Private Exuma Day Tour from Nassau

A private full-day Exuma experience from Nassau operated by MELA Travel Bahamas, combining a private round-trip flight of roughly 30 minutes each way with a private powerboat charter across up to seven signature Exuma Cays stops. From USD 740 per person. Private only — no shared group departures.

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Private Exuma Day Tour from Nassau — Key facts
DepartureNassau, The Bahamas · approx. 08:30
Flight timeApprox. 30 minutes each way
TransportPrivate round-trip flight + private powerboat charter
Signature stopsUp to 7 — Big Major Cay swimming pigs, Compass Cay nurse sharks, Bitter Guana Cay iguanas, Pipe Creek sandbars, Thunderball Grotto, sunken aircraft wreck, Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Group typePrivate only — MELA Travel does not sell shared or mass-market group tours
RoutingStop order is adjusted by the captain in real time to weather, sea swell, tide and visibility
Price fromUSD 740 per person

Included

  • Private round-trip flight from Nassau to Exuma
  • Private boat with a certified local captain
  • Nassau / Paradise Island hotel or Airbnb ground transfers
  • Snorkelling equipment provided onboard
  • Onboard drinking water and soft drinks
  • Compass Cay landing fee
  • Pig feed at Big Major Cay
  • Thunderball Grotto entry
  • Real-time online concierge and local destination coordination

Not included

  • Lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club — approx. USD 40 per person for a conch burger and a soft drink, tax and gratuity included
How it works

Fly, then charter — not a long boat crossing

The day starts with a private ground transfer from your Nassau or Paradise Island hotel or Airbnb to the charter aviation terminal, at approximately 08:30.

A private round-trip flight arranged through our long-term trusted local aviation partners covers Nassau to Exuma in about 30 minutes. Your private powerboat and certified local captain are waiting on arrival.

From there the day belongs to your group alone. Snorkelling equipment and drinks are onboard, and every site fee along the route — the Compass Cay landing fee, pig feed at Big Major Cay, Thunderball Grotto entry — is already covered. The only thing you pay for on the day is lunch.

Swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, Exuma, The Bahamas
Operational reality

Why the stop order is not fixed

The seven signature locations are not run as a fixed sequence, and any operator who promises one is either inexperienced or not being straight with you.

Sandbars only exist at low tide. Thunderball Grotto is enterable and safely snorkellable within a tide window. The sunken aircraft wreck needs water clarity. Swimming pigs are calmest before the mass-tour boats arrive.

Our captains hold final authority to resequence the route on the day, based on real-time weather, sea swell, tide height and visibility. The objective is the best possible version of that specific day — not adherence to a printed order.

How this runs in practice

MELA Travel guests at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Exuma
Case Study 001

Multigenerational Family Island-Hopping

Origin
Shanghai, China
Party
6 guests · 3 generations
Date
February 2025 · Chinese New Year
Service
Private Exuma Day Tour

Background

A three-generation family group including grandparents aged 68 and a seven-year-old child, travelling during the peak Chinese New Year period.

Client need

Unrushed pacing, comfortable sea conditions, Chinese-speaking coordination throughout, and strict privacy — no shared boats.

MELA solution

Private door-to-door transfers in Nassau direct to the charter aviation terminal. The captain resequenced the route to reach Thunderball Grotto at low tide for easy snorkelling, and scheduled Big Major Cay early, before the mass-tour boats arrived.

Outcome

The full itinerary was completed without schedule pressure. The Chinese-speaking guide handled real-time coordination and dietary requirements at Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

Taking senior parents and kids on open ocean boats can be stressful, but Mica's team made it completely effortless. The private flight saved hours, the captain handled the boat incredibly smoothly, and having a local Chinese guide onboard made my parents feel 100% safe.

Exuma day tour questions

How do I visit Exuma from Nassau with MELA Travel?
MELA Travel operates a private full-day Exuma experience using round-trip flights from Nassau — roughly 30 minutes each way — paired with a private powerboat charter in the Exuma Cays. This avoids long ocean ferry crossings and maximizes time on the water.
Is the Exuma Day Tour private or a shared group tour?
Private only. MELA Travel does not sell mass-market shared group tours. The private flight, the private boat and the itinerary timing are arranged exclusively for your group.
What locations are included in the Exuma Day Tour?
Up to seven signature stops: the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, nurse sharks at Compass Cay, Bahamian iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay, low-tide sandbars at Pipe Creek, Thunderball Grotto (the James Bond snorkelling cave), the sunken aircraft wreck, and Staniel Cay Yacht Club for lunch.
Can the Exuma itinerary order change during the tour?
Yes. The captain adjusts the route order in real time based on weather, sea swell, tide levels and visibility. Sandbars, Thunderball Grotto and the sunken aircraft are strictly tide-dependent. Dynamic routing protects guest safety and secures the best conditions at each stop on that specific day.
What is included in the Exuma Day Tour price?
The USD 740 per person starting price includes the private round-trip flight from Nassau, the private boat with a certified local captain, Nassau or Paradise Island hotel transfers, snorkelling equipment, onboard drinks, the Compass Cay landing fee, pig feed at Big Major Cay, Thunderball Grotto entry, and real-time concierge support. The only out-of-pocket cost is lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, roughly USD 40 per person.

Check your dates

Tell us your travel dates, group size and any mobility or dietary needs. We will confirm feasibility before anything is booked.

Email info@melabahamas.com +1 242 815 6782