Exumas Yacht Charters
An Exumas yacht charter is the ideal sailing vacation for those who enjoy solitude, unspoiled natural beauty and quaint, low-key beach settlements.
What’s on this pageHighlights
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Famous swimming pigs
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Pristine coves
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Swimming with sharks
Bahamas yacht charter, the Exumas
Our base is located at Palm Cay Marina in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas on the island of New Providence. Less than 30 miles south-east of here, you can discover the Exumas island chain with its 365 cays.
The cays of the Exumas in the Out Islands of the Bahamas offer amazing diving, and snorkeling. Visit Highbourne Cay to snorkel the Octopus Garden reef at Horseshoe Bay, or dive the 3.5 billion year old stromatolite reefs on the east coast.
Any animal lovers on your Exuma yacht charter can swim with nurse sharks at Compass Cay, encounter swimming with pigs at Big Major Cay and feed the iguanas at Allen Cays.
When sailing the Exumas, we’d recommend anchoring at Highbourne Cay Marina, from where you can relax on the beach, hike the island trails and unwind during happy hour at the marina restaurant overlooking the gorgeous bay.
Staniel Cay, where you’ll find the beautiful grotto seen in the James Bond movie Thunderball, is another highlight of any Exuma yacht charter. Or why not visit Warderick Wells Cay, the perfect jumping off point for exploring the area of outstanding natural beauty that is the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
Choose charter type below to see available charters options
Easy crewed
The simplest, hassle-free way to charter a crewed private yacht.
SailShare
Low package rates for island-hopping aboard a sailing yacht.
Aqualodge
Get closer to nature on the perfect self-catering Caribbean holiday.
Power Catamaran
Cruise faster and see more on the perfect charter boat.
Things to do in the Exumas
Head to Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
This 176 square-mile park can only be reached by boat or seaplane. The park is a great find for divers, with its underwater world of limestone, reefs and caves. Animal lovers will marvel at the numerous tropical birds, iguanas and hawksbill turtles.
See the famous swimming pigs
Vacationers from around the world have flocked to Big Major Cay to see the famous Bahamas swimming pigs. It’s one of the most popular things to do in the Exumas. Wade into the clear waters and feed these friendly hogs pitted fruits and vegetables.
Swim with nurse sharks
Make for Compass Cay during your Exuma yacht charter and swim with friendly nurse sharks. You can also feed the sharks fish, if you have any to spare.
Snorkel at Thunderball Grotto
Head to Staniel Cay and, just across the water from the yacht club, you’ll find the amazing Thunderball Grotto where the James Bond movie Thunderball was filmed. Snorkel this marine cave at low tide and marvel at the shafts of sunlight that illuminate the cavern.
See the rare Northern Bahamian Rock Iguanas
Sail to Allen’s Cays to see the rare Northern Bahamian Rock Iguanas, which are only found in the Exumas. You can feed these gentle creatures with grapes, but beware because these iguanas can grow quite big and jump pretty high.
Weather insights
When is the best time to go to the Exumas?
Temperatures in the Exumas cool very slightly to between 82-88ºF in the high season between December and April, which is the best time to visit. The hottest months in the Bahamas are July and August and the wettest months are May and June.
What are the sailing conditions in the Exumas?
Sailing conditions in the Bahamas include easterly winds between 10-15 knots and care is needed as the water can have very shallow depths. The tidal range is up to 3.5ft.
Sailing the Exumas with Dream Yacht Charter
Exumas yacht charter
Sail the Exumas and enjoy one of the world’s most unspoiled sailing destinations. Choose from our bareboat yacht charters and cutting-edge catamarans and monohulls.
Exumas skippered charters
Can’t sail? Hire a skipper and make the most of your vacation by sailing the islands of the Exumas. Your skipper will sail you and your guests while you relax.
Exumas by the cabin charters
Enjoy the Exumas without any planning, sailing or cooking with our by the cabin charters. We do everything, so you don’t have to. Just reserve your own private cabin and bathroom.
Exumas crewed charters
Take your vacation to a new level of luxury with our personalized Exumas crewed charters. Hire your own private luxury yacht and relax while our captain and chef look after you and your guests.
