The Exumas are the only islands in the Bahamas, and perhaps the Caribbean, where not one but two James Bond movies were filmed. Those films, Thunderball and Never Say Never Again, were both filmed in Staniel Cay. Within the exumas, there are 365 islands and cays that lie strung out across over 120 miles of ocean. From the air, the cays look like jeweled stepping stones surrounded by a shimmering emerald sea giving this chain the distinction of being one of the prettiest in The Bahamas. The bright white sand of the deserted beaches is a striking contrast to the deep aquamarine and jade hues of the water.

Most of Exuma's 3,600 residents live on Great Exuma or Little Exuma, the two largest islands in the south that are connected by a short bridge. These friendly and outgoing people are genuinely happy to receive vacationers. Most Exumians make their living fishing or farming, with the main crops being onions, tomatoes, pigeon peas, guavas, papayas and mangoes.

Visitors can still find wild cotton growing on Exuma, a testament to the importance of this plant in the island's history. Lord John Rolle imported the first cottonseeds in the late 18th century. He , had more than 300 slaves working on Great Exuma. These slaves adopted their master's surname as was the custom of the day. When cotton proved to be a financial failure for Lord Roelle and the prospect of emancipation loomed, he chose to deed the 2,300 acres of land to his slaves. This land has been passed on to each new generation and can never be sold to outsiders. Today almost half of the residents still go by the surname Rolle, and one of the largest settlements is appropriately named Rolleville.

Georgetown, Great Exuma is home to the Bahamas Annual Family Island Regatta. This regatta is held every April in picturesque Elizabeth Harbour and holds the distinction of begin one of the most prestigious annual events in the Bahamas. A tribute to tradition, the regatta is a race of Bahamian workboats, handmade sloops with wooden hulls, canvas sails and tall wooden masts. George Town is also home to the Government Administration Building, a pink and white building modeled after the Government House in Nassau. A few steps north is St. Andrew's Anglican Church, a beautiful 150-year old white building with blue doors and shutters that is an active place of worship today.

The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a 176-square mile natural preserve offers brilliant coral reefs, exotic marine life and the rare Bahamian iguana - some of which grow to over two feet long. In Fowl Cay you can explore a salt water river taking you all the way through the heart of the island. It is a truly breathtaking experience. The Exuma islands continue to be one of our favorite charter vacation experiences in the world truly preserving Caribbean beauty amongst its many in habited and un-inhabited islands. Exuma Itenerary Suggestions