Great Exuma Travel Guide: Best Things to Do on your Exuma, Bahamas Vacation

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Just 50 miles south of Florida, and an hour flight from Miami, the Bahamas are the perfect international destination for people looking to experience Maldives-like waters, without the travel time.

The Bahamas welcomed a record-breaking 8 million visitors in 2023 looking for beautiful beaches, cerulean blue waters, and incredible conch. But if you time your visit right, you’ll feel like you’re the only one on the Exuma Islands.

Woman in a red one-piece bathing suit and sun hat that has "Happy as a Clam" script on the brim, in an infinity pool looking out to the blue waters of the Bahamas.

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Made up of over 700 islands and cays in Caribbean, the Bahamas are a perfect getaway for diving, snorkeling, fishing, and relaxing. Of these 700, there are a handful of popular islands to stay on during your visit including, but not limited to:

  1. Harbour Island
  2. The Exumas (including Great Exuma and Little Exuma)
  3. Grand Bahama Island
  4. Long Island, Bahamas

If you’re looking for the perfect Great Exuma Travel Guide and Itinerary – this Exuma Travel Blog is the perfect resource. Keep reading for things to do, where to stay, and more!

Things to Know Before You Visit Great Exuma Island

  • You’ll need a passport to visit the Bahamas
  • If you get a rental car (which I recommend doing), you’ll be driving on the LEFT.
  • You can rent a boat, without a boating license, which is highly recommended to fully explore the area (or, opt for charters)
  • The sun is STRONG here (Great Exuma is just north of the Tropic of Cancer), so bring your sunscreen!
  • English is the official language of the Bahamas.
  • The loop through the George Town waterfront is a ONE-WAY road.
  • You can pretty much park anywhere that doesn’t have a “no parking” sign. Just be aware of not parking in roadways or blocking driveways and walkways.
  • US Currency is accepted here, but you’ll receive a mix of US dollars and Bahamian dollars if paying in cash (which makes a fun keepsake from your trip).
  • Tips are king, and typically expected. If you have someone helping you with photos or directions, a tip is always appreciated. Major credit cards are accepted at most establishments.
  • If staying at a vacation rental, you’ll likely end up going to multiple grocery stores to get everything you need. Check out the Exuma Markets to start, and Prime Island Meats and Deli for any additional deli meats and cheeses for boat sandwiches. 
  • Remember, you’re on island time. Don’t expect rapid or on-time service like you would in the states – you’re here to slow down, relax, and enjoy the beauty of the Bahamas.

Where are the Bahamas Located?

The Bahamas are an archipelago, or chain of islands, near Florida and Cuba. This means the waters are always inviting, rarely dipping below 72 degrees F (22 degrees C). 

The ocean in the Bahamas is also an incredible cerulean blue, with sugar-sand white beaches. You’ll want to spend all day enjoying the beautiful water, so don’t forget to check out the packing list at the end of this guide to ensure you have a sunburn-free trip!

When to Visit the Bahamas

Peak and Shoulder Seasons

Peak season is late November to April, with festivals drawing crowds in early January and late April/May. August through Mid-November tends to have the fewest tourists, as this is peak hurricane season. High temperatures in the Bahamas average around 80F year-round. 

During this “off” season you’ll find lower prices for lodging, though some businesses may be closed. August through October poses the greatest threat for hurricanes, so you may want to consider travel insurance or booking with a travel credit card if you plan to visit during this time. 

Festivals

The Bahamas have a spectacular festival during the new year, called Junkanoo, where Bahamian culture is celebrated with parades, live music and vibrant handmade costumes. Bahamians in the parade spend nearly a whole year preparing costumes leading up to the event. 

Junkanoo hits its peak on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day) and New Year’s Day. However, there are continuous smaller celebrations throughout the year during the summer fest, Independence Day, and more. The largest Junkanoo festival is on Nassau, however, you’ll still get to experience this celebration on other islands in the Bahamas. 

Fishing

If you’re traveling to the Bahamas for the ultimate fishing trip, you’ll want to check out seasons here. Don’t worry, Bonefish is great year-round in the Bahamas!

How to Get to Great Exuma, Bahamas

The most important thing to remember is that you need a passport to get to the Bahamas – though they’re located only 50 miles from Florida, the Bahamas are their own country! Remember that it can take 8-12 weeks for a passport renewal through the mail (or 2-3 weeks with expedited services), but you can renew your passport with a same-day-visit if your international trip is within 14 days (and if you can get an appointment).

While you can’t truly travel by planes, trains, and automobiles to get to the Bahamas, you do have two excellent options:

By Plane

  1. From Miami, Florida, fly to George Town on Great Exuma. You’ll fly from the Miami International Airport to the Exuma International Airport. 
  2. Fly from Miami to Nassau, then take a second flight or boat to Great Exuma (a flight is recommended as it’s faster). The Nassau airport is the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

By Boat

  1. Yes, you CAN sail to the Bahamas! My mom used to do this with her dad when she was younger, which is certainly the way to go for people seeking an adventure. You’ll need to do some investigating for boat charters from Florida to the Bahamas, as they’re challenging to find, but if you own your boat you can certainly sail down. 

Where to Stay on Great Exuma, Bahamas

The Exumas are an island chain made up of 365 individual islands, the largest being Great Exuma, which is 37 miles long. It’s connected by a small bridge to Little Exuma, and bordered by Stocking Island. Throughout the Exumas, there are hundreds of small islands, called cays. The Exuma Cays are worth visiting on your trip, so keep reading for how to get to these smaller, often uninhabited islands.

Exuma Hotels & Resorts

Great Exuma has multiple options for hotels and resorts. Not all roads on Great Exuma are paved, so if you plan to explore beyond the resort I recommend staying near George Town so the majority of your drive will be on paved roadways for smoother navigating. The Peace and Plenty Resort is located in the heart of George Town, and has a private beach club on Stocking Island that you can enjoy.

  1. Peace and Plenty Resort
  2. Kahari Resort 
  3. Grand Isle Resort and Residences
  4. Sandals Emerald Bay
  5. Exuma Palms Resort

Exuma Vacation Rentals

There are vacation rentals all over the island, so consider staying near George Town so you can be centrally located on Great Exuma. I stayed at a property owned by The Good Life Bahamas, which was perfect for our group of 8 (but it would have held more than 10, as we had an empty bedroom!). 

Staying on the windward side of the island means the ocean is a little more choppy, and less wildlife will be out and about because of that. However, it does mean you’ll be closer to George Town and Stocking Island! 

Here’s a few Vacation Rentals that caught my eye: 

  1. Lemon Tree House: great for a big group on Tar Bay
  2. Bajamar: perfect escape for 10+ people on Tar Bay
  3. Bonefish Bungalow: a cute getaway for two that love to fish! 
  4. Turtle Bay Beach Studio: a quaint escape for a couple of turtle lovers
  5. Ocean Front with Pool: perfect ocean-front views with a pool  for a group of four!

Things to do in Exuma, Bahamas 

Where to Eat and Drink 

Cocktail Hour

Let’s Eat

Stocking Island

Stocking Island is a barrier island that protects the George Town area on Great Exuma. It’s mostly private property, but Stocking Island is worth visiting for short hiking trails, snorkeling, and iconic beach bars (yes, the one where you can pet and feed the sting rays!). It’s only about a 5 minute boat ride, and definitely worth the trip.

How to get to Stocking Island: 

  1. Take the water taxi (A1 or Elvis). The water taxis leave from the Government Dock in George Town, which is located between Exuma Markets and the Peace and Plenty. The A1 Taxi is $20 per person, round trip, with approximately a 20 minute wait at peak hours. The A1 shuttle ends at 4:30pm. 
  2. Take the Peace and Plenty shuttle to their private beach on Stocking Island. It costs $30 for a day pass to the private beach bar, but they’ll also take you to Chat ‘n’ Chill, or you can walk through the blue waters if you want to experience both in a day (and not wait for the boat).
  3. Rent a boat from Minns Water Sports for the day, so you can explore all the island has to offer, like the best snorkeling spots on Stocking Island.

Stocking Island is home to the infamous Chat ‘n’ Chill, a beach bar famous for its conch burgers and friendly sting rays (and frankly, for their refreshing Bahama Mama cocktail). 

You can also taste the incredible fresh conch salad, which is located on the beach. At the conch salad bar you can purchase fresh conch to feed the rays directly.

If visiting on a Sunday, you’ll get to enjoy their Sunday Pig Roast, happening from noon to 7pm (or until they run out) every Sunday. Rumor has it, it’s the best pig roast you’ll ever have. 

Chat ‘n’ Chill also has a volleyball net, as well as a waterfront swing to enjoy. You can rent chairs and umbrellas on site, as well as games like corn hole, but it’s recommended to book them in advance on their website. 

Snorkeling

Swimming Pigs

When you come to the Bahamas, there are two things worth seeing if it’s your first time: The Swimming Pigs and Bahamian Iguanas. The half-day tour is what I did during my Bahamas trip, and I could not speak highly enough of our excellent guides. We had a phenomenal time feeding the swimming pigs, friendly stingrays, and iguanas on a half day tour with Exuma Water Sports. 

Thunderball Grotto

An incredible underwater cave system, Thunderball Grotto is north of Great Exuma and a popular destination for snorkeling and diving. It’s recommended to visit at low tide for swimming or snorkeling, as you’ll need scuba gear to explore at high tide. You can rent a boat and explore the area, or sign up for a charter with Exuma Water Sports. There is not much shallow water in near Thunderball Grotto, so this is definitely recommended for people comfortable swimming in open water. 

