Safety Tips in Exuma

Safety Tips in Exuma:

Exuma is one of the safest destinations we travel to as a family. The island is warm, welcoming, and genuinely low-risk. That said, there are a handful of practical safety considerations — road, water, sun, and general awareness — that are worth knowing before you arrive. None of these is a reason to worry. All of them are reasons to be prepared.

Road Safety

Drive on the left. The Bahamas follows British-style traffic laws. If you're arriving from the US, this is the adjustment that requires the most active attention in the first day or two — particularly at intersections and roundabouts.

The Queens Highway has real potholes. Exuma's main road is well-traveled but not perfectly maintained. Potholes appear without warning, particularly after rain. Drive at a pace that lets you react, especially at night when they're invisible.

Beach access (and some restaurants), roads are unpaved. Several of the best beaches — Coco Plum, Forbes Hill, Jolly Hall — are reached by turning off the Queens Highway onto dirt tracks. We were fine in a rental car, but be very careful if it has rained and you can't see holes on the dirt roads!

Driving at night is not ideal. Road lighting is limited outside of George Town. Please arrange to be back at the villa before dark. If you're driving home from a late dinner, go slow and use high beams on the open highway sections.

Water Safety

Life jackets for kids on all boat trips — non-negotiable. Your charter operator will have life jackets on board; confirm in advance that they have the right sizes for kids. We always pack our own lifejackets for the kids. On a full day on the water with young kids, they wear their vests.

Know your beaches. Not all of Exuma's beaches are equally calm:

• Calm and protected (ideal for little ones and less confident swimmers): Cocoplum, Jolly Hall, Hoopers Bay, Forbes Hill Beach, Pretty Molly Bay, the beach in front of your villa. It really just depends on the weather that day and the tide schedule.

• More exposed (current and surf can surprise you): Tropic of Cancer Beach, some of the open Atlantic-facing stretches in Little Exuma

Check conditions before you go out. Bookmark Windfinder Exuma — it gives hourly wind and wave forecasts for Great Exuma and is the reference your charter captain will be using to make their go/no-go call. If you're planning an independent beach day at an exposed location, check it the night before.

Don't swim alone or far from the boat in unfamiliar water. The snorkeling spots on your charter stops are vetted by your captain, who knows the conditions. In open areas off-charter, stay aware of current, depth, and how far out you've drifted.

Tip: Beware of not staying close to your villa in the ocean. Boats come out of nowhere and come close to shore! Unfortunately, there have been some tragic accidents. Where bright swimwear and be on the lookout for boats!

Bring a dry bag on any day with water. Your phone, car key, and camera should be in a waterproof dry bag any time you're on a boat or taking a water taxi. Even on calm days, spray and unexpected wakes happen. One dry bag per family, accessible and not buried in the cooler.

Stingrays at Chat N Chill are safe but require awareness. They are well-accustomed to people, but don't step on one unexpectedly. The standard shuffle-step when wading in sandy, shallow water moves them out of your path before you reach them.

Sun Safety

Reef-safe sunscreen is required in Bahamian waters. This is both a legal requirement and the right call. Oxybenzone and octinoxate-based sunscreens are prohibited. Bring reef-safe mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) — it works better in tropical conditions anyway, and your charter captain will thank you.

Peak sun hours are 10 am–3 pm. On a boat day, you are in direct sun for 6–8 hours with no shade except what your boat provides. UPF-rated rash guards, a hat with neck coverage, and polarized sunglasses are not optional for kids. Adults, same.

Reapply constantly on boat days. Water reflection doubles UV exposure. Apply before you board, reapply every 90 minutes, and reapply whenever anyone gets out of the water. Pack more than you think!

Stay hydrated. Heat + salt air + sun + physical activity adds up fast. Bring a full water bottle per person on every boat day and every beach excursion. Dehydration sneaks up on kids before they feel thirsty.

Bug Protection

No-see-ums are real. On calm, wind-free evenings — the kind that look beautiful and feel perfectly still — tiny biting insects emerge island-wide. They're most active at dusk and dawn, especially after rain or on days with no breeze.

Bring bug spray and apply it before any evening outdoor activity, especially if there is no wind! This is particularly important for sunset dinners, outdoor restaurant seating, and villa evenings on calm nights. Once the wind picks up, they disappear entirely — wind is your friend in Exuma when it comes to bugs!

Tip: Never make a restaurant reservation outside when it's a calm day! The invisible bugs will eat you alive! All my favorite bug repellents are linked here.

General Tourist Safety

Exuma is a low-crime destination. Serious crime targeting tourists is rare. The island community is tight-knit, and most locals are genuinely warm toward visitors. Standard awareness applies: don't leave valuables visible in a parked car, secure your villa when you leave, and be sensible in unfamiliar areas. Exuma is a very laid-back island and nothing fancy! Leave the expensive jewelry and purses at home! This isn't St Barths!

George Town is the busiest area — the market, the waterfront, and the docks are where most activity concentrates. It's relaxed and safe; just keep an eye on kids in the parking areas where traffic moves unpredictably.

Villa security: Lock your doors. Even in a low-risk environment.

Medical Resources on the Island

Emergency: call 919 (police, ambulance, fire) If calling from a villa, provide the full address.

Island Medical Clinic — (242) 336-2220 | Hoopers Bay Handles routine and non-urgent medical care.

Dr. Nicholas Fox — (242) 325-1649 Private doctor from Nassau; in-office Thursdays. The clinic is staffed by a nurse Monday through Friday.

Smitty's Drug Store — (242) 336-2144 The island's pharmacy; located in the Georgetown area.

The island's medical infrastructure cannot handle trauma, surgery, or intensive care situations. This is exactly why we carry Global Rescue (medical evacuation membership) on every Exuma trip. See our Pre-Arrival guide for the full coverage setup.

© 2026 The Travel Squad Family, LLC. All rights reserved.