What Makes the Exumas a Great Yacht Charter Destination
Published: 26th Nov 2025
The Exumas, a chain of 365 islands and cays stretching roughly 130 miles (210 km) through the heart of the Bahamas, offer one of the most relaxing yacht charter experiences in the Caribbean. The region is celebrated for its luminous turquoise waters, unspoiled beaches, thriving marine life and relaxed, authentic Bahamian charm. For charter guests seeking a destination that blends natural beauty with accessible cruising conditions, the Exumas are difficult to surpass.
The archipelago’s geography is one of its greatest assets. The cays sit atop the shallow Bahama Banks, creating calm, protected waters and remarkably high visibility, often 60ft and more. This clarity transforms even short cruising distances into scenic journeys, with shifting hues of blue and emerging sandbars that seem to appear straight out of a postcard image. These shallow conditions particularly favour shallow draft motor yachts and catamarans and experienced captains can navigate easily through the well-marked channels.
Logistically, the Exumas are straightforward for charter itineraries. Nassau on Grand Bahama Island, with direct flights from the US and Europe, is the most common embarkation point for exploring the northern and central cays, with the first major islands just 35-50 nautical miles away. Once underway, distances between the islands are short, typically 5 to 12 nautical miles, allowing guests to maximise time at anchor rather than spend long hours cruising. Great Exuma, home to George Town, has another international airport and acts as the administrative centre. It also provides provisioning options along the way.
Much of the Exumas’ appeal lies in its natural environment. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a 112,640acre protected reserve established in 1958, is at the heart of the region’s ecological richness. Fishing and anchoring on the seabed are restricted within the park, resulting in healthy coral reefs, vibrant fish populations, and pristine habitats for turtles, rays and sharks. For snorkellers and divers, the park’s underwater world is a highlight of any charter.
Beyond its ecological credentials, the Exumas are home to several iconic attractions that have become synonymous with the Bahamian experience. Big Major Cay’s swimming pigs offer fun and memorable photo opportunities for families, while Thunderball Grotto near Staniel Cay, famously featured in the James Bond film, provides an extraordinary snorkelling experience inside a naturally lit limestone cavern. At Compass Cay, guests can wade gently among docile nurse sharks, and on Shroud Cay, tidal mangrove channels form a tranquil natural waterway perfect for tender rides and paddleboarding.
Despite these well-known sites, the Exumas retain a sense of tranquillity and exclusivity. Even in peak season, it is possible to find quiet anchorages where your yacht feels blissfully alone. Highbourne Cay, Warderick Wells, Staniel Cay and Black Point all provide sheltered overnight spots, each with its own character from marine park moorings to friendly local settlements.
The climate adds to the region’s appeal. The Bahamas enjoy a subtropical environment with average temperatures ranging from 23°C in winter to 29°C in summer. Reliable easterly trade winds of 10-20 knots create comfortable cruising conditions and excellent opportunities for water-sports of all types. The peak charter season runs from December into the early summer.
Yacht charters here, are all about the sea and sunshine. Days are spent swimming off the stern, exploring reefs, paddleboarding over sandbars or simply relaxing on quiet beaches reached only by boat. Evenings bring spectacular sunsets, calm anchorages and starlit skies largely untouched by artificial light. Meals take on a relaxed elegance, whether it’s a fresh conch salad from a beachside shack or dinner enjoyed on deck prepared by your charter chef.
There's an enormous range of fully crewed charter yachts operating from Nassau including catamarans and motor yachts of all sizes and price ranges. If you have an interest in chartering here please do get in touch and we will put together a list of recommended vessels. Call on: 44 (0) 7879 815458 or click the link below. Looking forward to hearing from you.
About MWYC
Marlow Worldwide Yacht Charters Ltd is owned and operated by Liz Marlow, who has over 25 years’ experience as an independent yacht charter broker. Now in the UK and based in Poole, Dorset, Liz established her business in Antigua in the Eastern Caribbean. She lived in Antigua for many years and gathered specific knowledge of chartering in the Caribbean - one of the prime yacht charter destinations each winter season.
As well as the Caribbean, her experience of arranging private yacht charters also covers the West Mediterranean, the East Mediterranean (Greece and Turkey) and the Bahamas.
