112,640 acres of protected marine park — no fishing, only anchoring and sailing permitted — established in 1959 across the heart of the Exumas.
The Bahamas spreads across more than 700 islands and 2,400 cays, with the Exumas alone threading roughly 365 coral-studded islets through shallow aquamarine water. A crewed luxury yacht or catamaran turns that geography into a private playground — remote coves that appear only at certain tides, sandbars where you anchor for lunch, and wildlife encounters that feel closer to a nature documentary than a vacation. This guide walks you through the signature stops of an Exumas itinerary, designed so you can mix and match them into your own week-long charter from Nassau.
Design your own itinerary by mixing these signature Exuma stops — each is reachable within a week-long charter from Nassau, and your captain can adjust the order based on weather and your crew’s pace. The real value is having a crewed boat that lets you linger at a sandbar until sunset or skip a stop entirely if the kids need a slower morning.
First-time charterers
Families with older kids
Couples celebrating
Below is a quick snapshot of the stops covered in this guide. Each one offers a different kind of Exuma experience — from mangrove creeks to plane wrecks to swimming pigs. Use the table to spot which stops fit your group’s interests, then read the detailed blocks to decide timing and logistics.
| Stop | Highlight | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Nassau → Highbourne Cay | Gateway to the Exumas, beach diving, first anchorage | Getting oriented after arrival |
| Shroud Cay | Mangrove creeks, lazy-river float, hilltop views | Kayaking & paddleboard fans |
| Warderick Wells | Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park HQ, sperm whale skeleton, Boo Boo Hill | Hikers & marine-park enthusiasts |
| Big Major Cay & Staniel Cay | Swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto, conch burgers | First-timers & families |
| Compass Cay & Cambridge Cay | Nurse sharks, natural aquarium, Johnny Depp’s island | Snorkelers & adventure seekers |
| Norman’s Cay | Pablo Escobar’s plane wreck, Medellin Cartel history | History buffs & wreck snorkelers |
| Allans Cay & Paradise Island | Northern Bahamian rock iguanas, green turtles, heart-shaped carapace snorkeling | Wildlife lovers & last-day ease |
Nassau → Highbourne Cay: Gateway to the Exumas
Most charters begin in Nassau, the capital on New Providence Island, where the yachting infrastructure is strongest. After lunch and a final provisioning check, you’ll motor east toward Highbourne Cay, widely considered the southern gateway to the Exuma Cays. The distance from Nassau to Highbourne is manageable for an afternoon cruise on a crewed catamaran or motor yacht, and the anchorage there gives you a calm first night with time for a beach walk or an introductory snorkel.
Note: Most charters include a chef who provisions before departure, so your first evening meal is already planned. Use the afternoon to test snorkel gear and let kids get comfortable with the boat’s routines.
Shroud Cay: Mangrove Creeks and the “Washing Machine”
From Highbourne, you’ll cruise north into the northern reaches of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. Shroud Cay is an archipelago of small cays and rocks surrounding a shallow tidal mangrove salt marsh that serves as a nursery for conch, lobster, sea turtles, and juvenile fish. The real draw here is exploring the mangroves by tender or paddleboard — you can float through a narrow lazy-river channel that cuts through the marsh, then climb a small hill on the main cay for a panoramic view of the entire anchorage.
On the northern ridge of the park, there’s a natural phenomenon locals call the “Washing Machine” — a spot where swirling currents create an exhilarating natural wave machine. Jet skis and paddleboards can ride the flow, though it’s not for anyone who prefers calm water. The park’s protected status means no fishing here, but the snorkeling around the mangrove edges is rich with juvenile marine life.
Shroud Cay’s tidal creek is best explored at mid-to-high tide when the water is deep enough for a tender or paddleboard to navigate the full channel. Your captain will time the visit accordingly — ask about the tide schedule at breakfast.
Warderick Wells: Heart of the Land & Sea Park
Warderick Wells Cay sits at the center of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park, the 112,640-acre no-take marine reserve that stretches from Shroud Cay to Bell Cay. The park headquarters is here, and cruisers typically stay overnight in the picturesque bay. Take the tender ashore and hike Boo Boo Hill — a low limestone ridge where visiting boaters leave driftwood signs carved with their vessel names. From the top, you can see the full sweep of the park’s coral reefs, sandbars, and untouched beaches.
On the far end of the beach at Warderick Wells, a 52-foot sperm whale skeleton rests on the sand — a striking reminder of the marine life that moves through these waters. Snorkeling the nearby coral gardens is excellent when the tide permits, and at low tide, a sandbar emerges where the crew often serves sunset cocktails.
