10 Amazing Things To Do in Exuma Bahamas

10 Amazing Things to Do Exuma Bahamas

Exuma is like a dream and despite its small size, there are tons of things to do for both beach lovers and adventure seekers. The most popular attractions will actually take you off the island and into the other cays, but with over 700 islands stretching across 100,000 square miles of ocean, island hopping is all part of the experience!

Just remember, the tourism scene is really low-key here, so you won’t find locals offering surf lessons on the beach or a ton of watersports other than boating (although there are a few). Most tourists spend their time relaxing on the beach and hopping from cay to cay to see many of the famous spots we’ve included on our list of things to do in Exuma.

Fortunately, there are plenty of boat tours to choose from that will take you to the different cays. Just make sure they depart from Great Exuma. We took the “Ultimate Day-A-Way” tour with Aquaquest Escapes, and it was amazing. Highly recommend! We hit all the major attractions that were on our bucket lists: swimming pigs, nurse sharks, iguana island, Thunderball grotto, Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane, and a sand bar. It was the perfect day and the highlight of our trip.

Ready to dive into the 10 best things to do in Exuma? Let’s go!

1. Swim With The Famous Pigs

The famous Swimming Pigs of The Bahamas have made their way onto so many bucket lists! These beach babes can be found on the small island known as Big Major Cay, often called Pig Beach or Pig Island. Big Major Cay is an uninhabited island, except for the pigs and a few chickens, so you’ll need to take a boat to get there. No one knows exactly how the pigs got stranded on this island, but they have adapted in unbelievable ways.

As your boat approaches Pig Beach, the pigs will start swimming out to you in search of food. Your captain will give you some apples to toss in the water. When the boat glides to shore you can hop out and get in with water with the pigs, or hang out with them on the beach. If you’re lucky, the piglets will be out too.

Exuma offers a ton of great tours to get to the pigs, and many of them include a long list of other Insta-worthy stops throughout the islands. Just be sure to ask the tour company if you’re going to the original Pig Beach! Unfortunately, there have been a few “fake” Pig Beaches created in recent years. These imitation beaches mislead tourists and prioritize revenue over the well-being of the pigs.

2. Float With Wild Nurse Sharks

Swimming with the pigs gets the most attention from travelers, but in our opinion, it doesn’t even compare to floating with these nurse sharks. Dive in and you’ll be surrounded by dozens of huge nurse sharks swimming in every direction. These sharks are found at Compass Cay and this stop is included on most boat tours.

Your boat will pull up to a dock rather than the shore like at Pig Beach. The guys who run the dock will ask for a $10 cash fee to get in the water with the sharks, but it’s worth every penny. They throw chum in the water to keep the sharks in one area, so the photo opportunities are endless! Nurse sharks are pretty harmless, but if you’re too scared to swim with them, watching from the dock is still pretty amazing.

3. Feed Giant Rock Iguanas

If you’re going to swim with pigs and sharks, you may as well feed some giant iguanas while you’re at it. These enormous rock iguanas can be found at Leaf Cay, often called Iguana Island or Bitter Guana Cay. This stop is also included in most boat tours. The island is home to the only remaining Bahamian Rock Iguanas in the world! They’ve been evolving for over 3 million years, but they are now on the endangered species list.

Your boat will glide up on the shore and you’ll hop out to greet these prehistoric-looking creatures at the edge of the water. Just like the pigs, they’ll be waiting for food, but unlike the pigs, they don’t swim! Your tour guide will likely give you crackers to feed them, and they’ll eat right out of your hand. If you’re on a private boat, you can also take some time to hike one of the short trails on the island.

4. Relax On A Sand Bar

With velvety sand stretching out as far as the eye can see, the shallow blue water of the Pipe Cay Sandbar is like a dream. The Pipe Cay Sandbar can be found at Pipe Cay and is part of Pipe Creek, which is a network of shallow waterways. This was another stop that’s included on most boat tours. The waters here are always shallow, but during low tide, most of the water completely disappears, leaving silky sand flats everywhere.

Boats gather around the flats, tourists strike their best poses for selfies, and snorkelers search for sea turtles from a nearby sanctuary. This was one of the most peaceful stops we made — there’s just something about sitting in the middle of the open ocean, surrounded by nothing but blue as far as the eye can see.

