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Exuma Cruising: Itinerary Suggestions

The Exumas warrant revisiting many times to learn all their hidden secrets. To maximize your charter, I suggest 360 Yachting's Signature 360 One-Way Itinerary which allows you to start your charter in Rock Sound South Eleuthera and end at the Emerald Bay Marina in Great Exuma. Traveling on-way through the Exumas makes perfect sense as the 120 mile span makes for a long, possible up-wind return delivery. Instead of outlining a day-by-day itinerary, I listed the highlights you don't want to miss because there are more sights to see than you can fit into a 7-day or even 30-day charter.

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Note: Locations listed in approxiamate order as I suggest you cruise them.

Ship Channel Cay: Closest point in the Exumas to Nassau. Very interesting shark and ray feeding at 11am followed by a nice local grilled fish lunch. Nature tours, beautiful beach and snorkeling.
Allen Cays: About 10 miles south of Ship Channel. This is a little atoll of cays that you can anchor in the midst of for protection. Allen Cay is the home of many native Rock Iguanas that are anxious to share your leftovers from the previous meal. Beautiful scenery beaches and snorkeling or diving.
Highborne Cay About 5 miles south of Allen Cay. Highborne has a very nice Marina with a ship store and provisions and fuel. Beautiful beaches, fun boating crowd and friendly people. This is big Mega Yacht Territory. Some of the world's most beautiful Megayachts will be found anchored out or in the marina.
Compass Cay: Very interesting Island with long trails to tour the countryside and beaches. Great little marina. Thousands of Bonefish and other friendly nurse sharks, rays etc. swimming in the marina. Beaches and Snorkeling and social spot. Johnny Depp ownes an island adjacent to Compass Cay.
Sampson Cay: Nicely developed marina and restaurant with a beautiful cozy resort. Beaches, snorkeling and social spot.
Warderick Wells: Exuma National Parks and Trust. Nature trails, exquisite beaches, small park office with gift shop items.
Norman Cay: Partially submerged plane wreck that makes for a great snorkel. Conch breeding grounds in the shallows.

Big Majors Cay: Home of the world famous Island Pigs, who swim out to meet you if you bring leftovers. Great beaches and snorkeling. Adjacent to Staniel Cay.
Staniel Cay: Snorkel the Grotto Cave. Home of 2 James Bond Filmings. Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Club Thunderball. Fun little local Exuma Town with landing strip and all you need to reprovision. Beautiful architecture and Caribbean colors. Staniel Cay Yacht Club gets crazy at night. Lots of fun, good food and music.
Black Point: Another very local village just south of Staniel. Between Staniel and Black Point is a small Island owned by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

Provisioning in Rock Sound is very easy and convenient with Eleuthera's largest grocery distribution hub and market is located nearby the marina. You could even pre-order your provisions to ensure you have access to all the items you need for your charter. The Bahamas allow one cooler of meat per person to be brought into the country duty free. Take advantage of this as meat is the most inflated expense when provisioning in the Exumas. Do remember that cruising the Exumas is truly blue water cruising. Once you head out of Rock Sound, shopping options will become very limited.

Each Day, according to the weather, you can choose to sail in the deep water (6000 ft) of Exuma Sound where you can take a chance at catching big game fish or to the West side of the Cays on the shallow Bank in 10 – 30 feet of water. The Exuma islands continue to be one of my favorite charter vacation experiences in the world, truly preserving Caribbean beauty amongst its many in habited and un-inhabited islands. I hope you enjoy cruising the Exumas as much as I do.