All fishing and shelling are banned inside the park boundaries. Anchoring is allowed only in designated areas to protect the reef and seagrass beds. The park’s rangers patrol regularly, and fines apply for violations.
Big Major Cay & Staniel Cay: Pigs, Grotto, and Conch Burgers
Big Major Cay — better known as Pig Beach — is the Exumas’ most famous stop. A small population of feral pigs lives on the uninhabited island, swimming out to greet boats that anchor offshore. Theories about how they arrived range from sailors who left them as a future food source to survivors of a nearby shipwreck. Either way, they’re friendly, expect treats (your crew will have carrots or apples onboard), and spend most of their time wading in the surf or resting on the sand.
A few minutes away by tender, Thunderball Grotto is an underwater cave system west of Staniel Cay that gets its name from the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball, which was shot here. At low tide, you can wade or snorkel into the cave chambers where shafts of sunlight pierce through openings in the ceiling, illuminating colorful coral and reef fish. It’s one of the best single snorkel sites in the Exumas, and the shallow depth — roughly 10 to 15 feet inside the cave — makes it accessible for confident swimmers.
Staniel Cay itself has a small yacht club where you can go ashore for lunch or dinner. Conch burgers at the atmospheric Exumas restaurant are a local staple, and the marina is a good spot to refuel or grab ice before heading farther south.
Thunderball Grotto’s best snorkeling is within an hour either side of low tide, when the water level drops enough to create air pockets inside the cave. Your captain will know the tide window — plan this stop around it rather than arriving at random.
Compass Cay & Cambridge Cay: Sharks and a Natural Aquarium
Compass Cay is known for its controlled nurse-shark encounter. The sharks gather near the marina dock, drawn by regular feeding, and they swim among visitors in water shallow enough to stand in. Nurse sharks are mostly harmless — they have a reputation for being more easygoing than most shark species — but their size (up to 10 feet) and dorsal fins cutting the surface give the experience an edge that older kids and adults tend to love. The marina staff supervises the interaction.
Just south, Cambridge Cay sits next to Johnny Depp’s private island, Little Hall’s Pond Cay. You can’t go ashore there, but the snorkeling on the reef between the two islands is exceptional — a natural aquarium with dense fish populations, healthy coral, and the occasional sea turtle. An old plane wreck in the shallows adds a bit of exploration to the snorkel.
Nurse sharks are docile but still wild animals. Don’t touch them or block their path to the water. The marina staff provides clear guidelines — follow them, and the encounter stays safe for everyone.
Norman’s Cay: A Cartel Plane Wreck on the Seabed
Norman’s Cay has a quieter, more somber history than the rest of the Exumas. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the island was used by the Medellín Cartel as a transshipment point for cocaine moving into the United States. Today, the most visible remnant is a wrecked aircraft sitting on the seabed just off the cay — a twin-engine plane that was part of the cartel’s smuggling operation. You can snorkel directly over the wreck, which rests in shallow, clear water, and see the fuselage and wings encrusted with marine growth.
The story of Norman’s Cay’s cartel era has been covered in documentaries and articles, and the plane wreck is now one of the more unusual snorkel sites in the Bahamas. After exploring the wreck, you can anchor for the night near Allans Cay, which sits just north and offers protection from the prevailing trade winds.
The plane wreck is in shallow water — roughly 15 to 20 feet deep — so it’s visible from the surface and easy to snorkel without diving gear. Currents can pick up in the afternoon, so your captain will likely schedule this stop for the morning.
Allans Cay & Paradise Island: Iguanas, Turtles, and the Runway Home
Allans Cay is one of the few places in the Exumas where you can reliably find Northern Bahamian rock iguanas — a species found only in this island chain. The iguanas congregate near the beach, and they’re accustomed to visitors, though park rules ask you not to feed them. It’s a quick stop that pairs well with the anchorage north of Highbourne, where you can search for sand dollars in the shallows.
Depending on your flight schedule, you’ll either stay at Allans Cay overnight or move toward Rose Island — often called Paradise Island — near Nassau. The waters around Paradise Island are home to green sea turtles with heart-shaped carapaces, and snorkeling with them in the clear, shallow water is a fitting way to end the trip. Stingrays and colorful reef fish round out the scene, and the white-sand beaches here are some of the most accessible in the Bahamas.
The final morning is straightforward: breakfast onboard, then a short motor back to Nassau to clear out and head to Lynden Pindling International Airport for your flight home.
