Beaches Exuma Bahamas: Opening Date, Resort Plans & Everything We Know So Far
Beaches Exuma is coming to Great Exuma in The Bahamas, transforming the former Sandals Emerald Bay into the first Beaches Resort in the country.
The redevelopment will bring the Beaches family-resort experience to Emerald Bay, with family villas, a new water park, Kids Camp, expanded dining, sports and family entertainment planned for the property.
The biggest question right now is simple: When will Beaches Exuma open?
Beaches Resorts has not yet announced an official opening date.
That distinction is important. Development is underway and significant details about the resort have been announced, but families cannot yet book a confirmed Beaches Exuma opening stay.
This page tracks what has been confirmed, what has not yet been announced, and what families should consider booking if they plan to travel before Beaches Exuma opens.
Beaches Exuma Opening Date: The Quick Answer
Is Beaches Exuma open?
No.
Can you book Beaches Exuma yet?
No confirmed opening inventory has been announced.
Has Beaches Exuma been officially announced?
Yes. The former Sandals Emerald Bay is being redeveloped as Beaches Exuma.
Has an official opening date been announced?
No. We will update this page when Beaches Resorts confirms one.
What has already been announced?
Plans include family villas, a new water park, Kids Camp, expanded dining, sports and other family-focused additions.
How We’re Tracking Beaches Exuma
Caribbean Honeymoon Resorts independently tracks Beaches Exuma updates so travelers can quickly separate confirmed resort information from rumors, estimates and speculation.
We review official Beaches Resorts announcements and other reliable information about the redevelopment of the former Sandals Emerald Bay. When Beaches confirms an opening date, reservations, accommodations, restaurants, water park details or other major resort features, we will update this guide.
Until then, we will clearly identify what has been officially announced, what is still unknown, and what families should not assume yet.
Planning a Beaches Vacation Before Exuma Opens?
You don't necessarily need to postpone your family vacation while Beaches Exuma is being developed.
The better question is:
What are you hoping Beaches Exuma will give your family?
If it is a spectacular beach, easy family days, a major waterpark, lots of restaurants or activities for different ages, an existing Beaches resort may already fit what you need.
Use these guides before comparing prices:
Find Your Best Beaches Family Resort Match
Where Is Beaches Exuma Located?
Beaches Exuma will be located at Emerald Bay on Great Exuma, one of the largest islands in the Exuma chain of The Bahamas.
The resort is being developed on the former Sandals Emerald Bay property, giving Beaches a beachfront location along the waters of Emerald Bay.
The area is known for:
• powder-soft white sand
• clear turquoise water
• snorkeling and boating
• access to the Exuma Cays
• a quieter island atmosphere than many larger Caribbean destinations
The Exumas stretch across hundreds of islands and cays surrounded by exceptionally clear Bahamian water. For families, that means Beaches Exuma is expected to offer a different setting from a large, activity-heavy resort such as Beaches Turks & Caicos.
Great Exuma is served by Exuma International Airport (GGT). That matters for families because you will be arriving directly on the island where the resort is located rather than beginning your vacation with a long inter-island transfer.
We will add more detailed airport-transfer information once Beaches confirms the final arrival experience for resort guests.
Traveling before Beaches Exuma opens? Compare the Beaches resorts families can book today.
What Is Beaches Exuma?
Beaches Exuma is the redevelopment of the former Sandals Emerald Bay into the first Beaches Resort in The Bahamas.
Rather than building on a completely new site, Beaches Resorts is transforming the existing Emerald Bay property on Great Exuma into a family-focused resort designed around the Beaches experience.
The project combines a location already known for its beach, golf course and Emerald Bay setting with new accommodations, dining, water attractions, kids programming and family entertainment.
According to Beaches Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, the first phase of the redevelopment represents a $100 million investment designed to transform the former Sandals Emerald Bay into a luxury family resort.
The redevelopment goes well beyond changing the resort's name. Beaches has announced plans for new multi-bedroom family accommodations, water attractions, expanded dining, kids programming, sports and entertainment.
We break down each of the confirmed features in the next section.
What Amenities Have Been Confirmed?
Beaches Resorts has confirmed several major additions and existing features that will form part of the first phase of the Beaches Exuma redevelopment.
Already in place: The redevelopment retains the Emerald Bay location and its white-sand beachfront. Unlike the new family amenities below, the beach is an existing feature of the property rather than a newly announced addition.
Family Villas
One of the biggest changes planned for Beaches Exuma is the introduction of spacious two-, three- and four-bedroom family villas. These larger accommodations should make the resort especially relevant for larger families and multigenerational vacations.
