Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park: A Pristine Bahamas Paradise

The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park stretches across 22 miles of islands and surrounding waters, protecting coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and hundreds of uninhabited cays. Managed by the Bahamas National Trust, it’s the most visited national park in The Bahamas — and for good reason. This guide covers the park’s key cays, how to visit, and what you’ll find once you’re there.

Each cay offers a different slice of what makes this park special — gin-clear water, empty beaches, and wildlife that has learned to trust visitors. Below are the stops you won’t want to miss.

Warderick Wells — Park Headquarters and Boo Boo Hill

Warderick Wells is the administrative heart of the park, home to the Bahamas National Trust warden station and a visitor center with exhibits on the park’s history and ecology. The Horseshoe mooring field here offers some of the clearest water in the chain — you can count the links of your anchor chain from the deck.

A short hike leads to Boo Boo Hill, a windswept overlook where passing boaters leave driftwood markers painted with their vessel names and messages. The tradition dates back decades; from the top you get a 360-degree view of the cays in every shade of blue imaginable. Trails also wind through dense coppice forest where you might spot Bahamian ducks, blue-tailed skinks, and silver top palms.

Shroud Cay — Mangrove Creeks and the “Washing Machine”

Shroud Cay is all about exploring by dinghy. At the right tide, you can navigate a winding mangrove creek that cuts through the island and opens onto a secluded ocean-side beach accessible only by water. The creek is narrow and shallow — take it slow and watch for stingrays and juvenile fish hiding in the roots.

The real draw here is the “Washing Machine”, a natural tidal phenomenon where currents create a swirling, lazy-river effect. You can float with the current, letting it carry you through the turquoise channel before walking back across the sandbar to do it again. It’s a low-key, family-friendly activity that requires no gear beyond a swimsuit and a sense of adventure.

If you’re into aerial photography, the open water and sandbars make for stunning drone shots — just be mindful of local regulations and respect other visitors’ privacy. A compact drone like the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo fits easily in a dry bag and captures the scale of the park’s colors.

O’Brien’s Cay — The Sea Aquarium

O’Brien’s Cay is less famous than its neighbors, but it holds what many consider the best snorkeling in the park. The Sea Aquarium is a shallow reef teeming with sergeant majors, parrotfish, angelfish, and the occasional sea turtle. The water is so clear you can see details from the surface — but you’ll want to get in for the full experience.

Mooring balls are available here to protect the reef from anchor damage. Tie up, slip in, and spend an hour drifting over brain coral and sea fans. The park’s no-take status means the fish are abundant and unafraid. Bring your own snorkel gear, or check with your charter operator for rentals. An action camera like the DJI Osmo Action 6 Bundle helps you capture the underwater light show without a housing.

Pipe Creek and the Sandbars

Pipe Creek lies just south of the park’s official boundary, but it’s often lumped into the same cruising itinerary. This maze of small cays and shallow banks produces some of the most photographed sandbars in the Exumas — long white curves that emerge at low tide, surrounded by water in every direction. No loungers, no umbrellas, no vendors — just you and the sea.

Captains familiar with the area can find quieter sandbars even during the busiest winter weeks. The park’s size absorbs visitors well beyond the famous spots. If you’re on a private boat, anchor in a sandy patch and wade over to claim your own stretch of paradise for an hour or two.

Practical Information for Visiting the Park

The park is a no-take zone: no fishing, lobstering, conching, or shelling of any kind. Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers are stationed at Warderick Wells to enforce the rules — poaching reports can be made anonymously on VHF Channel 09. The protection has allowed fish stocks and coral reefs to recover to levels rarely seen elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Getting There

There are no roads into the park. Access is entirely by watercraft. Most visitors arrive by:

• Private charter — Full-day or multi-day boat tours from Great Exuma or Staniel Cay. Companies like Staniel Cay Adventures offer guided trips that include snorkeling stops and sandbar picnics.
• Bareboat or crewed yacht — Fly into Exuma International Airport (GGT) on Great Exuma and pick up a charter from The Moorings or similar operators. This gives you the flexibility to stay overnight in the mooring fields.
• Liveaboard dive boat — Operators like Cat Ppalu run multi-day itineraries that spend several days cruising the cays.

Travel time from Great Exuma to the southern edge of the park is about 30 minutes to an hour by powerboat, depending on your destination.

Moorings and Fees

Mooring balls are available at popular anchorages including Warderick Wells, O’Brien’s Cay, and Shroud Cay. Using them instead of anchoring protects the seagrass beds. Fees are collected by the park warden and directly support maintenance and enforcement. Anchoring is permitted in designated sandy areas — check with the warden upon arrival.

What to Bring

Cell service is extremely limited; download offline maps and GPS coordinates before you leave. Pack all food, drinking water, and any snacks you’ll need — there are no grocery stores or restaurants inside the park. Snorkel gear, reef-safe sunscreen, and a waterproof bag are essential. A Garmin Descent Mk3i dive computer is overkill for snorkeling but handy if you plan deeper dives outside the park.

Before You Go to Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

How do I get to the park without a boat?

You can’t — the park is only accessible by watercraft. Join a guided boat tour from Great Exuma, Staniel Cay, or even a day-trip flight from Nassau that bundles the park with nearby attractions like the swimming pigs and Thunderball Grotto.

What’s the best time of year to visit?

December through April offers the most reliable weather — calm seas, sunny skies, and lower humidity. May and June are a good-value shoulder season with fewer crowds. Hurricane season runs June to November (peak August–October); prices drop but weather windows shrink.

Can I stay overnight inside the park?

Yes, if you’re on a cruising boat. Mooring fields allow overnight stays. There are no hotels or resorts within the park boundaries — you’ll need to be self-sufficient. The nearest accommodations are at Staniel Cay Yacht Club or exclusive private-island resorts just outside the park.

Is the swimming pigs attraction inside the park?

No. The famous swimming pigs of Big Major Cay are located near Staniel Cay, outside the Land and Sea Park boundary. Many tour operators combine a visit to the pigs with a stop inside the park — but the park itself is a strictly protected no-take zone.

What are the rules about drones and photography?

Photography is generally allowed. Fly drones responsibly and adhere to local regulations — the open sandbars and coastlines offer incredible aerial perspectives. Be respectful of other visitors and wildlife; avoid flying near nesting birds or iguanas.

Leaving the Park

The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park isn’t just a place to check off a list — it’s a living example of what happens when you protect a place before it’s too late. The gin-clear water, the fish that swim right up to your mask, the feeling of standing on a sandbar with nothing but horizon in every direction — that’s the result of decisions made decades ago by conservationists who saw what was at stake. Whether you spend a day or a week, you’ll leave understanding why this patch of the Bahamas is worth the effort to reach.

For more island-hopping inspiration, check out our guide to Island Hopping Adventures in Beautiful Bimini Beaches — another corner of the Bahamas where the water runs just as clear.

References

Bahamas National Trust. “Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.” bnt.bs. ↗

Canadian Geographic. “Fifty Shades of Blue: Chasing Paradise in the Exumas.” canadiangeographic.ca, 2023. ↗

Islands.com. “Bahamas’ Oldest National Park: Exuma Cays Land and Sea.” islands.com. ↗

Haley Yachts. “Cruising the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park: What We Get For Our.” haleyyachts.com, 2026. ↗

Explore more Bahamas adventures: The Ultimate Guide to Pig Beach — swimming with Exuma’s famous pigs, or Underwater Wonders: Diving and Snorkeling the Bahamas’ Coral Reefs for more reef destinations.