South Exuma Cays: Little Exuma, Torch Cay (Hog Cay) and the southern end of the chain

The Exuma district consists of over 365 islands and cays⁴. This page covers its southern end, around Little Exuma and the island now called Torch Cay. The places guide lists the stops further north along the chain.

Where are the south Exuma cays?

Great Exuma is connected to another island, Little Exuma, by a small bridge⁴. Torch Cay is a privately owned island east of Little Exuma, at the southern end of the Exuma island chain¹.

Place	Position	Note
Torch Cay	23.397417°N, 75.497083°W1	Formerly Hog Cay
Hog Cay (2023 Act)	One half mile east of the Little Exuma mainland2	Renamed Torch Cay
Torch Cay from George Town	About 19 miles east-southeast3	Developer’s figure
Torch Cay from New Providence	About 165 miles southeast3	Developer’s figure

All of this is south of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. The park’s southern boundary corners are at 24°14′25″N and 24°18′37″N⁵, and Torch Cay is at 23.397417°N¹. The park vs wider Exumas guide explains how to read that comparison.

What is Torch Cay, formerly Hog Cay?

The island was originally known locally as God Rest the Dead Cay, and later as Blue Island and Hog Cay during its use as a British farming settlement in the early 18th century¹. Pirate activity affected it until British control was re-established in 1718¹.

The Hog Cay (Change of Name) Act, 2023 renames the island as Torch Cay². The change follows an agreement between the approved developers and the Government of The Bahamas².

Wikipedia lists these features of the island¹:

• A private airstrip, Torch Cay Airport, that allows international arrivals and customs clearance for private aircraft.
• Approximately 3 kilometers of historic limestone stone walls¹.
• Waters that support green sea turtles, southern stingrays, spiny lobster, conch, dolphins and nurse sharks.

What is planned for Torch Cay?

In 2022, the owners of Torch Cay entered into a development agreement for a mixed-use resort project that includes a marina¹. The developer, PMR Bahamas, describes the proposed development as a mixed-use luxury resort and residential development with an 18-hole golf course, an 81-slip marina and channel, and 224 residential lots³. PMR Bahamas has filed the Environmental Impact Assessment for Torch Cay (Hog Cay), and the public meeting was held on 24 August 2022³.

What else is at the southern end of the Exumas?

Some islands, including Great Exuma and Little Exuma, have permanent residents and resorts⁴. Some details from Wikipedia’s Exuma page⁴:

• The Tropic of Cancer runs across Pelican Beach on Little Exuma, which gives it the name Tropic of Cancer Beach. See the Tropic of Cancer Beach guide.
• George Town, on Great Exuma, is the capital and largest town of the district. See Great Exuma and George Town.
• Exuma International Airport serves Great Exuma and George Town directly from Nassau.
• Bonefish can be found in flats covered by as little as one foot of water.
• Two main telecom providers, Aliv and BTC Bahamas, cover most of the Exuma cays.
• Annual events include the Bahamian Music and Heritage Festival, regattas and Junkanoo.

For boats, the George Town and Elizabeth Harbour guide covers the main southern anchorage.