Exumas sailing itinerary
Take a look at our Bahamas sailing vacation suggestions
Nassau 7 Days
Other Itineraries
8-day itinerary Exumas
Useful information for an Exumas boat charter
Where are the Exumas located?
The Exumas is an archipelago that is part of the Bahamas and starts southwest of Nassau.
How to get to the Exumas from the US?
To get to the Exumas you can fly direct to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau with Delta, United, American and Air Canada airlines.
We can arrange airport transfers on request and the airport is a 30-minute taxi ride away from our base.
What is the language spoken in the Exumas?
The language spoken in the Exumas is English.
What is the currency for the Exumas?
The currency in the Exumas is the Bahamian dollar (BSD). US dollars (USD) are also widely accepted.
What documents do I need to sail the Exumas?
To enter the Bahamas you will need a US passport valid for the duration of stay.
Talk to us to make sure you have the correct documents before you travel for your Exuma yacht charter.
How do I get around the Exumas?
Major car rental companies operate their offices at all airports, so please refer to airport websites for working hours and contact details. We can arrange airport transfers on your behalf.
Taxis are regularly available in front of the airport buildings and at most marinas, but make sure you have some cash as they don’t take credit cards. On the Out Islands, taxis aren’t metered and fares should be agreed in advance. They can also be shared with residents in carpool arrangements.
What is the Wi-Fi like in the Exumas?
There is free Wi-Fi in our marina to use on your Exuma yacht charter. You’ll also find free Wi-Fi in downtown Nassau and Freeport if you visit cafes and restaurants. The access is intermittent in the Exuma Park.
What regulations are there in the Exumas?
Spearfishing is illegal in the Bahamas.
Where can I find weather forecasts in the Exumas?
You can find Exumas weather forecasts on WindGuru.com website. The Cruisers Net broadcasts weather forecasts and tides each day on VHF channel 68 at 8.15am.
What provisioning is there in the Exumas?
There is plenty of choice and you can stock up at the local supermarkets. Please refer to the base guide.
You can also arrange provisioning in advance by ordering from Nassau Grocery online.
What baggage can I take on my Exumas sailing vacation?
Please only take soft bags and not suitcases as they are too cumbersome on board.
What is the electrical current in the Exumas?
The electrical current in the Exumas is 110V.
What is the dialing code for the Exumas?
The dialing code for the Exumas is +1 242.
Downloads
Bar Menu On Board Bareboat Bahamas
doc 31.00 KB
Base Guide Bareboat Bahamas
pdf 1.53 MB
Base Guide Cabin Exumas
pdf 1.22 MB
Beverage Order List Bareboat D Y W
xlsx 45.76 KB
Cabin Alcohol Order E N
xlsx 269.14 KB
Terms Conditions Crewed 1.pdf
pdf 288.82 KB
Crew List Bareboat 11
doc 104.00 KB
Itinerary Cabin Exumas Dream Premium
pdf 84.78 KB
Navigation Area Map Bareboat 26012016
pdf 131.63 KB
Provisioning List Bareboat D Y W
xlsx 43.75 KB
Sailing Resume Bareboat 1.doc
doc 87.50 KB
Special Diets Cabin
pdf 125.25 KB
The Country Of The Bahamas Bareboat 1.pdf
pdf 44.61 KB
FAQ
See all our FAQsWhat is the cancellation policy for Sail Share?
We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits.
Our Sail Share cabin cancellation fees are:
- More than 90 days before original embarkation date: 25% of the charter fee
- 89 – 60 days before original embarkation date: 50% of the charter fee
- 59 – 30 days before original embarkation date: 75% of the charter fee
- Fewer than 29 days before original embarkation date: 100% of the charter fee
How flexible is the itinerary for a Sail Share charter?
Our yacht itineraries are designed by our destination experts and are set to showcase the best of the destination’s highlights. They are set and not flexible, even if you book all the cabins.
What happens if the weather changes while sailing on a Sail Share charter?
The skipper may decide to change the itinerary if there is bad weather.