Brand-New Water Park & Splash Deck
Beaches Exuma is planned to include a brand-new water park, along with a dedicated splash deck for younger children. Together, these additions will bring the type of water-focused family experience many travelers already associate with Beaches Resorts to Great Exuma..
Kids Camp
Beaches has confirmed that the resort plans include a dedicated Kids Camp, adding supervised children's programming to the family-focused redevelopment.
10 New Restaurant Concepts
Plans call for 10 new restaurant concepts, substantially expanding the dining experience available at the former Sandals Emerald Bay property. Specific restaurant names and cuisines have not yet been announced, so we will add those details once they are confirmed.
Pickleball, Archery & Field Sports
The redevelopment plans also include pickleball courts, archery and expanded field sports, giving families more recreational options beyond the beach and water park.
Greg Norman-Designed Golf Course
The existing Greg Norman-designed golf course at Emerald Bay is expected to remain part of the Beaches Exuma experience, giving the resort an unusual golf component for a family-focused Beaches property.
Conference & Events Center
Plans also include a new 15,000-square-foot conference and events center, expanding the property's ability to host destination weddings, family reunions, groups and other special events.
Beaches Exuma Opening Date
Beaches Resorts has not yet announced an official opening date for Beaches Exuma, and reservations for the new resort have not been released.
The redevelopment of the former Sandals Emerald Bay is underway, but an announced project and a confirmed opening date are two different things.
For families considering a future Beaches Exuma vacation, there are three milestones worth watching:
1. Official opening date
The date Beaches Resorts confirms the property is expected to begin welcoming guests.
2. Reservations open
The point when actual Beaches Exuma rooms and travel dates become available to book.
3. Final resort details
Additional information about room categories, restaurants, water park features, family programming and the completed resort experience.
Until those milestones are announced, we recommend not planning airfare or a Bahamas vacation around an estimated Beaches Exuma opening date found elsewhere online.
We will update this guide when Beaches Resorts confirms new information.
Current Beaches Exuma status: Announced and under redevelopment — official opening date and reservations not yet announced.
Why Families Are Excited About Beaches Exuma
There is a reason Beaches Exuma is attracting attention even before an opening date has been announced.
The appeal isn't based on one feature. It is the combination of an established Great Exuma location with a major family-focused redevelopment.
The Emerald Bay Setting
The former Sandals Emerald Bay property already occupies a distinctive beachfront location on Great Exuma. Families who prioritize clear Bahamian water, beach time and a quieter island setting may find that especially appealing.
A Beaches Resort Built for Families
The redevelopment changes the audience of the property completely. Instead of an adults-only Sandals resort, Beaches Exuma is being designed around families, including larger accommodations, children's programming, water attractions, dining and recreation.
Access to the Exuma Experience
A vacation on Great Exuma can also place families near experiences for which the Exumas are widely known, including:
• boating through the Exuma Cays
• snorkeling and clear-water excursions
• island-hopping
• marine-life experiences
• the famous swimming pigs excursions
Those activities are part of the wider Exuma destination and should not be confused with confirmed Beaches Exuma resort inclusions. Specific excursions and resort offerings will become clearer as Beaches releases additional information.
A Different Kind of Beaches Vacation
Based on what has been announced so far, Beaches Exuma appears likely to offer a different experience from the large-scale Beaches Turks & Caicos model.
Rather than assuming one will be “better,” families should eventually choose based on the experience they want: resort size, beach, activities, dining variety, travel style and the ages of their children.
What Should Families Book Until Beaches Exuma Opens?
If your family wants a Beaches vacation before Beaches Exuma opens, the better question is not simply which resort is most similar to Exuma. It is which current Beaches experience best matches what attracted you to Exuma in the first place.
For most families comparing the currently available choices, Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril represent two very different directions.
Beaches Turks & Caicos
Best for families who want the most activity, dining variety and entertainment in one resort.
Choose Turks & Caicos if what excites you about Beaches Exuma is:
-
a major water-park experience
-
lots of activities for different ages
-
extensive dining choices
-
a larger resort with more to explore
-
keeping children and teens busy throughout the trip
If the planned Beaches Exuma water park, family entertainment and expanded dining are what caught your attention, Turks & Caicos is the more natural resort to compare first.
Beaches Negril
Best for families who care more about an easygoing Caribbean beach vacation than having the largest possible resort.
