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.
Cities
George Town on Great Exuma
Getting there
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. Great Exuma has the only airport in the islands, which receives flights from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau. This airport is approximately 10 mi (16 km) north of the main settlement of George Town. Visiting any of the other islands more or less requires your own boat.
Traveling around
Great Exuma can be seen via car. The other islands are accessible only by tour charter or boat.
Car and boat rental is available in George Town, Great Exuma and at the airport. Must have international or US driver's license.
Note that Exuma - like all the Bahamas - drives on the left side of the road. Rental cars can typically be specified as left/right wheel configurations subject to availability.
Water Taxi To Stocking Island
Leaves twice daily from Peace and Plenty Restaurant in Georgetown Harbour to the neighboring Cay of Stocking Island.
See
Saddleback Cay. A private island owned by Island World Adventures , 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.
Things to do
Golfing
The Four Season's Hotel closed and is in process of conversion to a Sandal's Resort scheduled to open in late January 2010. It has an 18 hole golf course that may or may not be open to non-Sandal's guests in the future. The course was closed as of December 2009.
Eat
Chat and Chill, 242.336.2700, The Point, Stocking Island, Exuma, A water taxi is available from Great Exuma, Wonderful local restaurant famous for its Garlic Coleslaw is an excellent place to have a beer and relax or have a nice beach side dinner.
Drink
Thunderball Club on Staniel Cay
Splash! Beach Bar & Grill, 242.336.2787, Palm Bay Beach Club, Great Exuma, Bahamas, Famous Conch Chowder
Celestine, , Celestine, located on Great Exuma, Bahamas, is centrally located minutes from the airport, 7 miles from George Town, the Capital of the Exuma, and 5 miles from the Four Seasons Resort and Greg Norman Championship Golf Course. The 3 Bed 3.5 Bath villa was fully renovated in 2000.
Palm Bay Beach Club (info@palmbaybeachclub.com) , 242.336.2787, Great Exuma, Bahamas, Just 7 miles from Georgetown Airport, The resort has over 70 beachside cottages and hillside villas. There is a choice of studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom villas all with either a full or partial kitchen. Located on Great Exuma island, the largest island of the 350 Exuma island chain, Palm Bay Beach Club hotel and resort is just seven miles from Exuma International Airport, one mile from the capital, George Town, and a short drive to the new Four Seasons Greg Norman Signature Golf Course (Course Closed with Four Season's Closing as of 12/2009).
Four Season's Resort, N/A, N/A, Recession Victim -- Closed in 2009 - Converting to Sandal's Resort in 2010
Oceania Heights, 866-264-3886, Bahamas real estate villas with hilltop ocean views, in the heart of the Exumas. An exclusive gated community with tax free revenue and an exquisite island beauty.
Safety
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 and lemon 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.
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.
Great Exuma
Fowl Cay
Iguana Cay
Musha Cay — super-exclusive resort that hosts only one group of up to 20 guests at a time
Staniel Cay
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
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.
Cities
Getting there
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. Great Exuma has the only airport in the islands, which receives flights from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau. This airport is approximately 10 mi (16 km) north of the main settlement of George Town. Visiting any of the other islands more or less requires your own boat.
Traveling around
Great Exuma can be seen via car. The other islands are accessible only by tour charter or boat.
Car and boat rental is available in George Town, Great Exuma and at the airport. Must have international or US driver's license.
Note that Exuma - like all the Bahamas - drives on the left side of the road. Rental cars can typically be specified as left/right wheel configurations subject to availability.
Water Taxi To Stocking Island
Leaves twice daily from Peace and Plenty Restaurant in Georgetown Harbour to the neighboring Cay of Stocking Island.
See
Saddleback Cay. A private island owned by Island World Adventures , 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.
Things to do
Golfing
The Four Season's Hotel closed and is in process of conversion to a Sandal's Resort scheduled to open in late January 2010. It has an 18 hole golf course that may or may not be open to non-Sandal's guests in the future. The course was closed as of December 2009.
Eat
Drink
Thunderball Club on Staniel Cay
Splash! Beach Bar & Grill, 242.336.2787, Palm Bay Beach Club, Great Exuma, Bahamas, Famous Conch Chowder
Sleep
Staniel Cay Yacht Club , (242) 355-2024, (242) 355-2024
Fowl Cay - Private Island Resort , 305-284-1300 ext 4800, 305-284-1300 ext 4800
Celestine , , Celestine, located on Great Exuma, Bahamas, is centrally located minutes from the airport, 7 miles from George Town, the Capital of the Exuma, and 5 miles from the Four Seasons Resort and Greg Norman Championship Golf Course. The 3 Bed 3.5 Bath villa was fully renovated in 2000.
Palm Bay Beach Club (info@palmbaybeachclub.com) , 242.336.2787, Great Exuma, Bahamas, Just 7 miles from Georgetown Airport, The resort has over 70 beachside cottages and hillside villas. There is a choice of studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom villas all with either a full or partial kitchen. Located on Great Exuma island, the largest island of the 350 Exuma island chain, Palm Bay Beach Club hotel and resort is just seven miles from Exuma International Airport, one mile from the capital, George Town, and a short drive to the new Four Seasons Greg Norman Signature Golf Course (Course Closed with Four Season's Closing as of 12/2009).
Four Season's Resort , N/A, N/A, Recession Victim -- Closed in 2009 - Converting to Sandal's Resort in 2010
Oceania Heights , 866-264-3886, Bahamas real estate villas with hilltop ocean views, in the heart of the Exumas. An exclusive gated community with tax free revenue and an exquisite island beauty.
Safety
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 and lemon 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.
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.
Great Exuma
Fowl Cay
Iguana Cay
Musha Cay — super-exclusive resort that hosts only one group of up to 20 guests at a time
Staniel Cay
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Ryan Kozie, Robert Thomson, Max Talbot-Minkin, Craig Dennis
Some photos courtesy of:
. The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
View full credits
Jani Patokallio, Tom Holland and michael.s.adams@gmail.com, Inas and Jonboy
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits