Getting around Great Exuma: rental cars, taxis, water taxis and driving on the left

Great Exuma holds most of the island chain’s large hotels and resorts, Exuma International Airport and the capital, George Town². The airport sits near Moss Town, northwest of George Town⁸. Where you sleep decides how far you drive each day, so pick the transport after you pick the base.

How do you get around Great Exuma?

Great Exuma is 37 miles (60 km) long and joined to Little Exuma by a small bridge⁷. The two islands are connected by road, but a stay near George Town, a southern beach, the airport or a boat dock creates different daily distances³.

Option	Suits	Source
Rental car	Combining Great Exuma or Little Exuma beaches, restaurants, supplies and flexible stops	3
Taxi or transfer	A shorter, location-focused visit, plus airport and dinner transfers	3
Water taxi or organized boat	Stocking Island and the outer cays	3
Scooter or bike	Rentals are available on most islands in The Bahamas	1

On the other cays the choice changes: local transport may be taxis, a rental vehicle or a golf cart, depending on the cay⁷. Compare your hotel’s location with the places you want to reach before you book. The Great Exuma and George Town guide and the where to stay guide show where the bases sit.

Should you rent a car in Exuma?

A rental car can help travelers combining Great Exuma or Little Exuma beaches, restaurants, supplies and flexible stops³. A taxi or transfer may fit a shorter, location-focused visit³. Stay Exuma’s rental listing goes further and calls a rental car essential for beach-hopping and grocery runs⁴. That is the listing’s own view, so weigh it against where you stay and what you want to reach.

Car rentals are available on most islands in The Bahamas, along with scooter and bike rentals¹. Stay Exuma lists three local options⁴:

• A no-frills car hire service directly at Exuma International Airport, with pick-up and drop-off options.
• Thompson’s Car Rental, a local provider offering a range of vehicle sizes.
• Exuma Concierge, a concierge and car service offering airport transfers and on-island driving.

Ask each company for its rate in writing before you book. For the stay itself, the Staniel Cay vs Great Exuma comparison shows how the two bases differ.

Do you need an International Driving Permit in the Bahamas?

The sources give different instructions, so here is what each one says:

• The CDC says to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) and to carry the IDP and a US-issued driver’s license at all times⁶.
• The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism says visitors may also apply for an international driving licence¹.
• The Moorings says visitors may use their home licence for up to three months and may also apply for an international driver’s licence⁹.

The CDC adds that if you choose to drive in The Bahamas, you should learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork⁶. Ask your rental company what it needs at pick-up.

Which side of the road do you drive on in the Exumas?

The CDC says traffic flows on the left side of the road in The Bahamas⁶. The Ministry of Tourism says UK rules apply, so drive on the left and be very careful on the roundabouts¹.

The CDC also advises travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas⁶. Before you drive, check your auto insurance policy’s international coverage⁶. The travel insurance page lists other policy checks, and the Exuma safety and medical guide has the emergency numbers.

Are taxis expensive in Exuma?

Taxi fares are metered. The Ministry of Tourism says the rates vary by island but are reasonable and set by law¹. Surcharges often apply for more than two people and for extra luggage¹. Tip taxi drivers 15%, as with most servers¹.

Only accept rides from licensed operators on land and sea, including taxis and watercraft operators¹. Arrange airport and dinner transfers in advance. Do not assume a taxi or water connection will be available at the time you need it³. Book the ride back from dinner before you sit down.

How do you get to Stocking Island and the outer cays?

Stocking Island sits across the harbour from George Town and offers a handful of secluded resorts and beaches². Come on your own or a rented boat, or take a water taxi from George Town². Stocking Island and the outer cays require a water connection or an organized trip³.

Visitors commonly use a water taxi or an organized boat connection, but the departure point, timing, weather process and return arrangement vary³. Agree the return trip before you leave George Town. The Stocking Island guide covers what to do there.

Can you fly to the other Exuma cays?

Staniel Cay and Black Point have small airstrips commercially served by charter or scheduled charter airlines⁷. A number of other cays have small airstrips, both private and public⁷. The Fly to Staniel Cay page covers that route, and the Fly to Great Exuma page covers the airport on this island.

Arriving by boat

If you arrive in your own boat, Exuma International Airport is a designated Customs port of entry⁵. The clearing customs guide walks through the steps, and the 7-day Exuma Cays cruising itinerary shows where the route goes next. The getting there hub lists the other routes to the Exumas.