Exuma, or the Exumas, a string of islands in the Bahamas has become a bit of an Instagram sensation in the last year or two. It’s popularity has increased significantly mainly due to the now famous swimming pigs. That aside there is a lot to bring you to Exuma. Here are 5 awesome things to do in the Exumas.

1. Swimming with the Pigs

You can’t avoid it in the Exumas so why bother trying-just go with it! Swimming with the pigs in the Exumas is pretty fun and unique as far as I know. You have to take a boat from Great Exuma about an hour and a half to a small beach nearby to Staniel Cay. From there it’s on with the pigs!

Of all the things to do in the Exumas, this is the most popular or at last the most anticipated. There are more than a dozen or so pigs and they vary in size and color. Some are outright enormous hogs. Some look more like Porky Pig and some are babies while some are super ugly with enlarged testicles-seriously!

Swimming with the pigs is included on most half-day tours from your hotel on Great Exuma. However, I recommend taking a full day tour with a local operator to get a better price for more things to do in the Exumas.

A few things they don’t tell you or show you on Instagram about the pigs is that they can be very aggressive and somewhat intimidating as some are massive. Also, the pigs are pigs and they go to the bathroom right in the water, yes they poop in the water and it’s disgusting. You will be swimming where the pigs blatantly poop so beware and be prepared! But don’t let that stop you because it’s still really cool!

2. Thunderball Grotto

Also known as Thunderball Cave, it’s actually kind of both. This is the best of all the things to do in the Exumas in my opinion. Plus, if you’re a James Bond fan like me; both Thunderball (hence the name) and the Sean Connery non-official Bond film Never Say Never Again were filmed here. It is spectacular.

It’s a difficult snorkel in through some windy caves and rocks but once inside there are few grottos I’ve been to that are better. It reminded me of Wadi Shab in Oman but way better. Just be careful as there are a ton of jagged rocks hanging down and undoubtedly there will be a lot of tourists. Trust me, I needed 3 stitches after nailing my head!

3. Sea Life

One of the best things to do in the Exumas is to do a full day tour as I mentioned, as it’ll take you to see the swimming pigs but also the iguanas, the sharks and the rays. All are awesome and you don’t want to miss any of them.

The sharks are the best of the bunch in my opinion because they’re sharks! Also you’re so close to them and they’re big! The rays and iguanas are great too but you’ve most likely seen those at some point. But probably not sharks, at least like this where you can get in and touch them!

4. Chat and Chill on Stocking Island

Every Sunday, the Exumas have a fun thing called Chat and Chill where the chat is free but you pay for the chill. To get there you take a preposterous $100 round trip taxi from your hotel to the port for a $15 water taxi across to a beautiful little island called Stocking Island.

There is a big pig roast, a bar, a beautiful beach, beach sports, conch salad that is said to make you both horny and fertile, and a ton of rays in the water. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to spend a Sunday, which is very religious to Bahamians so there’s not much going on the islands. I definitely recommend it.

5. Cocoplum Beach

Cocoplum, Beach is as idyllic a beach as you’ll find. It is gorgeous, secluded and well worth a few hours spent. In fact, you’ll probably have it all to yourself. We did for nearly 3 hours. This beach is great although it has zero facilities so bring everything you need!

The beach is gorgeous and became somewhat infamous, as it was to be the setting for the failed Fyrefest last year. You may remember that disaster. Well this is the beach it was supposed to take place on. In fact, they built the swings in the water specifically for that festival which never occurred.

Fret not, it’s still in amazing shape and the panoramic views of amazing water will blow your mind. Bring lotion, as there isn’t much shade on the beach although there is behind it. Enjoy this amazing beach!

The Exumas are the best part of the Bahamas and I’ve been 5 other times to many different areas of the archipelago nation. There are way more than 5 awesome things to do in the Exumas so take your time and stay a while. I stayed 5 days and easily could’ve done 10. It’s a perfect getaway that looks like the South Pacific without the long flight.

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