Iguanas, Nurse Sharks and James Bond Caves: A Family Day on the Water in Exuma, Bahamas

This trip was a long time coming. Jake and I first went to Exuma, Bahamas right when Aniston turned two, yes, partly because I was trying to wean her from breastfeeding (feel free to judge me) and we thought a short trip would seal the deal. I cried the first day because I'd never left her before. By day two, I was completely in love with Exuma and Jake and I promised each other we'd come back with the kids when they were older. In December, we finally did it, and it became Aniston and Noah's first international trip.

Exuma is not the Bahamas most people picture. There are about 700 islands in the Bahamas, and Exuma is one of the smaller, quieter ones. Cruise ships currently don't drop people here, which is honestly the whole magic of it, you don't fight crowds, the beaches feel like yours, and the local culture is front and center. The driving is easy, the people are wonderful, and a heads up if you're renting a car: you drive on the left side here.

The full-day adventure with Exuma Water Sports

The one excursion everybody in Exuma talks about is swimming with the pigs, and we'll get to the honest part on that in a minute. But what we actually book, and what we'd book again in a heartbeat, is the full-day boat adventure with Exuma Water Sports. You can find them online at exumawatersports.com for the current details.

We were on a boat with maybe ten other people. It felt secluded, the boat was spacious, it had three motors so it actually moved, and the guides were unreal, constantly grabbing photos for us, pouring drinks, narrating the islands as we went. Lunch is included at a yacht club mid-day, and it was genuinely great food, not just an afterthought sandwich.

Here's roughly what a day looks like:

- Snorkeling a plane wreck, the famous drug-smuggler plane crash from the 1980s near Norman's Cay, now an underwater reef teeming with fish. Snorkel gear is provided.

- Pig Island, the famous swimming pigs. More on this below.

- Iguana Island, the photo at the top of this post. An entire island of wild rock iguanas (the Bahamian rock iguana is actually an endangered species, so the fact that you get to see them this close is wild). They look prehistoric and a little scary, but they're surprisingly chill. The guides bring leaves, and you can feed them right out of your hand too.

- Sea turtles and stingrays, calm, shallow stops where the kids could watch them glide right under the boat.

- A sandbar at low tide, one of those surreal Exuma moments where the tide pulls out and you can walk on a strip of sand in the middle of the ocean, finding sand dollars, sea stars, and the occasional starfish.

- Nurse sharks, yes, you get in the water with them. Nurse sharks are docile bottom-feeders, but it's still a moment when you're floating next to one.

- The Grotto, easily our highlight. This is Thunderball Grotto, made famous by the 1965 James Bond film *Thunderball* (and later used in *Never Say Never Again* and *Splash*). Guides try to time the visit for low tide so you can swim or wade in without having to duck under the rock. Inside, the cave opens up into beams of sunlight and is absolutely full of tropical fish swirling around you while you snorkel. If you're not a confident swimmer, the team gives you floaties, nobody is left out.

By the end of the day, the kids had snorkeled with fish, met iguanas, floated with nurse sharks, and made friends with everyone on the boat. It is a *full* day of wildlife and ocean, and our kids are still talking about it.

The honest part: swimming with the pigs

We've done the swimming pigs experience twice now, and I want to be straightforward about where we land on it. The pigs themselves looked taken care of, and the operators we went with treated them respectfully. But the more we've learned, the harder it is for us to wholeheartedly recommend it. These pigs didn't choose to live on this island, they were dropped there, and they're essentially dependent on tourists and locals showing up with food.

If that doesn't sit right with you, you can absolutely do this trip and skip the pig stop. Stay on the boat, take photos from the water, and let the rest of the group go ashore. The day is more than full enough without it.

A couple of things to know if you do go to Pig Island: some of the pigs are gentle and some really aren't, they're wild and very food-motivated, so just be cautious, especially with little hands. Jake actually got nipped on the side of his butt our first time there (we laugh about it now). And on our first trip I cut my foot on something sharp in the sand. So…

What we wish we'd packed

- Water shoes for everyone. Non-negotiable, especially on Pig Island where there are rocks, shells, and… well, animal mess.

- SPF rash guards / swim shirts. The Bahamian sun is no joke and you're on the water all day. Reef-safe sunscreen for everything not covered.

- A dry bag for your phone and camera between stops.

- Reusable water bottles, they keep drinks on the boat, but staying hydrated out there matters more than you think.

- GoPro or waterproof camera. The Grotto alone is worth it.

Where Exuma fits in our family adventure list

What we love about Exuma is that it doesn't feel like a resort. It feels like a place. The pace is slower, the beaches are emptier, the food is fresher, and the kids got to experience a country, not just a hotel. As a first international trip for them, it could not have been more perfect, easy flight, English-speaking, gentle introduction to a different culture, and an excursion day they'll remember forever.

We've also written about glacier zip-lining in Iceland, dog sledding in northern Utah, and ziplining in the Smoky Mountains with CLIMB Works if you want to keep building your family bucket list.

Book it

Book directly with Exuma Water Sports at exumawatersports.com and ask about the full-day adventure. Tell them The Venture Seekers sent you.

Follow along for more

Come hang out with us on Instagram @the.ventureseekers for more honest family travel recaps, the gear we actually use, and where we're going next. See you out there.

-Brittany, The Venture Seekers