Located in The Bahamas, Exuma is one of the country’s most geographically unique regions. The district includes Great Exuma, Little Exuma, Stocking Island, Staniel Cay and more than 365 islands and cays scattered across some of the most spectacular turquoise water I have ever seen.

We flew into Exuma International Airport near Georgetown, which was incredibly easy and stress-free. The airport itself is a charming little terminal that was undergoing renovations during our visit, giving the impression of a destination that is growing while still holding onto its laid-back island character.

Arriving in Great Exuma felt like stepping into a very different pace of life, and we were eager to see as much of the island as we could.

Where We Stayed

For our stay, we chose Peace & Plenty Resort in Georgetown after seeing it recommended repeatedly in an Exuma Facebook group. It turned out to be an excellent choice.

The resort has its own restaurant, beach towels for guests and access to a private beach club on nearby Stocking Island, reached by a complimentary boat shuttle. There was also a fantastic café directly across the road that quickly became part of our daily routine.

We rented a car through Exuma Car Rental, which made exploring the island simple and convenient.

Having a car is something I would definitely recommend. Exuma is the kind of place where you want the freedom to stop when you see a beautiful beach, little restaurant or somewhere interesting along the road.

Exploring the Exuma Cays

One of the highlights of our trip was a full-day excursion with Exuma Water Sports 007.

If you’re visiting Exuma for the first time, I cannot recommend this experience enough. It’s an incredible way to see the famous Exuma Cays without needing boating experience or the challenge of navigating the islands yourself.

Our day included visiting the world-famous swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, seeing the endangered Bahamian rock iguanas, swimming alongside nurse sharks at Compass Cay and snorkelling through the famous Thunderball Grotto. We also stopped for lunch at the iconic Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

The sandbars were another highlight. Appearing and disappearing with the tides, they were some of the most beautiful places we saw all day.

The crew was fun, knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about sharing their home with visitors. The boat accommodated up to 24 passengers, which felt like a good size for a social but comfortable day on the water.

I did manage to scrape the backs of my legs and, rather embarrassingly, my backside on some fire coral while swimming through a tunnel exit at Thunderball Grotto.

It wasn’t my finest moment.

The resulting rash was uncomfortable enough that I eventually needed prescription steroid cream when we returned home, but despite that, I would absolutely do the trip again.

The tour included ice-cold beers, rum punch, bottled water and soft drinks throughout the day, and snorkelling equipment was provided.

Our daughter loved every minute of it and even asked if we could move to Exuma and homeschool her there. I suspect meeting a lovely teacher on the boat, who worked with private clients, may have helped influence that decision.

The Places We Loved

Some of my favourite spots were the stunning sandbars, the wonderfully quirky Haulover Bay Bar & Grill at low tide and Tropic of Cancer Beach, which is every bit as beautiful as the photographs suggest.

We didn’t make it to Coconut Beach Club on this trip, but after seeing photographs and hearing from others, it’s already on our list for next time. Dinner at Coco Plum was great and the location was on another great beach to spend more time on next time.

What makes Exuma so appealing to me is its simplicity.

There are no major chain stores. No high-rise developments. No traffic jams. No real sense of hurry.

The island feels rustic, quiet and relatively untouched. The visitors we met seemed to be a mix of boating enthusiasts, divers, snorkellers and people who simply wanted to disconnect from busy lives for a while.

And then there’s the water.

It really does deserve a paragraph of its own.

It’s almost impossible to describe just how clear and vibrant it is. The colours move from pale aquamarine to deep sapphire depending on the depth of the water and the angle of the sun.

It reminded me of those impossibly perfect tropical scenes from old travel advertisements that never quite looked real.

In Exuma, they are.

The People We Met

What struck me most about Exuma wasn’t just the scenery. It was the people.

Throughout our stay, we met so many repeat visitors who came back year after year, and everyone seemed eager to share recommendations, stories and favourite places. Many of the people we met were from southern U.S. states such as Georgia and Louisiana, and we found ourselves having wonderfully easy conversations with people wherever we went.

I kept turning to my husband and saying, “I feel like I’ve found my tribe.”

There was a relaxed friendliness to Exuma that I really loved. People had time for conversations and seemed genuinely interested in one another. It sounds simple, but that kind of easy connection isn’t something you encounter everywhere.

It was one of the things that made Exuma feel different almost immediately.

Final Thoughts

Exuma wasn’t just another destination on our travel list. We arrived expecting beautiful beaches and turquoise water, and we certainly found both, but what we didn’t expect was how quickly we’d connect with the island itself – its simplicity, its people and its slower pace.

We’ve travelled to many beautiful islands, but there’s something about Exuma that felt different to us. It felt strangely like home, even though we’d only just arrived.

Mrs Globetrotter Tips

Best for: Couples, families, boating enthusiasts and anyone looking for a quieter Caribbean escape.

How long to stay: I’d allow at least five to seven days, particularly if you want time to explore Great Exuma as well as take a boat trip through the Cays.

Where we stayed: Peace & Plenty Resort in Georgetown.

Don’t miss: A full-day Exuma Cays tour with Exuma Water Sports 007, Tropic of Cancer Beach, the sandbars, Stocking Island and exploring Great Exuma by car. We loved our dinner at Cocoplum Bistro

Good to know: Rent a car if you want to explore beyond Georgetown, and be careful around coral when snorkelling – advice I learned the hard way.

Would I return? Absolutely. Plans are underway for next year.