Can I choose which cabin I want when I book a Sail Share?
Choose a double cabin with shared bath, or private bath for an additional fee.
Are there child or age restrictions for Sail Share?
Minimum Age: 16 years old
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Absolutely amazing! Fred + Isabelle were so accommodating and did so much for us. Isabelle’s food was incredible. Thanks so much!
Laura
Exumas CabinExcellent. Very professional and great service!
Thomas
Antigua BareboatJust what we needed coming out of a year of lockdown, to see new places and connect with nature. Highly recommended for your next sailing adventure!
Johan
St. Martin BareboatExcellent cruise and very good stay. Skipper attentive, very pleasant and very professional.
Maxime
Guadeloupe SkipperedJust returned from another fantastic sailing week at your base in Pula and I would like to thank everyone involved for making this possible on such short notice and without any problems.
Mathias
Croatia BareboatThe marina itself is a perfect starting point with great facilities! The Lagoon 42 was in good condition and the skipper was amazing and very knowledgeable of the area.”
Jonathan
Spain SkipperedWhat an AMAZING experience. We’ve just returned from a week long skippered charter from Corfu, sailing around the beautiful islands of the Ionian. Paxos, Antipaxos and Corfu Old Town were beautiful and the secluded bays we had the pleasure of visiting thanks to our local skipper, Nicholas, were simply overwhelming. Fly and flops are no longer for us – we’ll be chartering with DYC for the foreseeable future.
David
Greece SkipperedOur group of 10 had an AMAZING time in French Polynesia from May 21-28, 2022! The food was amazing, our captain and chef, husband and wife: Henry and Mehee (sp), were incredible and the whole experience on board was a dream! We can’t wait to book another trip through DYC
Katie
Tahiti Crewed PremiumDYC provided a great sailing experience for my extended family on 2 monos out of Scrub Island. The boats were in great shape and preformed perfectly and the staff were friendly and helpful. Having worked for a number of charter companies over the years DYC is one of the best.
Charlie
British Virgin Islands BareboatBaja is my favorite place now. There was something for everyone: sailed under northerlies with mostly calm evenings, snorkeled, fished, bummed it on the sandy beaches, enchanted by pelicans feeding, greeted by the barking sea lions and explored the Ispiritu Santo island geology. DYC La Paz base provided competent professional support with a well provisioned and maintained boat. We were nourished well by an onboard cook arranged with DYC freeing us all for more play. A vacation and an adventure connected with nature.
Taiyoko
Mexico Crewed PremiumAll staff were fantastic and made our trip very memorable. Incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food was amazing. The service throughout the trip was always first class!
Tommy
Thailand CabinAbsolutely recommended. Perfect service and set up. Will charter again and will recommend Dream Yacht Charter anytime.
Zahradnik
Turkey BareboatI just returned from 3 weeks of amazing sailing with my family on one of your catamarans in Sardinia. I would like to express my thanks to our skipper Simone and Daniela, our hostess.
Giles
Sardinia BareboatFor a first cruise as a skipper, the Mediterranean is great. The Dream Yacht Charter service is too!
Thomas
France BareboatWe had an incredible trip and actually got engaged on the first night of our sail! We will certainly be back one day. Thank you for getting us ready for our charter. We were definitely beginners but he gave us a very thorough but very easy to follow training and it gave us a lot of confidence.
George
AustraliaThe on board experience was way beyond our expectations. Isabelle provided exceptional three course meals. We could not believe her creativity and delicious meals. Thomas was an excellent skipper. He was always on the lookout for our needs. Thanks guys!” Spira, New Caledonia bareboat with crew charter
Spira
New Caledonia BareboatYet again another fantastic sail with another great crew. Thanks again to a great captain and cook. Was totally fantastic.
Connie
Seychelles Easy CrewedIt’s always a pleasure sailing with DYC in the UK. Great team, great boats, great sailing. Very flexible and work hard to make your trip a success. Many thanks.
Derek
Brittany CabinUnforgettable spots to snorkel and beaches. Very experienced crew. Highly recommend.
Simone
No Country Selected Bareboat Cabin
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