Exploring Exuma Islands in an Inflatable Kayak

Shimmering turquoise water. Waves lapping against my paddle. Swimming pigs awaiting our arrival on a beach…

Kayaking in The Bahamas was full of wonder and awe. Seated in the front seat with my husband in the back, my eyes could barely believe the beauty around us. 

Yet that peace and serenity was balanced with a fair amount of planning and extra work. In this article, I want to share the whole truth of bringing an inflatable kayak to Exuma: why and how we brought a kayak on an airplane, where we paddled, and tips if you’re interested in doing the same.

Why did we bring a kayak to The Bahamas? 

As we started planning our winter getaway to The Bahamas’ Great Exuma island, Brett and I tried to get a feel for what we’d want to do on our 12 day trip. 

It quickly became clear Exuma isn’t a hiking or biking destination. The main draws are the island’s beaches and surrounding smaller islands and cays. We planned to rent a car for a portion of the trip and hoped to go on a fishing charter one of the days. How else could we explore beyond the shore?

Kayak rentals were an option and there appeared to be many alluring places to paddle. We also learned that Exuma is a popular sailing and cruising hub. The capital, George Town, even has a special dinghy dock to allow sailors and cruisers access to provisions. 

That led Brett to put his creative problem solving skills to use. Renting a kayak for multiple days wasn’t financially feasible. What if we just brought our own dinghy? 

How to bring an inflatable kayak on an airplane

Truthfully, our boat didn’t yet have a dinghy. But we did intend to buy one soon. The more Brett researched, the more it seemed like an inflatable kayak would be better for us while in Exuma and for future boating trips.

I was skeptical (and nervous!) at first. 

Would a kayak fit in a suitcase?

Are you allowed to fly with a kayak?

Was it even safe to have an inflatable kayak in possibly shark-infested waters?!

Research and rationalization eased my mind, and soon we’d ordered an Intex Dakota K2 two person inflatable kayak. 

As we started packing, I realized this little island getaway would require almost as much luggage as our moose hunting trip to Newfoundland!

Our checked bags and carry-ons included:

• Deflated, folded up kayak
• Two disassembled paddles
• Hand pump
• Two life jackets
• Three dry bags
• Kayak repair supplies
• Snorkel gear
• Water bottles
• Small soft cooler
• VHF radio and charger

Needless to say, it took some finessing to fit it all in and stay under the 50 pound bag limits. It helped that the rest of our items (swimsuits, shorts, sandals, etc.) were relatively small and light. 

We ended up with two large checked bags and two carry-ons. No one was the wiser once they were zipped — except of course airport security. Thankfully, there were no issues and everything arrived at Exuma International Airport unscathed.

Kayaking from George Town to Stocking Island

Our maiden voyage was from George Town to Stocking Island.

Stocking Island is a narrow, three-mile-long island located one mile across Elizabeth Harbour from George Town. The island has an official population of just 10 people. But with resorts, bars, and daily visitors from sailors and water taxis, it is actually a pretty happening place.

Launching from George Town

We inflated and assembled our vinyl vessel on the lawn of our Airbnb condo complex and then carried it over to a launch spot we scoped out the day before. It was near the government dock, just a short walk away and seemed ideal because it was a shallow area without many rocks or people around.

Once in the water, I held on to the kayak while Brett handed me our dry bags and paddles. The biggest question in my mind was how wet we would get during this process. It went surprisingly smooth as we each got in and took off toward the island. 

It took about an hour to make our way across. There was comfort in passing anchored sailboats and waving to people driving dinghies nearby. We didn’t feel too alone out in the open water. 

Exploring Stocking Island

We landed on a sandy beach near the salt monument without another soul in sight. It was such a reward to get in the warm, shallow water, stretch out our legs and backs, and gaze back at the distance we covered.

Further up the island, we could see a cluster of dinghies and boats gathered at a point and heard the faint sound of music. We hopped back in and made our way along the shore to see what was going on.

It turned out to be Da Sand Bar, a beach bar complete with sand volleyball, a pool table, and live music. We hit it just right as a couple was using the grill to offer a fresh wahoo fish fry for everyone to enjoy. 

Note: The couple, Adam and Kat, soon became friends that graciously invited us to their rental home for a dinner party one night and took us out on their boat a few days later! But I’ll save that for a separate story. 

We stuck around for a while but had to leave with enough time to get back to Great Exuma before dark. It was a little sad to leave before the planned full moon bonfire, but watching the sun slowly dip below the horizon from the water as we paddled was mesmerizing in its own right. 

Kayaking in Moriah Harbour Cay National Park

Our second excursion was to Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, comprised of nearly 23,000 acres of protected land and seascape known for its pristine beaches, sand dunes, blue holes, and crystal clear water.

