CHARTER THE EXUMAS
THE EXUMAS GUIDE
THE EXUMAS Best known for the captivating turquoise waters that surround them,the Exuma Islands offer endless quiet anchorages, sweeping sandbars,and white sand beaches that seemingly transport you to another world. This chain of 365 islands is part of the Out Islands of the Bahamas, but collectively they hold a much more laid-back vibe, and there’s something unique to be experienced on each of them. Here you’ll enjoy nature in its simplest form. With flawless coastlines, pristine reefs, and exclusive island surroundings, it’s a dream destination for those seeking the ultimate escape, from boaters and fishermen, to divers, snorkelers, and kayakers. Local attractions of the Exuma Cays won’t disappoint. Visit the famed Thunderball Grotto, a cave seen in the James Bond film of the same name, and swim with the now-famous swimming pigs at Big Major’s Spot. Wildlife in the Exumas is plentiful, from the photogenic and surprisingly social nurse sharks at Compass Cay to the Allen’s Cay giant iguanas, fearsome-looking yet gentle creatures that welcome visitors who bring them gifts of vegetables. An elite offering of restaurants and famous nightlife hot-spots can be found hidden among the islands, but these gems are few and far between. Many of the Exuma Cays are private, some functioning as luxurious private-island resorts and others the ultra-exclusive homes to stars such as Johnny Depp, Tyler Perry, David Copperfield, and country singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
YOUR CRUISE SUMMARY*
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1
Nassau Allen’s Cay / Highbourne Cay Norman’s Cay Shroud Cay Wardericks Well Compass Cay Big Majors Cay Staniel Cay Big Farmer’s Cay Stocking Island Rum Cay Crooked Island Rose Island Nassau
NASSAU Arrive in Nassau and make your way to your private luxury yacht. Meet the captain and crew and get settled into your new floating home. Relax and let the captain and crew prepare to get underway on your island adventure!
ALLEN’S CAY / HIGHBOURNE CAY Enjoy a stop at Allan’s Cay to visit the Bahamian Iguanas also known as Bahamian Rock Iguana’s. They look fierce, but are friendly to guests bearing gifts of vegetables and fruit! Afterward, you can visit nearby Highbourne Cay where you can stroll along the beautiful beaches of Horseshoe Bay or snorkel the Octopus Garden reefs. Highbourne is known world-wide as the gateway to the Exuma’s. It is a privately owned island with a first-class marina. Explore Highbourne’s eight beaches that are among some of the best kept secrets in the Bahamas. Make your dinner reservations at XUMA’s Restaurant and Bar and enjoy a beautiful dinner and sunset.
NORMAN’S CAY While at Norman’s Cay, check out the famous plane wreck from the drug smuggling era of the 70’s. This plane now serves as natural reef and setting for divers and snorkelers alike. Also known for its pristine beaches and blue lagoons, Norman Cay is the perfect spot to anchor out and enjoy the natural beauty of the bahamas. In the afternnon, enjoy a lovely dinner at McDuff’s while watching a spectacular sunset over azure seas.
SHROUD CAY Shroud Cay, part of the Exuma Cays Land & Seas Park, is an uninhabited archipelago of cays surrounding a shallow mangrove salina. When you arrive, jump into “Camp Driftwood”, where the strong current creates a natural whirlpool that whips you around a rocky outcropping to a powdery beach. The park appeals in particular to divers, who appreciate the vast underwater world of limestone, reefs, drop-offs, blue holes of freshwater springs, caves and a multitude of exotic marine life, including one of the Bahamas’ most impressive stands of rare pillar coral.
WARDERICKS WELL Wardericks Well, home to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, is known for its seven miles of beautiful coastal trails. Take a hike to Boo Boo Hill, the tallest hill on the cay, where you can experience a spectacular panoramic view of the island, the anchorage, and Exuma Sound.
COMPASS CAY Discover the many local beaches here at Compass Cay, as well as, the world famous Rachel’s bubble bath (a bubbly swimming hole at high tide). There are one of the awesome snorkel spots nearby: Rocky Dundas caves, Stag horn coral, or the popular “aquarium”, an amazing snorkel spot with lots of sea life. No visit the Compass Cay marina is complete without stopping to say hello and feed the local nurse sharks. Don’t worry they are friendly and if you have a treat for them, they will swim up on your lap and let you pet them on the head!
