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2023 Complete Staniel Cay Guide | Exuma Cays, Bahamas

Welcome to the Complete Staniel Cay Guide 2023

We have put together a complete Staniel Cay Guide in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas, to help you plan your trip to paradise.

75 miles southeast of Nassau lies the magical island of Staniel Cay in the Exuma Cays chain. The Exuma Cays has 365 islands, and Staniel Cay is in the center of a chain of small islands.

 

How To Get To Staniel Cay

There are two ways onto Staniel Cay, air or sea. We went the air route and flew from Nassau with Flamingo Air. They offer two flights a day to and from Nassau 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The same plane turns around from Staniel Cay, heading back to Nassau at 8:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. Our round-trip tickets were around $250.

Makers Air offers flights from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Tickets are approximately $650 round-trip.

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Staniel Cay can be reached by sea using the mail boat. I spoke with a few locals who said this takes around 12 hours, as the boat makes several stops at neighboring islands.  Departs Nassau on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and returns on Saturdays at 9 a.m.

Please note if you choose this option, you may be sharing your seat with LIVESTOCK! Not many choose this route due to the time, and a flight is only $50 more.


Best Places To Stay on Staniel Cay

Affordable Luxury 

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Embrace Resort is the newest accommodation option on the island and the place we called home for a week on Staniel Cay. Embrace Resort offers affordable luxury villas to fit everyone’s budget. Prices range from $219 per night for the Mayaguana one-bedroom villa to $589 per night Andros 3 bedroom/2 bath villa with a complete kitchen.

We stayed in the Ragged Island honeymoon villa, complete with a jacuzzi. Embrace Resort’s grand opening is scheduled for 2017 and will consist of 7 villas, a pool, a meeting room, a restaurant, a spa, and a fitness center. Read TripAdvisor reviews here.

Mid-range

Staniel Cay Yacht Club offers waterfront bungalows, ranging from $185-$460, depending on the season and bungalow chosen. NOTE: Travel during the offseason is, on average, $100 cheaper a night than during the high season. Staniel Cay Yacht Club also offers packages that include three meals a day, bikes, snorkel gear, and kayaks.

High-End Luxury

Staniel Cay rents three villas available as vacation rentals.  Their most expensive villa “Dolce Vita” is a whopping 9,000 square feet, five bedroom suites, oceanfront, pool, full-time caregiver, sleeps 12, all the bells and whistles you could buy for $19,000 a week or $ 3,500-night minimum of 5 nights.

The “Farniente” villa has 6,000 square feet of decking surrounding a pool, hot tub, outdoor living rooms, sun decks, and beach access. Inside the  5,000 square feet, the villa has four bedroom suites, sleeps 8, and is available for $14,900 a week or $2,800 night minimum of 5 nights.

The “Lazy Bay” villa is located in the center of the island, but alongside an ocean-access creek and only a short walk away from the ocean beaches. The Lazy Bay is 1,200 square feet, with one bedroom, two baths, and a wraparound deck for $2,500 a week or $400 night minimum of 5 nights.

 

How Big Is Staniel Cay and How To Get Around?

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Staniel Cay is small…very small! Staniel Cay is less than a mile square, and there are only 80 full-time residents. You could easily get around on foot, but most locals & tourists bum around in golf carts. You can rent a golf cart by the day $50 or by the week $320.

Many of the roads are gravel and very rocky, so I don’t think a bike would be very comfortable. I am glad we had a golf cart, as it let us visit all the beaches easily. For the best rates on the island, contact 3N’s and speak with Nikki.

 

Best Time To Visit Staniel Cay

Is there ever a bad time to visit the Bahamas? I would suggest visiting Staniel Cay, not during high season. The seasons are:

  • Off Season: Sept 10-Nov 20
  • High Season: Dec 18-Jan 5, March 1-August 1
  • Season: Jan 6-Feb 11, Feb 16-Feb 29, August 2- Sept 9
  • Mid Season: Nov 20-Dec 18, Feb 12-15

Visiting during the off-season will yield lower rates on accommodation, fewer tourists, and most likely a private beach all to yourself.

