Discover Exuma: our travel tips for a family vacation in the Bahamas

White beaches, turquoise waters and a laid-back island vibe, the Exuma archipelago is the perfect destination for a family vacation in the Bahamas. This tropical island chain feels like a hidden gem, with wide-open beaches and a relaxed atmosphere.

In this article, we’re sharing our top travel tips for a family vacation on Exuma, from the famous swimming pigs to the most beautiful beaches, plus helpful info on transportation and lodging.

Why you should visit the Exuma archipelago when you go to the Bahamas

With more than 750 islands in the Bahamas, the choice is vast. Why exactly did we choose Exuma?

Many travelers choose Nassau (New Providence) or Grand Bahama because they are easy to reach and offer plenty of resorts and activities. But we were looking for something different: more tranquility, authentic beaches and a pristine atmosphere.

We carefully considered our options…

Nassau (New Providence) & Paradise Island

• Largest selection of resorts, restaurants and entertainment
• Many family activities, including water parks and Atlantis Resort
• Affordable option for flights, lodging and public transportation in the Bahamas

• Mass tourism, busier beaches and lots of cruise ships, which can make it very crowded
• Not the pristine Bahamas

Grand Bahama

• Easy to reach from Florida
• Cheaper accommodations than Nassau (New Providence)

• Less spectacular beaches and not particularly pristine
• Still somewhat commercial, though less so than Nassau

Eleuthera & Harbour Island

• Pink Sands Beach: the famous pink beach on Harbour Island
• Quiet, unspoiled bounty islands with a laid-back atmosphere

• More expensive and harder to reach
• Fewer options for accommodation and entertainment compared to Nassau
• You need your own transportation, as public transportation is limited
• Limited activities for young children

Great & Little Exuma

• Unspoiled, often deserted beaches with clear turquoise waters and great snorkeling spots
• Unique activities like swimming with pigs, nurse sharks and turtles
• No mass tourism, making it more authentic than Nassau, Grand Bahama or a cruise

• Fewer resorts and entertainment venues than Nassau
• Renting a car is a must since public transportation is limited
• Flight and lodging can be more expensive than on the more touristy islands
• Fewer amenities for young children

A cruise through the Bahamas

• Visit multiple islands in one trip
• Fully catered and convenient with children

• Tight timetables with little freedom
• Mass tourism stops, less authentic

Why Great & Little Exuma is the winner for us

For us, Exuma was exactly what we were looking for: white beaches, turquoise waters and no crowds of tourists. Instead of crowded resorts and busy hotspots, we found a relaxing island with deserted beaches and unique experiences, such as swimming with pigs and snorkeling with turtles.

Would you prefer a large resort with lots of restaurants and entertainment options? Then Nassau is probably a better choice.

What to do on Exuma with kids? 5 unforgettable experiences!

Join a boat tour of the Exuma Cays and swim with the Bahamas’ famous pigs

This tour was one of the absolute highlights of our trip. On this excursion, you’ll discover remote islands you won’t see anywhere else, snorkel in the clearest turquoise waters you’ve ever seen and swim with the famous Bahamian swimming pigs.

What to expect.

Depending on the operator and excursion you choose, you may experience one or more of the following:

• Swimming with the famous swimming pigs
  These pigs are anything but shy and come to meet you while grunting. Our oldest daughter loved it, although she had to get used to it at first. They are bigger than you think and quite enthusiastic. But soon, like us, she was walking around with a big smile and didn’t want to leave.
• Visiting iguanas on Allen Cay
  Here you will walk among Bahamian rock iguanas, which may look imposing, but are just curious and relaxed. Bring some fruit and they’ll come right to you.
• Snorkeling at Lee Stocking Island
  The water here is so clear that you can see the fish almost from the boat. As soon as you jump in, you swim among colorful coral and tropical fish.
• Swimming with nurse sharks at Compass Cay
  Exciting? Maybe a little. But these sharks are very calm and used to people, making it a truly unique experience.
• Hiking on a pristine sandbar
  On some tours, you’ll make a stop at a sandbar, a shallow patch of sand in the middle of the ocean. Here you are literally standing on a strip of white sand surrounded by turquoise water. A cool place to relax for a while and take great photos. Don’t forget your drone!

What tour operators are there?

