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Staniel Cay Yacht Club could be painted with adjectives. Peaceful, exclusive, secluded, tranquil, romantic, lively–these are just a few of the words I would choose to describe it. There’s just a special energy here that you have to experience.

Located half way up the Exuma island chain in the Bahamas, Staniel Cay Yacht Club is surrounded by blazing blue water and a host of interesting things to do and see. It is a boating paradise and one of my favorite places in all the Bahamas.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a world class marina, and charming hotel, and a delicious restaurant with an exciting bar atmosphere. It really is the hub of the Exuma island chain.

On any given night you can find hotel guests, visiting yachtsmen, Staniel locals, celebrities and private pilots. People come together to share in the Staniel Cay experience and tell their island stories.

Here is a great video that does a good job of setting the scene for you.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

The Staniel Cay Yacht Club Atmosphere

The last time Crystal and I were there was no different. We spent the day feeding the pigs on nearby Big Majors and we met a lady at the bar who saw us there and decided to share here pig story. She promptly pulls out her phone and shows us a picture of her rear-end where a pig had bitten her.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club restaurant

On another trip, I sat around the bar watching Monday night football with a few locals and boat captains. We talked smack on each other’s teams and enjoyed the evening with some cold Kalik and Sands.

After hanging in the bar our group retired to the two story water front cottage we were staying in. We soaked up our surroundings, told stories of characters we have met and prepared for the next adventure. It was a great night.

Last, but definitely not least, the bartenders and other staff at Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a big reason why people keep coming back. They are beyond friendly and feel more like family.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club staff

Things To Do Around Staniel Cay

If you’re looking for Exuma fun, then you are Staniel Cay is the perfect place to be. There are so many cool and unique things to do and see around this area of the Exumas. You’ll be able to explore countless secluded beaches, coves and isles surrounding Staniel Cay that provide the perfect setting for your imagination to run wild.

Staniel Cay boat rentals

The best part is if you didn’t arrive by boat, you can rent one to explore the surrounding waters. I highly recommend doing this. There is a quick list of the things you can see around Staniel Cay.

  • Thunderball Grotto
  • The Famous Swimming Pigs
  • The Friendly Nurse Sharks of Compass Cay
  • The Bahamas Land and Sea Park
  • Feed the Iguanas

If you are unfamilar with the Thunderball Grotto, it’s a dome like cave you can swim into. It’s really a site to sea. Snorkeling at the Grotto amidst the vivid colors of the Bahamian sea life will give you that “Oh My God, I can’t believe I just did that” feeling.

Want to try something really fun? Climb to the top of the Grotto from the outside and jump through the skylight hole in the top ! You’ll plunge 23 feet down into the blue fish filled water below. Yes, this crazy bald guy jumped and it was awesome. I can’t wait to do it again.

The island just to the north of Staniel Cay is Big Majors, this is the beach that’s home to the famous swimming pigs. Pull your boat up and don’t forget to bring some fruit or veggies for the pigs. Here are a couple photos for Crystal and I enjoying the pigs!

Cruising the Bahamas

Cruising the Bahamas

If you would like to know about the history of the Swimming Pigs, here’s a great book that goes into depth about them.

Another must-see spot, and one of my personal favorites, is you have to go see the Nurse Sharks at Compass Cay. The sharks gather around Compass Cay Marina and they have built a special lowered dock that is submerged during high tide. The sharks come to rest on this underwater dock and you can pet them like big puppy dogs. If you’re feeling brave, you can even jump in and swim with them!

The Exuma islands are a magical place and Staniel Cay Yacht Club is the hub. We highly recommend a visit this little spot of paradise and you’ll see for yourself just how special it really is.

How To Get There

Exumas Bahamas

Guests can come to Staniel Cay in many ways. Based out of a comfortable private hanger in Ft. Lauderdale, Makers Air operates frequent and reliable flights to Staniel Cay. Staniel Cay is located approximately 75 miles southeast of Nassau and about 35 miles northwest of Great Exuma island. It is possible to find water transport at both island hubs.

On my first trip to Staniel Cay, we took the Four Cs Adventures charter from Great Exuma. Captain Pat and first mate Andrew showed us a great time on the way up to Staniel. We dove for conch shells, explored the cays and drove by the private island of Faith Hill & Tim McGraw. The entertainers have a magnificent island home. We also pulled up to Nicolas Cage’s island but it didn’t have a home on it. The island is now for sale.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club Rooms & Cottages

Staniel Cay Yacht club cottages

Staniel Cay Yacht Club gives you several adorable cottages to choose from. The one and two story suites show off their unique charm and tropical decor and continue to make the Staniel Cay experience one to remember. They also have some higher-end villas as well. Here is a link to their accommodations.

Another place I highly recommend on Staniel Cay is EMBRACE Resort.

If you’ve been to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club we would love to hear about your visit. Hit us up on Instagram at @CaribbeanCastaways and DM us about your experience or tag us in your IG Stories about Staniel Cay and the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

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Staniel Cay yacht club

I hope you found what you were looking for in regards to Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Definitely go and see it for yourself. If you’ve already been, go again! It’s always on our list. Maybe we’ll see you there at the bar. We’ll be the ones with a cold Sands beer or Goombay Smash sitting in front of us.

If you’d like to see more about the Exuma islands you can find it here.

Cheers,

RumShopRyan

P.S. – Leaving soon? These recommended links below will help you save money and book your trip:

We use all the companies listed here or on the resource page. By booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us bring you more Caribbean content so that you can save money and have a better island vacation. Crystal and I greatly appreciate any support!

About the Author: RumShopRyan

Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. To learn more, visit our About Us Page.