The Exumas in July: Warm Sea, Pig Beach, Staniel Cay and Two Days on the Water

By July the water around George Town has turned the color of a glass of mint tea held up to the sun, and boats swing on their moorings in the harbor from early morning. Afternoon clouds pile up over Great Exuma, drop a quick shower and move on, leaving the sandbars shining. The Exumas in July is a month for island-hopping, long swims and slow dinners outdoors, for travelers who want the sea at its warmest.

The cays and sandbars of the Exumas in summer · Illustration

What is the weather like in the Exumas in July?

July in the Exumas is hot, humid and bright, with a sea so warm it feels like part of the climate, and with showers that arrive in the afternoon and rarely stay.

Month	Sea at the Exumas (°F)	Daylight on the 15th (hours and minutes)
June	85.6	13 h 37 min
July	87.3	13 h 29 min
August	87.3	12 h 59 min

In Nassau, highs average about 91°F in July, with nights in the mid-70s, and rain falls on roughly twelve days. That is a useful picture of the heat across the northern Bahamas: sticky air, a sun that feels strong by mid-morning, and a pattern of short, heavy showers rather than gray days.

The softest hours arrive with the morning. The light is clear and golden, the breeze has not yet faded, and it is the time for walking a beach, paddling or taking a boat out before the sun climbs. Midday is the hour for shade, a cold drink and a swim. Clouds often build in the afternoon, and a downpour can sweep across one island while the next stays dry.

With about thirteen and a half hours of daylight, evenings stay long and warm enough to eat outside without a layer. Light cotton, a hat and sunglasses do most of the work, and a thin rain jacket or a quick-dry shirt helps when a squall passes. The sea is the real comfort of the month, warm from the first step in.

Can you swim in the Exumas in July?

Yes, the sea is warm enough in July for long swims, with no gasp on entering and no need to rush back to the towel.

The Exumas are known for shallow, clear water over pale sand, and in July that water is most inviting. Gentle conditions are common at sandbars, sheltered coves and the lee side of the cays, though more swell can arrive on open stretches facing the Atlantic. Day to day and shore to shore, things shift, so check every beach when you get there instead of guessing.

Snorkeling suits the month, since the warm water lets you stay in for a long time. Swimming with nurse sharks is permitted at Staniel Cay Marina, but you do so at your own risk, and since those sharks may bite when hands come close to their mouths, keep your hands away. Bring a rash guard against the strong sun, reef-safe sunscreen and a mask of your own if you like a good fit.

What to do in the Exumas in July

July here is about being on or in the water. The warm sea, long days and calm mornings suit boat outings, beach stops and lazy afternoons, with the Exuma Cays as the great playground. The district counts more than 365 islands and cays, so there is always another beach to pick.

Summer is also the season of conch salads, cracked conch and fresh fish grilled or fried at simple waterfront spots. A cold Bahamian beer or a rum punch goes well with a late lunch in the shade. Junkanoo, the island parade of costume, drums and cowbells, is not tied to this month, so July’s mood is quieter and more about the sea.

Staniel Cay and Pig Beach

Fewer than 118 people live year-round on Staniel Cay, a small island in the Exuma Cays, and from here many of the chain’s most famous excursions set out. Boats and small planes pass through in numbers that show why this spot also serves as an official Port of Entry with Customs and Immigration. The airstrip, the marina and a handful of low buildings make a compact, friendly place.

Pig Beach, near Staniel Cay, is a sandy beach occupied by pigs, which wade into the shallows and trot along the shore. In July the water is warm and the light is strong, so go in the morning when the sun is gentler. Keep your visit relaxed and bring a camera, since the scene of pigs beside turquoise water is the one most people come to see.

At the marina, the nurse sharks gather near the docks. You may swim with them at your own risk, and the rule is simple: keep your hands away from their mouths. Watching them from the dock is a fine alternative if you would rather stay dry.

Norman’s Cay and the plane wreck

A crashed cargo plane rests in shallow water inside the lagoon on Norman’s Cay, up in the northern Exumas. If you lack a boat of your own, a tour out of Staniel Cay or Nassau will get you there, and that makes it a fine day trip for anyone without a vessel.

The wreck is a snorkeling stop, with fish drifting around the fuselage and the wings. In July the warm water makes it pleasant to linger, and the high sun gives good visibility on bright days. Go with sunscreen, a hat for the boat ride and a waterproof bag for your phone.

George Town and Great Exuma

George Town, founded in 1793, is the capital and largest town of Exuma, set on Great Exuma, the largest island in the district. A favorite spot for photos, the Government Building draws on the architecture of Nassau’s Government House, while sailboats fill the harbor past it.

Great Exuma is 37 miles long, and Little Exuma is joined to it by a small bridge, so the two islands read as one long ribbon of beaches, settlements and quiet roads. July afternoons suit a slow lunch in town, a stop at a beach bar and a swim where the water is shallow and bright. Evenings along the harbor are the time for fish and a cold drink.

A two-day itinerary for the Exumas in July

Day 1 belongs to George Town and Great Exuma. Start early, before the heat, with a walk by the harbor and the Government Building, then a slow breakfast at a café near the water. Late morning is for a beach on the island, with a long swim and shade under a tree or an umbrella, and lunch at a casual spot serving conch salad or grilled fish.

