The Bahamas🇧🇸 | regionsExumaSwimming pigs, nurse sharks, Thunderball Grotto, Georgetown fish fry | things to do and best time to go

Exuma works for backpackers because the water does the heavy lifting. Boats leave from Georgetown and Stocking Island, so one base gives you access to snorkeling, beaches and cays without packing up every night. You can swim with the pigs at Big Major Cay on a day tour, then spend the next day on foot or by bike exploring the town. Slow travel suits the place, since the island is long and thin, and one main road, the Queen’s Highway, ties the settlements together. Renting a car or sharing a taxi gives you flexibility that buses never will. Culture matters here too. The settlements of Little Exuma, the salt-pond landscape and the annual Family Island Regatta in Georgetown show Bahamian life that has little to do with cruise-ship Nassau. Add the Land and Sea Park, where you can see nurse sharks, … read more 👉

Exuma works for backpackers because the water does the heavy lifting. Boats leave from Georgetown and Stocking Island, so one base gives you access to snorkeling, beaches and cays without packing up every night. You can swim with the pigs at Big Major Cay on a day tour, then spend the next day on foot or by bike exploring the town. Slow travel suits the place, since the island is long and thin, and one main road, the Queen’s Highway, ties the settlements together. Renting a car or sharing a taxi gives you flexibility that buses never will. Culture matters here too. The settlements of Little Exuma, the salt-pond landscape and the annual Family Island Regatta in Georgetown show Bahamian life that has little to do with cruise-ship Nassau. Add the Land and Sea Park, where you can see nurse sharks, rays and reefs in protected water, and you get nature and culture within a short ride of each other. Plan on mixing boat days with free days on the sand, and the stay feels full without feeling rushed.

Georgetown on Great Exuma is the best base for backpackers, with the most guesthouses, grocery stores, and chances to meet other travelers. The town sits on Elizabeth Harbour, where yachts anchor by the dozens, and in winter you can hitch a dinghy ride or crew conversation over a beer at a waterfront bar. Rooms run from about US$90 to 180 a night, the lowest prices in the Out Islands, and a few places offer shared kitchens that help you save on food.

Within Georgetown, the area around Kings Road and the harbor front is walkable, with a supermarket, bakeries, and the water taxi dock. It feels … read more 👉

Georgetown on Great Exuma is the best base for backpackers, with the most guesthouses, grocery stores, and chances to meet other travelers. The town sits on Elizabeth Harbour, where yachts anchor by the dozens, and in winter you can hitch a dinghy ride or crew conversation over a beer at a waterfront bar. Rooms run from about US$90 to 180 a night, the lowest prices in the Out Islands, and a few places offer shared kitchens that help you save on food.

Within Georgetown, the area around Kings Road and the harbor front is walkable, with a supermarket, bakeries, and the water taxi dock. It feels safe, and you can usually walk back after dinner without worry. Stay here if you want to meet other solo travelers.

Rolleville and the quiet settlements around it suit people who want a slower pace, fewer crowds, and deserted beaches, though you will need a car or a taxi for food and supplies. Prices drop slightly here.

Staniel Cay, up the chain, is the place for swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto, and boat days. It is smaller and pricier, with only a handful of beds, so book ahead. Many budget travelers visit for one or two nights instead of staying longer.

With limited public transport, picking a base and renting a car beats moving every night.