Staniel Cay Yacht Club is the best-value base in the Exuma Cays for couples who want to be close to the famous sights without paying private island prices. It is a marina, a bar and restaurant and a row of brightly painted bungalows on Staniel Cay, a small island in the middle of the chain with its own airstrip and a small year-round community. From your porch you can watch nurse sharks and rays glide through the clear water below.
The nine Waterfront Bungalows are the rooms to book, each with a large covered porch or balcony over the water, a king or queen bed and air conditioning. There are no TVs, which is part of the point. Add the optional package plan and you get your own skiff with fuel, three meals a day, bicycles, kayaks and paddleboards, so you can head off to Thunderball Grotto or the swimming pigs whenever you like.
It suits couples who like a sociable, barefoot atmosphere and days on the water. It is less suited to anyone wanting luxury finishes, a spa or complete seclusion, since the marina is busy with yachts and day visitors in high season.
Highlights at a glance
- Nine colorful Waterfront Bungalows over or beside the water
- Minutes from Thunderball Grotto and the swimming pigs
- Optional package plan with a skiff, meals and gear
- Lively island bar and candlelit dinners
- Daily flights from Fort Lauderdale to the island airstrip
Why Couples Love Staniel Cay Yacht Club
The location is hard to beat. Thunderball Grotto is a short ride across the harbor and the pigs at Big Major Cay are close by, so you can reach both of Exuma's headline sights before the tour boats arrive from Great Exuma or Nassau. That alone justifies a stay.
The atmosphere is the other draw. The yacht club is a meeting point for boaters from all over the world, so the bar is lively at sunset with sailors trading stories. Yet the bungalows are spaced along the waterfront and feel private once you close the porch door. Couples like the simplicity: a hammock, the sound of water against the pilings and a colorful cottage that feels like a beach shack with better plumbing. The island itself is walkable, with a few small stores and a beach or two to explore by bicycle.
Bungalows to Book
The nine Waterfront Bungalows are the heart of the property and each has its own character.
- Buttonwood, Sea Grape, Sugar Apple and Dilly Gum have king beds, large covered porches over or beside the water and full bathrooms with rain showers. Sugar Apple and Dilly Gum add double sinks.
- Pink, Blue, Orange and Lavender are single-story bungalows with queen beds and west-facing balconies, which makes them good for sunset.
- Yellow is octagonal, with a king bed and a south-facing deck among buttonwood trees.
For a honeymoon, Sea Grape, Sugar Apple or Dilly Gum is the pick, with a king bed and a porch directly over the water. If sunset matters most, ask for one of the west-facing queen bungalows. All rooms have air conditioning, a coffeemaker, a small fridge, a safe and Wi-Fi, along with pool and sundeck access.
Food, Drink and the Package Plan
The restaurant serves a four-course candlelit dinner in the evening and lighter brunch and lunch options during the day, with weekly specials posted at the club. The island bar is the social center of Staniel Cay, serving appetizers and drinks to a mix of guests, boaters and locals. Book dinner ahead in busy periods, since the dining room fills with yacht crews.
The package plan is worth considering. It includes a 17-foot skiff with fuel, three meals per person per day except on arrival and departure days, one non-alcoholic drink per meal, gratuities, bicycles, ocean kayaks and paddleboards. It must be taken for the whole stay. Lodging-only bookings exclude the boat, meals and equipment, which suits couples who plan to book a captain for a day instead. There is no spa, so plan relaxation around the pool, the sundeck and your porch.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Thunderball Grotto is the first stop for most couples. Snorkel it at slack low tide, when the current eases and you can swim through the cave entrance into a chamber lit by shafts of sunlight. The swimming pigs at Big Major Cay are a short boat ride away, while the nurse sharks around the yacht club dock are docile and fun to watch from the porch.
With a skiff, you can explore the sandbars and small beaches nearby at your own pace. Activities can be arranged through the front desk, including pig tours, fishing charters and snorkeling trips. Farther north, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park protects some of the clearest water in the Bahamas and is worth a full day with a captain. Bicycles let you explore Staniel Cay itself, with its pastel houses, small stores and quiet beaches.
Getting There
Staniel Cay has a 3,000-foot airstrip and Makers Air runs daily scheduled flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is the easiest way in from the US. Private charters are also available. Staff meet arrivals at the airstrip and transfer you to your bungalow, a ride of a few minutes.
If you prefer to come by sea, the island is about 75 miles southeast of Nassau and the marina has full services for visiting yachts. Pack light for small-plane luggage limits and bring reef-safe sunscreen, hats and rash guards. Cash is useful for tips and small purchases on the island. Many couples combine Staniel Cay with a few nights on Great Exuma or a stay at a private island resort such as Fowl Cay, which is a short boat ride away.
Is It Worth It?
Staniel Cay Yacht Club offers good value for the Exumas. Expect lodging-only rates for a Waterfront Bungalow to start at roughly USD 400 to 500 a night for two, with the package plan adding meals and a skiff. Treat these figures as approximate and check the booking site, since rates vary by season and bungalow.
For couples who want to be in the middle of the action and spend their days on the water, it is excellent value. The trade-off is simplicity: rooms are comfortable but not luxurious, there are no TVs and the marina can be busy. Pick elsewhere if you want a spa, upscale interiors or real seclusion. Fowl Cay Resort nearby offers more privacy for much more money, while Great Exuma has larger resorts with more amenities.
Insider tips
- Book Sea Grape, Sugar Apple or Dilly Gum for a king bed and a porch over the water.
- Take the package plan if you want your own skiff; it makes exploring easy.
- Snorkel Thunderball Grotto at slack low tide for the calmest water.
- Reserve dinner ahead in high season, when yacht crews fill the dining room.
