Lena Stevens
The Exumas in the Bahamas are made up of more than 365 cays or islands. A perfect pit stop for lunch, the desolate but stunning beaches along the coast of Great Guana Cay provide a relaxing place to eat.
Lena Stevens
The peace and quiet of a sunrise in the Bahamas is like nothing you've ever experienced. With sparkling bioluminescence by night and the pervasive crash of Atlantic Ocean waves, the beach at Lignum Vitae Cay offers solitude in spades.
Lena Stevens
Great Guana Cay is the home to Oven Rock Cave, a 984 foot-long (300-meter) cave with a maximum depth of 72 feet (22 meters). It houses a variety of shrimp, copepods and amphipods in a tidal anchialine lake.
Lena Stevens
Traveling north from Great Exuma, you'll meander through various cays, cuts and bays. The average sea temperature in this area is around 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). With sapphire-blue water everywhere, plants and animals far outnumber man.
Lena Stevens
As you enjoy an afternoon snack, expect some visitors. The northern Bahamian rock iguanas curiously wander over these beaches. They are harmless, but it doesn't mean they aren't hungry.
Lena Stevens
A stop for supplies at Staniel Cay in the early afternoon means the fishing boats have returned after a day's work. You'll be able to watch them clean their catch, attracting nurse sharks, stingrays and a plethora of hungry fish.
Lena Stevens
Local fishermen from Little Farmer's Cay free-dive up to 100 feet (30 meters) and sometimes more to hunt for lobsters. If you're lucky, they'll swing by your camp and offer to sell you freshly caught island fish, lobster or conch.
Lena Stevens
At Big Farmer's Cay, paddlers are able to pitch their tents and enjoy the luxury of having a spectacular beach and view all to themselves.
Lena Stevens
Sometimes the current is too strong to swim to the untouched coral reefs. This is where a kayak comes in handy. You can paddle to one end of the reef, hold on to the bow line, dive into the water for a mesmerizing snorkel and let the current take you back to camp.
Lena Stevens
Although magical looking, the predatory lionfish, which are not native to the Bahamas, have been decimating Caribbean reefs. They'll eat just about anything they can swallow. People have been hunting them for food and sport, but the invaders remain a threat.
Lena Stevens
Sometimes storms keep paddlers on shore for days. With any luck, stormy skies will give way to spectacular Caribbean sunsets, a fitting Bahamas consolation.
Lena Stevens
During your excursion, you'll have an ample number of nights to bring out the binoculars and stargaze for hours. Without the ambient light of cities, you may spot Andromeda, the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way.
CNN  — 

Even the most renowned and experienced explorers have gotten lost among the magnificent beaches, islands and waters of the Bahamas.

From unruly pirates to British Loyalists to today’s tourists, the Bahamas have long offered visitors numerous ways to explore and retreat by land and sea. Yet the best way to discover all the Bahamas have to offer is by kayak.

The Bahama Islands provide some of the world’s greatest sea kayaking opportunities for expert kayakers and beginners alike.

Whether you’re traveling solo or in a group, or you’re less experienced or 100% ready to hop in a boat, a great place to begin your trip is in Georgetown, a wonderful city on the island of Great Exuma.

Getting there is easy. American Airlines has several flights daily from Miami.

Out-Island Explorers, owned by Dallas and Tamara Knowles, is an outfitter operating out of Georgetown.

Other kayaking tour operators include Starfish: The Exuma Adventure Center and Spirit of the West Adventures.

Out-Island offers day trips around Georgetown and Elizabeth Harbour, but to get a real feel for the islands, you’ll want to spend several days and nights meandering around with a four-day/three-night guided expedition or a longer six-day/five-night excursion.

The beautiful Exuma Cays, with closeups of untouched coral reefs, deserted beaches and stunning Caribbean waters, are just paddle strokes away.

Click through the gallery at the top of this article to get a glimpse of what kayaking in the Bahamas is like.

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