5. Explore Pablo Escobar’s Sunken Plane

Just off the shores of Norman’s Cay you’ll find the remains of a plane flown by the infamous narcotics kingpin Pablo Escobar.  This plane was once used to smuggle cocaine to the U.S. as part of an international drug ring in the 1970s and 80s.  It’s believed that Pablo Escobar himself built a man-made runway on Norman’s Cay so his planes could land and refuel during their journey.  

The true story behind this sunken aircraft has been shrouded in myth and legend, so we may never know what left this WWII-era plane in the shallow depths of the ocean.  It most likely missed the runway during a stop to refuel.  Today, the plane crash has become an artificial reef filled with colorful fish and marine life. It sits at a depth of around 10 feet below the surface, making it the perfect spot for snorkeling.

This stop is included on many boat tours, but not always, so be sure to ask if it’s a must for you! If you’re looking for this plane wreck without a tour guide, it does come up on Google Maps under “Normans Cay Sunken Plane.”

6. Snorkel The Famous Thunderball Grotto

Thunderball Grotto is an underwater cave system that is known for its fantastic snorkeling and diving.  It’s packed with colorful marine life and coral reefs.  Thunderball Grotto was also used in the filming of two different James Bond movies. This is a stop on most boat tours.

The entrance to the cave is submerged, so at high tide, you’ll have to swim underwater for a brief moment to get into the cave.  We arrived during low tide, so we had about a foot of space between the top of the entrance tunnel and the surface of the water. Even though we didn’t have to dive underwater to get in, it was still difficult to keep our heads above water. We wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who isn’t a strong swimmer.

Once inside the cave, you’ll be rewarded with a mesmerizing cavern, both above and under the water. Small holes in the roof of the cave let in beams of light that reflect off the turquoise water, illuminating your surroundings. Below the surface, you’ll find an entire underwater world of colorful fish and vibrant corals.

7. Have A Pig Roast At Chat n’ Chill

Chat N’ Chill is a beach bar located on Stocking Island which can easily be reached by water taxi from Great Exuma.  Visitors can come by for a few drinks, relax on the beach, play a game of beach volleyball, and even feed the stingrays that gather near the shores looking for discarded conch scraps from the restaurant.  Every Sunday they host a big pig roast and both tourists and locals gather for the biggest social event of the week.   

The pig roast starts at noon every Sunday and carries on until they run out of food.  For $22 a plate, you’ll get a heaping serving of Bahamian-style smoked pig with three sides.  It does get quite crowded and the food service is slow, but you’re encouraged to “chill” and enjoy the island pace.  If you don’t have your own boat, you can get here by taking a quick 5-minute water taxi ride from Exuma’s capitol, Georgetown.  

8. Take A Dip At Tropic Of Cancer Beach

Tropic of Cancer Beach (sometimes called Pelican Beach) is jaw-droppingly beautiful. It stretches for more than a mile in the shape of a crescent and the horizon is dotted with tiny islands. The water is so blue and the palm trees are placed so perfectly along the shore that it looks like a postcard! Swimming here is one of our favorite things to do in Exuma. To this day, it’s the most stunning beach we’ve ever seen. And the best part is, it’s never crowded.

This beach is located on the very south end of the island. It’s actually part of Little Exuma, which is attached to Great Exuma by a small one-way bridge. It’s fairly easy to get to, but it’s located far enough away from the tourist areas that it often gets overlooked. Trust us, it’s worth the few extra minutes of driving.

9. Souvenir Shop In Georgetown

Don’t expect a ton of shopping in Exuma, but even with their lack of storefronts, it’s worth taking some time to pick up souvenirs from the Straw Market in Georgetown.  The Straw Market is a great place to get some locally-made things to bring home.  You’ll find colorful straw hats, bags, and baskets, along with your typical souvenirs such as shirts and magnets.  The Straw Market is open Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm.

We were surprised to find a big selection of souvenirs at the airport as well, so if you can’t seem to find something great to take home during your trip, you’ll have one last chance after going through security at the airport.

10. Catch The Low Tide At Cocoplum Beach

Cocoplum Beach is a hidden gem that is favored by the locals.  This beach is tucked away behind a stretch of thick trees, so unless you already know the beach exists, you’ll likely drive right past it without a second thought.  During low tide, this shallow beach becomes dotted with little sand bars, so you can walk out for nearly a mile and only be waist-deep.