 

Staniel Cay Weather

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The weather in Staniel Cay is near perfect year-round, with an average high of 77-86 degrees Fahrenheit. The coolest month is February, with average lows of 65 and average highs of 77, and the hottest month is July-September, with average highs of being 86.

The wettest month is October, with an average of 12 rainfall days. December- July has an average of 6 rainfall days a year. Water temperatures are great year-round at 70-80 degrees.

We visited in mid-November, and we had one full day of rain, and the other six days, it rained for small periods throughout the day.


Best Beaches On Staniel Cay

There are four main beaches on Staniel Cay that can all be reached on foot. For a few of them, you will have to park the golf cart to get to them.

Town Beach

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The most accessible beach to access in Staniel Cay is Town Beach. If you are staying at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, you will be either right on Town Beach or right next to it.

Town Beach is between Staniel Cay Yacht Club and Taste & Sea Restaurant, right on Kings Cross Highway. This beach is a great place to come and watch the sunset before heading out to dinner.

Pirate Trap Beach 

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Our personal favorite beach on Staniel Cay is Pirate Beach. Pirate Beach is accessible only on foot. You’ll have to park your golf cart up at the top and walk down.

Bring sandals, as you must walk on rocks/coral to access this beach. Also, be prepared for the rocks to be covered depending on the tide. We basically had the beach to ourselves every day on our trip to Stanley Cay.

Ho Tai Cay Beach

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Hoi Tai Cay beach was the most difficult for us to locate due to the road being washed out. When we visited Staniel Cay, the airport was under construction, and rains had washed out the road to Hoi Tai Cay beach, so we had to park our golf cart next to the airstrip and walk.

Hoi Tai Cay Beach doesn’t have a ton of dry sand, but like all the other beaches on Staniel Cay, it’s gorgeous. Definitely worth finding when spending a week on Staniel Cay.

South Beach

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Looking for a sandy beach on Staniel Cay, head to South Beach. We never saw anyone else here. If you are at Hoi Tai Caty Beach, follow the trail a little further, and you will end up at South Beach.

Ocean Beach

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Ocean Beach isn’t a beach for swimming due to the number of rocks and the size of the waves. There were a few signs to Ocean Beach, but the road was washed out due to rain, so we had to abandon the golf cart and walk. I’d suggest coming here for sunrise in the mornings.


Restaurants On Staniel Cay

When it comes to dining in Staniel Cay, there aren’t many options. There are only three restaurants on Staniel Cay, and all are within 3 minutes from each other.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

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The most popular restaurant on Staniel Cay has to be the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week.  Breakfast is from 8 am-10 am, with breakfast plates ranging from $12-14. The lunch menu is offered at noon-9p.m. and offers salads, sandwiches, and catch of the day.

Adam loved their conch po’boy sandwich (pictured above) for $14 served with fries, and I typically went with the hamburger with fries for $12. Dinner is served Bahamian style, reservations are required, and your order must be placed before 3:30 pm that day. Depending on the season, they will have 1-2 dinner seatings. When I visited in November, they had one at 7 pm.

Read TripAdvisor Reviews Here

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Dinner entrees range from $23-42, and all include soup, salad, and dessert. Beverages are $3 soda, $4 beer, $10 daiquiri. NOTE: 7.5% VAT and 15% Gratuity is added to all bills at Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

Taste & Sea Restaurant

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One cook, one line, good food takes time… that’s the slogan at Taste & Sea. This is a true Bahamas joint. We ate here every day for lunch. All the local construction workers came in for lunch, and they were a loud, hungry group!

If you plan on eating at Taste & Sea, you need to make sure to get there early in the day, as they tend to run out of food often. They are open for lunch Monday-Friday 11:30 am-1:30 pm, and Dinner Tuesday-Sunday.

