The Exumas
A 120-mile chain of 365 cays with the clearest water in the country, the swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto and a protected land-and-sea park.
Tours, excursions, water activities and attractions in The Bahamas
Most of what people remember from The Bahamas happens on or in the water. We help you choose the right excursions for your island and travel style, and arrange them with operators we have checked.
Day trips to the Exuma Cays, including the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay and Thunderball Grotto, are the single most requested experience in the country, available from Great Exuma, Staniel Cay and as long day trips from Nassau. Snorkelling and diving are excellent almost everywhere: the Andros Barrier Reef, the shark dives off Grand Bahama and New Providence, the blue holes of Andros and Long Island, and the shallow reefs of the Abacos and Exumas.
Fishing is a major draw: bonefishing on the flats of Andros, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Exuma, and deep-sea fishing off Bimini and in the Tongue of the Ocean. On land, Nassau offers historical walking tours, food tours and the Fish Fry, and Eleuthera's natural sights can be seen on a guided day by car.
Cultural experiences are increasingly available: Junkanoo workshops and shack visits in Nassau, rake-and-scrape music in the Family Islands, straw work and carving demonstrations in Andros, and cooking classes featuring conch, peas and rice and guava duff.
What falls under tours and experiences
- Boat excursions
- Full and half-day trips to cays, sandbars, snorkelling sites and the swimming pigs.
- Snorkelling and diving
- Reef, wall, wreck, blue hole and shark dives with certified operators.
- Fishing
- Bonefishing on the flats, reef fishing and deep-sea charters.
- Cultural and food tours
- Junkanoo, history walks, food and rum tours, cooking classes and music.
- Nature and land tours
- National parks, caves, blue holes, birding and island drives.
Where tours and experiences matter most
Nassau and New Providence
The capital and main gateway: colonial streets, Cable Beach, Junkanoo, and the easiest connections to every other island.
Andros
The largest and least developed island: a vast barrier reef, hundreds of blue holes, bonefishing flats and the Tongue of the Ocean.
Grand Bahama
Freeport and Lucaya, the Lucayan National Park's caves and Gold Rock Beach, West End fishing villages, and the shortest flights from Florida.
Eleuthera
A long, thin island of pink-sand beaches, pineapple fields and small settlements, with the Glass Window Bridge where the Atlantic meets the bank.
Bimini
The closest Bahamian island to the United States, famous for big-game fishing, Hemingway, the Bimini Road and water a short crossing from Miami.
Need tours and experiences for your trip?
Send a request with your dates and island. We check availability with verified suppliers and reply with specific options.
Common questions
Can I see the swimming pigs from Nassau?
Yes, several operators run full-day trips from Nassau to the Exuma Cays. The crossing is long, so expect an early start and a long day. From Great Exuma or Staniel Cay the trip is much shorter.
Are experiences suitable for children?
Many are, but operators set their own age and swimming requirements. Tell us the ages in your group and we will recommend suitable options.
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