These are the 5 Exuma stops I send almost every client to: a beach full of swimming pigs, a cave from the James Bond films, and a real drug-smuggling plane wreck you can snorkel over. The Exumas are the heart of Bahamas yachting, and if you only have a week to charter, this is where I’d send you.
5. Big Major Cay’s Pig Beach
Pig Beach, on Big Major Cay, is exactly what it sounds like: a beach inhabited by swimming pigs, and they’re friendly enough to approach and feed. It’s one of the easiest, most reliable photo stops on any Exuma charter, and it works for every kind of guest, kids especially.
No one knows for sure how the pigs ended up on the cay, but there are several fun theories floating around:
Some believe a group of sailors left the pigs there, intending to return and cook them, but they never came back. The pigs managed to survive on scraps from passing ships.
Another story suggests the pigs survived a shipwreck and swam to shore.
There are also tales of the pigs escaping from a nearby islet. And one theory proposes that the pigs were brought to the island as part of a tourist attraction scheme. If that is the case, it certainly worked!
Whichever story is true, the pigs of Big Major Cay have become beloved residents, making this beach a must-visit destination in the Bahamas.
Broker insight
Big Major Cay also has another name: Pig Beach. People love to go see this area because it's an island inhabited by pigs, and no one really quite knows how they got there.
Louis Lamprell
Charter Broker, Active CYBA Member
4. Staniel Cay Yacht Club
After a few days of island jumping around the northern Exumas, you will reach Staniel Cay and Staniel Cay Yacht Club. This venue provides not only a safe harbor but also a chance to enjoy fine dining near the water’s edge and some socializing with other charter guests, yacht owners and sailors.
Staniel Cay Marina offers docking for vessels up to 210 feet as well as moorings in the bay. They also host several events such as the Superball, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Dive Competitions, and Parties such as the James Bond Casino Royal Party.
Snorkel on the most accessible drug smuggling plane in the world
Also, don’t miss the opportunity to dive on another drug smuggling plane. This plane wreck, located only about half a mile from the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, is one of the most accessible underwater plane wrecks in the world. So, it is a super opportunity for beginner snorkelers and children to explore at ease.
Unlike the plane wreck at Norman’s Cay, this one isn’t directly linked to Pablo Escobar but is believed to have been used for smuggling marijuana between Colombia and Miami.
The theory of its crash is that the plane ran out of fuel before managing to land on the Staniel Cay airstrip on a dark night. The two passengers died in the crash.
Broker insight
We recommend either chartering a motor yacht or catamaran for your crewed yacht charter vacation in the Bahamas. Why? The water in the Bahamas is very shallow, which greatly limits accessibility for deep-drafted yachts.
Louis Lamprell
Charter Broker, Active CYBA Member
3. Thunderball Grotto
Named after the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball, this underwater cave is a must-visit for divers and snorkelers on any Exuma yacht charter.
Thunderball Grotto is located near Staniel Cay. It is teeming with exotic fish and offers a surreal experience as you swim through the sunlit caverns.
Once inside the cave, you’ll discover multiple underwater caverns and hidden passages that lead to additional chambers waiting to be explored.
Thunderball Grotto is accessible for both novice and experienced snorkelers and divers. The grotto’s entrance is just beneath the water’s surface at low tide, making it easy to enter, and its interior is lit by natural sunlight filtering through holes in the rock, creating a mesmerizing underwater experience.
Note that entering at low tide is best for novice snorkelers when the entrance and caverns are close beneath the surface of the water.
Hollywood put Thunderball Grotto on the map
Thunderball Grotto gained international fame as a filming location for the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball, starring Sean Connery. Later, it was actually used again in another James Bond Film, Never Say Never, in 1983.
The film’s underwater scenes showcased the grotto’s stunning natural beauty and helped cement its status as a popular tourist destination.
Beyond the Bond franchise, Thunderball Grotto has appeared in other Hollywood films, such as Splash (1984), where it added a magical backdrop to the mermaid-themed romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks.
