Sailing the Exumas with Kids: Our Plan for a Family Yacht Charter
Next week, I’m heading back to my all-time favorite cruising ground: the Exuma island chain in the Bahamas. But this trip has a twist!
It’s our first-ever family yacht charter, and yeah, we’re bringing the little pirates along for the ride (2x families with kids ages 5, 8, 9, 11). We’re trading late-night rum punches for treasure hunts and mangrove safaris (okay, still some rum punches too). I cannot wait to build some core memories with the next generation of young explorers!
We’re packing the treasure maps, the fishing tackle, and just enough snacks to keep the crew from mutiny.
OK, here is my plan for next week's 7-day / 6-night charter!
Palm Cay—ideal start for a family yacht charter Caribbean
Iguanas at Allan's Cay on our family yacht charter
Day 1: Family Yacht Charter Kickoff — Across the Yellow Bank & Into the Wild
We’re casting off early out of Nassau and making the long sail across the Yellow Bank. First stop: Allan’s Cay to visit the endangered Bahamian Rock Iguanas. I’ve never stopped here before, and I think the kids will love it.
After lunch, the real action begins. We’ll be fishing the northern edge of the Exuma Sound drop, where the pelagics roam. If we’re lucky, we’ll bring home some mahi, tuna, or wahoo.
The only yacht for miles at North Sail Rocks
By late afternoon, we’ll settle into North Sail Rocks, one of those lesser-visited spots that always reminds me why we love the Exumas so much. It’s remote, pristine, and the perfect place to anchor up with a sundowner on your family yacht charter.
Evening plans? Dinghy exploration, reef snorkeling, and hunting for lionfish (we'll try to spot lobsters too, but they're out of season).
The Pirate's Lair mooring field
Day 2: Fishing & Pirate’s Lair in the Park
We’ll try our luck again offshore with the rods first thing. Then it’s lines up as we head into the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park—where fishing is a no-go, but the snorkeling and exploring are world-class.
At Warderick Wells, we’re heading to Pirate’s Lair, a hidden gem and the perfect setting for the kids’ treasure hunt. This part of the family yacht charter Caribbean experience is all about imagination, nature, and just a little mischief. We’re leaning into the pirate theme here—there are even nearby cays named Teach Rock and Pirate’s Retreat.
The Treasure Map I made for our family yacht charter
We’ll do a casual beach picnic, set up our tent, and keep things low-key. If the crew is still energized by late afternoon, we’ll go ashore at Warderick Wells and hike up Boo Boo Hill—a classic spot with driftwood offerings and panoramic views of the cays.
Pig Beach at Big Majors, a must stop for first-timers
Day 3: Thunderball Grotto & A Pig Beach
After the morning's treasure hunt fun, we’ll make our way south to Staniel Cay, our southernmost stop and turnaround point. I usually avoid Big Major’s and the pig chaos, but hey—this is a family yacht charter, and sometimes you just have to embrace it! We’ll anchor near Thunderball Grotto, which is best explored at slack / low tide for that James Bond-style swim-through. Then we’ll dinghy over to Pig Beach for those mandatory photos.
The anchorage I like at Staniel Cay - Thunderball Grotto is on the left in the background
Evening plans: cocktails and perhaps dinner ashore at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. It’s one of the few places out here with a little buzz, and yes, I’ll be getting the locally famous Peanut Colada.
Fowl Cay—perfect lunch break on a family yacht charter
Day 4: Flex Day — Choose Your Adventure
This is our wild card day. We’ll see how everyone’s feeling, but here are the top options:
Compass Cay to swim with nurse sharks and hike to Crescent Beach.
Fowl Cay for lunch and access to Rachel’s Bubble Bath (a tidal pool tucked behind the rocks) and Rocky Dundas—twin sea caves with cathedral-like interiors.
The Aquarium—a pristine snorkel spot that lives up to its name.
The nurse sharks at Compass Cay Marina
Once we’ve burned off some energy, we’ll head north to Shroud Cay and tuck into one of my favorite anchorages. Expect paddleboarding, swimming, and another epic sunset. This is the soul of a family yacht charter Caribbean trip.
Sanctuary Creek at Shroud Cay—peaceful family yacht charter moment
Day 5: Mangrove River Run & a Dash of Hawksbill
We’ll kick the morning off with the Sanctuary Creek safari—a winding dinghy ride through Shroud Cay’s mangrove river. If we plan to time it with a rising tide, we’ll end up on a hidden beach with the natural “washing machine”—basically a tidal water slide.
On the way, we’ll keep an eye out for baby sharks, turtles, and rays gliding below the surface.
The beach also makes for a great hangout, and there is a short hike to the top of Camp Driftwood for some amazing views.
Hiking Camp Driftwood
Later in the day, if the timing and weather align, we’ll make a quick run to Hawksbill Cay. This place is a dream—long sandbars, turquoise shallows, and that castaway feel. We’ll post up for lunch before continuing north — pure family yacht charter magic.
Evening destination: Norman’s Cay. The plan is to go ashore for a final-night celebration dinner. The beach here is stunning, and it’s a sentimental spot with a storied past. exuma-sunsets.webp90.1 KB
Day 6: Wreck Snorkel & Family Yacht Charter Farewell
We’ll ease into the morning and make our final stop in the Exumas: the sunken remains of Pablo Escobar’s plane off Norman’s Cay. It’s shallow and an epic snorkel spot.
Then it’s back across the Yellow Bank toward Nassau. We’ll squeeze in one more night of swimming, water sports, and cocktails at Rose Island, just east of Nassau. It’s the ideal wind-down after a packed family yacht charterweek.
The next morning, we’ll cruise into the marina and disembark just in time to catch our flights home.
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