There are several operators that provide tours to the Exuma Cays. The price, itinerary and quality of the experience can vary from operator to operator. These are three well-known providers:

1. Exuma Water Sports
   One of the top rated tour operators on Exuma, known for their professional organization and well-crafted excursions. They offer both half-day and full-day tours, with stops at familiar highlights such as swimming pigs, iguanas and nurse sharks. Hotel pickup is included, making it extra easy. Their boats are modern and well maintained, and the guides get high praise for their knowledge and enthusiasm. Prices are slightly higher than some other providers, but according to many reviews, the experience is worth every penny.
2. Four C’s Adventures
   In addition to boat tours, they also offer flights and combination tours that allow you to admire Exuma from the air. They are slightly more affordable than Exuma Water Sports, but slightly less well known and sometimes receive mixed reviews.
3. Coastline Adventures
   A small-scale tour operator that focuses on private tours and itinerary flexibility.
   They use smaller boats, which gives a more intimate experience, but they don’t offer regular half-day tours. If you want a shorter trip, you would need to book an expensive private option. For families with young children, a full-day tour can be a bit intense. However, they are well reviewed and known for their personal service.

We chose Exuma Water Sports and would definitely recommend them. They are professional, well organized and offer a great experience.

What does a tour cost?

Prices vary by provider, but to give an idea of the cost at Exuma Water Sports:

• Group half-day tour: from $175 to $190 per person
• Group tour full-day: $399 per person, but with more stops
• Private half-day tour: $1,800 per group, very exclusive and flexible though
• Private tour full-day: luxurious experience, but also most expensive. From $2,800 to $3,900 per group

Children under 3 can join for free, so for our youngest we didn’t have to pay. That was just as well, because she slept almost the entire tour. She fell asleep after a few minutes on the boat and didn’t wake up until the iguanas on the way back.

How is the tour going?

• Booking the tour: Reservations can be made through the provider’s website. With Exuma Water Sports, it’s smart to book well in advance because they are popular and when it’s full, it’s full.
• Pick up from your accommodation: Included with Exuma Water Sports, but check with other providers.
• Departure by boat: You check in at the reception desk in the main building, after which everything goes smoothly. From here you will depart by boat from Great Exuma.
• Enjoy impressive stops: Depending on the tour you will make several stops, each time visiting unique places. Even between the stops you get a lot of information and there is a relaxed atmosphere on the boat. Look around you, because we even saw sharks swimming….
• Return to your hotel: After a full day on the water, you will be returned to your accommodation.

Visit Stocking Island

Stocking Island is just a short boat ride from Georgetown and is a nice place to spend a day. You’ll find beautiful beaches, clear water and a relaxed atmosphere. At Kahari Resort you can relax on the beach, while at Chat ‘N’ Chill there is always something to do. Here you can feed stingrays, grab a bite to eat and experience the typical island vibe.

How do you get to Stocking Island?

We stayed at the Peace & Plenty Resort, which has its own free shuttle service for guests. This allowed us to easily get to Kahari Resort, a small resort on Stocking Island. Here we had the beach all to ourselves.

Don’t have a hotel shuttle and still want to go to Stocking Island from Great Exuma? Then you can ask around in Georgetown for someone to transfer you. This may feel a little crazy, but that’s how it works here. They will call or get someone to take you to Stocking Island for a small fee. Be sure to agree right away on what time you want to be picked up again.

What can you do on Stocking Island?

• Relaxing at Kahari Resort: We had a wonderful day here on a deserted beach, with stingrays swimming right up to our feet. As a guest of Peace & Plenty we had free use of sunbeds, SUP boards and other facilities. All in all, ideal for a moment of complete relaxation.
• Visit Chat ‘N’ Chill: THE beach bar at Stocking Island! This is a popular spot where you can feed stingrays, have a drink and eat great food. Unlike Kahari Resort, Chat ‘N’ Chill is open to everyone.
• Hiking to the Atlantic Side: Take a challenging hike to the other side of the island for impressive views of the rugged Atlantic Ocean. Not suitable for children.
• Rent or borrow a SUP board or canoe: Perfect for exploring the calm, shallow waters.

Explore Great Exuma and the Bahamas’ most beautiful beaches

Even without a boat, you can explore plenty on Great Exuma. From sand banks full of sand dollars to spotting turtles in a turquoise bay, there is always a place that will surprise you.

• Find sand dollars at Cocoplum Beach: One of the best places to find sand dollars, especially during low tide. Guus and Nina went looking here together and found several. The shallow waters and sand banks make this a nice, quiet place to wander around.
• Turtle spotting at Hooper’s Bay: This is the place on Exuma where you can see turtles up close. We saw one ourselves, but because of the rough sea, the water was murky and we didn’t really get to swim with it. We had seen videos of sharks swimming nearby beforehand, so we preferred to stay close to shore because of the murky water.
• Visit George Town and the Straw Market: George Town is small, but here you will find the famous Straw Market, a fun place to buy Bahamian souvenirs or handmade products. It’s a short stop, but a fun way to get a taste of local life on Exuma.

