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Voykit pocket guide · The Bahamas
Great Exuma
Three nights: two full days for a boat tour to the swimming pigs and iguanas, one day for the beach and conch salad at Chat 'n' Chill.
Great Exuma is the main island of the Exuma chain, a 45-minute flight from Nassau. The draw is the water: sandbars, swimming pigs, iguanas on the cays, and the famous Chat 'n' Chill on Stocking Island. The island itself is quiet, with one small town (Georgetown) and a handful of resorts. Most visitors stay 3–4 nights and take one full-day boat tour to cover the outer cays.
- Country
- The Bahamas
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (hurricane season, though rates drop)
- Stay
- 3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BSD
- Money
- Currency is the Bahamian dollar (BSD), held at par with the US dollar; US dollars are accepted everywhere and change often comes back mixed.
- Daily spend
- Budget BSD 150–250 excl. bed · Mid BSD 300–500 excl. bed · High BSD 600+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- BTC and Aliv sell prepaid SIMs and eSIMs at Nassau airport and in town.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 919
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 15% often added; check the bill.; Taxis: 15%.; Hotels: Gratuity often added; extra for porters and housekeeping.
- Water
- Nassau tap water is treated but many buy bottled; on the Out Islands drink bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- In hotels, restaurants and marinas; few public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Conch salad at Chat 'n' Chill | BSD 12–18 |
| Kalik beer | BSD 5–9 |
| Full-day boat tour | BSD 200–300 |
| Water taxi to Stocking Island (return) | BSD 20 |
| Taxi from GGT to Georgetown | BSD 30–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GGT · Exuma International Airport
- About 15 min drive to Georgetown; taxis and rental cars available.
Typical fares
- GGT → Georgetown taxi
- BSD 30–40, about 15 min
- Georgetown → Stocking Island water taxi
- BSD 20 return, about 10 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rental car is the best option to explore the island. Taxis are available but expensive. Water taxis run from Georgetown to Stocking Island (about 10 min).
See and do
Known for
- Swimming pigs at Big Major Cay
- Chat 'n' Chill on Stocking Island
- Sandbars and clear water
- Conch salad and fresh fish
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Staniel Cay | Boat tour (full day) or chartered flight from GGT | About 1 h by boat |
| Stocking Island | Water taxi from Georgetown, about 10 min | About 20 min |
Sleep
- Georgetown
- Central, with restaurants and the ferry dock to Stocking Island.
- Little Exuma
- South end, quieter, with Santana's restaurant and a few villas.
- Stocking Island
- Accessible only by water taxi; St Francis Resort and Chat 'n' Chill are here.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Where is the boat? | Where is the boat? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Good morning / good afternoon first; avoid: Straight to business
- Dress: Cover up in town; avoid: Swimwear on Bay Street
- Pace: Allow island time; avoid: Showing impatience
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; avoid: Assuming consent
Scams and watch-outs
- Boat tours to the swimming pigs leave early (around 8:00–9:00); book the day before.
- No Uber or ride-hailing; arrange taxis through your hotel.
- Cash is king outside Georgetown; ATMs are limited.
- Hurricane season runs June–November; check forecasts before booking.
Great Exuma is very safe; petty crime is rare. The main risks are sunburn, jellyfish and boat safety — always wear a life jacket on tours.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Great Exuma yet. Suggested stay: 3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Swimming pigs at Big Major Cay
- Chat 'n' Chill on Stocking Island
- Sandbars and clear water
- Conch salad and fresh fish
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism: www.bahamas.com/islands/exuma
- Wikivoyage: Great Exuma, revision 4945415 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4945415
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Great Exuma
Take me to this address, please.
Take me to this address, please.
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance919
English is the local language; no phrasebook needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/great-exuma). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.