Getting to Exuma is something that many people who travel to the Bahamas wonder about. They may have seen photos of the Exuma Pigs, or maybe they’re just looking to explore the region’s world-famous beaches. Regardless of why you’re looking to head there, knowing how to get to Exuma beforehand is essential.
In this guide, we’re going to highlight how Exuma excursions and Tours make getting to Exuma a breeze. We’ll also touch on some of the many sites you can see once you’re there.
Keep reading to get started!
Getting to Exuma 101: How to Get to Exuma
Understanding the Exumas
If you’re unfamiliar with the geography of the Bahamas, the country is an archipelago made up of 700 islands. Of those, 365 belong to Exuma, a district found to the south of the country’s capital, Nassau.
Some of the top islands in the Exumas include:
- Staniel Cay
- Compass Cay
- Great Exuma
- Norman’s Cay
- And, of course, Big Major Cay, also known as Pig Island!
How you can reach the Exumas, therefore, depends on where exactly in the region you’re looking to go. The distance from Nassau to Staniel Cay, for example, is very different than the distance from Nassau to Great Exuma.

The plane to Exuma offers unbeatable views.
Exuma Pig Beach: How to Get There
Unsurprisingly, Exuma Pig Beach is one of the most popular destinations in Exuma, as well as the country in general. Because of that, many people wondering how they can go about getting to Exuma are specifically looking to get to Pig Beach.
If you’re traveling from Nassau, you can opt to take a boat tour, but we recommend flying by plane on a Nassau to Exuma Day Trip excursions. While taking the boat eats up several hours out of your day, traveling by plane has you there in around 30 minutes. That makes getting to Exuma easy and means more time with the Swimming Pigs!
Flying is also a much more comfortable experience. You don’t have to worry about traveling with crowds of other people, nor do you have to worry about crossing over the rough, open waters that separate Nassau from Exuma.

Air travel is the best way to enjoy Exuma excursions.
Other Sites in the Area
You might be surprised to learn that getting to Exuma by plane doesn’t transport you to Big Major Cay directly. That’s OK, however, since even though Pig Island doesn’t have an airport, another island in the vicinity does.
Most Pig Beach day trips that travel by plane will first fly you into Staniel Cay. Located just around the corner from Big Major Cay, Staniel Cay is still an exciting destination in its own right. It features a charming town with the characteristically beautiful beaches and scenery that make the Exumas so famous.

Exuma Pig Beach is home to the famous Swimming Pigs.
Once you land, you’ll then board a boat and cruise around to some of the different sites in the region. While Pig Beach Bahamas may be the most famous site, it’s far from the only one.
Some of the other destinations you can look forward to visiting include:
- Compass Cay, home to nurse sharks
- Sandbars at Pipe Creek
- Bitter Guana Cay, home to iguanas
- An underwater plane wreck
- Thunderball Grotto, a system of underwater caves
Getting from Nassau to Exuma gives you more time to explore the beautiful area around Pig Beach Bahamas!
Great Exuma: How to Get There
Located farther south in the Exumas is Great Exuma. Like Staniel Cay, the island also houses an airport that can accommodate flights from around the region. Because of that, it’s another island that makes getting to Exuma a breeze.
Getting from Nassau to Exuma, specifically, Great Exuma will take you just around an hour by plane. In contrast, traveling by boat equates to a 14-hour long trip. For most travelers, that journey isn’t something they can realistically fit into their Bahamas vacations. And it’s certainly not something that you can squeeze into a day trip!
After you figure out how to get to Exuma, you’ll next want to plan out what to do when you arrive. Like Staniel Cay and many of the other islands in the Exumas, Great Exuma has no shortage of fantastic sites and attractions.
Some of the highlights include:
- Walk around George Town
- Sign up for a Swimming Pigs tour from George Town
- Take a quick trip over to nearby Stocking Island
- Lounge around on the beaches (Cocoplum beach is one of the best)
- Go conch diving
- Enjoy a rum cake at Mom’s Bakery
Enjoy a Day Tour from Georgetown Great Exuma.
Your Ticket to Paradise
Getting to Exuma isn’t difficult, but it’s something worth figuring out before your Bahamas vacation begins. Regardless of whether you’re looking to head to Staniel Cay or Great Exuma, getting from Nassau to Exuma is easy, as is getting there from Miami and other destinations.
Air travel lets you access all sorts of sites in the region. From the Swimming Pigs at Pig Beach to the lovely town of George Town, make sure to make time for Exuma.
Contact us and book a day tour today!