7 Day Exumas Charter Itinerary (Nassau Roundtrip)

7 Day Exumas Charter Itinerary (Nassau Rountrip)

 Day 1: Nassau to Highbourne Cay

Guests arrive in Nassau and board the yacht in the afternoon for welcome cocktails, lunch, and a safety briefing before departing toward the Exumas.

The crossing to Highbourne Cay typically takes 3 to 4 hours depending on weather conditions. Upon arrival, guests can relax with paddleboards, snorkeling, or a beach walk before sunset drinks and dinner onboard.

For guests wanting to stretch their legs, Highbourne Cay Marina and Xuma restaurant make a great first stop ashore.

Highlights:
• First crossing into the Exumas
• Crystal clear water immediately upon arrival
• Relaxed beach and paddleboarding afternoon
• Sunset anchorage at Highbourne Cay

Day 2: Highbourne Cay to Hawksbill Cay

Cruise south through the northern Exumas into the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.

If desired stop into Norman’s Cay to snorkel Pablo Escobar’s sunken airplane. Anchor or pick up a mooring ball at Hawksbill Cay. The south end of Hawksbill Cay is one of the most beautiful places in all of the Exumas with crystal clear sand shelfs, creeks, and islands to explore. Snorkel with Eagle Rays and roam deserted beaches.

This is one of the most peaceful and naturally beautiful stops of the trip.

Highlights:
• South End Of Hawksbill
• Unbelievable Hues and Shades Of Blue
• Coral reef and Eagle Ray snorkeling
• Pablo Escobar’s Sunken Airplane

Day 3: Hawksbill Cay to Waderick Wells Cay

Cruise south through the northern Exumas into the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.

Anchor or pick up a mooring ball at Warderick Wells, one of the most iconic anchorages in the Bahamas. Guests can hike Boo Boo Hill for panoramic views over the anchorage or spend the afternoon snorkeling nearby reefs and exploring beaches.

This is one of the most peaceful and naturally beautiful stops of the trip.

Highlights:
• Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
• Boo Boo Hill hike
• Coral reef snorkeling
• Protected natural anchorages

Day 4: Warderick Wells to Staniel Cay

Spend the morning cruising south toward Staniel Cay with optional snorkeling or sandbar stops along the way.

Depending on tides and guest preference, visit Thunderball Grotto either upon arrival or the following morning. The grotto is best explored near slack low tide when currents are minimal and visibility is excellent. During slack low tide expect more crowds from other charter boats and tour operators. Strong and experienced swimmers can comfortably visit at almost any tide and often enjoy a quieter experience outside peak timing.

Guests will also have time to visit the famous swimming pigs near Big Major Cay. Most charters only spend around 30 minutes here before moving on to quieter beaches and anchorages.

Dinner ashore is available at Staniel Cay Yacht Club or onboard under the stars.

Highlights:
• Thunderball Grotto snorkeling
• Swimming pigs at Big Major Cay
• Staniel Cay Yacht Club
• Sandbars and turquoise anchorages

Day 5: Staniel Cay, Compass Cay & Cambridge Cay

After breakfast, cruise north through some of the most stunning waters in the central Exumas. Along the way, stop at the unreal Little Pipe Cay sandbar before visiting Compass Cay Marina to swim with the famous friendly nurse sharks.

Visiting Little Pipe around mid tide often provides the best balance between exposed sandbars while avoiding the larger crowds that tend to gather during dead low tide.

In the afternoon, continue into the protected waters surrounding Cambridge Cay and O’Brien’s Cay inside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.

Guests can snorkel the famous Aquarium reef, one of the best shallow snorkeling spots in the Exumas, known for vibrant coral formations, schools of tropical fish, and exceptional visibility.

Enjoy a quiet evening on a mooring ball or at anchor surrounded by turquoise water, untouched beaches, and one of the most beautiful anchorages in the Bahamas.

Highlights:
• Compass Cay nurse sharks
• Little Pipe Cay sandbars
• Aquarium snorkeling reef
• Cambridge Cay anchorage
• Exuma Land & Sea Park

Day 6: Cambridge Cay to Shroud Cay

Cruise north through the park toward Shroud Cay.

Spend the afternoon exploring Shroud Cay’s winding mangrove creeks by tender, paddleboard, or kayak. The mangrove river eventually opens into shallow turquoise flats and stunning white sand beaches on the ocean side.

Guests can also enjoy the famous “washing machine” drift with the outgoing tide.

This stop feels incredibly remote and untouched compared to the busier central Exumas.

Highlights:
• Mangrove creek exploration
• Paddleboarding and kayaking
• White sand beaches
• Wildlife and remote scenery

Day 7: Shroud Cay to Norman’s Cay / Allen’s Cay

Continue north toward Norman’s Cay with optional stops at Allen’s Cay to visit the endangered Bahamian rock iguanas.