Little Exuma: why you shouldn’t miss this hidden gem

South of Great Exuma is Little Exuma, a small island that feels even more peaceful and pristine. Here it really is all about sun, sea and the most beautiful beaches, without big hotels or crowds.

Personally, we found Little Exuma even more beautiful than Great Exuma. The beaches here are even more pristine, the water is crystal clear and it feels like you are on a private island. If you are looking for that real paradise vibe, this is the place to be.

• Tropic of Cancer Beach: If the stories are to be believed, this is the most beautiful beach in the Bahamas. The soft, white sand and clear blue water make it a real dream spot. It was high on our list, but we ended up sticking with Forbes Hill Beach. We absolutely did not regret that.
• Forbes Hill Beach: We were actually planning to also visit Tropic of Cancer Beach, but fell so in love with Forbes Hill Beach that we stayed there all day. Normally when traveling we try to see as much as we can, but here we really thought: this is perfect, why go any further? Maybe we missed out on the most beautiful beach in the Bahamas as a result, but for us, nothing could beat the atmosphere and feel of Forbes Hill. A hidden gem that we didn’t regret for a second.

Rent your own boat and explore the islands and deserted beaches around Great Exuma

This was high on our list, but unfortunately we didn’t do it ourselves. Do you want ultimate freedom? Then this is the way to discover Exuma.

Why? You can sail yourself to the most beautiful places, such as Stocking Island, the lazy river and hidden beaches. No fixed route and no timetables, just go at your own pace.

The best accommodations in Exuma, Bahamas: from luxury resorts to boutique hotels

Sleeping on Exuma means waking up to turquoise waters at your doorstep and the ultimate island vibe. There are more than enough options: from chic resorts with infinity pools and cozy boutique hotels on secluded beaches to cheaper houses (with or without pools) you can rent. so, there is a suitable place for every type of traveler.

But fair is fair: it’s not cheap. Exuma is not a backpacker destination. Prices for hotels and resorts are higher than on many other Caribbean islands. Still, traveling on a smaller budget is certainly possible. By choosing a guesthouse, Airbnb or simple accommodation in George Town, you can save quite a bit. In the end, it’s all about those paradise beaches here, not a five-star hotel.

Enter your dates below and instantly see the best places to stay in Exuma:

Our experience at Peace & Plenty Resort

We ourselves stayed at Peace & Plenty Resort in George Town. The free shuttle service to Stocking Island and the private beach at Kahari Resort were fantastic, really a big plus. Breakfast and other food and drinks were not included in the price. We ate at the restaurant regularly, but we honestly thought the food was mediocre. Luckily, they did fortunately have plenty of options, which was especially convenient for our oldest daughter who is a picky eater. The room and central location in George Town, on the other hand, were really top-notch. A nice base to explore Exuma!

The best travel time to visit Exuma, Bahamas

The Exumas have warm, tropical weather year-round, but the best travel time is from December to April. This is the dry season, with clear skies, pleasant temperatures and little rain.

We visited Exuma in November, which is just at the end of the hurricane season (June-November). We didn’t notice much of it; it was quiet and the weather was good.

Practical tips for visiting the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas

Transportation

Renting a car is the best option, as public transportation is limited and not reliable. We rented a car in advance from Thompson’s Car Rental near the airport.

• Driving on the left: In the Bahamas, people drive on the left, but rental cars are often imported from the US, so your steering wheel is on the left. It takes some getting used to!
• Roads: Not all roads are well maintained; some beaches are accessible only by dirt roads. After rain, these roads can be full of deep puddles.
• Driving after sunset: There are hardly any street lights and some locals drive with a drink. We only drove short stretches after dark.

Restaurants & food

Food on Exuma is pricey. Restaurants and supermarkets are more expensive than in the Netherlands.

• Conch (local shellfish) is a must for fish lovers.
• Vegetarians have limited options.
• Restaurants also open later than we are used to. Keep this in mind when traveling with children.
• Opening hours do not always match what is listed online. We frequently found ourselves in front of a closed door.

Pay

You pay in Exuma and the other islands of the Bahamas with U.S. dollars (USD) or Bahamian dollars (BSD). Both currencies have the same value.

Bahamian dollars cannot be exchanged outside the Bahamas, so be sure to spend them before departure.

