Little Exuma

Little Exuma, the small sister island to Great Exuma, lies directly on the Tropic of Cancer, where one of its most beautiful beaches is located. Only a short 30 min drive away from Great Exuma, it makes for a peaceful and interesting day trip for visitors staying on Great Exuma.

The Bahamas has 700 unique and beautiful islands, and while all are worth visiting, one that should be at the top of every travel itinerary is Little Exuma. 

Located at the southern end of the Exumas, a district of 365 islands, Little Exuma Island Bahamas is only 12 square miles in size. That said, it offers staggering levels of natural beauty. From pristine, white-sand beaches to the surrounding waters that come in every shade of blue, Little Exuma Island is the kind of destination you have to see to believe it’s real. 

And, regardless of whether you’re already in the Bahamas or are looking to visit from abroad, it’s also easy to reach. Air travel makes it possible to fly into the surrounding area and start soaking up all it has to offer. Once you’re ready to leave the island and explore other parts of the country (if that time ever comes), you can easily hop from Little Exuma to your next Bahamas destination by plane. 

Little Exuma: An Unspoiled Paradise

Reaching the Island

As mentioned, Little Exuma Island Bahamas is accessible. Depending on where you’re traveling from, you can visit the island in one of several ways. 

From Great Exuma

To the northwest of the island, you’ll find Great Exuma, a larger island that houses several ports for boaters and sailors looking to restock supplies. On Great Exuma, you’ll also find the capital of the Exumas and the largest settlement in the region: Georgetown. Its population of around 2,500 full-time residents should give you an idea of how tranquil the Exumas are. 

If you’re staying in the Georgetown area, Queen’s Highway will take you south along the island, eventually transporting you to the bridge that separates Great Exuma from Little Exuma. From there, a quick drive across will have you on the island in no time. 

From Anywhere Else

Besides being accessible from the bridge separating it from Great Exuma, you can also reach Little Exuma via just about anywhere. That’s because Georgetown is also home to an international airport. 

The Exuma International Airport accommodates flights from both domestic and international locations, including Nassau, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, and more. By flying into the Georgetown airport, travelers can then easily cruise over to Little Exuma Island. 

As air travel is also an efficient way to traverse the Bahamas, you can even look into signing up for Exuma day trips to other parts of the country. For example, if you’re looking to see the famous Swimming Pigs on Big Major Cay (another island in Exuma), traveling by boat is an option, but you can also fly there. Doing so gets you there quicker, giving you more time to spend with the Exuma Pigs and the other sites in the region. 

Air travel makes it easy to arrive to the island and then transport you to your next destination in the country, wherever that is. 

Tropic of Cancer Beach 

Of course, while history is important and exciting to learn about, it takes second place in the minds of most people visiting the Bahamas. Thankfully, you won’t have to go far to find the reason you came to the country in the first place: gorgeous beaches. 

While you can find beautiful beaches across the entirety of the country, the Tropic of Cancer Beach Exuma is one you’ll want to ensure you give yourself plenty of time to enjoy. Also known as Pelican Beach, this stunning strip of paradise is on the island’s eastern shore. It gets its official name from the meridian line crossing it that defines the northernmost part of the tropics. 

You might think that the stunning natural beauty and unique geographic position of the Tropic of Cancer Beach Exuma might make it a bustling and touristy destination. In reality, the site is one of Exuma’s best-kept secrets. Depending on when you visit, you might have the beach to yourself. 

As you sunbathe on the snow-white sand and slip into the translucent turquoise water to cool off, you’ll pat yourself on the bath for choosing to add Little Exuma to your vacation itinerary.

Williams Town

The southernmost settlement on Little Exuma Island Bahamas is Williams Town. With a population of just over 200, the town is even tinier than other nearby settlements like Georgetown. Nevertheless, it’s quaint, historic, and offers prime access to the many stunning nearby attractions. 

Before the times of refrigeration, people often used salt to preserve food. By lowering the water activity of foods, salt, in turn, helped to slow microbial growth. And while many regions worldwide produced salt, the Exumas manufactured and exported massive quantities of it. At its height, the site of Williams Town reportedly produced 10,000 tons of salt per year. 

Today, visitors to Williams Town can see an odd, Tuscan-like pillar atop a hill. This is the Salt Beacon – a marker that helped guide ships looking to pick up harvested salt on Little Exuma. The Beacon offers some insight into the rich history of Williams Town and the surrounding region. It’s also a gorgeous site you’ll want to spend time exploring! 

Besides the Salt Beacon, visitors can also spend some time exploring the other historic sites in the area. From a cannon perched atop a hill to the ruins of an 18th-century cotton plantation, there’s a lot to see and do on Little Exuma Island. 

Where to Stay in the Area

As with just about anywhere in the Bahamas, you can find accommodation options that cater to all sorts of budgets on Little Exuma. From luxury resorts and affordable Airbnbs to everything in between, don’t think that such a beautiful island is out of your price range. On the other hand, if you are looking to splurge, you can easily do it. 

On sleepy Little Exuma itself, you’ll find mostly Airbnbs, villas, and private homes to rent. If you’re looking for a quiet experience, staying right on the island could be a smart move. On the other hand, nearby Great Exuma has some enormous and swanky luxury resorts. From the all-inclusive Sandals Emerald Bay to the breathtaking Grand Island Resort and Residences, consider going with a resort if you’re looking to get pampered. 

Remember that if you don’t want to find accommodations altogether, that’s possible too. Air travel makes it possible to visit Little Exuma Island Bahamas, enjoy some of the sites, like the Tropic of Cancer Beach Exuma, then leave that same evening. That flexibility is another reason why island hopping by plane is one of the best ways to traverse the country. 

Exuma Island Bahamas: Find Your Favorite Destination 

Little Exuma is a contender for the prettiest island in the Bahamas. From the Tropic of Cancer Beach Exuma to its unique history as a salt production destination, no trip to the Bahamas is complete without visiting it. 

That said, the Bahamas has 700 unique islands – all of which are beautiful and all of which house interesting stories and sites. To find your favorite destination, use air travel to hop from one island to the next. You might find that Little Exuma is your favorite, or you might love somewhere else, like Staniel Cay. 

Sign up for a Bahamas day trip today to sample some of the best sites in the country!

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