History, Culture And Things To Do In This Paradise Of Islands
Exuma is an archipelago within the Bahamas and one of the most popular destinations in the region, a playground for the rich and famous – the kind of place you dream of taking a holiday.
Due to the popularity of the area, which includes low taxes and cheap islands to buy (for some anyway), it is home to many famous people’s holiday retreats who actually buy islands. Those on a lower budget have to settle with some exuma villa rentals, which are more friendly for most people’s travel needs.
As Exuma is such a luxury destination it may be out of many people’s price range, but that doesn’t stop travelers looking at or researching this dream holiday destination. For this reason, here is a list of things you may not know about Exuma. Many people overlook the history and culture of some places they visit, so this post highlights a few points and maybe you will get the chance to visit someday and utilize your newfound knowledge.
History
Not much is known of the history of the islands before Columbus’ time but following his arrival, the native population was enslaved and the islands were left virtually abandoned for many years.
In the 1650’s the islands were “rediscovered” by the British and slowly inhabited, although many still remain uninhabited today due to geography, accessibility, etc. The colonial period saw conflict between the Spanish and British, which was common throughout several regions. Thee islands also experienced piracy and became a famous haunt for many pirates of the period.
The first real settlements came about due to the American Civil War as refugees fled the conflict and settled on the larger Exuma islands, bringing plantation farming with them to develop a sustainable economy.
With the abolishment of slavery, those already on the island developed new skills as fishermen and in later and more modern times, the islands grew to become the bustling tourist destination that it is known for today.
Geography
Exuma is a district of the Bahamas is made up of more than 350 islands and keys. The clear majority of these are uninhabited and many of those are, as previously mentioned, privately owned. The two largest islands incorporate most of the islands’ residence of around 4,000 people.
The two largest islands are the Great and Little Exuma; both are connected by a small bridge. The capital of the region is George Town located on Greater Exuma.
The Exumas begin 35 miles southeast of Nassau. Once called Yumey and Suma (names of Amer-Indian origin), each of the islands has a unique personality. Great Exuma and Little Exuma, for instance, are known as the laid-back islands. The Exuma Cays are renowned as a playground for the lifestyle of the rich and famous.
Due to the relatively small size of the keys and islands, most transport to them is by charter boat or local ferry. On the islands, getting around is often on foot or by bicycle. The two largest islands have taxis and you can rent a car, although walking and the use of bicycles are still the two most popular methods of getting around the islands
Exuma International Airport is serviced by regular flights from Canada and the U.S.
What You Can Do On The Islands
Most of the area’s most popular activities, of course, take place either near, on or under the water. Here’s a look at just a few aquatic things that you can do while in Exuma.
On The Water
Paragliding, kite surfing and kayaking are all fun activities available here. If you’ve never done these things before there are classes, demonstrations and free areas to learn. You can also visit areas through tour operators on the two larger Exumas or better yet, get friendly with some locals who will likely tell you about some off-the-beaten-path locations on some of the smaller cays.
Underwater
This is where you will appreciate the exclusivity and tranquillity of the Exuma region. There are countless unspoiled reefs, shipwrecks and an enormous mix of aquatic life to examine. The Exuma region has some of the best dive sites in the Bahamas.
To reach the best spots, hire a charter boat and head out with the professionals to the lesser visited cays and reefs. You can encounter sharks, dolphins and even whales if you are lucky enough to be there in the right season.
One of the most popular dive sites includes the Sapona, a former concrete ship which was later used for liquor distribution during prohibition and later as target practice by the U.S. Air Force. Today it is a safe diving and fishing site. Another popular wreck site is the train wreck located off the coast of North Eleuthera. This is the remains of a ship and the train it was transporting which was sunk in the 1860’s during a violent storm.
Festivals & Events
In addition to the 365-day adventures, the area also has several events throughout the year. The biggest is the Bahamas Independence Day Holiday. This takes place on July 10 and celebrates the day when The Bahamas became a fully independent nation in 1973, separating from the United Kingdom. The Bahamas are, however still part of The Commonwealth of Nations.
Another big event is the Rolleville Homecoming Festival & Regatta the first weekend in August.
As you can see the Exumas are a perfect holiday destination with enough history, culture and activities for you to spend more than a few weeks here.
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