I was recently invited to The Exumas with the Bahamas Tourism Board and boy was that a dream come true! After seeing images of swimming pigs go viral years ago, it immediately became a bucket list experience and I was super excited to finally check it off my list. Just to name a few, swimming with the pigs, sharks, stingrays, iguanas and eating the best conch salads are a few of the bucket list experiences in The Exumas, Bahamas that you do not want to miss!

The Exumas is considered to be part of The Out Islands and The Exumas itself is an archipelago of 365 cays and islands. The Exumas are known for their pristine beaches (clearest waters I’ve ever seen), luxurious resorts, fishing and privately owned islands by the rich and famous! There are three major areas: Great Exuma, Little Exuma, and The Exuma Cays.

I spent 3 full days exploring the islands and stayed at one of the top resorts in Great Exuma, Grand Isle Resort & Spa. We had our own three bedroom villa, stunning pool and a private beach on the property.

BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCES IN THE EXUMAS, BAHAMAS

We spent a full day with Four C’s Adventures to explore private islands owned by a few celebrities such as Johnny Depp, David Copperfield, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Faith Hill & Tim McGraw. These private islands and homes were stunning! You will get to experience the 4 bucket list experiences below with Four C’s Adventures.

Faith Hill & Tim McGraw’s Private Island

1. SWIM WITH THE PIGS

What a dream it was to swim with the pigs! The moment our boat arrived on Big Major Cay’s Pig Beach, they began swimming towards our boat for food. They were the cutest pigs I’ve ever seen but be careful they can be quite aggressive when trying to get food. We also witnessed many piglets roaming around, I could have stayed on this island all day. If you have concerns about what is being fed, the tour companies are only feeding them what’s needed for their diet.

2. SWIM WITH THE SHARKS

Looks scary, doesn’t it? To be honest, I was not as scared as I originally thought I would be. The nurse sharks are bottom feeders, which makes them harmless and only bite if someone puts their fingers directly in the shark’s mouths. The sharks are located on Compass Cay.

3. ALLEN CAY TO VISIT THE IGUANAS

The iguanas are located on Allen Cay and are quite harmless. They’re fairly large in size but very friendly.

Fun Fact: Nicholas Cage once owned the island before he realized it was infested with iguanas.

4. SNORKELING AT THUNDERBALL GROTTO

We made a quick stop here for photos and going inside the grotto. I highly suggest snorkeling in this area if time permits.

5. CHAT N CHILL

Chat ‘N’ Chill is a famous beachside bar and grill that was opened in 1998. Be prepared to spend at least half the day here because there are tons to do! They have a sidebar that makes the best and freshest conch salad, a swing with stingrays swimming below, volleyball court and best of all, the food! Do not leave without ordering a conch burger, ribeye and Bahamian Brewed Beer!

6. SANTANA’S GRILL

Santana’s Grill is located in Little Exuma and has the most amazing food ever! I had the lobster, and it was the best I’ve ever had! I highly suggest trying it. Next door is a pastry shop called Mom, which has awesome desserts. Not too far away is the beautiful Tropic of Cancer Beach, also known as Pelican Beach. It’s the longest beach on the island, definitely, a must visit.

Fun Fact: Santana’s Grill was Johnny Depp’s favorite restaurant while filming Pirates of the Caribbean II and III.

There are so many amazing bucket list experiences in The Exuma. A few other things to do is explore Georgetown, Coco Plum Beach for the famous swings and eat at Lumina Point Resort. A true highlight of the trip was the amazing food I experienced. I had no idea the food was so fresh and delicious!

The Exumas was not affected by the hurricanes this year, so start planning your next vacation and check off these bucket list experiences in The Exumas!

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