Although we have a soft spot in our hearts for all of  the island of the Bahamas, Staniel Cay is our favorite Out Island vacation spot! With close proximity to the US, it is very easy to get to. We fly from Fort Lauderdale on the resorts airline called  Watermakers Air over to the island. Because the airline is private, and has it's own hangar, it is a very easy trip over to Staniel Cay. The flight is direct, with a quick stop on  Andros Island to clear customs.

Flying over the Exumas is an incredible experience! There are ever changing hues of deep blues and turquoise, and the shallow shifting sands offer many different textures and designs below the clear ocean water. Get the camera out for the flight for sure! Along the way, you will see many of the deserted, white sand beaches that dot the island coastlines. The blues really start to come alive as you approach Andros Island, and then magnify as you fly down the Exuma Cay coastline. .

When you arrive over the island, you will descend down the runway on Staniel Cay.  When you land, and deboard your plane, you might be surprised (and pleasantly surprised I am sure) to find there are no buildings except a hangar, a 'soon-to-be open' Customs office, and a small, open air hut in which you can sit to wait for your flight. Unlike most airports, you will find that there are no lines, no luggage belts, no crowds. You will be picked up most likely by someone in a golf cart, as that is the most widely used means of transportation on the island. The one thing that I experience everytime I go there is just how quiet it is compared to the stateside hustle and bustle of every day living. It takes me about 15 minutes to just completely de-stress, and fall into my vacation mode.

The island of Staniel Cay does offer  rental houses (chek out Serenity, General Isles, Crowes Nest, Chamberlain Cottage just to name a few), but  our favorite place to stay on the island is the Staniel Cay Yacht Club and Marina. This charming little resort provides cottages for their guests , and each has it's own true Bahamian style . The Key Lime, Lavender, Blue, Coral, Pink, and Yellow cottages offer extraordinary sea views, and opportunities to watch for the green flash after the amzing sunsets drift below the horizon. The marina is a busy place for large motor yachts and sailboats, and offers the social interaction only island marinas can offer! On a daily basis, the local fisherman will fillet their catch, and clean conch by the marina. Be sure to be around when they come in so you can see all the nurse sharks and rays feeding. There are many that frequent the docks, waiting for scraps from the days catch. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club has a restaurant with mouthwatering, fresh dishes including lobster and fresh fish. You will never go hungry here! The restaurantt is open to guest and visitors alike, and happy hour is always a great way to meet and make new friends from the area. Their friendly and courteous staff will help make your vacation stay a memorable one. .

The island beaches are varied. Pirate Trap Beach offers tranquil waters generally with a small white sandy beach. At low tide, you can walk across the shallows to a very small island, and hunt for sea shells. The end of the beach opens up to cliffs and incredible ocean views if you want to climb up the rocks and hill. On a few occassions, we have had the opportunity to watch the fronts come in from the ocean, and this is a good place to watch wave action roll in between the island and the nearby small cays.

Club Thunderball,  located just a short distance from the Yacht Club gives you a great view of the Yacht Club area, and the Thunderball Cave. Thunderball Cave was featured in the James Bond movie Thunderball, and is well known for it's interesting snorkel through an opening into the island leading to a cave with a natural opening to the sky. It is abundant with healthy corals and fish, and a must see on your trip to Staniel Cay. It is better if you do the snorkel at low tide, which makes it much easier to get inside the cave and be sure to be careful of the currents that round the island during incoming and outgoing tides. This is an easy snorkel, and perfect for a novice as well as the advanced diver.

The Ocean Ridge offers some of the most breathtaking ocean vistas in the Exuma Cays.My book features some of my favorite photographs from the area in panaramic view.  It is located on the northern side of the island, and is dotted by privately owned homes and now has lots for sale. There are two long crescent shaped white sandy beaches. Most days, you will be the only one on the beach but occassionally, you may meet a local or perhaps a renter of one of the houses along the ridge. . Be sure to take care when bringing your golf cart up on the ridge as the roads consist mainly of dirt and gravel. Please respect the private property signs, and leave nothing on the beaches. Check out the Ocean Blue Series page  for spectaular scenic photos that are available for purchase or go to my Exuma Cay Book page .

A visit to the Exumas just wouldn't be complete without a visit to Pig Beach to see the Swimming Pigs of Big Major.These friendly pigs will actually swim out to your boat for handouts of food as soon as they hear your boat engine approaching. There are several on the island, and each time we visit, we always seem to find new piglets. As soon as they are done visiting with you, they will retreat back to the beach for a long nap under a tree for shade, restng and digesting until the next boat filled with food comes along!  It is a site you will never forget! Bring the video camera for this one! Take care if you do get out of your boat and onto the beach, as they could possibly accidentally take a taste out of you too! It has been known to happen, but for the most part, they are just very docile. We have many photos available for sale-just email us and we will send you a link to a page for viewing our photos. .

Also nearby, you can take a picnic, hunt for seashells, or walk along your own deserted beach. Visit the islands of Twin Cays at low tide, and you can walk between both islands. If Twin Cay or Sandy Cay is busy with someone already on the beach-don't worry! There are plenty of deserted beaches in the area and we guarantee you will find one where you will be alone. .

Sandy Cay can be seen from the Staniel Cay Yacht Club and is only a short boat ride away. The sand bar seems to stretch on forever, and because it is usually deserted, the silence is deafening! You will have great views of Sampson Cay from here.   In summary, Staniel Cay is the perfect island getaway vacation for anyone who just wants to get away from it all. With so much to do, or nothing to do-you choose!   We hope that when you do go, you check back to our site to order our photographs of the places you visited, or our table book highlighting the areas attractions. In addition, if you pick out 12 photographs from this site, I will be happy to make a calandar for you. Please email me at bahamaprints@comcast.net for pricing..

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