The Exumas, Bahamas
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365 Cays of
Compelling Beauty
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If you’re looking for warmth, beauty and adventure, it’s hard to
find a cruising ground more enticing than the Exumas.
Anchored by two large islands, Great Exuma and Little Exuma, the 130-mile-long chain has 365 named cays, one for every day of the year. Amid scintillating seascapes of turquoise, beaches and sandbars are enough attractions to satisfy a lifetime. Equally enticing are the warmth of the locals and a community of hundreds of friendly cruisers who make the Exumas their seasonal home.
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Customs, Cays, and Hidden Wonders of The Exumas |
Many journeys begin at Allen’s Cay, where you can see the endangered rock iguanas.
Southeast of Norman’s Cay lies the infamous drug cartel plane that
crashed in 1980, an interesting snorkeling destination in only 10 feet.
In
Shroud Cay are three tidal mangrove creeks to explore. Most
famous is the Washing Machine which churns to life with the tidal flow,
spinning swimmers in a strong current and a lazy river ride.
A
dozen miles southeast is Warderick Wells, headquarters of the Bahamas National
Trusts’ Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. This, the world’s first marine park,
has four mooring fields created to protect the seabed.
A
favorite dive spot is the reef gardens of O’Brien’s Cay’s Aquarium, and close
by Cambridge Cay is famous for its photogenic sandbars.
Continue south and adventure stacks up quickly. Snorkel coral heads in Pipe Creek. Visit Compass Cay Marina, where nurse sharks glide lazily around the dock. At Rachel’s Bubble Bath, get swept off your feet when Atlantic waves crash in.
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Where to Stay, Dine, and Celebrate on Staniel Cay |
Staniel Cay Yacht Club with its Sea Level Restaurant, Captain’s Lounge and private cottages is a favorite place for boaters. Near the airport is Embrace Resort with several villas nested around a freshwater pool. The adjacent Flyin’ Pig Café is known for breakfasts, lunches, and island weddings.
If
you pop into the cay between June 5th and 7th, 2026, you’ll catch the Staniel
Cay Culture Fest celebrating Bahamian culture with arts and crafts, junkanoo
costume building, rake & scrape music, and food on the Harbourfront beach.
Both Staniel Cay Yacht Club and Embrace Resort on Staniel Cay offer generous travel specials. Participating hotels and marinas are offering a $300 Dock and Stay Credit for PRE-BOOKED stays of 4 consecutive nights or longer.
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Southern Exumas: Settlements, Festivals, and Favorite Anchorages |
Seven miles south is Black Point, where Lorraine’s restaurant,
bakery and laundry are big draws. Late March’s Black Point Gathering Festival turns the harbor into a
celebration of cruising culture.
With
Stocking Island to the east and George Town to the west, Elizabeth Harbour is one of The Bahamas’ most popular
boating destinations. Exuma’s major events include the Bahamian Music & Heritage Festival in mid-March, and
the National Family Islands Regatta in April.
On
the east side of the harbor are three natural hurricane holes and three mooring
fields with 64 moorings set up by the Elizabeth Harbour Conservation
Partnership. Reserve on Dockwa.
Take
the dinghy over to Stocking Island for food and fun, including the ever-popular
Chat ’N’ Chill.
A
popular venue for lodging and dining is Hideaways at Palm Bay Resort,
1.5 miles north of George Town. Splash! is the resort’s colorful bar and grill
where boaters dinghy-up on the beach. It is close to Hoopers Bay where you can
feed stingrays and turtles. See Hideaways’ attractive specials.
The Exumas remain an extraordinary destination of beauty, friendliness, and cruising comfort. Let us know what you think.
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