Secret Sanctuaries: Escaping the Crowds in the Southern Bahamas

The Bahamas is made up of more than 700 islands and cays, but for most of its modern tourism history, just two of them — New Providence (home to Nassau) and Grand Bahama — absorbed nearly all the visitor traffic. That balance has shifted. By 2021, visits to the less-populated “Out Islands” began to surpass those to the capital, with nearly 5.5 million visitors heading to these outer reaches last year. The first quarter of 2025 already shows Out Island visits outpacing Nassau by nearly 100,000 travellers. This guide focuses on the southern arc of that archipelago — Long Island, the Exuma Cays, Cat Island, and Eleuthera — where the crowds thin out and the experience shifts from resort corridor to something quieter.

What you won’t find here is a list of every beach. What you will find is a practical breakdown of which southern islands actually deliver on the promise of solitude, where the logistical headaches hide, and how to plan a trip that doesn’t trade peace for inconvenience. The Out Islands are harder to reach, less developed, and often more expensive to get around — but the tradeoff is access to places where you can walk a mile of sand without seeing another footprint.

Navigating the Southern Out Islands

The southern Bahamas aren’t a single destination — they’re a scattered chain of distinct islands, each with its own access point and character.

Long Island stretches roughly 80 miles from north to south, with the Atlantic on one side and the Exuma Sound on the other. The Exuma Cays form a 130-mile-long chain of 365 islands and cays, most uninhabited. Cat Island sits east of Long Island, while Eleuthera and its offshore sibling Harbour Island lie further north. Getting between them usually means a short domestic flight or a private charter — there’s no regular ferry network connecting these southern islands the way you’d find in the Greek Cyclades.

One honest limitation: the Out Islands combined welcomed 40% fewer visitors than Nassau alone in 2019, but that gap is closing fast. Andros Island has seen a 36.6% increase in visitors since 2019, and Exuma has grown 9.8% in the same period. The window of true obscurity is narrowing, especially around the more accessible cays near Staniel Cay and Big Major Cay.

Where to Find the Quiet: Islands and Beaches That Deliver

Not every southern island lives up to the “hidden” label. Some are genuinely remote; others are one viral Instagram post away from a crowd. Here’s where the solitude holds.

Long Island: Dean’s Blue Hole and Turtle Beach

Long Island is the southernmost of the major Out Islands and one of the least visited. Its main draw is Dean’s Blue Hole, the world’s deepest known blue hole at 663 feet. You can snorkel the edge or free-dive if you’re trained — the hole drops vertically from shallow water, so the contrast between turquoise shallows and deep navy is visible from the shore. Turtle Beach, on the island’s Atlantic side, lives up to its name: sea turtle sightings are common, and the beach itself is soft white sand with几乎没有 development behind it. The Columbus Monument near the northern tip marks where Christopher Columbus is believed to have landed, though the site is modest — a statue and a plaque, not a museum.

Getting to Long Island requires a flight from Nassau to Deadman’s Cay Airport (about 45 minutes) or Stella Maris Airport. Rental cars are limited — book ahead. The island has no major resort chains; accommodation is mostly small guesthouses and villas.

The Exuma Cays: Stocking Island and Saddle Cay

The Exuma Cays are the most famous of the southern Out Islands, largely because of the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay. That spot draws crowds. But the chain has 365 islands, and most see very few visitors. Stocking Island, just a short water taxi from George Town on Great Exuma, offers hiking trails with panoramic views and snorkelling over patch reef. The vibe is deliberately low-key — there’s a beach bar, but no hotels. Saddle Cay, further out in the chain, is uninhabited and accessible only by private boat or guided tour. Its saddle-like shape creates two distinct beaches, one on each side of the island, and the surrounding coral reefs are in good condition.

The pigs at Big Major Cay are a genuine attraction, but the experience has changed. Boats now arrive in waves, and the pigs have become conditioned to expect food — they’ll swim aggressively toward any approaching vessel. If you want to see them, go early (before 9 a.m.) or skip it entirely and head to Saddle Cay instead.

Eleuthera and Harbour Island: Pink Sands and French Leave

Eleuthera is a long, narrow island with the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean on the other. French Leave Beach, on the Atlantic side, is known for its pink sand — the colour comes from tiny pink coral fragments mixed with white sand. The beach is roughly a mile long and rarely crowded, partly because access requires driving down a unpaved road. Harbour Island, just off Eleuthera’s northeast coast, has the more famous Pink Sand Beach, but it’s also more developed, with pastel-coloured cottages and boutique hotels lining the shore. Ben Bay Beach, on Eleuthera’s Caribbean side, offers calm waters protected by a reef, making it a better choice for families with children who want to swim without strong surf.

One caveat: Eleuthera’s rental car supply is tight, and the main road (Queen’s Highway) is narrow with limited signage. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended if you plan to explore the island’s less-travelled beaches, many of which require driving on sand or gravel tracks.

