Are you looking to travel from Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas? If you are, a day trip to Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale is the easiest way to do so. A one day cruise from Fort Lauderdale by plane lets you see the Exuma pigs and so much more.
Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas: Day Trip to Bahamas From Fort Lauderdale
Here are 7 attractions on a day trip to Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale.
1. Swimming Pigs Island
The highlight of any Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas day trip is Swimming Pigs Island, officially known as Big Major Cay. There you’ll find the friendly Exuma Pigs.

Swimming with the Exuma Pigs is a highlight of trips to Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale by plane.
What makes the island so special is the fact that Swimming Pigs live there by themselves. No people reside on the island – just a couple of goats and cats.
Add in the mysterious origins of the pigs and the fact that they’re friendly and sociable and you get the highlight of a one day cruise from Fort Lauderdale by plane.
2. Staniel Cay
While a Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas day trip takes you to Swimming Pigs Island, you first fly to Staniel Cay. Located near Big Major Cay, Staniel Cay has a regional airport that makes it the gateway to the Exumas.
Besides that, travelers can also look forward to seeing the island’s gorgeous beaches and charming town. On a day trip to Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale, you’ll eat at the local yacht club.
3. Compass Cay
If you’ve ever wanted to swim with sharks, Compass Cay is the place to do it while on a Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas tour.
Located near Big Major Cay and Staniel Cay, the island’s marina has a school of nurse sharks swimming around the water. While generally harmless, the swim with nurse sharks experience remains exhilarating, nonetheless.
To ensure the experience remains safe for everyone, make sure to avoid:
- Making sudden or aggressive movements
- Feeding the sharks
- Putting your hands near their gills or mouth
And remember to always listen to the guides!

Swim with sharks on a one day cruise from Fort Lauderdale by plane.
4. Underwater Plane Wreck
The Bahamas is full of marine life, making tours beneath the surface of the water just as essential as those above.
One of the many places to see some marine life is at the underwater plane wreck in the warm Exuma waters. What once was a drug smuggling plane is now a home for fish, coral, and other creatures.
The shallow waters around the wreck make it great for swimming and snorkeling. The plane’s unique history and current status make it another highlight on a Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas tour.
5. Thunderball Grotto
Another Exuma spot that showcases the rich marine life of the Bahamas is Thunderball Grotto, which is another stop on a Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas tour.
The site is a system of underwater caves teeming with all sorts of creatures. The site is so spectacular, it was featured in the James Bond film, Thunderball (hence the area’s name).
While there, you have the chance to see
- Tropical fish
- Lobster
- Conch (also the national food of the Bahamas)
- Coral
- And more (some tourists reported seeing a nurse shark)
All of that makes it a great place for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Expect to visit it on day trips to Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale!
6. Pipe Creek Sandbar
Pipe Creek is the place to go in Exuma to see and experience powder-white sandbars.
When the tide rolls back, it exposes these sandy expanses. On a Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas tour, you don’t just get to see these stunning sites – you can walk around on them.

On a Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas Exuma tour, you’ll get to walk around stunning sandbars.
If there’s any quintessential Bahamas moment on the tour, it might be at Pipe Creek. When your toes are in the soft sand and you’re splashing around the warm water, you’ll thank yourself for signing up for a Fort Lauderdale Bahamas day trip!
7. Bitter Guana Cay (Iguana Island)
Another popular stop on a Pig Island tour is Bitter Guana Cay. Whereas Compass Cay has nurse sharks and Big Major Cay has the Exuma Pigs, Bitter Guana Cay is home to iguanas.
The northern Bahamian rock iguana is a colorful lizard that resides on the island. Its numbers have declined in recent years, making sightings at Bitter Guana Cay a special occurrence.
While on your Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas tour, you’ll see them slither out of the undergrowth and make their way to the beach. You’ll also get to explore their home a bit. It’s one of the prettiest in the area!
Trips to Bahamas From Fort Lauderdale: The Best Way to Tour the Country
If you’re looking to travel from Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas, day trips to Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale are the best way to get there.
Flying lets you visit Swimming Pigs Island and other top sites in the region – none of which you can access by taking the ferry.
Discover all our Bahamas Day Trips and Exuma Excursions by Plane.
Contact us for a one day cruise from Fort Lauderdale by plane today!
