We just got back from a little slice of paradise known as the Exuma Bahamas islands. I am so excited to spill all the details about this vacation today! You may remember that we previously celebrated JB’s 40th birthday in Harbour Island Bahamas. This experience was so great that it made its way onto my list of top ten tropical islands. Therefore, taking another trip to the Bahamas for my 40th birthday seemed like a great idea. Once again, the experience did not disappoint!
Today I’m going to share all about where we stayed, what we did, and our favorite places to eat in Exuma Bahamas. If you’re looking to add a new exotic destination to your bucket list or need a milestone birthday trip, keep reading!
About Exuma Bahamas
If you’re not familiar with this tropical destination, you’re in for a real treat! Exuma is a district of The Bahamas that consists of over 365 islands and cays. The land is absolutely breathtaking with sapphire blue waters, white sand beaches, and deserted cays; not to mention the endless amount of tropical activities to explore and outstanding restaurants to enjoy. After this trip, I am convinced that I need to re-write my list of favorite tropical islands so that it includes the Exumas!
How to Get to Exuma Bahamas
You may remember from my Harbour Island post that the journey to get to that destination involved a lot of steps. However, traveling to the the islands of Exuma Bahamas was a bit easier! We flew out of Tampa to Miami and then from Miami to the Exuma International Airport, near George Town. There are direct flights to this airport from multiple locations in the US, which is really nice!
Where to Stay in Exuma Bahamas
The Exuma Bahamas island chain is divided into three main areas: Great Exuma, Little Exuma, and the Exuma Cays. The best location for you to stay depends on what you’re looking to get out of your vacation.
Great Exuma
Most large hotels and resorts can be found on Great Exuma, as it is the largest island in the chain. This is also the location of the capital (George Town) and airport. There are tons of things to do and explore in Great Exuma and its surroundings. Stocking Island is a popular spot on this area of Exuma that offers a handful of secluded beaches and resorts.
Little Exuma
If you prefer a smaller, quieter destination, then Little Exuma is a great option. There you will find the Tropic of Cancer beach, which is considered to be one of the best beaches in the Bahamas.
The Exuma Cays
Lastly, north of Great Exuma lie the cays, which are lines of small islands sitting on top of coral reefs. One of the most popular cays in Exuma Bahamas includes Compass Cay, where visitors can snorkel the pristine beaches and reefs and also swim with nurse sharks! Another popular stop is Staniel Cay, which is famous for the Thunderball Grotto, an underwater cave system. And possibly the most well-known cay in the area is Big Major Cay, due to its world-famous swimming pigs!
Ballymena Private Oasis
We stayed at Ballymena, which is a private vacation rental in Great Exuma. I cannot recommend this rental enough, as it was truly a little slice of paradise! The location is absolutely breathtaking. And honestly, there’s so much to do on-site that if you didn’t want to leave, you wouldn’t need to. We spent most of the days enjoying some rest and relaxation, needlepointing with Nan, eating lobster every chance we got, and soaking up the memories with the family. It was absolutely perfect! You are also right next to Casa Bella, Peeps Cottage, and Marina House. So if you wanted to go in with other families, or a big family reunion. This is the spot!
Exuma Bahamas Private Rental
The Ballymena private rental had five roomy bedrooms, five bathrooms, one half bath off the kitchen, and a large fully-equipped kitchen. It was plenty spacious to comfortably fit all of the family that came on this trip, as it is ideal for accommodating up to ten guests. Not only was the rental and its surroundings stunning, but it was also a prime location in Exuma Bahamas. Ballymena is located in Hartswell, which is peaceful and secluded, but also within easy reach of George Town. Especially quick if you rent a boat!
What Makes This Rental Stand Out
Undoubtedly, there are lots of resorts and rentals along the Exuma Bahamas islands. And while I haven’t experienced others, I do think this one really stands out for a few different reasons!
- There are tons of activities you can do on-site….kayaking, swimming at the infinity-edge private pool or outdoor jacuzzi, paddle boarding, strolling down to the private beach, or snorkeling!
