Nassau to the Exumas by boat: distance, time by boat type and what it costs

Passage time from Nassau depends on the boat you run and the cay you aim for. The sources below list their figures by boat type, so each number here comes with its type and its author. Add your own margin for weather and cuts. This page is part of the boating guide.

How long does it take to get from Nassau to the Exumas by boat?

Each figure below is tied to the itinerary that gives it.

Leg	Distance	Time	Boat type and source
Nassau base to Highbourne Cay	30 nautical miles	2 hours	Power itinerary, The Moorings1
Nassau to Highbourne Cay	30 nautical miles	8 hours	Sailing itinerary, 12knots2
Warderick Wells to Nassau base	52 nautical miles	3 hours 45 minutes	Power itinerary, The Moorings1

The sailing itinerary fills a whole day with the same 30 nautical miles that the power itinerary covers in 2 hours^1,2. Pick the row that matches your boat, and add margin on top.

How far is Exuma from Nassau by boat?

The Moorings eGuide calls Palm Cay Marina in Nassau the gateway to Exuma, only 28 miles away⁶. The Moorings charter page describes a 40-mile sail from Nassau to reach the main Exuma Cays⁷. They are operator descriptions, not chart distances. The legs in the table above give a named start and finish¹.

Highbourne Cay is usually the first or last stop in the Exumas on the crossing from New Providence, according to the eGuide⁶. The same guide says its marina and restaurant are high end and that it offers water, fuel and ice for vessels⁶. Once you are past Highbourne Cay, the choice between the Bank and the Sound shapes the rest of the route. Read Exuma Bank vs Exuma Sound and the cuts and tides guide before you plan the second day. For a full week of legs with miles and hours, see the 7-day Exumas cruising itinerary.

What is the best way to get from Nassau to the Exumas?

Bahamas.com says that for island hopping your best option is the local ferry companies or chartering a private boat¹⁰. Exuma International Airport serves Great Exuma and George Town directly from Nassau, and Staniel Cay and Black Point have small airstrips served by charter or scheduled charter airlines⁸. If you would rather see the cays without running a boat, the Nassau day trip guide and the mailboat and ferry guide cover the other ways across.

Where do you start and clear in around Nassau?

In and around Nassau The Moorings recommends anchoring in Nassau Harbour and at Green Cay⁶. Bahamas Customs lists Nassau Yacht Haven, Lyford Cay Marina and Harbour Central Marina among the Nassau ports of entry⁹. The ports of entry guide and the clearing customs guide cover the process. Coming from Florida? See Florida to the Exumas by boat.

What does a Nassau to Exumas trip cost?

For a charter, a 5 day power itinerary runs from a Nassau base out to Highbourne Cay and back from Warderick Wells to Nassau¹. For how charters work in the Exumas and who offers them, see the Exumas yacht charter guide.

Charter vessels pay the park mooring or anchorage fee plus an additional BSD 14.00 per person per day³. A 10% Bahamas VAT is added at checkout on all marine and park fees³. Rates by boat length are on the park fees and mooring fees page.

On your own boat, Customs prices a cruising permit by boat length and term. A 30-day permit for a pleasure vessel not exceeding 30 feet is $150⁵. The cruising permit cost guide has the fees by length and term.

What happens when you reach the park?

Exuma Park does not take reservations, and pre-payment does not guarantee a mooring³. Pick up a ball first, then pay through the Trust’s ParkPay page or app³. For the process, see how to get a mooring in Exuma Park.

Warderick Wells has three anchorages where cruising boats spend the night¹¹. Services in the park are extremely limited, and there are no public restrooms, trash cans or wi-fi service, so bring supplies¹¹. Call “Exuma Park” on VHF channel 09 to reach the park office⁴. It sits on a remote small island, so contacting it can sometimes be challenging⁴. The park rules page covers anchoring, speed and trash.

These pages are not a substitute for charts, forecasts and local knowledge.