Credit cards are accepted in most places, but not everywhere. In hotel restaurants, for example, you can usually pay with your credit card, but in local restaurants cash is often preferred. Therefore, always have some cash with you for tips and smaller expenses.

There are two ATMs in George Town:

• RBC Royal Bank: This ATM is inside a bank building and usually worked fine for us. We used this ATM several times without problems, but it does have frequent malfunctions. Therefore, always have some extra cash with you.
• Scotiabank ATM: Do not withdraw money here. We got no money after withdrawing, but the amount of $200 was debited from our account. It took us a lot of hassle afterwards to correct this with our bank.

What to bring with you to the Bahamas

We visited the Bahamas after traveling through Florida for three weeks. So we had quite a lot of luggage with us, we didn’t take everything to the Bahamas. We left some of our luggage in Florida because we would return there after our trip to the Bahamas. This saved unnecessary dragging and extra costs.

We brought (swimming) clothes and toiletry bags for everyone and some additional supplies:

• Sunscreen (reef-friendly): The water is beautiful, but choose an eco-friendly sunscreen like Naïf to protect the coral.
• Anti-insect repellent: Mosquitoes are there, but sand fleas(no-see-ums) can be more annoying. Marissa was bothered by them a lot, Guus not at all. Especially around sunset, a DEET-based spray is handy.
• Insect net: Ideal for the stroller or crib.
• Medicine: Pharmacies are scarce. Bring your own paracetamol, suppositories, ORS and aftersun.
• Baby supplies: High chairs, cots and changing tables are rare. We took our Deryan travel crib and that was a smart choice.
• Snacks: Always handy, especially if your kids are difficult eaters.

How to get to the Exumas

Flying to Exuma International Airport (GGT) in the Bahamas

This is the fastest and easiest way. There are direct flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and Nassau.

Day trip from Nassau (New Providence)

This can be done by boat or plane, but:

• Boat: It’s a long day on the water, you visit only the northern islets of the Exumas.
• Plane + boat excursion: Faster, but expensive and still a full day.

What does a vacation to Exuma, Bahamas cost?

Exuma is not a cheap destination, but if you pay a little attention you can control some of the costs. Here’s a breakdown of what we spent during our 6-day trip to Exuma in the Bahamas:

Airline tickets

For our return flights to Exuma, we paid €1,137.55 for 2 adults and 1 child. Puck was not yet 2 years old and was therefore allowed on our lap for free. That definitely helped with the cost, but it is still a hefty expense for a flight to the Bahamas.

Hotels

We stayed 5 nights at Peace & Plenty Resort for a total of €1,785. Breakfast was not included, so that was added on.

Want to keep it a little cheaper? Then consider renting a cottage, apartment or guesthouse, which are available from about €150 per night. Just count on the quality often being basic.

Food and drink

In total, we spent about €840 on food and drinks.

• Breakfast was not included with the hotel, so we ate outside or at the hotel itself every morning.
• For lunch we usually bought something simple at the supermarket (bread, cookies, chips) and that saved in cost, but was still quite expensive.
• Dinner we did do in restaurants. Prices here are higher than in The Netherlands, even at the supermarket.

Rental car

We rented a midsize sedan for 6 days and paid €406 total for this (about €67 per day).

• Gasoline cost us about €25 for the whole trip.
• Driving on Exuma is sometimes tricky: driving on the left, potholes in the road and hardly any street lights. I think this is fairly typical of driving in the Bahamas, though.

Excursions

The highlights of our trip was the boat ride:

• The tour with Exuma Water Sports to many of the Bahamas’ remote islands, which included swimming with pigs, cost $440.
• To this was added a tip of about €60 (in the Bahamas a tip of 15-20% is expected).

Unforeseen costs

Fortunately, we had estimated most of the costs well and there were no real unforeseen expenses, except for the ATM incident. See the section on paying for more details.

Conclusion: Is Exuma a good choice for a family vacation in the Bahamas?

Exuma was a fantastic end to our trip through Florida and the Bahamas for us. The beaches are breathtakingly beautiful, the water is crystal clear and you really get the ultimate island feeling here.

For families, it is a relaxing, safe destination, but keep in mind:

• Pricey hotels and restaurants
• Few amenities for young children
• Driving can be challenging (driving on the left, bad roads, few lights)

Still, we would love to go back again. The tranquility, beaches and unique experiences like swimming with pigs and turtles really make Exuma a dream destination.

Who is Exuma suitable for?

• Perfect if you love peace, nature and paraside beaches
• Ideal if you are looking for a truly unique island experience away from mass tourism

• Not ideal if you expect all-inclusive luxury and lots of facilities