📖 About Exuma

The Exumas are a chain of 365 islands (cays) stretching over 130 miles through the central Bahamas. With a total population of around 7,000, primarily on Great Exuma and Little Exuma, these islands represent Caribbean paradise at its most pristine. The waters here display every shade of blue imaginable, from deep azure to brilliant turquoise, earning the region its reputation for having the clearest water in the world.

George Town, the main settlement on Great Exuma, serves as the administrative center and yachting destination. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the world's first of its kind, protects over 175 square miles of underwater wonderland. But perhaps the islands' greatest claim to fame are the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay—friendly feral pigs that wade out to greet visiting boats in scenes that have gone viral worldwide.

The Exumas attract discerning travelers seeking luxury resorts, world-class diving, bonefishing, and solitude. Private islands, celebrity hideaways, and superyachts dot these waters. Yet the local culture remains warm and accessible, with Bahamian hospitality extending from Georgetown's fish fry to the most exclusive resort. This combination of pristine nature and genuine island life makes the Exumas uniquely special.

🏛️ Top Attractions

💼 Economy & Culture

Tourism dominates the Exuma economy, from luxury resorts to yacht services to day-trip operations. Fishing—both sport fishing and commercial—remains important, with bonefishing guides particularly in demand. Government employment and small-scale agriculture supplement tourism income. Private island development has brought both investment and employment opportunities.

Bahamian culture expresses itself through Junkanoo festivals, rake-and-scrape music, and the warmth of island hospitality. Georgetown's fish fry on Fridays brings community and visitors together for fresh seafood and Bahamian dishes. The annual National Family Island Regatta, the Bahamas' largest, draws sailing enthusiasts each April. Despite catering to wealthy visitors, the Exumas maintain authentic island culture—life moves at its own pace, and genuine connections form easily.

📜 History

The Lucayan people were the first inhabitants of the Exumas, part of the Taíno culture that populated much of the Caribbean. Columbus may have passed these islands on his first voyage, and Spanish slavers subsequently devastated the indigenous population. British Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution established cotton plantations in the late 18th century, bringing enslaved Africans whose descendants form the core of today's population.

When slavery ended in 1834, the plantation economy collapsed, and the Exumas became a backwater of fishing villages and subsistence farming. Modern tourism began developing in the 1960s, accelerating with improved air access. The establishment of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in 1958 pioneered marine conservation. Today's Exumas balance preservation of natural beauty with sustainable tourism development, protecting the ecosystems that make these islands among Earth's most beautiful places.