Cave Cay Yacht Charter: Caves, Sandbanks & Secluded Exuma Waters

Located just south of Little Farmer's Cay and immediately north of Musha Cay, Cave Cay is a private island surrounded by some of the most spectacular water and sandbanks in the southern Exuma Cays. The roughly 220-acre cay combines white-sand beaches, rocky coastline, natural caves, elevated viewpoints, and an exceptionally sheltered interior harbour.

Unlike the inhabited islands farther north, Cave Cay remains exceptionally quiet. There is no conventional settlement to explore, so the experience revolves around the surrounding landscape: swimming from secluded beaches, exploring caves by kayak or paddleboard, snorkeling nearby reefs, and walking across immense sandbanks that emerge as the tide retreats.

Its position beside Galliot Cut, one of the passages connecting the shallow Exuma Bank with Exuma Sound, also makes Cave Cay a useful stop on longer north-to-south itineraries. From here, yachts can easily continue toward Musha Cay, Rudder Cut Cay, Lee Stocking Island, and ultimately Great Exuma.

Cave Cay sits immediately beside Galliot Cut, a relatively broad passage between Exuma Sound and the shallow bank side of the Exumas. The cut itself is generally straightforward compared with some narrower Exuma passages, but substantial tidal currents can develop, particularly when wind and tide oppose one another. Captains should plan passage using current charts, tide information, weather conditions, and local knowledge.

The entrance into Cave Cay's protected harbour requires additional care. Historical cruising information identifies a shallow ridge across the entrance, making tide particularly important for deeper-draft vessels. Once inside, the harbour becomes considerably deeper and is almost completely enclosed by land. Current access and marina operations should always be confirmed before arrival, as Bahamas Marinas notes that Cave Cay changed ownership in late 2022 and reopening information has remained subject to change.

One of the principal anchoring areas lies south of the harbour entrance, where yachts can anchor on a narrow shelf of deep sand close to a small beach. Waterway Guide reports approximately 8 to 10 feet in the anchoring area, with good holding and useful protection from the prevailing easterly winds. Because of the proximity to Galliot Cut, yachts can swing primarily with the tidal current rather than the wind.

Additional anchorages are found along Cave Cay's western shore and around the surrounding islands. The enormous sandbank extending west from the cay becomes especially dramatic around low tide, while larger yachts can remain in suitable deeper water and use tenders, kayaks, or paddleboards to explore the shallows.

Cave Cay is a private island with a protected deep-water harbour and a 2,800-foot private airstrip. Marina infrastructure has included floating docks and approximately two dozen to three dozen slips depending on the configuration reported by different sources. However, because ownership and operating arrangements have changed, visiting yachts should confirm current dockage and shore-access availability before planning to use the marina.

The island's natural attractions remain its strongest reason to visit. Caves can be explored from the surrounding shoreline, while beaches, reefs, sandbanks, and the waters around Galliot Cut provide excellent opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and tender exploration. Shore access should be treated as private unless specifically permitted.