Your 2025 Luxury Bahamas Charter Guide: Where to Go and When to Book
The Bahamas is one of the most spectacular sailing grounds on earth — a scattered chain of turquoise shallows, white-sand cays, coral reefs, and laid-back island stops. Whether you’re planning your first yacht charter or returning for another run through the Exumas, 2025 is shaping up to be a perfect year to explore this paradise.
With reliable trade winds, plenty of protected anchorages, and an endless list of natural wonders, here’s a detailed look at the best itinerary stops, when to visit, and how to make the most of your voyage.
Highborne Cay – Your Perfect First Stop
If you’re arriving into Nassau in the morning, make Highborne Cay your first stop. Just a day’s sail away, Highborne offers the best of both worlds: a protected anchorage and a full-service marina with showers, laundry, and a general store for last-minute provisions.
The marina is home to Xuma, a beachside bar and restaurant perfect for easing into island time with a cold drink and fresh seafood. Just offshore, a short dinghy ride will take you to Allen Cay and its famous residents — the Northern Bahamian Rock Iguanas. These prehistoric-looking lizards are active during daylight hours and often emerge when visitors arrive. They’re accustomed to being fed grapes or lettuce, but be careful not to get your fingers too close — their teeth are sharp. Highborne is also a great sundowner spot, making it an ideal first anchorage.
Shroud Cay – A Lazy River Through the Mangroves
Sail south into the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park (ECLSP) and drop a mooring ball at Shroud Cay. This uninhabited island is known for its mangrove creeks, particularly Sanctuary Creek, where the tide carries you on a natural “lazy river.” Visitors explore by dinghy, paddleboard, or kayak, drifting with the current through a maze of mangroves.
At the ocean end of the creek is the “Washing Machine”, a natural current-driven whirlpool where water flows between the creek and Exuma Sound. It’s thrilling but safe if timed right — check the tide tables in advance (TideKing provides useful predictions for Shroud Cays). Bring snorkeling gear and water shoes, as you’ll often encounter sandbars, turtles grazing in the seagrass, and schools of fish near the coral heads.
Warderick Wells – The Heart of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park
No Bahamas itinerary is complete without a stop at Warderick Wells Cay, headquarters of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park (ECLSP). This is where you’ll find the park office, visitor center, hiking trails like Boo Boo Hill, and some of the most beautiful mooring fields in the Bahamas.
The ECLSP is a no-take zone — no fishing, no lobster, no conch. This protection has allowed marine life to flourish, making the reefs here some of the healthiest in the region. Snorkelers and divers frequently encounter turtles, rays, nurse sharks, and vibrant schools of reef fish.
While ashore, hike to the top of Boo Boo Hill for sweeping views and add a hand-carved piece of driftwood to the sailor’s shrine at the summit. Park fees can be paid at headquarters or online through the Bahamas National Trust.
Staniel Cay – The Iconic Exuma Experience
Further south lies Staniel Cay, a small island with a big reputation. Home to fewer than 120 residents, Staniel offers an airstrip, a yacht club, and several excellent restaurants. The real draw, however, is offshore:
Thunderball Grotto – An underwater cave system made famous in the James Bond film Thunderball. Enter at low slack tide for easy access, when shafts of sunlight stream through the grotto ceiling and illuminate the fish-filled chambers.
Pig Beach – A short hop away on Big Major Cay, this is where the Exumas’ famous swimming pigs live. Arrive early in the morning before the tour boats and you’ll have the place (and pigs) mostly to yourself.
Compass Cay – A nearby stop where you can swim with docile nurse sharks in the marina. It’s touristy but unforgettable.
When you’re ready for a meal ashore, Staniel Cay Yacht Club serves up excellent conch fritters and cocktails with a view. Other options include Sea Level Dining and the casual Flying Pig Café.
Pipe Cays and the Famous Sandbar Swings
Just behind the Pipe Cays lies one of the most photogenic stops in the Exumas: a sandbar with wooden swings installed in the shallow turquoise water. Depending on the tide, you may find yourself ankle-deep or waist-deep, but the photo opportunity is unbeatable. The holding is good here, making it a fun anchorage for an afternoon of swimming, paddleboarding, and lounging on the sand.
O’Brien’s Cay – The Sea Aquarium
One of the best snorkeling spots in the park is the Sea Aquarium near O’Brien’s Cay. Accessible by dinghy from Cambridge Cay or Bell Island, this reef is shallow, colorful, and teeming with fish. Expect to see Blue Tangs, Parrotfish, and schools of Sergeant Majors darting between coral heads and sponges.
Bring a mask, fins, and a camera. For an extra trick, many cruisers swear by squeezing a bit of Cheez Whiz underwater to attract a cloud of curious reef fish. Visit at slack tide for the clearest water and easiest swimming.
Jeep Reef and Bell Island – Celebrity Waters and Drift Snorkeling
Near Bell Island (a private island once rumored to be frequented by Johnny Depp), you’ll find Jeep Reef, one of the most exhilarating drift snorkels in the Exumas. Strong currents sweep along the reef wall, creating a natural conveyor belt past enormous coral heads — some as large as 25 feet.
The reef is alive with marine life, from reef sharks cruising the edges to massive brain corals and sea fans swaying in the current. Drift snorkeling here requires confidence and timing, but the payoff is spectacular visibility and one of the most pristine reef systems in the Bahamas.
Norman’s Cay – History, Wrecks, and McDuff’s
The long hop north brings you to Norman’s Cay, once the notorious headquarters of Carlos Lehder and the Medellín cartel. Today, the cay is known more for its history and its iconic snorkeling site: a sunken Curtiss C-46 Commando plane that rests in just 10–15 feet of water. Encrusted with coral and home to schools of fish, it’s one of the easiest and most fascinating wrecks to explore in the Bahamas.
After your snorkel, head ashore to McDuff’s, also known as Norman’s Cay Beach Club. This rustic beach bar and grill is a sailor’s legend, serving fresh fish, conch fritters, and ice-cold Bahamian beer. It’s the perfect reward after a long sail.
Rose Island – A Final Stop Before Nassau
From Norman’s, it’s about a six-hour sail back to Nassau, but savvy cruisers break up the trip with a stop at Rose Island, just five miles east of Paradise Island.
Rose Island is mostly uninhabited, with long stretches of sandy beaches and excellent snorkeling. Anchor on the south side for protection from the trade winds and take a swim in crystal-clear water. You may find a beach bar open (Footprints has operated here in recent years), but often you’ll have the island nearly to yourself.
From Rose Island, it’s a short hop into busy Nassau Harbour, where you’ll check in with Harbour Control and settle into one of the marinas.
When to book your charter
For peak season in the Bahamas, yachts are reserved well in advance. We recommend booking early to secure the best vessels and dates — especially around holidays. Learn more in our guide to the best time to book a luxury yacht charter. (link out)