- Pig Beach (Big Major Cay) — Swimming pigs that actually come to your boat are as utterly weird and delightful as the photos suggest. It’s an Exuma original: a shallow, sheltered cove where you can wade with the animals, watch them forage, and get great underwater snorkel shots around the nearby seagrass beds.
- Thunderball Grotto (Staniel Cay) — A natural limestone cave and snorkel playground with tunnels, air pockets and sunbeams piercing the water. The clear water and schools of fish make it a unique snorkel spot you won’t easily find elsewhere; enter from a dinghy at low tide for the best light and calm water.
- Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (Warderick Wells) — The first no-take marine park in the Bahamas, a compact paradise of protected reefs, walls and hiking trails. Hike to Boo Boo Hill
- Pig Beach (Big Major Cay) — Swimming pigs that actually come to your boat are as utterly weird and delightful as the photos suggest. It’s an Exuma original: a shallow, sheltered cove where you can wade with the animals, watch them forage, and get great underwater snorkel shots around the nearby seagrass beds.
- Thunderball Grotto (Staniel Cay) — A natural limestone cave and snorkel playground with tunnels, air pockets and sunbeams piercing the water. The clear water and schools of fish make it a unique snorkel spot you won’t easily find elsewhere; enter from a dinghy at low tide for the best light and calm water.
- Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (Warderick Wells) — The first no-take marine park in the Bahamas, a compact paradise of protected reefs, walls and hiking trails. Hike to Boo Boo Hill for quirky island relics, snorkel untouched coral gardens, and appreciate how different the marine life is inside the park versus outside it.
- Compass Cay (Nurse Shark “Harbour”) — A shallow marina where tame nurse sharks glide between boats and you can touch or swim with them in very calm water. It’s a hands-on wildlife encounter that feels local and low-key rather than staged, and the surrounding cays have pretty beaches to explore afterward.
- Stocking Island Sandbar & Chat ‘N’ Chill — A short boat hop from George Town to an easygoing sandbar, buttery beaches and a rustic beach shack with conch fritters and cold beers. Locals bring picnics here; it’s the best spot for a lazy afternoon, shelling, and people-watching without the commercial polish.
- Bitter Guana Cay (Bahama Rock Iguanas) — A quieter, less-visited cay that’s home to a significant population of endangered rock iguanas. Walking the trails and watching these prehistoric-looking lizards in their natural habitat feels very Exuma-specific — bring water, keep distance, and go with a local guide if you can.
- Norman’s Cay (1980s Plane Wrecks & Ruins) — Crumbling dock remains and a half-buried airplane recall the island’s notorious past as a drug-running hub. It’s a raw, slightly eerie slice of history you can see up close by boat; the story and visible ruins are a very different experience from the usual beach postcard stops.
- Shroud Cay (Mangrove Labyrinth & Tidal Creeks) — A maze of mangrove channels, quiet kayaking, and remote beaches where you can paddle through narrow, wildlife-rich waterways. It’s a slower, more immersive nature day than common stopovers — perfect for birdwatching, shelling, and spotting juvenile marine life.
- Moriah Harbour Cay National Park — Wide mangrove flats, bonefish channels, sea-grass beds and turtle nesting beaches make this park a conservation-rich alternative to ordinary beaches. Visit with a local guide or by kayak to see how island fishing culture and protected habitat coexist here.
- Staniel Cay Village & Local Craft/Boatbuilders — The real, living side of Exuma: small-scale boatbuilders, a handful of family-run shops, a lively dinghy dock and authentic island life. Spend time chatting with locals, buy fresh-caught fish or locally made items, and you’ll walk away with a more grounded sense of Exuma than any resort tour gives.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.