Exuma

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Half Moon Beach, Saddleback Cay
Half Moon Beach, Saddleback Cay

Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 360 islands (or cays). The largest of the cays, and the only one with any significant population, is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi (60 km) in length.

[edit] Islands

Many of the islands in the Exumas are privately owned. Only inhabited islands open to the public (or at least paying guests) are listed here.

[edit] Cities

[edit] Understand

[edit] Get in

The Exuma island chain is 130 mi (209 km) long. The northernmost islands are under an hour away from Nassau by speedboat and many tour operators offer day trips. George Town on Great Exuma has the only airport in the islands, which receives flights from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau. Visiting any of the other islands more or less requires your own boat.

[edit] Get around

The only option is to join a tour or charter (or bring) your own boat.

[edit][add listing] See

Rock iguana, Leaf Cay
Rock iguana, Leaf Cay
  • Saddleback Cay. A private island owned by Island World Adventures [1], which runs one-day trips from Nassau daily ($190/pp). The island has seven beaches, including the gorgeous Half Moon Beach, shallow reefs in the vicinity and a spot where giant nurse sharks gather daily to be fed.
  • Thunderball Grotto, where the James Bond film Thunderball was filmed.

[edit] Itineraries

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Boating

[edit] Snorkeling

[edit] Diving

[edit] Fishing

[edit][add listing] Eat

Chat and Chill Grand Exuma, Wonderful local restaurant famous for it's Garlic Coleslaw is an axcellent place to have a beer and relax and have a nice beach side dinner

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Thunderball Club on Staniel Cay

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Stay safe

Nurse shark, off Saddleback Cay
Nurse shark, off Saddleback Cay

The crossing from Nassau to the northern end of the Exumas is only 40 miles, but it's across open water and can get choppy if it's windy. Bring along a warm, ideally waterproof coat, and try to get a seat near the middle of the boat to minimize both bumpiness and sea spray.

There are nurse sharks in the waters around the islands. They don't usually bother humans, but it's best to ask for local advice on where to swim — shallow water is usually fine.

[edit] Get out

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