Choose Negril if what attracts you to Exuma is:
-
beautiful Caribbean water and beach time
-
a more relaxed resort atmosphere
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an easier-to-understand resort layout
-
family activities without needing a huge resort
-
a laid-back Jamaica vacation
If the beach, slower pace and tropical setting are what make Beaches Exuma appealing to you, Beaches Negril may be the more relevant comparison.
The Simple Choice
Choose Beaches Turks & Caicos if your priority is water park + dining + activities + variety.
Choose Beaches Negril if your priority is beach + relaxed atmosphere + simpler family vacation.
Wait for Beaches Exuma if Great Exuma itself, the Emerald Bay setting, the planned family villas or experiencing a brand-new Beaches property are central to the trip you want
Want to compare the two current options in more detail?
Beaches Exuma vs Beaches Turks & Caicos
Beaches Turks & Caicos is the most useful existing Beaches resort for understanding one side of what Beaches Exuma may eventually become, but the two properties should not be treated as interchangeable.
Based on what has been announced so far, the biggest distinction is likely to be scale versus setting.
Beaches Exuma
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Great Exuma, The Bahamas
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Emerald Bay beachfront setting
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planned two-, three- and four-bedroom family villas
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planned new water park and expanded dining
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Greg Norman-designed golf course
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resort still under redevelopment
Beaches Turks & Caicos
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Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
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established and currently operating family resort experience
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large-scale resort environment
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extensive family activities
-
major water-park experience
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broad dining and accommodation choices
The key difference: families considering Turks & Caicos can evaluate and book an established resort today. Beaches Exuma remains a future option, so its finished atmosphere and full guest experience cannot yet be compared fairly.
Ready to Compare Current Beaches Resorts?
Beaches Exuma cannot be booked yet, but families who are ready to travel now can compare the currently available Beaches resorts, room categories, dates and current offers.
If you already know you would rather take a Beaches vacation than wait for Exuma, this is the right point to check actual resort availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Beaches Exuma located?
Beaches Exuma is being developed at Emerald Bay on Great Exuma in The Bahamas, on the former Sandals Emerald Bay property.
Is Beaches Exuma replacing Sandals Emerald Bay?
Yes. The former Sandals Emerald Bay property is being redeveloped as Beaches Exuma, bringing the Beaches family-resort brand to The Bahamas.
Will Beaches Exuma have a Kids Camp?
Yes. A dedicated Kids Camp has been announced as part of the Beaches Exuma redevelopment plans. More details about programming and age groups have not yet been released.
Will Beaches Exuma have a golf course?
The existing Greg Norman-designed golf course is part of the Emerald Bay property. Beaches Exuma's redevelopment plans retain golf as part of the resort experience, although we will update this guide if Beaches announces any changes to the final golf program or guest access.
When will Beaches Exuma open?
Beaches Resorts has not announced an official Beaches Exuma opening date, and confirmed opening inventory is not yet available to book. We will update this page when Beaches announces either.
Will Beaches Exuma have a water park?
Yes. A brand-new water park has been announced as part of the first phase of the Beaches Exuma redevelopment. Specific attractions and final water-park details have not yet been announced.
How many restaurants will Beaches Exuma have?
Beaches has announced plans for 10 new restaurant concepts as part of the redevelopment. That should not yet be interpreted as a confirmed final restaurant count for the completed resort.
Will Beaches Exuma have family villas?
Yes. The redevelopment plans include new two-, three- and four-bedroom family villas designed to accommodate larger families and multigenerational groups. Final villa names, layouts and booking categories have not yet been released.
Can I book Beaches Exuma now?
No confirmed Beaches Exuma opening inventory is currently available to book. Families who want a Beaches vacation sooner can compare the existing Beaches Resorts while waiting for Exuma reservations to open.
Is Beaches Exuma open now?
No. Beaches Exuma is still under redevelopment at the former Sandals Emerald Bay property on Great Exuma.
What We Know About Beaches Exuma So Far
Beaches Exuma is one of the most significant additions announced for the Beaches Resorts portfolio, but there is still an important distinction between what has been revealed and what families can book today.
What is clear so far is substantial: the former Sandals Emerald Bay is being redeveloped as the first Beaches Resort in The Bahamas, with a $100 million first-phase investment and plans that include family villas, a new water park, Kids Camp, expanded dining, sports and family-focused experiences.
What we do not yet have is equally important: an official opening date, confirmed booking inventory and the complete details of the finished guest experience.
We will continue updating this guide as Beaches Resorts announces additional confirmed information.
Last updated: August 2026