The thick grove of trees that line the shore of this beach is lined with picnic tables, a few parking areas, and some restrooms.  There’s also a small restaurant at the end of the beach.  The shoreline is very narrow during high tide so you’ll want to set your belongings up near the trees. 

When to Visit Exuma Bahamas

Most tourists visit The Bahamas between December and April when the chance of rain is low and the weather is warm but pleasant. The islands fall within the hurricane belt, so between the months of June and November (also the rainy season), hurricanes are a big concern for travelers.

If you want to enjoy The Bahamas outside of hurricane season without the crowds, and you’re willing to take a chance on the weather, the very end of April and the last three weeks of November are the island’s sweet spot for lower prices, thinner crowds, and (usually) not much rain. We visited in the middle of November and didn’t experience any rain at all.

July and August are the hottest months, January is the coldest month, and October is the wettest. Just like any tropical island, weather patterns change quickly and rain usually doesn’t last long. The islands are all relatively flat so clouds don’t gather for long periods of time.

How to Get To Exuma Bahamas

It seems to be a misconception that getting to the country’s capital city, Nassau (located on New Providence Island), is easier than getting to Exuma. This is not true! Flights regularly fly into the Georgetown International Airport (GGT) on Great Exuma Island, so getting to Exuma is easier than ever.

No matter where you’re flying in from, your connection to Exuma will likely be made in Miami or Atlanta. It’s a short 2-hour plane ride from Atlanta and an even shorter 1-hour flight from Miami. Some flights will include a layover in Nassau, but we don’t recommend this. If you can find a direct flight from the U.S., you shouldn’t waste your time connecting in Nassau unless you plan on staying on that island for part of your Bahamas trip.

Of course, some travelers choose to charter a boat or a yacht instead. There are several helpful Facebook Groups created just for people who plan to travel these waters by boat, so be sure to join one before you set sail.

Where to Stay in Exuma Bahamas

Exuma is small and the tourism scene has not truly popped yet, so there may be fewer accommodation options than you’d expect. We stayed at Paradise Bay and we really loved it! It was budget-friendly and right on the ocean. We highly recommend it and would stay here again. Paradise Bay is a 15-minute drive from the airport, just outside of the capital city of Georgetown. Each villa offers an ocean view or garden view, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a TV. There’s also an on-site restaurant which was delicious!

If you’re feeling really fancy, and you have the budget, another highly-rated resort on the island is Kahari Resort. This resort is located on Stocking Island and features 12 custom waterfront bungalows each with screened-in porches, outdoor showers, and more privacy than you can imagine. Guests will need to take a short 5-minute boat ride from Georgetown to reach the resort. Your transportation will be arranged at the time of booking.

How to Get Around Exuma Bahamas

We’ve said it already — Exuma’s tourism game is pretty subtle. Along with limited accommodation, you’ll find limited transportation options. If you’re looking to rent a Mercedes Benz or get Ubered around the island, Exuma is not the place for that. Unless you plan on staying at your hotel for most of the trip, we definitely recommend renting a car to get around.

We were surprised to find that the car rental options in Exuma were really limited and only local car rental companies could be found at the airport. We ended up renting a car from Thompson’s Car Rental, based on a recommendation. Their offices are located right at the airport, they were affordable, and we didn’t have any issues with the rental process, so we do recommend them. Just don’t expect a fancy rental! We were given a 2008 Chevy Cruise that was definitely near the end of its life. We were certain the car was going to quit on us a few times during the trip, but it hung in there and now we have a memory that will make us laugh forever.

If you really don’t want to get a car, you can arrange for a taxi to take you to your resort if they don’t offer a complimentary shuttle. Many boat tours in the area offer hotel pick-up and drop-off, as well.

Final Thoughts: Exuma, Bahamas

We absolutely loved our time in Exuma and can’t believe how few people have been there. It feels like one of the last true hidden gems. What we loved the most was how secluded and private the island was, all while offering some of the coolest excursions we’ve ever done. Swimming with pigs and sharks? Incredible. Feeding giant iguanas? Unreal. Snorkeling Pablo Escobar’s plane wreck? Insane.

We also loved how easy it was to get to Exuma. Our affordable non-stop flight from Miami had us there in less than an hour. We highly recommend visiting Exuma if you have the chance, and trust us when we say it’s way better than Nassau, which is where most Bahama travelers go. If you want to cross The Bahamas off your bucket list, Exuma is the way to do it!

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