If you’re planning on visiting the Bahamas, you might be wondering how to get to Staniel Cay. You might have heard that Staniel Cay is the gateway to the Swimming Pigs on nearby Big Major Cay and the Exumas in general. Or you might just be looking for excursions while in the Bahamas. Either way, traveling to Staniel Cay is something you’ll want to do.
In this article, we’re going to break down how to get to Staniel Cay via Exuma excursions. We’ll also touch on what you can see in and around the Staniel Cay area.
Read on to learn more!
How to Get to Staniel Cay via Exuma Excursions
Mapping the Exumas
Many travelers visiting the Bahamas enter through Nassau. While the capital might be the primary entry point, the country is an archipelago, meaning many sites (like the Exumas) aren’t easily accessible. This leads many to wonder how to get to Staniel Cay and the region, as a whole.

The Exumas offer some of the prettiest vistas in the country.
To put the region into context, the Exumas are a chain of 365 islands. The closest island to Nassau is Norman’s Cay, which is around 50 miles from the capital. The southernmost island is Little Exuma, which is 160 miles away from Nassau. Staniel Cay is near the middle, at a distance of around 80 miles away.
Given its central location, figuring out how to get to Staniel Cay is essential. Once you’re there, you then have prime access to all of the sites in the region, including Big Major Cay and the Exuma Pigs.
Exuma Excursions
As mentioned, Exuma tours make figuring out how to get to Staniel Cay easy. They do all the planning for you, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the local attractions.
As the Bahamas is an island nation, you can reach Staniel Cay in one of two ways:
1. Staniel Cay By Boat
Boat trips are a popular way to traverse the Bahamas, and many people use boats to answer the question of how to get to Staniel Cay. However, depending on where you’re traveling from, there may be a better choice.
If you’re already in the Exumas, Exuma excursions by boat can be a good option. For example, you can sign up for a day trip to Staniel Cay from Georgetown. However, if you’re outside of the Exumas, the ride might not be what you’re envisioning.
Exuma tours from Nassau have to cross rough open waters, creating a choppy and uncomfortable experience. When the water is exceptionally rough, boat tours sometimes cancel at the last minute, leaving many tourists stuck wondering how to get to Staniel Cay.
On top of being an uncomfortable experience, the boat journey is also a long one. If you’re traveling from Nassau, expect to spend several hours in transit. This limits the number of attractions you can see in the region once you’re there.
2. Staniel Cay By Plane
Given all the shortcomings that go along with taking the boat, more and more travelers are turning to another transportation solution: air travel. Traveling by plane makes it easy to answer the question of how to get to Staniel Cay and sidesteps many of the shortcomings that go along with taking the boat.

Staniel Cay flights are the best way to reach the Exumas.
Staniel Cay flights get you there in record time – around 30 minutes from Nassau and Georgetown. Given how speedy air travel is, you can even sign up for Bahamas day trips from Miami.
In addition to saving you time, air travel also offers a much more comfortable experience. You don’t have to worry about rough waters, nor do you have to stress about Exuma excursions getting canceled at the last minute.
How to Get to Exuma: Plane vs Boat
- Tour by Plane from Nassau
- $800per person
- 30 minute Flight in Comfort
- Stunning Aerial Views
- Visits 7 Exuma Attractions
- Guaranteed Small Group Size
- Weather Cancellation Rare
- Inclusive Pricing: Lunch & Transfers
- Private Upgrades Available
- Minimum 2 Persons
- 5-Star Reviews
- Tour by Powerboat from Nassau
- $550
- 3 hour Boat Ride one way
- No Views from above
- Visits only 4 Exuma Attractions
- Large Groups
- Frequent Cancellations due Weather
- Surcharges & Fees
- No Private Boat Upgrades
- Requires 12 persons to go ahead
- Poor Reviews
Flights to Big Major Cay?
Many travelers wonder how to get to Staniel Cay, but perhaps even more inquire about flights to Big Major Cay. That said, there aren’t any flights to Big Major Cay, so Staniel Cay flights offer the next best option.
Once you’re in Staniel Cay, you can easily switch over to a boat and cruise around the surrounding area.
You can visit the Swimming Pigs at Pig Beach, as well as other top sites in the area, including:
- Compass Cay, home to nurse sharks
- Bitter Guana Cay, home to Bahamian iguanas
- Thunderball Grotto, underwater caves
- Pipe Creek, sand bars
- An underwater plane wreck, great for snorkeling

Nothing beats the Exuma Pigs at Pig Beach.
Exuma Tours by Plane: Offering the Best of the Region
Given its status as the gateway to the Exumas, many travelers wonder how to get to Staniel Cay. The answer is simple: Exuma tours by plane make it easy to get there. They also give you plenty of time to explore the region.
From the Swimming Pigs on Pig Beach to iguanas, sand bars, and much more, Exuma excursions let you see so much. After a long and exciting day of sightseeing, they then take you back to your original destination that same evening.
Contact us and Book your Staniel Cay flights today!