The hottest hours are for resting, so stay near the water or indoors. As clouds build in the afternoon, a shower may pass, and if it settles in, shops, a long coffee or a seat at a covered bar make a good rain card. Come back to the harbor for sunset, when the light is long and the air is soft, and have dinner outside at a waterfront restaurant.

Day 2 heads to the cays around Staniel Cay. Leave in the morning for Pig Beach, where the sun is gentler and the water is warm, then move on to the marina to see the nurse sharks. Midday is for a swim and lunch at a simple dock-side place.

In the afternoon, take a tour to Norman’s Cay and its plane wreck, with a snorkel in the shallow lagoon. Return in the late light and eat fish by the water. When a squall blows through, take shelter at a covered spot on the dock, because July showers usually move on fast.

Is the Exumas busy in July?

July is an active month in the Exumas, with summer vacation bringing families and boaters to the cays, though the islands are so spread out that crowds rarely feel heavy.

The places that draw the most visitors are the ones everyone has heard of: Pig Beach, the nurse sharks at Staniel Cay and the plane wreck at Norman’s Cay. Mornings tend to be the more peaceful time at the best-known stops, while quieter beaches elsewhere on Great Exuma and the smaller cays stay uncrowded most of the day. Staniel Cay itself is tiny, so rooms there are few and a small place can fill.

As a habit, book rooms and any boat outing early if your dates fall in a school breaks week, and a little later if you are traveling in a quieter stretch. Boat tours to the cays are the reservation that matters most in July, since they carry limited groups and depend on the weather. Restaurant tables in George Town are usually easiest to find at an early dinner, and flexible plans help when a shower changes the day.

What to pack for the Exumas in July

Pack for sun, salt water and the odd shower, with clothes that dry fast and a bag that protects your phone on the boat.

Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard, because the July sun is strong on open water.
A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for boat rides with little shade.
Light, quick-dry clothing for the humid heat and the afternoon showers.
A snorkel mask that fits you, for the plane wreck and the shallow coves.
Water shoes for sandy shallows and dock steps.
A waterproof bag for phone and camera on small boats.

Good to know before you go

The U.S. State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, and says most crime occurs in Nassau on New Providence and in Freeport on Grand Bahama.

July falls inside the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak coming later, on September 10. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation monitors tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic, and travelers are encouraged to check the Bahamas.com hurricane page regularly for updates.

Getting around the cays depends on boats and small planes. The main point of entry is Exuma International Airport, located on Great Exuma, which offers domestic and international flights every day, and Staniel Cay Airport holds official Port of Entry status for the Exuma Cays. When entering, travelers from the United States must have a passport good for six months or longer (passport cards will not work for flights) plus proof of a return or onward trip, while a stay of up to eight months calls for no Bahamian visa.

The Exumas in July vs June and August

Moving the trip to June gives you a slightly cooler sea and a little more daylight, with the longest evenings of the three months. The water is still very warm for swimming, and the hurricane season has only just begun. It suits travelers who want long light for boat days and prefer a sea a touch less warm.

August keeps the sea at the same warm level as July but has shorter days, and Nassau’s figures show more rainy days and slightly higher highs. The season moves closer to the peak of the hurricane period, which runs from mid-August to mid-October. It suits those who want the warmest water and are comfortable with a more changeable sky.

July sits in the middle and is a good balance for most people: warm sea, long days and showers that pass. Choose June for the longest evenings, August if your dates are fixed by school, and stay with July if you want the warmest water without giving up much light.

Is July a good time to visit the Exumas?

Yes, July is a very good time for travelers who come for the water, from snorkelers and boaters to families who want to spend whole days at the beach.

People who love the sea will be happiest here, with warm water, long days and the pleasure of hopping between cays. It is also a good month for anyone who likes slow evenings outdoors and a simple menu of conch and fresh fish. Those who dislike heat and humidity, or who want a cool, dry sky for walking, should look at another time of year.

On arrival, settle in and plan the boat day first, since the outings to Staniel Cay, Pig Beach and Norman’s Cay depend on the weather and are the heart of the trip. After that, arrange the remaining days around those outings, taking morning dips and resting in the shade at noon. What is special about July in the Exumas is that the sea itself is the attraction, warm and clear and always a few steps away.

Sources

Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 10, 2026
sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 10, 2026
NOAA NCEI, GHCN-Daily station BF000078073 (Nassau Airport), normals 1991-2020 computed from the daily record (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=daily-summaries&stations=BF000078073), checked October 10, 2026
NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Hurricane and storm information (https://www.bahamas.com/hurricane-storm-information), checked October 10, 2026
Wikipedia, Staniel Cay (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staniel_Cay), checked October 10, 2026
Wikipedia, Exuma International Airport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exuma_International_Airport), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), The Exumas (https://www.bahamas.com/islands/the-exumas), checked October 10, 2026
Wikivoyage, Exuma travel guide (https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Exuma), checked October 10, 2026
Wikipedia, George Town, Exuma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Town,_Bahamas), checked October 10, 2026
Wikipedia, Geography of the Bahamas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Bahamas), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Island FAQ (https://www.bahamas.com/plan-your-trip/island-faq), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Department of Immigration, Entry requirements (https://www.immigration.gov.bs/entry-requirements/), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Department of Immigration, Before your arrival (https://www.immigration.gov.bs/entry-requirements/before-your-arrival/), checked October 10, 2026
U.S. Department of State, The Bahamas Travel Advisory, Level 2 (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 10, 2026