Discover the real Bahamas and take a trip over to the Exuma Islands to explore a string of 365 beautiful cays. Swimming with pigs, hanging out with sharks, snorkeling through James Bond movie sets and feeding wild iguanas are just a few activities on offer in these stunning islands. They may be mere specs on the map, and most of them inhabited, but these glittering sands and multi-hued waters are a true tropical paradise and you'll never want to leave.

1. Swim Through Thunderball Grotto

The cave that got its name from the James Bond movie, Thunderball, and as you'd expect this spectacular film-set is unbelievably beautiful. Located near to Staniel Cay, swim in through a hidden underwater entrance and admire the coral reefs and fish as well as the stunning scenery inside the grotto.

2. Feed the Swimming Pigs at Major Cay

An absolute must-do on the bucket-list. Stop off at Major Cay and watch as these wild and curious pigs swim up to you in search of food and attention. Although it's not clear how these pigs got on this tiny island, as long as us food-bearing tourists are here, they aren't going anywhere.

3. Pet Friendly Nurse Sharks

Face your fears and jump in with around 50 nurse sharks at Compass Cay in the Exumas. Although the notion of diving into shark-infested waters may not seem appealing, these nurse sharks are docile and used to tourists. It's definitely a once in a lifetime experience and on to write home about.

4. Hang Out With Rock Iguanas on a Private Island

Stop off at Allan's Cay and feed these wild rock iguanas. As soon as you step foot on the sand they'll come running up in search of scraps.

5. Walk Along the Sandbar at Musha Cay

An absolutely stunning sight. The secluded saddleback sandbar in the Exumas is something everyone experience. Sit and admire the shades of blue that can be seen for miles or wander along the soft sand and enjoy the sound of the ocean.

6. Grab Lunch at Shirley's at the Fish Fry

Hands down THE best restaurant in the Exumas, if not the Bahamas. Shirley's is a quintessentially-Caribbean fish fry shack radiating delightful coconut aromas, follow the scents and indulge in exquisite Bahamian foods, from conch fritters, coconut shrimp, fried fish, rice and beans and plantains, choose anything on this menu and you'll be blown away.

7. Drive to Little Exuma and see the Tropic of Cancer Beach

If you're staying at one of the resorts in Great Exuma, you'll need to rent a car to get to the Little Exuma, where the longest and most stunning beach on the Exumas is. The Tropic of Cancer Beach is named after the meridian line that runs through it and with rarely anyone at this beach, you'll have it all to yourself and it's completely and utterly breath-taking.

8. Take a Boat Over to Chat N' Chill

9. Snorkel a Sunken Drug Plane

This sunken drug plane lies just off of Norman's Cay ( the headquarters for a drug-smuggling operation in the 70's and 80's). Jump in and explore this shallow wreckage, you may even spot a k=lurking nurse shark.

10. Charter a Boat + Go Island Hopping Around the Cays

Book a trip with Four C's Adventures and you'll get to tick off 6 of these top 10 things to do in one day. Hop around the beautiful cays, stopping off to see the sharks, pigs, sandbar and iguanas, get lunch and a personal tour guide ( if you're lucky you'll get Captain Pat) to show you the best of the best. Highly recommended.