Launching from The Ferry Bridge

We launched from a small boat landing next to The Ferry Bridge that connects Great Exuma and Little Exuma islands.

When we pulled into the landing, a local who appeared to be in his early 20s from a kayak rental company — I think T.T. Water Sports — was setting up clear kayaks for a family that arrived soon after us.

This could have been viewed as ill timing due to having to wait, but we got to listen in to the kid explaining where to go and things to watch out for, such as when the current would change directions in the Lazy River. 

After the family launched away and we prepared to inflate our kayak, he asked if we had any questions and offered some last minute tips. That was really thoughtful considering we weren’t customers.

Meandering around the Lazy River

It wasn’t a far paddle to get into the official park — just enough to feel like “work” and to make it rewarding to reach the mangroves and pristine white sand.

Our destination was the Lazy River, a natural attraction created by currents that change directions depending on the tide. We took our time and stopped at a sandbar to stretch our legs and allow the other group to get further ahead.

As we meandered around, I just couldn’t get over how untouched everything looked. I’ve never seen ocean water so clean and clear.

The Lazy River did not disappoint. We pulled the kayak into the sand and could float the current down the length of the beach.

The paddle back was interesting. Although we retraced some of our route in, the tide changed and the water level was significantly different. A good reminder to “know before you go” — tides can change quickly based on time and the weather.

Kayaking to Pig Island

Our third and final kayaking voyage was to see Exumas’ famous swimming pigs!

It seemed impossible at first because the main pig island is on Big Major Cay, about 50 miles north of Great Exuma.

But in our research we found a small, lesser known Pig Island just off of the north end of Great Exuma near Rolleville.

Launching from Rolleville

We found a secluded beach in Rolleville to inflate and launch the kayak. It was windier than preferred, but it was our last full day so we decided to go for it.

The first 20 minutes felt like we were paddling in place. Eventually we started making progress. 

About half way across we could see the silhouette of a four-legged creature walking on the beach, confirming there would be a curly-tailed reward once we reached it. My second wind of energy kicked in!

Brett suggested we aim further to the right and allow the wind to bring us into the shore as we got closer. It was a little nerve wracking not knowing if the pigs would swim out to us and pop the kayak… 

Hanging out with the swimming pigs

Fortunately, the pigs were distracted by a dinghy that was already on shore and we were able to ease in without much commotion. The most curious stood in the shallow water as we approached — probably hoping we came bearing food.

They lost interest fairly quickly upon learning my arms bore only hugs!

While I roamed the shore with my camera, Brett stayed in the shallows to guard the kayak. This was no easy feat. At one point, he had pigs approaching from one side and a stingray lurking on the other. Not to mention there was poop to dodge!

A few other groups came and went while we were there, but it was never crowded.

Honestly, I’m still not sure how I feel about swimming pigs as a tourist attraction. But there’s no denying the pigs we saw seemed to be living the good life with plenty of food, water, sun, shade, and companionship.  

The smile lingered on my face for the duration of our return paddle, aided greatly by the wind at our back. 

Was bringing our own kayak worth it?

Bringing our own kayak to The Bahamas required a pretty significant amount of extra packing and planning. Was it worth it? 

Yes — at least for us.

Having our own kayak allowed us to slow down and explore harder to reach areas of Exuma at our own pace. We were often away from crowds and weren’t tied down to a company’s timetable or schedule. 

Of course there was the upfront cost of buying the kayak, but it was free once we arrived. 

It also allowed us to be flexible based on the weather, which was a big factor because of the wind during our stay in late February/early March. 

Even though we thought we’d get out on the water more, it was still more than if we had rented kayaks for one or two days. Three kayaking adventures — each with their own unique experiences — was well worth the extra effort. 

Thinking of bringing your own kayak?

Here are some considerations:

• Safety: Pack patching supplies, an air pump, and a VHF radio tuned to a local channel. Research and talk to locals to learn about the areas you plan to kayak.
• Gear: Space is limited. In addition to the safety items above, we typically had a small cooler with water, a few dry bags for our phones, camera, and towels, life jackets, and snorkeling gear.
• Comfort: It didn’t take long for our backs to feel the lack of support of inflatable kayak seats. While it was fine for our use, I wouldn’t recommend it for voyages where you can’t get out and stretch for hours upon hours.
• Logistics: It helped to have accommodations with space to let the kayak dry out between use. We’d deflate it partially to fit in our rental car. Prepare for sand everywhere!

Your turn

Have questions about our experience or suggestions for kayaking in Exuma? Let us know what’s on your mind in the comments below.