Exuma, Bahamas Frequently Asked Questions

You can fly directly to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau with airlines like Delta, United, American, and Air Canada.

In the Exuma Sound drop, just a stone's throw away in some places, you can catch species like wahoo, mahi mahi, and tuna. You can read more about it here.

From hiking on Boo Boo Hill, swimming with pigs at Big Major Cay, to enjoying a Peanut Colada at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Exuma offers unique activities for sea adventurers.

Visiting the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay is a unique experience. It's recommended to bring suitable food for them (such as fruits and vegetables) and maintain a respectful distance to enjoy this encounter safely and responsibly.

The best time to visit Exuma, Bahamas, is from December to April, thanks to its moderate weather and comfortable temperatures. This period is particularly appealing for a variety of reasons:

• Stable Weather Conditions: These months provide the most stable and predictable weather, with minimal rainfall and storm activity. This consistency makes it easier to plan your sailing adventures and ensures more time enjoying the sun and sea.
• Comfortable Climate: The climate is pleasantly warm, with temperatures usually ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (around 24-29°C), making it ideal for outdoor and water activities. The ocean temperature is also inviting for swimming, snorkeling, and diving enthusiasts.
• Favorable Sailing Conditions: The trade winds during this season are steady and moderate, offering ideal conditions for sailing. Whether you're an experienced sailor or a beginner, navigating the waters of Exuma is both enjoyable and accessible.
• Lower Hurricane Risk: Traveling outside the Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June to November, reduces the risk of travel interruptions and ensures safer sailing experiences.

We recommend a week. The Exumas chain runs over 100 nautical miles end to end, and seven days gives you time to settle into the cruising ground instead of rushing through it. A typical week visits Allan's Cay, Norman's Cay, Shroud Cay and Warderick Wells in the no-take park, Compass Cay's nurse sharks, and Staniel Cay for Thunderball Grotto and the swimming pigs at Big Major. Shorter trips (4–5 days) work too. For those we typically recommend embarking at Staniel Cay rather than Nassau — starting in Nassau adds a half-day crossing of the Exuma Sound to reach the northern cays, which is a fine experience on a week-long charter but a meaningful chunk of a five-day trip. Staniel Cay drops you in the middle of the chain immediately.

Included: a professional crew (typically captain, chef, and stewardess), all meals and a standard bar (beer, wine, and spirits), water sports equipment, fuel for normal cruising, Bahamas cruising permits, linens, and towels. Not included: crew gratuities (15-20% of the base charter rate), any marina or dockage fees beyond customary stops, premium drinks or specialty provisions, onshore dining (Staniel Cay Yacht Club, etc.), and transfers to and from the yacht.

APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance — a pre-paid fund (typically 25-35% of the base charter rate) that covers food, beverages, fuel, mooring and marina fees, and other running costs during your trip. Your captain keeps an itemized account, and any unused funds are refunded at the end of your charter. In the Exumas specifically, APA also covers Bahamas cruising and fishing permits, the relocation fee if your yacht is repositioning to a starting point like Staniel Cay, and dockage at marinas such as Highbourne Cay or Compass Cay if your itinerary calls for them.

For peak season (December through April), book 6-12 months ahead — the best yachts and crews go first, and Christmas/New Year, Spring Break, and Easter weeks often book 12+ months out. For our favorite Exumas window (April through May), 4-6 months is typically enough. Last-minute availability comes up too, especially when a charter cancels — we can always check what's open.

Yes. Your chef can accommodate virtually any dietary need — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, allergies, kids menus, and more. Before your charter, you will complete a preference sheet detailing every guest's dietary requirements, favorite foods, and anything to avoid. Your chef builds the menu around it. In the Bahamas, expect plenty of fresh-caught conch, lobster (in season), and grouper alongside your preferences — it's part of what makes a Bahamas charter feel like a Bahamas charter.

Both work, and the right call depends on your trip length and travel preferences. Nassau is the more common starting point — direct flights from most US gateways and a deep-water harbor for any size yacht. The trade-off is a half-day open-water crossing of the Exuma Sound to reach the northern cays before your charter really begins. Staniel Cay sits in the middle of the Exuma chain, near Pig Beach and Thunderball Grotto. Starting from Staniel skips the Nassau crossing entirely and you're chartering from the moment you step on board — a meaningful difference on a 5-7 day trip. The trade-off is that flights are smaller (regional turboprops out of Nassau or Fort Lauderdale), and there is often an extra relocation fee to position the yacht to Staniel. For a 7+ day charter we usually recommend starting in Nassau and using the crossing as part of the experience. For 4-5 days, Staniel is hard to beat.