- Ballymena, as well as the other private homes nearby, is run by an All-Bahamian family. They started working on the property in the year 2000, and they’re passionate about the Exuma Bahamas islands. Their joy for sharing this destination with others is evident in the care and pride they take in the rental home. Nothing about their rentals feels sterile, but like you are visiting a family friends beautiful home. I love the photography throughout the homes by one of their family members, Sofia Whitehead – who is part of the family who owns Exuma Rental houses. Her book “Bahama Mama” is my new favorite coffee table book!
- These other nearby private homes can also be rented out at the same time, allowing for very large groups to travel together. This would be wonderful for a small destination wedding!
- Ballymena and the other private homes have access to the only private marina south of George Town. You can keep your own boat in the marina, or you can rent a boat and keep it here. This is also super convenient when someone else is picking you up by boat for off-property excursions. We did an excursion one day, but had a boat the rest of the time. It was great to get around by boat!
- The Moriah Harbour Cay National Park is directly in front of the vacation rental. This offers a protected view of the incredible scenery, including some of the prettiest sand banks I’ve ever seen.
- This beach house offered a lot of great services (for an additional price) including cleaning and laundry, a private chef, massages, and boat tours.
- It’s stunningly gorgeous views. We all loved sitting outside – morning, noon and night. The view with the pool, the crystal clear ocean, nothing better!
Things to do in Exuma Bahamas
While we spent most of our time at our vacation rental, we did venture off-site a few times to enjoy some other fun activities! In order to communicate with the local service providers, we used the WhatsApp, which was easy and secure. These are a few activities that we loved, as well as some that were highly-recommended, but we didn’t have a chance to do during this trip.
Rent a Boat
If you’re visiting the islands of Exuma Bahamas, I highly recommend that you rent a boat and island hop! The sapphire blue waters and white sandy beaches were a site to be seen.
Swim With Pigs or sting rays
Okay, this might not have been my personal favorite in Harbour Island, but many people love swimming with pigs in Big Major Cay. Definitely an experience of a lifetime! At chat n chill they have sting rays you can swim with
Dining in Exuma Bahamas
For the most part, we dined in our vacation home during this trip. We hired a private chef, Chef Gavin, and he was wonderful! I tried to hire him another night, he was so good! I enjoyed lobster multiple times, special desserts, and more. We also had Thai’s Hibachi cater my birthday dinner. Their specialty is a mixture of French ingredients with a Japanese cooking style. It was amazing!
We did venture off to Chat N’ Chill for a snack, which I think is a must if you’re visiting the islands of Exuma Bahamas. Chat N’ Chill is so much more than just a restaurant, it’s an entire experience! All of their food is made by hand to order and includes delicious classics such as burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, salad, fries, grilled foods, and more. You can browse their shop while you’re waiting on your food. And there are lots of unique things to do here including a pig roast every Sunday, feed and swim with stingrays, play volleyball or cornhole on the beach, or attend a Sunday worship service right on the beach!
If you’re looking for additional activities or restaurants in Exuma, I highly recommend checking out my friend, Annie Malone’s, Exuma Guide. I used this as a reference when planning our trip and it was extremely helpful. If staying at Ballymena, they have a great welcome guide that will have all updated info!
What to Wear
Since we spent the majority of our time in the water, and we dined mainly at our vacation home, I kept things pretty casual for this trip. Swimwear was our most-worn clothing, without a doubt! I love these coordinating family swim styles. I own multiple swimsuits and coverups from this brand for both myself and my boys, and we’re always very pleased with them. The quality is wonderful, and the prints are beautiful. You might also want to pack a sundress or two, just in case. And don’t forget to toss in a hat and your favorite pair of sunnies!
Exuma Bahamas Vacation
Our trip to the Exuma Bahamas islands was one I’ll never forget. It was the perfect way to ring in the start of my 40th year, and I’m so grateful I got to experience it with family. I highly recommend opting out of material gifts and instead gifting experience gifts, such as a vacation, from time to time. It’s always worth it!
For additional travel ideas, be sure to check out my favorite tropical islands, the best resorts in the southeastern US, and my recommendations on where to stay in Florida. And for resort style inspiration, head on over to my post featuring this year’s favorite casual resort wear.
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