At Norman’s Cay, guests can snorkel the partially submerged plane wreck in shallow clear water before enjoying one final beach afternoon and sunset cocktails.

Final dinner onboard celebrating the week in the Exumas.

Highlights:
• Allen’s Cay iguanas
• Norman’s Cay plane wreck snorkeling
• Final beach and snorkel day
• Sunset farewell dinner

Day 8: Norman’s Cay to Nassau

Depart early for the return cruise to Nassau.

Depending on weather and timing, guests may enjoy one final swim stop before arriving back at the marina for disembarkation.

Highlights:
• Scenic return crossing
• Final swim stop
• Nassau arrival

Notes About This Itinerary & Charter Pace

• All itineraries are weather dependent and may be adjusted by the captain for safety and guest experience.
• Nassau roundtrip itineraries generally focus on the northern and central Exumas to avoid excessive daily cruising time.
• Guests wanting to explore farther south into the Exumas often prefer Georgetown pickup and dropoff itineraries.

This itinerary would generally be considered a more fast paced and adventure focused Bahamas charter itinerary. Guests will experience a wide variety of islands, anchorages, beaches, snorkeling spots, and activities throughout the week while rarely spending more than one night in the same location.

For many guests, this creates an exciting sense of exploration and allows them to experience some of the very best highlights of the northern and central Exumas within a 7 day charter.

One of the major advantages of a fully crewed yacht charter is that the logistics, navigation, anchoring, tender operations, meal preparation, and day to day yacht operations are all handled by the professional captain and crew. Unlike a bareboat charter, guests are free to relax and enjoy the experience without the responsibility and workload of moving the yacht regularly between destinations.

That said, this pace does place additional demands on the crew and may not be the ideal fit for every charter group.

Some guests prefer a slower paced itinerary with:
• later mornings
• longer beach days
• fewer passages between islands
• more time enjoying a favorite anchorage
• less frequent packing up and moving

This itinerary can very easily be adjusted to a more relaxed pace by removing 1 to 3 stops throughout the week and spending additional nights in places such as:
• Warderick Wells
• Staniel Cay
• Cambridge Cay
• Shroud Cay

A slower paced itinerary often allows for a deeper experience of each destination while reducing travel time and maximizing relaxation onboard.

Honorable Mention Stops & Optional Additions

One of the best parts about chartering through the Exumas is the flexibility. Weather conditions, guest preferences, and the slower pace of a one way itinerary often allow captains to incorporate additional hidden beaches, snorkeling spots, and unique anchorages along the route.

Some additional favorites include:

Norman’s Cay & Pablo Escobar’s Plane Wreck

Located in the northern Exumas, Norman’s Cay is a popular stop known for its fascinating history and beautiful protected anchorages.

The island was once famously connected to Pablo Escobar’s drug smuggling operations during the 1980s, and today one of the biggest attractions is the partially submerged airplane wreck resting in shallow crystal clear water just offshore.

The wreck has become one of the most popular snorkeling stops in the Exumas thanks to its easy access, marine life, and excellent visibility.

Norman’s Cay also offers beautiful beaches, calm anchorages, and excellent water sports conditions on the right weather days.

Allen’s Cay Iguanas

Located near the northern entrance to the Exumas, Allen’s Cay is home to the famous Bahamian rock iguanas.

These endangered iguanas have become one of the most iconic wildlife encounters in the Bahamas and are often a fun early stop while entering or departing the island chain.

Thunderball Grotto Timing Tips

While Thunderball Grotto is already included in the itinerary, timing can make a major difference in the experience.

The grotto is generally easiest to explore near slack low tide when currents are weakest and visibility is excellent. During these windows, expect additional crowds from tour boats and charter yachts.

Strong and experienced swimmers can comfortably explore the grotto at almost any tide and often enjoy a much quieter experience outside peak timing windows.

Little Pipe Cay Timing Tips

Little Pipe Cay is one of the most visually stunning sandbar areas in the central Exumas, but timing can also greatly impact the experience.

Dead low tide creates the largest exposed sandbars and dramatic colors, but it can also attract significant crowds during peak charter season.

Many experienced captains prefer arriving around mid tide, which still offers beautiful shallow water and sandbars while often providing a more peaceful atmosphere.

South End of Hawksbill Cay

The south end of Hawksbill Cay remains one of the true hidden gems of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.

Many experienced cruisers quietly consider this one of the most beautiful spots in the entire Exumas thanks to its shallow turquoise flats, untouched beaches, mangrove creeks, and relative lack of crowds compared to more famous destinations.

On the right weather day, it can easily become one of the most memorable stops of the entire charter.

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