The Exumas are a group of more than 360 islands in the Bahamas, well-known for having the whitest sand beaches, clean crystal-clear blue waters, and the strange sight of swimming pigs!
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One of the most important things to remember before visiting Exuma is to be mindful of your garbage, and to ensure that what you have/buy can be recycled. Exuma lacks the infrastructure that we have in the United States for recycling so individuals must take on the task themselves to preserve this mesmerizing island.
Make it a point to leave the beautiful beaches cleaner than you found them by participating in a beach cleanup!
VOLUNTARY RECYCLING AT SOUTHERN TRANSFER STATION & STEVENTON LANDFILL IN GEORGE TOWN
The "RECYCLE EXCUMA" project aims to protect the scenic beauty of this tiny paradise by lowering the amount of solid waste going into landfills, enhancing the atmosphere on the islands through strategic partnerships, and developing workable solutions to reduce, reuse, and recycle the solid waste.
EXUMA ANIMAL CLINIC & HUMANE SOCIETY
If you love caring for animals this is the first place to visit in George Town.
But due to the limited resources available, the animal clinic and humane society heavily depend on donations. The group is committed to taking care of pets and stray animals by offering high-quality medical care, surgeries, grooming, foster care, and adoptions.
You can make direct donations to their PayPal named Exuma Animal Clinic, or if you're visiting the island, see our Exuma Instagram story for guidelines on how to donate.
You might even get to play with the dogs while a volunteer walks them on the beach! We had a great time, and we're sure you will too!
COCO PLUM BEACH
You can walk to many remote islands from Coco Plum, an isolated beach in the north of Great Exuma Island.
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Everything here is lovely, from the beach to the clean, swimmable waters and the shades along with the sandbanks that are exposed in low tide.
WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE SANDY CAY, PIGEON CAY, AND THE LAZY RIVER AT MORIAH CAY INSTEAD OF SWIMMING WITH THE PIGS
Exuma's famous Pig Island might be one of the biggest reasons you want to go there, however, we can not recommend this kind of tourist attraction. Although the Bahamas is making a huge profit from this kind of activity, the reality of how it is affecting the pigs is sad and unfortunate. By feeding the pigs and having them become reliant on the food they are given to put on a show for tourists, they are facing some of the following issues:
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Pigs are being slaughtered due to overpopulation.
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Pigs can develop severe sunburns, skin cancer, and other deadly diseases from too much exposure to the sun and other weather conditions like rain and thunderstorms.
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Pigs are fed by the visitors, so when you see them fighting over food, it probably means they aren't getting enough to eat.
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These pigs are crossbreeds between domestic and feral varieties, so they could pose a threat to visitors if they become aggressive.
Take a boat tour to a remote deserted island, kite surf, kayak, or just enjoy the many gorgeous beaches on the main island. That is really all you need!
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Fun fact: Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed in Sandy Cay!
HAULOVER BAY BAR & GRILL RESTAURANT
A deck outside this restaurant offers stunning ocean views and outdoor seating.
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It includes access to the sandbar and kayak rentals. This spot is especially nice at low tide. We also swam next to a group of dolphins and it was like straight out of The Little Mermaid.
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JOLLY HALL BEACH
Surprise surprise- another amazing Exuma beach!
This is the special beach where you can play and walk with the adorable dogs and the volunteers from the humane society.
TROPIC BREEZE BEACH BAR & GRILL
Lovely outdoor seating area with the best expansive ocean views, and good vibes.
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Delicious fruity drinks if you're into that. Make it a double. And to be honest we are vegetarian so we basically had lots of carbs, but the french fries here were lit!