BIG MAJORS CAY Visit the home of the famous and most photographed swimming pigs. They will swim out to your boat to greet you, so be sure to bring some snacks to say hello with!
STANIEL CAY Staniel Cay is located near the center of Exuma Cays. The island, located between Big Major Cay and Bitter Guana Cay, is one of the larger islands within the Exuma Cays. An abundance of coral reef can be found along its gorgeous shores. The waters are populated with fish and vegetation of varying sizes including larger fish such as: sharks, groupers, barracuda, angelfish, and butterfly fish, miniature crabs, and daredevil shrimp. If you like to snorkel you won’t want to miss a trip to Thunderball Grotto, an underwater cave, featured in several James Bond movies. In the evening you will want to checkout the Staniel Cay Yacht Club for a traditional Bahamian meal and also the “hub” of the social scene on the island.
BIG FARMER’S CAY Big Farmer’s Cay, only known to few, is a very desirable island on the Exuma Cay chain. Here, you will find privacy and must-have relaxation. Hike the several elevated areas Big Farmer’s Cay has to offer and relish in the stunning views of several gorgeous beaches. Ramona Bay, on Big Farmer’s Cay, provides access to some of the best sailing and fishing in the Bahamas can be found.
STOCKING ISLAND Stocking Island is a small, long, narrow island off the port of Georgetown, Great Exuma Island, Bahamas. The island features beaches and several resorts. Easily reachable by boat from Elizabeth Harbour, Stocking Island has some of the finest white sand beaches in The Bahamas. Snorkelers and divers love to explore the island’s blue holes, coral gardens and undersea caves. The Island is also home to Stromatolites, said to be the oldest known macrofossils on the planet, found on the Atlantic-side beaches. Play the piano with a mermaid underwater! Spend the morning snorkeling and exploring David Copperfield’s sunken piano sculpture. In the afternoon, cruise south to Stocking Island and have a sunset cocktail at Chat n’ Chill with a Sunday pig roast. Feed the stingrays then relax and play with the water toys. After, see an abundant amount of starfish as you snorkel the Starfish beach.
RUM CAY Noted as one of the most remote islands in the Caribbean and also famous for its surfing and deep reef diving, this beautiful part of the Bahamian chain is a must for those wanting to experience the true natural beauty of the out islands. Explore the wreck of the HMS Conqueror, which was sunk in 1861 and now sits in 30 ft of water and preserved as an underwater museum. Or, experience the Manta Rays which you will find at famed Grand Canyon, a 60 ft coral wall.
CROOKED ISLAND Enjoy the beauty of some of the most beautiful and pristine sandy beaches. Because of its remote location, you and your guests may be the only visitors for a private beach rendezvous. Swimmers can pick up sand dollars from the sandy bottom, but snorkelers should swim past the islands edge where the seabed drops off to form coral gardens laden with tropical fish.
ROSE ISLAND Rose Island is a small island in the Bahamas that lies 3 miles east of Paradise Island, which lies directly off of New Providence Island. The island has no formal residential infrastructure and no roads. The center square mile was owned by Claude Turner for around 36 years up until 2005. A great location for water sports and picnics on the beach.
THE EXUMAS
OVERVIEW TIME ZONE: Eastern Time Zone CURRENCY: Currency in the Bahamas: Bahimian Dollar, which is equivalent in value to the U.S. Dollar CLIMATE: In the Summer: Maximum: 91°F/33°C.; Minimum: 75°F/24°C. The water temperature in the Bahamas hardly ever drops below 72° F (equivalent to 22° Celsius) near the shorelines.
SALES | NEW CONSTRUCTION | CHARTER
PALM BEACH 150 Worth Avenue, Suite 136 Palm Beach, Florida 33480 TEL +1 (561) 833-4462 www.WorthAvenueYachts.com
MONACO Ermanno Palace 27, Boulevard Albert 1er Monaco, MC 98000 +377 99 90 74 63
SEATTLE 901 Fairview Avenue N., Suite A180 Seattle, Washington 98109 +1 (206) 209-1920
FORT LAUDERDALE 866 NE 20th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 +1 (954) 703-5737 Team@WorthAvenueYachts.com
SAN DIEGO 501 W Broadway, Suite 800 San Diego, California 92101 +1 (619) 400-4982