Things to do in Exuma
38 places and activities across 10 areas: beaches, reefs, caves, settlements, food and the outings worth a boat or a long drive.
Great and Little Exuma connect by road. Most cays need a boat or flight. Check the actual departure base and distance.
Everything here is a real place or a real local activity, checked against local sources. Photographs are used with permission and credited below, and appear only where one exists for that exact place or activity. We do not show star ratings from other platforms. Each entry says how you reach it, roughly how long to allow and what to confirm locally, because access on the Out Islands changes with tides, weather, private ownership and the season.
Great Exuma - north and west coast
Beach
Coco Plum Beach
Explore pale sand and extensive tidal shallows.
- Where
- Near Rolleville
- Getting there and time
- Car / public approach · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Low tide reveals more of the sand flats.
Beach and wildlife
Hooper's Bay Beach
Enjoy the bay and watch for wild turtles.
- Where
- Hooper's Bay
- Getting there and time
- Car / public approach · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Keep a respectful distance. Turtle sightings vary.
Beach
Jolly Hall Beach
Relax on the sheltered sandy bay.
- Where
- Near George Town
- Getting there and time
- Car · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Use the current public approach.
Beach
Three Sisters Beach
See the shoreline and offshore Three Sisters rocks.
- Where
- Near Rolleville
- Getting there and time
- Car · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm the public access path.
Great Exuma - George Town and southeast
Culture and sailing
National Family Island Regatta viewing
Watch traditional Bahamian sloops racing in the harbour.
- Where
- George Town / Elizabeth Harbour
- Getting there and time
- Seasonal event · About 5 hours
Confirm access locally. Annual event. Confirm the specific year's dates.
Kayaking
Moriah Harbour Cay National Park paddling
Explore protected mangrove and shallow-water habitats.
- Where
- Moriah Harbour / southeast Great Exuma
- Getting there and time
- Local guide / boat · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm the launch and route with a local guide.
Culture
George Town waterfront and Lake Victoria walk
Explore the harbour town and surrounding shops.
- Where
- George Town
- Getting there and time
- Car / walk · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. A convenient base for Stocking Island transfers.
Shopping
Sandpiper Arts and Crafts
Browse Bahamian gifts and locally sold crafts.
- Where
- George Town
- Getting there and time
- Car / walk · About an hour
Confirm access locally. Check shop hours.
History
Rolle Town settlement and historic tombs
Explore a commonage settlement and its historic tombs.
- Where
- Rolle Town
- Getting there and time
- Car · 1 to 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Visit respectfully. This is a living community.
Food and drink
George Town Fish Fry
Eat fried fish, conch and other Bahamian dishes at the cluster of waterside stands.
- Where
- Queen's Highway, just north of George Town
- Getting there and time
- Car / walk · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Busiest on weekend evenings. Stands keep their own hours.
Stocking Island and Elizabeth Harbour
Beach
Stocking Island beaches
Explore beaches across Elizabeth Harbour from George Town.
- Where
- Stocking Island
- Getting there and time
- Water taxi / boat · About 5 hours
Confirm access locally. Arrange the collection point and return time.
Beach
Sand Dollar Beach outing
Spend time on a quieter Stocking Island beach.
- Where
- Stocking Island / Sand Dollar Beach
- Getting there and time
- Water taxi / boat · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Tell the water-taxi operator the exact beach.
Food and drink
Chat 'N' Chill
Enjoy a beach-bar meal and the harbour setting.
- Where
- Stocking Island / Volleyball Beach
- Getting there and time
- Water taxi / boat · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm food service and any Sunday pig roast.
Little Exuma
Beach
Tropic of Cancer Beach
Enjoy the island's celebrated long white-sand beach.
- Where
- Moore Hill
- Getting there and time
- Car via Little Exuma bridge · About 4 hours
Confirm access locally. Use the public approach and carry supplies.
Food and culture
William's Town village and local seafood
Explore the southern settlement and arrange local food.
- Where
- Little Exuma / William's Town
- Getting there and time
- Car · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm which kitchens are serving that day.
History
Little Exuma Salt Beacon
See the column marking the former salt-trade coast.
- Where
- Williams Town
- Getting there and time
- Car / walk · About an hour
Confirm access locally. A short stop on a Little Exuma driving day.
Staniel Cay and nearby cays
Snorkelling
Thunderball Grotto snorkelling
Snorkel the cave featured in James Bond films.
- Where
- West of Staniel Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / experienced guide · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Currents and tide control access. Follow the captain's plan.
Wildlife
Bitter Guana Cay iguana visit
Observe the island's rock iguanas.
- Where
- Bitter Guana Cay / south of Staniel Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / guide · About an hour
Confirm access locally. Keep your distance and leave wildlife undisturbed.
Wildlife excursion
Original Pig Beach visit
See the swimming pigs near Staniel Cay.
- Where
- Big Major Cay / Big Major's Spot
- Getting there and time
- Boat / guided excursion · 1 to 2 hours
Confirm access locally. The original swimming pigs. Go early or late to avoid the busiest hours.
Culture
Staniel Cay settlement and waterfront lunch
Explore the settlement and its harbour restaurants.
- Where
- Staniel Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / flight · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Reserve dining and check visitor dock arrangements.
Compass Cay and Rocky Dundas
Nature
Rachel's Bubble Bath
Visit the lagoon behind the ocean-facing rock barrier.
- Where
- North Compass Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / guided approach · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Local sea-state judgment is essential.
Beach
Compass Cay Crescent Beach
Walk to the broad Atlantic-side crescent.
- Where
- Compass Cay east coast
- Getting there and time
- Boat / permitted landing · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Ask the marina about current access.
Snorkelling
Rocky Dundas cave snorkelling
Explore sea caves with sunlit limestone formations.