It was also featured in the action-thriller Into The Blue (2005), starring Jessica Alba and Paul Walker, which highlighted the grotto’s appeal for underwater adventure scenes.
Broker insight
Thunderball is the scene where they're shooting each other with spear guns. You can actually sit on the same rock where it was filmed.
– Captain Bill, Bella Contessa crew
2. Shroud Cay
Shroud Cay is a beautiful mangrove island known for Sanctuary Creek, which runs straight through the island, perfect for exploring by kayak, paddleboard, or tender.
It is home to many marine species, including turtles, lobster, conch, and nurse sharks, as well as many birds.
It’s an ideal spot for those looking to escape the more crowded destinations and enjoy some quiet time surrounded by nature.
Kayaking or Paddleboarding on Sanctuary Creek
The best thing to do at Shroud Cay is play on the Sanctuary Creek. On the main creek, motorized vessels are allowed at idle speed, and a slow trip with the tide in the tender is a great way to watch the wildlife.
The rest of the creeks are off-limits for engines, but never mind, for the best way to explore is by kayak or on a paddleboard!
I would also highly recommend that you check out the so-called “washing machine.” – On an outgoing tide, when the water empties from the shallower Exuma bank to Exuma Sound, it forms a water slide-like rapid, which is awesome to play in.
Enjoy a lunch and snorkel on Driftwood Beach
The beach where the waterslide is located is really nice and a great place to stop for lunch and relax before your afternoon island exploration.
Hike to Driftwood Camp, where the DEA once spied on Pablo Escobar
This brings us to my last Shroud Cay recommendation: the hike to Camp Driftwood. The well-used trail is easily found just to the north of the washing machine.
There’s not much left of it now, but the camp was established in the 1960s by a sailor who lived aboard his boat at Shroud Cay.
The location later gained notoriety in the 1980s when it was used by the DEA to spy on Pablo Escobar’s activities to the north at Norman Cay.
You’ll also enjoy panoramic 360 views from the top.
1. Norman’s Cay
Norman’s Cay is located at the northern end of the Exuma Islands and will probably be your first stop when coming down from Nassau.
Norman’s Cay offers excellent opportunities for snorkeling and diving, making it a perfect spot for underwater exploration.
Norman’s Cay holds a rather notorious chapter in history due to its past as a hub for drug smuggling activities in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The island was essentially commandeered by Carlos Lehder, a key figure in the Medellín Cartel, who transformed it into a base for cocaine trafficking operations to the United States.
This dark period left several remnants, including the infamous wreckage of a drug smuggling plane submerged in shallow waters just off the cay.
Dive on Pablo Escobar’s drug smuggling plane wreck
Today, this wreckage has become a popular site for divers and snorkelers. It rests in crystal clear waters that are shallow enough for snorkelers to enjoy, typically no more than 10 feet deep at high tide.
The plane, now encrusted with coral and home to a variety of marine life, offers an eerie yet fascinating vista, creating a unique underwater experience.
Divers and snorkelers can explore the fuselage and wings, observing schools of tropical fish that have taken refuge there. Just ask your crew to arrange a snorkel stop directly over the wreck, it’s a regular request and an easy one to build into the day.
Exuma Yacht Charter 101
The Exumas, or Exuma Cays, is the best part of the Bahamas and where most Bahamas Yacht Charters choose to go. If you only have one week to charter, focus on the Exuma Cays!
The Exuma Cays lie right in the heart of The Bahamas, easily reached from Nassau, where you will fly into. (On a catamaran charter, you can expect about a 5-hour sail from Nassau to the top of the Exuma Islands. A motor yacht can reduce this journey to about 2 to 3 hours, depending on the yacht’s size and power.)
Sheltered by the outer islands to the north and Cuba and Haiti to the south, this is a very protected cruising ground. For this reason, an Exuma yacht charter is ideal even for those new to yacht chartering.
Other than the 5 locations in this article, also check out Compass Cay, Highbourne Cay, Warderick Cay, and Sandy Cay, all located within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