Stocking Island

Yes, there is snorkeling on Stocking Island too! Just remember that much of the island is private property, so you may want to rent a boat from Minns Water Sports if you intend to snorkel around the island…or you’ll end up like this. 

Here’s where you’ll want to go snorkeling on Stocking Island:

  • Jacques Cousteau Mystery Cave: Just a 2 minute boat ride from Chat ‘n’ Chill, the mouth of the cave is popular for snorkeling to see lots of tropical fish
  • Starfish Beach: here you’ll find some starfish and a trailhead leading to the ocean
  • Kahari Resort: while the resort owns the land, they do not own the water – so you can take advantage of their snorkeling area. When I visited it was a windy, cloudy day so I only saw one starfish, but it would be worth going back to explore again.

Compass Cay

If you’re interested in swimming with sharks on your trip to the Bahamas, Compass Cay is home to a nurse shark sanctuary (yes, that means you can swim with nurse sharks!). This is the perfect spot to naturally interact with wildlife, and take lots of photos to enjoy on your way home. 

Diving

The Bahamas are a top destination for divers, as it’s home to the third largest barrier reef, and home to countless blue holes to investigate. While there are a few sites that you can access from the beach, the majority of the best dive sites require a boat to get to. 

If you choose to stay at the Sandals Resort, you’ll have access to daily dives – which is a great deal! Check out the Sandals Scuba Diving options here.

Fishing

If you’re looking to spend the day casting lines, check out Reel ‘Em In 242 for half and full day excursions. They offer reef fishing, offshore fishing, and a combination of fishing and island tours. 

Other Experiences

Great Exuma ATV Tour

Want to explore the land and sea of Great Exuma? Check out this ATV tour to experience the historic sites, a natural cave, beaches, sand banks, and more! 

Private Catamaran Charter

Looking to really explore the Exumas by water? Enjoy this 6 Day, 5 night private catamaran charter to explore the Exumas in style. If you truly love spending as much time in the water as possible, this might be the life changing experience you’re looking for in the Bahamas. The catamaran can accommodate up to 6 people, making this the perfect intimate getaway to create life-long memories. 

Shopping

Who doesn’t love to shop on vacation? If you’re looking for souvenirs from your Bahamas vacation, I recommend heading to George Town to explore the Straw Market and Sandpiper Boutique.

The Straw Market carries nearly everything you could want: stuffed animals, straw beach bags, t-shits, jewelry, and more. 

I loved the Sandpiper Boutique (I recommend going after grabbing a cocktail at Peace & Plenty across the street), as it had a great assortment of swimwear, sun shirts, books, and more. 

Both shops feature some items from local artisans, so it’s certainly worth stopping by to bring some memories home with you!

What to Pack

If it’s your first time going to the Caribbean, the two most important things to know is that it will be hot, and it will be sunny! Here’s a guide to all of the things I packed for my trip:

Multiple Bathing Suits, and Cover-ups

I knew I would be in the water every day, so this gave me lots of options for getting in and out of the water as much as I wanted and never needing to try to pull on a wet bathing suit. 

My top four brand recommendations are Summer Salt (Sidestroke style in White Sand pictured below!), Water Colors Swim (Kenny Flowers), CupShe, and Target. At Target, I recommend Kona Sol and Shade & Shore both of which I find to be incredible quality for the price. I also love the Summer Salt Silky Luxe Long Effortless Cover-up – this is the BEST one I’ve found after trying 4-5 others in the last two years that just weren’t quite what I was looking for. They have it in a short version too!

Sun Dresses

When I tell you it’s hot, I promise the best thing to wear aside from a bikini is a nice flowy sundress. My favorite brand is Kenny Flowers – I love that they’re sustainably made in Bali, and that the owners are intimately involved in the design process. They just announced three new launches, and I’ve been eyeing this black linen dress and this white swing dress. But my all time favorite is the Napa style (dress style below), because I love a flutter sleeve!

Sun Hats

This sounds like a no-brainer but I’ve definitely gone to the beach before and completely forgotten to grab this on my way out the door I always pack a baseball cap and a wide-brim sun hat for protection (and honestly, to complete the look). But if you’re heading to Chat n Chill, forget to bring a baseball cap so you can buy one as a souvenir! Some sun hats I’m currently drooling over are linked below!

Sun Screen

I’m a big fan of using mineral sunscreen if I’ll be in the ocean, as it’s considered reef-safe. My go-to is FRE Skincare, as I find it is the BEST mineral sunscreen if you want to avoid looking like a ghost after application. They also sell a tinted mineral option if that’s what you prefer!

If I’m not getting in the ocean, just lounging by the pool, I reach for Sun Bum, Hawaiian Tropic, and Super Goop. 

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