one of the Exuma Cays and is home to the famous swimming pigs, also known as Pig Beach. The island is uninhabited apart from the pigs and can only be reached by boat. Bear this in mind when including Big Major Cay in your travel plans, and check the current options for taking a boat there.
Thunderball Grotto offers a different experience: an underwater cave system where you can snorkel, dive and wade. The cave is home to diverse marine life and coral reefs; at low tide, visitors can swim through it. Tides and conditions affect these activities, so be sure to take them into account before your visit. The grotto also has a connection to film history: it served as a filming location for 1965’s “Thunderball” and 1983’s “Never Say Never Again.”
Regatta, Market and Island Culture
For over 45 years, sailors from around the world have gathered in George Town for the George Town Cruising Regatta. The event runs for two weeks and combines games, boat races, music and island entertainment. Each year, a hands-on workshop is also held at Volleyball Beach: participants make a working conch horn from an empty conch shell. If the regatta is part of your travel plans, check the current event dates in advance.
George Town is also home to the Exuma Straw Market. The market has been operating since the early 1960s and sells locally handcrafted souvenirs, as well as seasonal fruit and vegetables. On Stocking Island, Chat ’N’ Chill combines Bahamian and American cuisine with a laid-back atmosphere. From Elizabeth Harbour, you can get there by boat in five minutes; a water taxi runs during the day. Check the current schedule before your visit. Chat ’N’ Chill’s Sunday Pig Roast has been a social event on Stocking Island since 2001.
Planning Your Trip
Exuma International Airport is on Great Exuma, a few miles from the main settlement of George Town, and serves as the main gateway to the Exumas. Staniel Cay Airport, by contrast, is an official port of entry in the Exuma Cays, with customs and immigration clearance. The islands also differ in how they can be reached: Little Exuma is connected to Great Exuma by a bridge, while Big Major Cay can only be reached by boat.
When choosing a hotel in Exuma, you can start by considering what you want your trip to focus on: coastlines and nature parks, water activities, or events and local crafts in George Town. The names of the island sections and the connections described for each can help you match these interests with the right travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Farmer's Hill, Moss Town, Hartswell, William's Town, Steventon, Rokers Point Settlement, Alexander, George Town.
See the main travel overview: Bahamas.
