All 196 Countries All 26 Cantons Nassau (Overview) Freeport Harbour Island Paradise Island

Exuma, Bahamas: Travel Guide to the Islands of Swimming Pigs and Turquoise Seas

The Exumas, a chain of around 365 islands and cays stretching for more than 200 kilometres southeast of Nassau, are often described as having the most beautiful water in the world. Shades of turquoise, aquamarine and sapphire surround powdery white sandbars, uninhabited islands and coral reefs. Famous for its swimming pigs, the James Bond Thunderball Grotto and the world's first land-and-sea park, Exuma is a paradise for boating, snorkelling and simply escaping from it all.

Search hotels in Exuma →Order an eSIM for your trip

Top 5 Must-Visit Attractions in Exuma

1. Pig Beach at Big Major Cay

The most famous residents of Exuma are the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, better known as Pig Beach. Nobody knows exactly how the pigs arrived; legends say they were left by sailors planning to return, or survived a shipwreck and swam ashore. Today, the pigs paddle out to greet boats arriving at the beach, creating one of the most unusual wildlife encounters in the world. To protect the animals' health, rules now limit feeding and handling, and visitors should follow their guide's instructions.

Booking tip: Exuma boat tours, including day trips from Nassau by speedboat or seaplane, can be booked on GetYourGuide; never feed the pigs on the sand or give them alcohol.

2. Thunderball Grotto

Near Staniel Cay, the Thunderball Grotto is a hollow limestone island with an underwater cave, made famous by the James Bond films Thunderball (1965) and Never Say Never Again (1983). Snorkellers can swim through the entrance at low tide into a cathedral-like cavern, where shafts of sunlight shine through openings in the ceiling onto schools of colourful fish swirling around coral formations.

Booking tip: visit at slack low tide, when currents are weakest; most Exuma cays tours include the grotto.

3. Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

Established in 1958, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park was the first land-and-sea park in the world and covers about 456 square kilometres of islands, reefs and waters. It's a strictly protected no-take zone, where fishing and collecting are prohibited, allowing marine life to flourish. Visitors can snorkel over pristine reefs, hike trails on Warderick Wells Cay, home to the park headquarters, and see the rare Bahamian hutia, a small rodent once thought extinct.

Booking tip: mooring buoys are available for private boats; follow park rules and leave no trace.

4. Nurse Sharks, Iguanas and Sandbars

At Compass Cay, visitors can swim with gentle nurse sharks that gather around the marina docks. On Allan's Cay and Bitter Guana Cay, rare Northern Bahamian rock iguanas roam the beaches. Throughout the Exumas, dazzling sandbars appear at low tide, surrounded by shallow turquoise water, perfect for walking, swimming and photographs.

Booking tip: keep a respectful distance from the iguanas, which are an endangered species.

5. Great Exuma, George Town and Tropic of Cancer Beach

Great Exuma, the largest island in the chain, is home to George Town, a small harbour town that hosts the National Family Island Regatta each April. Across the harbour, Stocking Island offers beautiful beaches and the famous Chat 'N' Chill beach bar, known for its Sunday pig roast. On Little Exuma, the Tropic of Cancer Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas, near the line of the Tropic of Cancer.

Booking tip: rent a car to explore Great Exuma and Little Exuma at your own pace.

Practical Travel Tips for Exuma

Before You Go

  • Entry: many nationalities, including US, UK and EU citizens, can visit the Bahamas visa-free; a valid passport is required.
  • Sun protection: the sun is intense on the water, so use reef-safe sunscreen.
  • Hurricane season: runs from June to November; check forecasts before travelling.

Getting Around

  • By air: Exuma International Airport, near George Town, has flights from Nassau, Miami and other US cities; small airstrips serve some cays.
  • Boats: the best way to explore the cays; private charters and day tours are widely available.
  • Car rental: available on Great Exuma; traffic drives on the left.
  • Money: the Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar, and both are accepted.
  • Language: English.

Local Culinary Specialties

  • Conch salad: fresh conch with lime, tomatoes, onions and peppers.
  • Cracked conch: fried, battered conch.
  • Grilled lobster: in season from August to March.
  • Johnnycake: a sweet Bahamian bread.
  • Bahama Mama and Kalik: a rum cocktail and the local beer.

Best Time to Visit

  • December–April: dry, sunny weather, ideal for boating.
  • April: the National Family Island Regatta.
  • June–November: hurricane season, with hot and humid weather.

Conclusion: Plan Your Trip to Exuma

Exuma combines turquoise waters, swimming pigs, hidden grottoes and pristine marine parks. Whether you're greeting the pigs at Big Major Cay, snorkelling in the Thunderball Grotto or relaxing on a deserted sandbar, Exuma is the Bahamas at its most magical.

Plan ahead: book your boat tours on GetYourGuide, and get ready to discover Exuma.