You have a few options to stay when looking to enjoy some of the top things to do in Exuma.  You can choose to stay around somewhat of a civilization in Great Exuma, or head out to the Cays and find a more private place.  Keep in mind, the Cays are extremely remote, so harder to get to once you land in Exuma, not a lot of restaurant options, stores and general things to do.  Not unless you live on Tim McGraw’s and Faith Hill’s private island.

There are a few nicer resorts in Exuma where you will find more of the all-inclusive setup, nicer amenities and likely just an overall better experience.  Here you will find nightly prices of $400+/night.  Some of those resorts are:

• Sandals Emerald Bay
• Grand Isle Resort

If you still want to stay at a place that has food options, house-keeping and just the general feel that you would expect on vacation, Exuma has a few of those.  You can expect around $125+/night for some of these options:

• Hideaways at Palm Bay
• Peace & Plenty Hotel

Lastly, if you are looking for a true Exuma experience or maybe looking to save on cost, you will want to find a vacation rental.  You can find some nice rentals starting at around $100 all the way up to $10,000/night.  Check out:

• Airbnb
• HomeToGo

The famous swimming pigs are not only one of the top things to do in Exuma, but in all of the Bahamas.  People travel from all over the world to see them.  Most tours in the Bahamas will take you there.  You can enjoy swimming with them, feeding and playing on the beach with them.  Check out our swimming pigs review here.

The Bahamas have many kinds of sharks.  One of those is the Nurse Shark.  They pose no threat to humans so they are fun to swim with.  Head over to Compass Cay to take a dip with them.  Be sure to get there early in order to beat the crowds.  There is a $10/per person fee to do so.

There are many gorgeous beaches in Exuma.  Whether you are in the Cays or on Great Exuma, you’ll find one just right for you.  Some of the more popular ones in Exuma are Cocoplum Beach and the Tropic of Cancer.  Both on different parts of the island, but they are quite big so you’ll likely have a good amount to yourself.

If you venture out to the Cays, you’ll likey weave in and out of some islands owned by some famous celebrities.  Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are one of the more popular ones that purchased their own island and developed quite the compound.  David Copperfield and Nicolas Cage are among others.

Nicknamed after a famous James Bond movie that was shot there, Thunderbolt Grotto is a fun place to dive on into.  Or for some, snorkel on into.  This is not an excursion for the faint of heart.  We have to dive into and out of Thunderbolt Grotto through air pockets before finally making our way out.

Rent a boat from Minn’s Water Sports for the day.  You can cruise all over Elizabeth Harbor on your own.  You’ll find some great beaches, sandbars as well as a nice little lunch spot called Chat N’ Chill where boaters stop to eat, play with stingrays and just enjoy the day.

Exuma is home to some of the most breathtaking waters in all of the world.  It is truly amazing.  The waters of Exuma can be quite shallow, leaving sandbars all over the place.  Just off Musha Cay, there is a mile long sandbar that you can pull your boat up to and enjoy some relaxation.