Seven days in the Exuma Cays: an island-hopping itinerary

About Seven days in the Exuma Cays: an island-hopping itinerary

By the ULTIMATE The Bahamas Editorial Team

Site Editor: Tara de la Motte

The Exuma Cays are made for slow travel by boat: 365 islands, sapphire water and a national park older than most in the world. This is the route we would follow on a charter or your own boat.

Day 1: Highbourne Cay

Leave Nassau and head south-east to Highbourne Cay, a favourite first stop. Its marina sits in a naturally sheltered harbour, with fuel, water, ice and a well-stocked store. Book a slip in advance in season.

Day 2: Shroud Cay

Cruise into the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, created in 1958 as the world’s first land-and-sea park, and take a slow day around Shroud Cay, one of its quiet cays.

365 islands, sapphire water and the first land-and-sea park in the world.

Day 3: Warderick Wells

Warderick Wells is the park headquarters. Pay your anchorage or mooring fee online through PayExumaPark, and remember the whole park is a no-take reserve, with no fishing allowed.

Day 4: Compass Cay

At Compass Cay Marina the resident nurse sharks gather around the docks, and you can swim and snorkel alongside them. Follow the staff’s guidance in the water.

Day 5: Staniel Cay

Tie up at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, then snorkel Thunderball Grotto, named after the James Bond film. Go in at low or slack tide; at high tide you need diving gear.

Day 6: Big Major Cay

Big Major Cay, a short hop from Staniel, is the official home of the swimming pigs. Look but don’t touch, follow the signs on the beach, and never feed the pigs on the sand.

Day 7: Back to Nassau

Cruise back north, or leave the boat and fly: Makers Air serves Staniel Cay’s airstrip from Fort Lauderdale.

Park rules

In the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, fishing, conching and shelling are prohibited, and several private islands inside the park are off limits to visitors. Check the weather and the tides every day.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Seven days in the Exuma Cays: an island-hopping itinerary before you go.