Let’s talk boat tours, since nearly everyone who visits Exuma ends up on one. The tricky part is choosing, because public tours, private charters, captained rentals and drive-it-yourself boats cost different amounts and reach different places. I’ll share my recommendations as we go. Most of this applies to trips out of George Town and Great Exuma. Prices and policies change often, so please call around and verify before you book.
What do you actually want to see?
Start there, because it settles most of the other choices. Some of the big names are a long way from George Town and can only be done on a full day.
The original swimming pigs, the nurse sharks and Thunderball Grotto all sit well up the chain. There is no shortcut: you reach them on a full-day public tour or a private charter. The grotto alone is roughly two hours from Rolleville, with stops along the way, and the pigs are too far for a rented boat to make sense as a day trip.
There’s more than one set of pigs. The original colony is near Staniel Cay, which means the full-day trip. Half-day tours go to a closer pig beach and cost less. Both make a fine day, but they are not the same trip, so check which one you are buying.
Closer to George Town, a half-day tour or a harbor charter covers the stingrays at Stocking Island, sandbars and snorkeling stops. I’d treat the full-day trip as a different experience entirely, not as a longer half day.
Public tour or private charter?
It comes down to how you pay. Public tours charge per person. Private tours charge for the boat.
For a family of four or fewer, a public tour is usually the cheapest option. You pay per seat and you share the boat, and the schedule, with other guests. A private charter costs the same whether you bring two people or six, so the math improves as the group grows. If you can fill a boat with four to six people, private often works out cheaper per head, and you get to set the pace. If you want the pigs, iguanas, nurse sharks and grotto in one day without a crowd, a private full-day charter is the way to do it. Just expect to pay for the privacy.
What does it cost?
Treat these as ballpark figures. A full-day public tour for two people, including lunch at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, runs roughly $800. Half-day pig tours are advertised from about $199 per adult and $95 per child (ages 3 to 12). Two full-day tours at a similar price can differ in what’s included. One may cover lunch and the other may not, so compare totals only after you’ve confirmed what’s covered. Most operators price within a fairly narrow range, so if a quote is far below the others, ask what you’re not getting.
Is snorkel gear included?
Ask before you book, along with whether lunch is included and how long you really get at each stop. Don’t assume you can rent gear on the island. Plenty of shops that look like they rent snorkels online have none in stock, so bring your own mask and fins if you can. Many tours do supply gear, which saves you packing it, but ask ahead.
What about renting a boat and driving yourself?
It’s one of the best-value ways to see the harbor. You pack a cooler, tie up at a mooring and snorkel for conch, lobster and fish. Rental companies provide a map of where to go, and Fowl Cay is a favorite snorkeling stop. Go at slack tide, because there is a strong current through that area.
There are limits, though, and they matter:
Boundaries. Some harbor rentals don’t allow access to areas that the 7 Beaches tour includes, so a rental isn’t a full substitute. A combination works well: book the tour first, then use a rented boat to go back to your favorite stops on your own time.
Pigs and sharks. Those stay off the table for a rented boat, as above.
Tide timing. A rental boat’s hours may not line up with low tide, which is when sandbars like Man O War look their best. Check the tide chart before you pick a day, and book a tour for the tidal spots if the hours don’t match.
If you want to cover more water without driving, you can also rent a boat with a captain.
Can you customize a day?
Often, yes. Many operators will build a route around what you want to see. Ideas beyond the standard circuit include the Aquarium, Rachel’s Bubble Bath, the Rocky Dundas underwater cave, Little Farmer Cay for turtles and Little Pipe Cay. If you’ve already done the pigs-and-sharks day, ask about these.
What about young kids?
Shorter and calmer is the rule. The stingrays at Stocking Island make a great first wildlife experience for under-fives, and shallow sandbars at low tide are ideal. A full-day trip is long, so base the decision on how your kids handle a day on a boat. For toddlers, a private half-day lets you control the schedule and head back early.
How do you compare operators?
There are a lot of them running similar routes, so a few habits help. Check recent reviews on independent sites, plus current prices and safety arrangements. Ask what’s included, in writing: lunch, gear, drinks, fuel and tip guidance. Ask which stops you’ll make, how long you get at each and what happens if the weather or tide changes the plan. And ask about availability early, since lead times vary by season.
My verdict on Exuma boat tours
If you want the pigs, sharks and grotto, book the full day, public if you’re four or fewer and private if you can fill the boat. If you just want an easy half day, a harbor charter or half-day tour does the job. If you like doing things your own way, rent a boat, but book a tour for the spots a rental can’t reach. Whatever you choose, ask what’s included and look at the tide chart. That one habit saves more bad days than anything else.
Once you’ve picked a day, take a look at the rest of our Exuma Travel Guide and our Great Exuma vacation rentals to find a base that works for the tours you want.