With rooms right on the ocean, the beach is just steps away. St Francis Resort is located on Stocking Island, just off the coast of Exuma. You can hike, go kayaking, and explore the many beaches of Stocking Island. Enjoy the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. There are endless wonders to enjoy. Elizabeth Harbour provides many sheltered coves for sunbathing, kayaking, sailing, and snorkelling.

Facts About the Islands

Exuma International Airport
  • There are only two places in the world where you can see stromatolites- a small patch of sea in remote Northwest Australia, and here in the Bahamas. Not even known to still exist until the 1920's, stromatolites are our oldest living relatives. This organism, three and a half billion years old, was the first to produce oxygen, and it's prevalence in the ancient world allowed the earth's oxygen content to reach the critical point where higher life forms were able to exist. It's not much to look at, but our very existence is a testimony to it's significance.
  • Blue Holes and Underwater Caves: Jacques Cousteau filmed several episodes of his TV show featuring the mysterious blue holes and underwater cave system of the Bahamas in Exuma. The Mystery Cave, the Angelfish Blue Hole and numerous caverns and blue holes are literally sprinkled both inland and across the waters of the Exumas. One cave goes entirely under Crab Cay. Others have been explored by divers for distances measured in miles. The blue holes attract an awesome display of tropical marine life, and can be accessed with the assistance of the expert divers at Exuma Scuba Adventures
  • Crab Cay Ruins of Governor William Walker's Estate: Reached only by boat, and not marked in any way, these impressive ruins date back to the 1700's. Miles of high stone fences, peaked entrance pillars surrounding a botanical garden, a large stone kitchen house and circular platforms where cannons once stood to ward off pirates are highlights of the hilltop treasure.
  • Hermitage Plantation Ruins at Williams Town: The ruins of this simple, but classic plantation home, and it's accompanying grave crypts, kitchen house and slave quarters bring back visions of the time when Exuma was a British Loyalist colony. On the way to Williams Town, you will want to see the old salt flats and the stone monument built to signal ships that salt was available for sale.
A hangout spot in George Town
  • Rolle Town and the Old Cemetery: Rolle Town is located several miles south of George Town. It sits on a hill overlooking both Elizabeth and Moriah Harbors. The multicolored cottages make this village typical of out-island villages in the Bahamas. At the edge of town is an old cemetery, with Loyalist graves dating back to the 1700's
  • The Bahamas is a very safe country where tourists are treated with great repsect. But while there is a very low crime rate, please be prudent just as you would at home. Do not leave valuables in plain sight in your vehicles or on the beach.
  • Great Exuma and Little Exuma (connected by a short bridge) have a population of approximately 3000 people and are about 20 miles long and 3 miles wide (at the widest point).
  • The Exumas offer world class diving and snorkeling, miles of uninhabited cays and islands for exploring by boat or sea kayak, sailing, and a sport fisherman’s bone fishing paradise.
  • The island is approximately one hour flying time from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Nassau. Air service is offered through Bahamasair, American Eagle, Lynx Air and Sky Airlines.
  • Boat rentals are available for exploring uninhabited beaches and to visit Stocking island which is an excellent half or full day outing.
  • Great Exuma offers a good selection of restaurants, many specializing in local Bahamian cuisine including conch and fresh fish daily.
  • On-island banking, including a 24-hour bank machine, is provided by Scotia Bank and located in George Town.
  • The US dollar is used interchangeably with the Bahamian dollar. Most merchants accept US dollar travelers' cheques or American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa credit cards.
  • There are no traffic lights on the Exumas. Remember to STAY LEFT at all times while driving!
  • The island offers a good selection of craft and gift shops (Sand Piper Boutique, the Straw Market, and St Francis Boutique), grocery supplies (Exuma Market, Shop Rite), taxi services, and rental cars.
  • Constant easterly breezes keep life comfortable, with the coolest winter months averaging in the mid 70 degrees F to low 80 degrees F; during the warm months of the late summer temperatures hover at low 90 degrees F. Check here for current conditions.
  • Dress is casual, lightweight clothing. Guests wear swim suits around the resort in the daytime but swimwear is not appropriate in public places. Topless or nude sunbathing or swimming is also considered inappropriate. In the evenings some restaurants prefer that men wear slacks but jackets are rarely required.
  • Please be careful when tanning, particularly at the start of your holiday, as the sun is strong in the Bahamas. Remember to wear and reapply protective sun screen and to drink plenty of water so that you don't become dehydrated.
  • The local water supply is safe to drink but most tourists prefer bottled water. The water supply at St Francis is purified by reverse osmosis, the same method used in bottleing wather.
  • Great Exuma is in the same time zone as New York City and Toronto: Eastern Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time.