We typically got their cheeseburger or chicken burger with fries, and all were good. Prices are reasonable, and there are no additional taxes and fees like at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

Read TripAdvisor Reviews Here

Big Dogs Bar

Big Dogs is right across the street from Taste & Sea. We never eat here. We did, however, stop in for one beer. Note I said one beer. Well, one beer turned into two, and two beers turned into five. We had a blast chatting with the owner and the other bar patrons.

There is no official menu at Big Dogs, we stopped in on a Friday night, and they were serving traditional Bahamian “souce.” A local favorite, Souce, is a soup/step made with chicken, onion, pepper, carrots, potatoes, allspice, and some other secret tasty spices.


Grocery Stores On Staniel Cay

I wouldn’t call these grocery stores per se. They are more like mom and pop mini-stores. There are three mini-stores on the island: Pink Pearls, General Isles, and The Blue Store. Make sure to do all your shopping during the week and always before 5:30 pm as we found hardly anything was open on Sundays or during the evenings.

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Pink Pearl was our go-to lady, if she wasn’t open, she would open for us. Her prices were the best we saw on the island. Super friendly lady, and happy to see us come daily. A can of Coke is $1, a gallon of water $2.98, a Snickers bar is $1.50, and a can of local beer is $4.


Day Trips from Staniel Cay

Get out and explore the nearby gorgeous islands. Either rent a boat and explore on your own or have a local guide/expert bring you to the best of the best!

Swimming With The Pigs

The highlight of our stay and one of the main reasons we came to Staniel Cay was to swim with the pigs on the neighboring island.

A short boat ride landed us on to a beach where the only inhabitants walked on four legs and had funny noses. Our arrival woke up the pigs from their afternoon naps in the sand.


A group of them came to greet us, sticking their snouts over the sides of the boat. With GoPros in hand, we hit the water. The big male of the group was the most adventurous, swimming out past where his short legs would keep his head above the water.

We had fun splashing and running around the crystal-clear water with the pigs. It’s not every day that you get to play with pigs in the Bahamas!

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Make sure to bring some snacks, as these are some hungry pigs. WARNING: the pigs aren’t the biggest fans of selfies…One of the pigs snipped at me, so be careful.

Make the pigs work for the food. We brought the food out in the ocean, getting them to come out and swim with us. We were fortunate to have Pig Island to ourselves, just us and some fat lazy pigs!

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Thunderball Grotto

Just off of Staniel Cay lies Thunderball Grotto, an underwater cave system. The grotto got its name back in 1965 from the James Bond movie “Thunderball” which was shot here. Several movies since have been shot here.

Hire a boat to bring you out to Thunderball Grotto at low tide, as this is the only time snorkelers can get into the cave. Entering at high tide is possible with diving equipment. Thunderball Grottos is a popular spot for underwater cave diving, but diving is not required to have an amazing time. Expect to see exotic marine life, bright coral reefs, yellowtail snappers, angelfish, and much much more.

Our hotel, Embrace Resort, arranged a boat with a local guide, Cliff to take us.  Cliff’s current rates per person as of October 2015 are: $35 Pig Island only, and $75 Compass Cay swim with sharks, Thunderball Grotto, Iguanas on the beach, and swim with the pigs on Pig Island. Just ask for Cliff. Everyone on Staniel Cay will know him.

Staniel Cay Plane Wreck

It is said to be one of the most accessible plane wrecks in the world and sits just off the shore of Staniel Cay. In just 6 feet of water lies the remains of a small plane. Just a short boat ride from the Staniel Cay Yacht Club pier or even closer to the Happy People Marina and Government docks.


Are There ATMs Or Banks On Staniel Cay?

There are no ATMs or even a bank on Staniel Cay. Make sure to bring more than enough spending cash to the island. Credit cards are accepted, but expect to pay a 5% fee.

If you’re coming from the United States, the USD is used widely. As the exchange rate is fixed $1 is 1 Bahamas dollar, and often, your change will be half Bahamas currency and half USD.


