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Voykit pocket guide · The Bahamas
Staniel Cay
Spend 2 days: one full day for Thunderball Grotto and nearby islands, another day for beach time or a charter boat; travel time from Nassau ≈1 h 15 min by plane.
Staniel Cay is a tiny out‑island hub in the Exumas with a single airstrip, a handful of cottages, and easy foot or golf‑cart access. Most attractions are water‑based and require a short boat charter. Two days let you snorkel the famous Thunderball Grotto, visit Pig and Lizard Islands, and relax on the local beaches.
- Country
- The Bahamas
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry, calm seas)
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (hurricane risk, rough seas)
- Stay
- 2 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 70–120 excl. bed · Mid BSD 120–200 excl. bed · High BSD 200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- BTC and Aliv sell prepaid SIMs and eSIMs at Nassau airport and in town.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire and 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee at Yacht Club | BSD 3–5 |
| Fish sandwich | BSD 8–12 |
| Beer (draft) | BSD 5–8 |
| Golf‑cart rental (hour) | BSD 15–25 |
| Boat charter (half‑day) | BSD 150–250 per person |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TYM · Staniel Cay Airport
- 900 m runway; airlines include Dove Wings, Flamingo Air, Golden Wings Charter, LeAir Charter, Take Flight Air Charters
Typical fares
- Nassau → Staniel Cay (flight)
- about BSD 150–250 one‑way, 1 h 15 min (check airlines)
- Boat charter to Thunderball Grotto
- ≈ BSD 150 per person, 30 min round trip (check)
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
Walk or rent a golf cart (hourly rates at the Yacht Club). Most sights require a short boat charter.
See and do
Known for
- Thunderball Grotto snorkeling
- Pig Island feeding trips
- Lizard Island beach
- Staniel Cay Yacht Club cottages
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thunderball Grotto | Charter boat from the marina, about 10 min on water | ≈30 min total |
| Pig Island | Short boat ride from the marina, 5–10 min | ≈20 min total |
| Lizard Island | Boat from the marina, 10 min | ≈25 min total |
Sleep
- The Staniel Cay Yacht Club
- 9 cottages with AC, fridge, coffee maker; marina and airstrip on site; extra 6% promotion levy, 10% tourism tax, 5% housekeeping gratuity.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Ahoyahoy |
| How much? | Ow much?ow much |
| Where is the beach? | Whey de beach?whey de beach |
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
- All visitors must check in at the island entrance; off‑island wandering is prohibited without a stay.
- Boat tours are weather‑dependent; no refunds if cancelled for conditions.
- No individual TV or phone in cottages; rely on clubhouse services.
Staniel Cay is low‑risk; follow island entry rules, watch weather for boat trips, and keep valuables secure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Staniel Cay yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Thunderball Grotto snorkeling
- Pig Island feeding trips
- Lizard Island beach
- Staniel Cay Yacht Club cottages
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Staniel Cay Airport (IATA TYM): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staniel_Cay_Airport
- Wikivoyage: Staniel Cay, revision 5244505 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244505
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/staniel-cay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.