The island chain is divided into Great Exuma, Little Exuma and the Exuma Cays. Nature areas, beaches and boat trips are spread across different parts of the destination. When planning your trip, it helps to organise these destinations around your interests rather than treating them as a single excursion area.
Exuma: Nature Experiences Between Land and Water
At Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, visitor experiences include trails on Moriah Harbour Cay and snorkelling reefs near Fowl Cay. Moriah Harbour Cay and the surrounding areas also offer opportunities for kayaking, snorkelling, kitesurfing, bonefishing, hiking and photography. The national park’s landscape includes sand dunes, beaches, mangrove channels and seagrass beds. There is a choice of activities on land as well as experiences on and in the water; conditions may vary.
Another protected area is Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. It covers 176 square miles and was established in 1958 as the world’s first land and sea park. The two parks provide different points of reference for planning your trip: Moriah Harbour Cay National Park highlights, among other things, trails, reefs and diverse coastal habitats, while Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park is distinguished by its early establishment and size.
Beaches, Islands and Underwater Life
Tropic of Cancer Beach, also known as Pelican Beach, is on Little Exuma. The crescent-shaped beach has white sand and blue-green water and is the longest beach on Little Exuma. A bridge connects Little Exuma to Great Exuma. Big Major Cay, by contrast, is part of the Exuma Cays: the uninhabited island belongs to an island group of 365 islands and is known as the home of the famous swimming pigs, also called Pig Beach. Big Major Cay is accessible only by boat.
Thunderball Grotto is another destination for underwater experiences. The cave system offers opportunities for snorkelling, diving and wading, and is known for its diverse marine life and coral reefs. At low tide, visitors can swim through the grotto; tides and conditions affect activities. The site also has a place in film history: the grotto was used as a filming location for “Thunderball” (1965) and “Never Say Never Again” (1983).
Compare Boat Trips
In the wider region, Sugar Adventure Company offers the “Up to Staniel Cay Day Trip” day-trip package. It includes a visit to Thunderball Grotto and swimming with pigs. The “Sandy Cay/Little Exuma Tour” departs from Elizabeth Harbour and heads towards Little Exuma. On the way to the remote sand island of Sandy Cay, the tour stops for lunch at a local restaurant. The two trips therefore differ in their stated stops and highlights. Schedules and availability may change; check with the operator before making plans.
Arrival and Getting Your Bearings in the Region
For context within the wider destination: 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. In George Town, Exuma Straw Market has been operating since the early 1960s. It offers locally handcrafted souvenirs as well as seasonal fruit and vegetables; the selection of seasonal produce may vary.
First consider which experiences on Exuma you would like to shape your stay, then compare the tours based on their specifically stated destinations. For boat trips, it is worth confirming current times and availability directly with the operator.
Discover more destinations: Hartswell, William's Town, George Town, Rokers Point Settlement, Steventon, Moss Town, Farmer's Hill.
Return to the main travel overview: Exuma.