Average Daily Spending On Staniel Cay

Staniel Cay is not a budget destination. Don’t leave home without your wallet. Expect to pay: $30-34 for breakfast for 2 with coffee at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, $25 for lunch at Taste & Sea for two people with a soda, and  $60-120 for two people to have a formal dinner and a drink at Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

If you stay at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, which offers a meal package, this can be savings depending on the person. I’d suggest bringing $150 a day for two people, as you can always use your credit card at Staniel Yacht Club, but there is a service charge for doing so.

We spent an amazing week exploring Staniel Cay and can see why people come back year after year. By the end of our week on Staniel Cay, the locals recognized and already knew our names. I could really get used to island life. Have you been to Staniel Cay? Share some of your tips below so I can add them to the complete Staniel Cay guide. 


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Ashley

Monday 27th of May 2019

Thank you so much for this guide! My husband and I are traveling to Staniel Cay in 10 days. We are staying at the yacht club, I purchased the all-inclusive package because I thought it was the most convenient since the price includes a boat too.

Adam

Tuesday 25th of June 2019

Have an awesome trip to Staniel Cay! Don't miss the pigs and the Thunderbolt Grotto!

Jason L. Phillips

Friday 3rd of May 2019

Where are you from in WI? My wife is a cheesehead (Milton) and we're considering a trip to SC in Aug with our two daughters 11 & 8. I've been to several Bahamian islands on fishing trips but this would be their first intro to the Bahamas, so I want them to love it. Best, Jason Mt. Pleasant, SC

Adam

Wednesday 22nd of May 2019

We are from Milwaukee! I think the Exumas are a great spot and Staniel Cay has a lot that we feel would interest your daughters like the swimming pigs and Thunderbolt Grotto and lots of nice beaches. One thing to note the island is not huge and there are only a handful of restaurants. It makes a great long weekend to one week trip, but longer than that the kids might get a little stir crazy. Hope you have a great trip!

sara

Sunday 28th of October 2018

We visited SCYC in Nov 2016 and are headed back next week (Nov 2018). We hunted lion fish (invasive species) with spears last time. If we want to catch any other fish, do we need a license? Does SCYC clean them for you?

If you like outdoor activities and clear ocean, you will not be bored on this island. Our villa came with a boat rental and we set out each day with a picnic lunch from SCYC and visited the nurse sharks, pigs, and iguanas. Tons of beautiful snorkeling. It rained only 1 day and only in the afternoon.

Thunderball grotto was amazing, I should have done it twice at different times of day.

Skinny dipping in the transom light of Johnny Depp's boat...its a magical place. There are no "kid specific" activities here. If they can snorkel, they will love it.

I am brining my own gluten free snacks this time and a bottle of gin in my water bottle - you can bring up to a quart through customs.

Adam

Monday 29th of October 2018

Agreed, the snorkeling is great. The only concern for children or anyone really is swimming between the islands, the current can be quiet strong as the tides come in and out, specifically near Pirate Trap Beach. Have a great trip!

Jim

Tuesday 2nd of October 2018

We are there now (10/2), note that the Yacht Club and it's excursions and rooms are shut down for the month of October for annual maintenance.

Hannah Lukaszewicz

Tuesday 2nd of October 2018

Oh no, hope there are other dinner options open for you during the month. Have an amazing time in paradise.

Paul

Saturday 21st of July 2018

Really useful guide - thank you.

Hi. We are flying with Flamingo Air to Staniel Cay in August. I have a travel itinerary with a confirmation number but no actual ticket. Their website says you need an E-ticket. Please could you tell me what you needed and how you got that.

Also how do you get from the airport in stained cay to your hotel? We are staying at Lazy Bay Cottage.

Thanks

Paul

Adam

Saturday 21st of July 2018

We too flew Flamingo Air and don't remember there being any issue with the email confirmation we showed them. You might want to call them and confirm you have everything you need for your flight.

When you land on Staniel Cay you can arrange for your hotel to send a golf cart to come to pick you up. Otherwise, you'll be right at 3 n's which rents golf carts, which we think you'll highly want when staying on Staniel Cay. It's much bigger than you think, you won't want to walk everywhere. Safe travels to Staniel Cay.