Practical Planning: Timing, Access, and Costs

The southern Out Islands demand more logistical attention than a Nassau resort holiday. Here’s what to factor in before you book.

Flights to the Out Islands are operated primarily by Bahamasair and several small charter carriers. Schedules are limited — some islands receive only one or two flights per day. If your flight is cancelled (which happens, especially in winter), you may need to wait until the next day for the next available seat. Building a buffer day into your itinerary is a practical hedge against this.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season runs from November through April, with daytime temperatures in the mid-70s to low-80s Fahrenheit. This is also peak season, so flights and accommodation book out months in advance. The shoulder months of May and October offer lower prices and fewer visitors, but October sits at the tail end of hurricane season. June through September is hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms common, but this is also when you’ll find the best deals on lodging and the emptiest beaches.

Getting Around Once You’re There

Rental cars are the primary way to explore islands like Eleuthera and Long Island, but supply is limited and prices are high — expect to pay $80–120 per day for a basic SUV. On Great Exuma, taxis and water taxis are more common, and many visitors base themselves near George Town and take day trips by boat. For the Exuma Cays beyond Great Exuma, a private boat charter is the only practical option. Prices for a full-day charter start around $600 and go up from there, depending on the boat and the distance covered.

On the Ground: What to Pack, Eat, and Expect

The Out Islands operate on island time — literally. Shops close early, restaurants may run out of menu items, and ATMs are scarce outside of George Town and Governor’s Harbour.

Packing for Remote Islands

You won’t find a pharmacy or convenience store on most cays. Bring a well-stocked first-aid kit, any prescription medications in original packaging, and a reef-safe mineral sunscreen — the Bahamas has banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, and enforcement is increasing at marine parks and protected areas. A waterproof dry bag is useful for day trips by boat, since many excursions involve a wet landing on uninhabited cays with nowhere to store gear.

For families, a kids snorkel set is worth bringing from home — rental gear on the Out Islands is often limited to adult sizes and may not be well-maintained. Michael and I learned this the hard way on a trip to the Exuma Cays when Lily’s rental mask leaked continuously. Now we pack our own.

Food and Supplies

Grocery stores in the Out Islands are small and stock limited variety. Fresh produce arrives by barge once or twice a week and sells out quickly. If you’re staying in a villa or cottage with a kitchen, shop in Nassau before flying out, or place an order with a local provisioning service that can stock your accommodation before arrival. Restaurants on islands like Long Island and Cat Island are few and often close by 8 p.m. — plan dinner accordingly.

Your Southern Bahamas Questions, Answered

Are the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay worth the trip?

They’re a genuine novelty, but the experience has become crowded and commercialised. Boats arrive in waves, and the pigs have learned to swim aggressively toward any vessel. If you go, arrive before 9 a.m. or consider visiting Saddle Cay instead, where you’ll find similar wildlife encounters without the crowds.

Which southern island is easiest for first-time visitors?

Great Exuma offers the best balance of accessibility and quiet. It has a functional airport, a range of accommodation from villas to small resorts, and easy access to the Exuma Cays by water taxi. It’s more developed than Long Island or Cat Island, but still far quieter than Nassau.

Is the pink sand on Harbour Island worth the hype?

The colour is real — caused by tiny pink coral fragments mixed with white sand — but the beach is more developed than photos suggest. Harbour Island has pastel-coloured cottages and boutique hotels lining the shore, so it doesn’t feel remote. For a quieter pink-sand experience, try French Leave Beach on Eleuthera instead.

What’s the biggest downside of visiting the Out Islands?

The logistical friction. Flights are infrequent and sometimes cancelled, rental cars are scarce and expensive, and supplies are limited. You can’t be spontaneous here — every meal, every transfer, every activity requires advance planning. If that sounds exhausting, stick to a resort on New Providence.

Can you island-hop between the southern Out Islands without a private charter?

Not easily. There’s no regular ferry network connecting Long Island, Cat Island, Eleuthera, and the Exumas. You’d need to fly back to Nassau between each island, which adds time and cost. Most visitors pick one island or island group and base themselves there for the duration.

One Last Thing

The southern Bahamas don’t reward the casual traveller. They demand patience with flight schedules, tolerance for limited dining options, and a willingness to plan every detail in advance. But that friction is also the filter — the people who make the effort are the ones who find the empty beaches, the quiet coves, and the kind of silence that settles in after the boat engine cuts off. For a deeper look at how to stretch your budget across these islands, read our guide to experiencing the Bahamas without breaking the bank.

Sources and further reading

These Lesser-Known Islands In The Bahamas Are Becoming The Caribbean’s Next Big Thing. Forbes, 2025.

Skip These 7 Crowded Bahamas Beaches — Visit These 13 Hidden Gems Instead. We3Travel.

10 Most Breathtaking Bahama Hidden Gems. Above Deck.