Day 1 · Nassau to the northern cays
The first deep breath.
Settle aboard and watch the waterfront fall behind. Head toward the northern Exumas, where the afternoon becomes a swim, a sundowner and your first dinner with the islands around you.
Your private Bahamas escape
A different island outside your window.
Leave room for the long swim, the unplanned beach stop and one more evening at anchor. This is the Exumas, at your own pace.
365 islands and cays. One private escape.
Don’t just visit the islands.
Wake up among them.
A crewed Exumas yacht charter makes the water your connection to the islands—and your favorite place between them. Swim before breakfast. Step ashore for a wander. Return to a yacht that feels like your own.
Planned with a team bringing 25+ years of South Florida yachting experience.
A week through the cays.
Seven days, six nights, and space to enjoy the stops between Nassau and the Staniel Cay area. This is a route idea to shape together, with Nassau boarding and a suitable yacht confirmed for your dates.
Settle aboard and watch the waterfront fall behind. Head toward the northern Exumas, where the afternoon becomes a swim, a sundowner and your first dinner with the islands around you.
Explore protected island scenery, a shore trail or an inviting stretch of water. The park is a no-take reserve: leave shells and marine life where they belong, and take the memory instead.
Watch the nurse sharks from the dock, or ask about a supervised swim following local staff guidance. Leave the rest of the afternoon for the beach, the deck or absolutely nothing.
The swimming pigs add a playful stop to your island week. Give the animals space, follow local guidance and return aboard for a slow afternoon. See our Exuma and Rose Island swimming pigs guide.
Step ashore around Staniel Cay, then discuss a visit to nearby Thunderball Grotto. Your captain or guide chooses the timing and activities around tides, conditions and swimming ability.
Work north with time for a final swim and dinner aboard before the return to Nassau. Agree disembarkation arrangements first, then leave a sensible buffer for onward travel.
Your captain finalizes the route, stops and activities around the yacht, weather, tides and available time. This Nassau-based example is not a South Florida crossing schedule or a guarantee of every stop.
Follow the cays.
Leave room to linger.
Travel south through the northern cays toward Compass Cay and the Staniel Cay area, then make your way back north. Big Major Cay and Thunderball Grotto belong to the same part of the journey—not separate long crossings.
Sample route · schematic, not to scale · not for navigation
Some of the best stops
are right here.
A sunrise swim. A shaded table set for lunch. A book left open while you watch the water change color.
Tell us about the meals, water toys and cabin arrangements that would make the trip yours. We’ll discuss these with the yacht options, including chef and provisioning choices.
Our crewed Bahamas yacht guide helps you compare life aboard. Overnight capacity and Exumas suitability are checked for each yacht we propose.
Start closer to the islands.
Or make the passage part of it.
A Bahamas-based start puts more of the trip within the islands. Ask us to confirm Nassau boarding and yacht availability before you arrange flights.
A Miami or Fort Lauderdale departure needs a longer international passage plan and a suitable yacht. Explore our Miami to Bahamas yacht charters and tell us how much time you have.
Plan on valid passports and check nationality-specific Bahamas entry requirements. We confirm the clearance arrangements for your charter.
Discuss seasonal conditions and weather terms before booking. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1–November 30; no season guarantees calm water.
Exumas charters are quoted per trip. See our pricing guide for what a quote includes.
A few things worth knowing.
The northern Exuma Cays are about 40 nautical miles from Nassau—roughly 46 land miles. Staniel Cay and Great Exuma are farther away. Your exact distance and travel time depend on the departure marina, destination, yacht and sea conditions.
Three or four nights can suit a focused northern-cays escape. Five to seven nights gives more room for a broader Bahamas-based itinerary. A South Florida crossing adds passage time, so the yacht and departure point shape the final schedule.
Both can be included in a suitable Exumas itinerary. Tell us which stops matter most so we can allow time around Compass Cay and the Staniel Cay area. Wildlife encounters and swimming activities follow conditions and local guidance.
Ask us to assess your dates, yacht preferences and available nights. This is a longer international charter, not a Miami day trip. Nassau boarding is another option to investigate when you want more of your time in the islands.
A private charter is arranged for your group, rather than sold as individual sightseeing tickets. Your yacht is private; beaches, marinas and island attractions are not necessarily exclusive.
Compare our Miami to Bimini yacht charters if your time is limited. Suitable yachts and conditions can allow a shorter escape there; the Exumas are better approached as an extended island journey.
Destination references: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism · Bahamas National Trust · National Hurricane Center
Which island morning
will you remember most?
Send your dates, overnight guest count and the experiences you’re picturing. Let’s shape the yacht, the route and the details around you.
Yachts, boarding locations, routes and inclusions are confirmed individually in your charter proposal and agreement.