Great Exuma: ATV Tour to Beaches, Caves & Historic Sites

Summary

ATV adventure in Exuma with beaches caves local stories

You’ll ride an ATV across Great Exuma’s sandy trails with a local guide, stopping at historic sites like Pompey Memorial and old hurricane shelters. Taste fresh crops at PJ’s farm, wander through pirate caves, watch baby sharks on shallow flats, then end searching for sand dollars on Cocoplum Beach. Expect laughter, stories, and unexpected moments that stick with you long after.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Exuma ATV tour highlights

• Ride dirt road to PJs farm
• See historic 1848 building
• Visit Pompey Memorial and jail ruins
• Ride dirt trail to hidden beach
• Explore pirate cave and Rolleville
• Observe marine life at Shallow Flat
• Off-road to Cocoplum beach and sand banks

Top questions

How long is the Great Exuma ATV tour?

The guided ATV tour lasts about 3 hours from start to finish.

Is previous ATV experience required?

No experience needed—ATVs are easy to operate even for beginners.

What sites do you visit during the tour?

You’ll visit PJ's farm, historic hurricane shelter, Pompey Memorial & Steventon Jail ruins, a natural cave, Rolleville community, shallow flats with marine life, and Cocoplum Beach.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes—children can join as passengers if booked correctly (see booking details).

Is bottled water provided during the tour?

Yes—bottled water is included for all participants.

Can you swim during the tour stops?

You can wade or explore beaches but swimming time isn’t guaranteed at every stop.

Does this day trip include pickup from hotels?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; public transportation options are available nearby.

What’s included

Your day includes fueled ATVs ready to go, bottled water along the route to keep cool under that Bahamian sun, plus guidance from a friendly local who knows every story behind each stop—from PJ’s farm tastings to caves once used by pirates—all wrapped up in three hours of real-deal island exploring.

What’s the experience like?

“Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it quick!” That’s what our guide, Marcus, said as he handed me the keys to my ATV in Great Exuma. I laughed nervously — I’d never driven one before, but honestly, after a few minutes bouncing down that first sandy trail, it just felt like freedom. The air smelled like salt and something green (maybe from PJ’s farm?), and there was this low hum of crickets somewhere off in the brush. We stopped at the old hurricane shelter — built back in 1848 — and Marcus told us how people still use it when storms roll in. It’s weirdly comforting to touch a wall that’s seen so much.

I didn’t expect to get so into the story of Pompey at the memorial in Steventon. Marcus explained how Pompey led a revolt here in 1830 — he wouldn’t let his people be shipped off to another island. I could see why that mattered so much; you feel the weight of history just standing there by those jail ruins. Then we rumbled off again, dust flying behind us, and suddenly we were at this hidden beach where the water turned every shade of blue I’ve ever seen (and a few I haven’t). Someone found a fossil in the rocks — I just sat for a second with my toes in the sand.

The cave stop was wild. It’s not huge or anything but thinking about pirates hiding out there made me grin. There’s graffiti scratched into the stone from who-knows-when, and it echoed when Marcus told us about the “lone caveman” who supposedly lived there for years. After that we rolled through Rolleville — biggest community on Exuma apparently — and waved at some kids playing by the road. The sun was sharp but not mean; you know that feeling when everything is bright but you’re not burning yet?

The last bit was probably my favorite: shallow flats where baby lemon sharks darted around your ankles if you stood still enough (I tried… they’re fast). We ended up at Cocoplum Beach looking for sand dollars under these crazy white clouds. My shoes filled with sand ages ago and I just gave up caring. The whole thing felt both laid-back and kind of epic at once. Even now, sometimes I catch myself thinking about those colors or Marcus laughing as we tried Bahamian words for different fish — pretty sure I butchered every one.