The Bahamas string hundreds of islands and sandbanks east of Florida, with Nassau as the historic gateway and the Exumas as the archipelago's most sought-after cruising ground: shallow, glass-clear turquoise water, the protected Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, and the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay. The dry season, December through April, is when charter demand peaks, June 2026.
Table of Contents
- Nassau: the historic gateway
- The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
- Staniel Cay: Thunderball Grotto and the swimming pigs
- Georgetown and Great Exuma
- Route planning: Nassau to Georgetown
- Season and weather windows
- FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Nassau: the Historic Gateway
Nassau, the Bahamian capital, sits on New Providence island and holds most of the country's colonial history. Fort Charlotte, built by the British in the late 18th century and named for Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, crowns a headland above the harbor. Nearby, Fort Fincastle and the Queen's Staircase — a hand-carved limestone stairway still climbed on foot through the old town — round out the sites that tell the city's British-era story.
Paradise Island connects to Nassau and is one of the first things visible from the water on the way in or out of the harbor: resorts, town beaches and one of the more recognizable skylines in the island Caribbean. For itineraries that pair a few days of city time with the charter itself, Nassau works well as an embarkation point — it has the country's most complete infrastructure and its main international airport, which keeps connections simple for guests flying in from North America, Europe or, with a connection, South America.
The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
South of Nassau, the Exuma chain begins: hundreds of small islands and sandbanks strung together over a shallow sea in a turquoise so bright it looks artificial. The northern stretch of the archipelago falls inside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, managed by the Bahamas National Trust — a no-take reserve where fishing and collecting are prohibited, which has preserved reef, fish populations and sea turtles at a density rarely found elsewhere in the Caribbean today.
For most itineraries, sailing inside the park is the entire point of coming to the Exumas: shallow water over white sand produces a gradient of blues that shifts from one sandbank to the next, and short snorkeling stops between islands replace the need for any fixed schedule. The park's no-fishing, no-collecting rule is not a suggestion — any exception depends on authorization from local park authorities and should never be assumed.
Staniel Cay: Thunderball Grotto and the Swimming Pigs
Staniel Cay is the central Exumas' main settlement, small and served by its own airstrip, and it functions as both a resupply stop and the reference point for the archipelago's two most photographed attractions. The first is Thunderball Grotto, a partly submerged limestone cave that gave its name to the 1965 James Bond film "Thunderball," some of whose underwater sequences were filmed there. The underwater entrance is easier to swim at or near low tide, when the passage opens up enough room to pass through; sunlight drops in through an opening in the cave's roof and lights the water inside, an effect few places in the Caribbean match.
The second attraction is a short tender ride away: Big Major Cay, known informally as "Pig Beach" for the population of pigs that swim out to greet boats anchored nearby in search of food. It's one of the most shared images to come out of the Bahamas, but it calls for common sense — follow local operators' guidance on what, if anything, to offer the animals, keep a safe distance in the water, and never feed them anything not recommended, both for visitor safety and the pigs' own health.
Georgetown and Great Exuma
At the southern end of the chain, Georgetown is the largest town in the Exumas and sits on Elizabeth Harbour, one of the busier anchorages in the archipelago outside peak cruising season. The town has support infrastructure — markets, local restaurants, fuel — that the smaller islands further north lack, making it the natural resupply stop on any itinerary that runs the full length of the Exuma chain.
Georgetown also hosts a traditional Bahamian regatta built around the country's classic working sailboats, a direct legacy of the small-boat fishing fleet that worked these same waters for generations. Great Exuma has its own international airport, which lets guests fly into Nassau and out of Georgetown — or the reverse — without retracing the same stretch of sea twice on the same trip.
