THE EXUMAS EDIT | M.Fairchild Edit
A LITTLE ADVENTURE. A LOT OF TURQUOISE WATER. MEMORIES WORTH MAKING.
As much as we love an unscheduled beach day, there are some experiences worth planning ahead for. On our family trip to Great Exuma, we booked two very different excursions, and both gave us memories we'll be talking about for a long time.
One was all about fishing. The other was all about exploring the Exuma Cays, including those famous swimming pigs I had been dying to see!
Here's what we booked and why both made our list.
1. BONEFISHING WITH A LOCAL GUIDE 🎣
EARLY MORNINGS. SHALLOW FLATS. ONE VERY HAPPY KID.
My husband and son love to fish, so booking a bonefishing excursion was high on their list.
They headed out with a wonderful local guide named Marvin, who clearly loved what he did. There's something special about exploring a place with someone who knows the waters and genuinely enjoys sharing that knowledge.
But the best part? This ended up being my son's favorite day of the entire vacation.
He came back so excited, and that alone made the excursion worth every minute.
THE M.FAIRCHILD TIP: If you have someone in your family who loves fishing, consider booking a local guide rather than a larger group excursion. The experience can be much more personal, and you'll get to see a completely different side of Exuma.
2. FULL-DAY STANIEL CAY SWIMMING PIGS TOUR 🐷
SWIMMING PIGS. NURSE SHARKS. SECRET GROTTOES. ALL THE EXUMA BLUE.
I'll admit it: seeing the famous swimming pigs was one of the things I was most excited about when we planned our trip!
We booked the Full Day Staniel Cay Swimming Pigs Tour with Exuma Water Sports, an adventure-packed day exploring some of the most famous sights in the Exuma Cays.
The itinerary includes:
-
Swimming Pigs at Big Major's Cay: The iconic Exuma experience and the stop I was especially excited about.
-
Bahamian Rock Iguanas: A chance to see these remarkable endangered animals.
-
Nurse Sharks at Compass Cay: An opportunity to encounter nurse sharks in the water.
-
Thunderball Grotto: Snorkeling in the famous underwater cave system.
-
Lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club: A classic island lunch stop in the middle of the adventure.
It's the kind of excursion that lets you experience so many of the Exumas' bucket-list sights in one day, without having to coordinate everything yourself.
And with a local crew leading the way, you can spend more time enjoying the adventure and less time worrying about the logistics.
THE M.FAIRCHILD TIP: This is a full day on the water, so bring reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat that won't blow away, and a waterproof phone pouch. Check with your tour operator about snorkeling gear, lunch costs, weather policies, and what to bring.
BOOK THE TOUR: https://exumawatersports.com/
THE M.FAIRCHILD TAKE 🌴
TWO VERY DIFFERENT DAYS. TWO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES.
What I loved about planning these excursions was that everyone had something to look forward to.
For my son, it was heading out bonefishing with his dad and coming back with the biggest smile.
For me, it was the chance to see the famous swimming pigs and explore the spectacular Exuma Cays.
The beauty of Exuma is that you can spend one day doing absolutely nothing on the beach and the next having an adventure you'll remember for years.
BOOK THE ADVENTURE. MAKE THE MEMORIES. LEAVE ROOM FOR A BEACH DAY. 🌊