- Where
- Rocky Dundas / inside Exuma Park
- Getting there and time
- Boat / experienced guide · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Enter only in suitable conditions with a guide.
Wildlife excursion
Compass Cay nurse-shark observation
Observe nurse sharks around the marina.
- Where
- Compass Cay marina
- Getting there and time
- Boat / marina fee · 1 to 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Water entry is optional. Follow operator instructions.
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
Nature
Warderick Wells park and trails
Explore protected shorelines and land trails at park headquarters.
- Where
- Warderick Wells
- Getting there and time
- Boat / park arrangements · About 5 hours
By arrangement. No taking wildlife, shells or other natural material.
Snorkelling
Warderick Wells reef snorkelling
Snorkel protected reefs around the park headquarters.
- Where
- Warderick Wells
- Getting there and time
- Boat / park advice · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Use designated moorings and locally advised sites.
Kayaking
Shroud Cay mangrove-creek paddle
Explore the island's shallow tidal waterways.
- Where
- Shroud Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / kayak · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Motorized access is restricted to the designated north creek.
Boat excursion
Shroud Cay beach and creek excursion
Follow the permitted creek route to its beach outlet.
- Where
- Shroud Cay north creek
- Getting there and time
- Boat / local skipper · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Observe idle-speed rules and tide-dependent access.
Northern Exuma Cays
Wildlife
Allen's Cay rock-iguana visit
Observe protected rock iguanas on the cays.
- Where
- Allen's Cay group
- Getting there and time
- Boat / guide · 1 to 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Confirm the exact landing cay. Do not handle wildlife.
Snorkelling
Norman's Cay plane-wreck snorkelling
Snorkel the shallow-water aircraft wreck.
- Where
- Norman's Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / guide · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Time entry to local current conditions.
Beach and boating
Highbourne Cay beaches and marina stop
Explore the northern cay's beaches and marina setting.
- Where
- Highbourne Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / prior permission · About 3 hours
By arrangement. Private island. Confirm visitor and dining access.
Beach
Norman's Cay beach and island visit
Explore permitted beaches and the island setting.
- Where
- Norman's Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / prior permission · About 3 hours
By arrangement. Confirm landing and restaurant arrangements.
Wildlife
Leaf Cay rock iguanas
Watch Bahamian rock iguanas come down to the sand to meet the boats; a regular stop on northern cays trips.
- Where
- Leaf Cay, Allen's Cay group
- Getting there and time
- Boat / guide · About an hour
Confirm access locally. Do not feed by hand or handle the iguanas. Keep to the beach.
Southern Exuma Cays
Beach
Mile-Long Sandbar outing
Walk the exposed sandbar south of Farmer's Cay.
- Where
- Off Farmer's Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / tide-dependent · About 2 hours
Confirm access locally. Exact exposure depends on the tide.
Boat excursion
Musha Cay seasonal sandbar excursion
Visit a seasonal sandbar in the southern cays.
- Where
- Musha Cay area
- Getting there and time
- Boat / guide · About 3 hours
Confirm access locally. Private-island facilities require permission. Verify the landing location.
Culture
Little Farmer's Cay settlement visit
Explore a small inhabited cay in the southern chain.
- Where
- Little Farmer's Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / flight arrangement · About 3 hours
By arrangement. Reserve meals and any local guiding ahead.
Snorkeling
Underwater piano and mermaid sculpture
Snorkel over the steel grand piano and mermaid commissioned by David Copperfield, resting in shallow water just off the cay.
- Where
- Off Rudder Cut Cay
- Getting there and time
- Boat / guide · About an hour
Confirm access locally. Best in calm conditions; the cay itself is private. Usually combined with the southern sandbars.
Black Point and Great Guana Cay
Culture
Black Point settlement and local meal
Explore the inhabited cay and its waterfront community.
- Where
- Black Point / Great Guana Cay, Exuma
- Getting there and time
- Boat / flight arrangement · About 3 hours
By arrangement. This Great Guana Cay is in Exuma, separate from Abaco.
Want help putting Exuma together?
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Photo credits
- Unattributed photographs: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, used with permission.
- Three Sisters Beach: exumaexclusives.com
- Hooper's Bay Beach: stay-exuma.com
- Jolly Hall Beach: tripadvisor.com
- George Town waterfront and Lake Victoria walk: meersegeln.ch
- Sandpiper Arts and Crafts: discoverexuma.com
- National Family Island Regatta viewing: cosmosmariners.com
- Sand Dollar Beach outing: notallthosewhowanderarelost.com
- William's Town village and local seafood: expedia.com
- Little Exuma Salt Beacon: expedia.com
- Original Pig Beach visit: exumasexperience.com
- Staniel Cay settlement and waterfront lunch: yachtcharterfleet.com
- Bitter Guana Cay iguana visit: swimmingwithpigs.com
- Compass Cay nurse-shark observation: yachtcharterfleet.com
- Rachel's Bubble Bath: yachtcharterfleet.com
- Warderick Wells park and trails: svislandspirit.com
- Warderick Wells reef snorkelling: cruisingstormypetrel.wordpress.com
- Shroud Cay mangrove-creek paddle: allatsea.net
- Shroud Cay beach and creek excursion: mikeandkatetv.com
- Norman's Cay plane-wreck snorkelling: swimmingwithpigs.com
- Norman's Cay beach and island visit: islands.com
- Musha Cay seasonal sandbar excursion: mushacay.com
- Black Point settlement and local meal: lorrainescafevilla.com
- Leaf Cay rock iguanas: swimmingwithpigs.com
- Underwater piano and mermaid sculpture: andremusgroveart.com
- George Town Fish Fry: discoverexuma.com
Back to the Exuma travel guide, or see every island in the islands overview.