Route Planning: Nassau to Georgetown
The Exuma chain works equally well as a compact loop around the northern marine park or a full run down to Georgetown. The table below sketches a reference seven-day route, easily compressed or extended:
| Day | Base | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nassau | Embarkation, Fort Charlotte, the Queen's Staircase |
| 2 | Nassau to the Exuma Cays (north) | Entering the Land and Sea Park |
| 3 | Exuma Cays | Snorkeling the protected sandbanks |
| 4 | Staniel Cay | Thunderball Grotto |
| 5 | Staniel Cay to Big Major Cay | Swimming pigs, neighboring cays |
| 6 | Heading to Georgetown | Crossing the central chain |
| 7 | Georgetown | Elizabeth Harbour, disembark or fly out of Great Exuma |
Shorter trips tend to concentrate between Nassau and the northern half of the park, since that stretch already covers the protected marine park and Staniel Cay. Groups with more time push on to Georgetown to close the loop with its own international airport, avoiding a return trip over the same water.
Season and Weather Windows
December through April is the most sought-after window for cruising the Bahamas: rainfall is low, wind is more consistent, and the Atlantic hurricane season — which runs June through November, peaking between August and October — has either ended or not yet begun. May is a reasonable shoulder month, still calm but with rising humidity. June through November, despite warmer water, coincides with the greatest risk of tropical storms, which is why charter bookings in the region thin out during those months.
The table below compares Nassau and the Exumas as a base for planning:
| Criterion | Nassau | Exumas |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Historic city, full infrastructure | Small islands, preserved nature |
| Best for | Opening or closing a short trip | A dedicated multi-day route |
| Highlight | Colonial forts, the Queen's Staircase | Marine park, Thunderball, swimming pigs |
| Air access | The country's main international airport | International airport on Great Exuma |
Charter pricing in the Bahamas follows the international crewed-yacht market and varies with vessel size, time of year and what is included in the package. Because there is no region-specific reference range for the Bahamas in the sources used for this guide, the most reliable step is to request a current quote directly from the operator or broker for your dates and group size.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time of year to charter in the Bahamas and Exumas? December through April, when rainfall is lower, wind is more consistent and the Atlantic hurricane season (June through November) has ended or not yet started. May is an acceptable shoulder month. Avoid the peak of hurricane season, roughly August to October, if your dates are fixed.
What is Thunderball Grotto? A partly submerged limestone cave near Staniel Cay, named after the 1965 James Bond film "Thunderball," whose underwater scenes were filmed there. The entrance is easier to swim at or near low tide, and sunlight entering through an opening in the roof lights up the water inside the cave.
Are the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay really there? Yes. A population of pigs lives on the beach at Big Major Cay and swims out to boats anchored nearby looking for food — one of the most photographed sights in the Bahamas. Visits should follow local operators' guidance on what to offer the animals and keep a safe distance while in the water.
Should I base my trip in Nassau or the Exumas? It depends on how much time you have. Nassau holds the country's historic sites and main airport, making it a strong choice for opening or closing a shorter trip. The Exumas are where the cruising itself happens — the marine park, Staniel Cay, Georgetown — and reward at least five to seven days to do properly.
How many days do I need for the Exumas? A seven-day route comfortably covers Nassau, the northern half of the marine park, Staniel Cay and Georgetown, with a day each for embarkation and disembarkation. Shorter trips of four to five days usually stay within Nassau and the northern part of the chain.
When is hurricane season in the Bahamas? June through November, with a statistical peak between August and October, per the official Atlantic hurricane season calendar. December through May accounts for most charter bookings precisely because it falls outside that risk window.
How much does it cost to charter a yacht in the Bahamas? Pricing follows the international crewed-charter market and varies by vessel size, season and what's included. There is no region-specific reference range for the Bahamas in the sources used for this guide — the most reliable step is to request a current quote from an operator for your exact dates and group size.
Are the Exumas a good fit for families with children? Yes, and it's part of why the archipelago has become a popular charter destination: shallow, calm water across most of the marine park, short distances between stops, and attractions like the swimming pigs that appeal across age groups. Always confirm the day's conditions with the crew before any water activity.
Plan Your Bahamas Charter
An Exumas route pairs well with a busier stretch of the wider Caribbean, such as the British Virgin Islands and Grenadines or St Barths and Antigua, for guests planning more than one season in the region. To price a week in the Bahamas, the international catalog is at voguer.yachts, with more than 500 yachts across more than 50 destinations and 24-hour concierge support. To see boat rental options in Brazil before the jump to the Caribbean, visit voguer.com.br.
Updated June 2026.