When to Go & How to Book
A luxury yacht charter in the Exumas works year-round, but timing affects both price and experience. Here’s what to consider before you book.
Seasonality
The peak sailing season runs from November to April, when the weather is cooler and drier, trade winds blow steadily at 10–20 knots, and regattas like the National Family Island Regatta take over local harbors. This is also when mooring fees and excursion prices are highest. Hurricane season overlaps June through November, peaking in July and August — sailing is still possible during this window, but you’ll need flexible plans and careful weather monitoring. Many charterers aim for May through June (before the hurricane peak) or November through January, when crowds thin and prices moderate.
Average temperatures range from 70–75°F (21–24°C) between November and May, climbing to 80–85°F (27–29°C) in summer with higher humidity. The water stays warm enough for snorkeling year-round.
Booking Your Charter
Book early — peak-season demand is high, and securing the right yacht and crew months in advance gives you the widest choice of vessels and the best rates. Define the experience you want first: a half-day all-inclusive excursion from Nassau, a week-long crewed catamaran with a chef and water sports, or a two-week expedition covering the Abacos and Eleuthera as well as the Exumas. Your captain knows the anchorages best and can adapt the route for snorkeling, diving, sportfishing (outside the park), or kitesurfing depending on your group’s interests.
Several charter brokers specialize in the Bahamas, including Boatbookings (arranging charters since 2005) and DMA Yachting, which has brokers based in Palma, Miami, and the UK. They handle yacht selection, paperwork, provisioning, and 24/7 support during your trip.
What to Pack
Your charter crew will provide snorkel gear, paddleboards, and often a fast tender for exploring. You’ll want to bring: a valid passport (required for all visitors), reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent, light footwear for sandy walks, and a waterproof camera or action camera for underwater moments. The DJI Osmo Action 6 Bundle handles snorkeling and tender rides well, and its stabilization is useful for capturing the ride through Shroud Cay’s mangroves without ending up with blurry footage.
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Before You Go — Exumas Yacht Charter
What’s the best time of year for a yacht charter in the Exumas?
November through April offers the most reliable weather — calm seas, steady trade winds, and lower humidity. If you’re flexible, May and early June are good alternatives with fewer crowds and moderate prices. Hurricane season (June–November) requires flexible routing and trip insurance.
Do I need a cruising permit for the Bahamas?
Yes. All vessels must clear customs and immigration upon arrival, and a cruising permit is required. Fees vary by vessel size and length of stay. Your charter broker typically handles the paperwork before you arrive, so it’s one less thing to think about.
Can I bring kids on a luxury yacht charter?
Yes — most crewed catamarans and motor yachts welcome families with older kids (ages 8 and up). The shallow, calm waters of the Exumas make snorkeling and tender rides safe, and stops like Compass Cay’s nurse sharks and Big Major Cay’s pigs are hits with children. Your captain can adjust the daily pace to avoid long days underway.
How far in advance should I book?
Three to six months ahead for peak season (November–April). For shoulder months like May or November, two to three months is often enough. Last-minute deals exist but limit your choice of yacht and crew.
Your Own Private Exuma
The Exumas reward the kind of slow, flexible travel that only a crewed charter can deliver — waking up anchored off a different cay each morning, letting the tide dictate when you visit a cave or a sandbar, and ending the day with dinner on deck as the light fades over the water. The itinerary above is a starting point, not a script. Your captain will know which direction the wind is blowing and which anchorage is quietest that night. Trust that, and you’ll leave with a version of the Bahamas that no resort can offer. For more on getting the most out of your time in this part of the Caribbean, check out our guide to the Bahamas’ best snorkeling hotspots.
References
Wannaboats. “Bahamas Luxury Yacht Catamaran Charter 2026.” Wannaboats Blog, 2026. ↗
Boatbookings. “Bahamas Yacht Charter.” Boatbookings, 2025. ↗
Songs in the Sails Yacht Charters. “Bahamas Luxury Yacht Charter Itinerary.” Songs in the Sails Blog, 2025. ↗
If you’re still shaping your trip, our guides to learning to sail in the Bahamas and deep-sea fishing in Bahamian waters cover two other ways to experience these islands. For evening plans, the bioluminescent night-snorkeling guide for Eleuthera is worth a read if your charter includes a stop on the island’s rugged coastline.
Explore Places to Stay in the Bahamas
Feel free to zoom in and out of the map to explore the area and find the best place to stay for your trip.