The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park was established in 1958 as the first marine reserve in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, protecting 112,640 acres of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses. Its headquarters sit on uninhabited Warderick Wells — a cay you can only reach by boat, with no roads, no shops, and no hotels.
This 112,640-acre park was the first marine reserve in the wider Caribbean, and it remains the most visited national park in The Bahamas.
Warderick Wells isn’t a place you stumble onto. You plan for it — study the mooring field, stock your supplies, check the weather window. That effort is exactly why it works. The park’s no-take rules (no fishing, shelling, or conching) have let the reefs and seagrass beds recover in ways few places in the Bahamas can match. If your family wants to see what a healthy marine ecosystem actually looks like — eagle rays gliding past your mask, juvenile sharks cruising the shallows, turtles surfacing beside your boat — this is the stretch of water to aim for.
Warderick Wells rewards the organised traveller. Boat access only, zero commercial facilities, and a strict leave-no-trace policy mean it’s not an easy day trip — but for families who want uncrowded snorkelling, real wildlife encounters, and a hike that ends with one of the best views in the Exumas, it’s absolutely worth the planning. The catch: you need to bring everything with you, and the weather window November through May is your safest bet.
Families who boat
Snorkellers
Conservation-minded travellers
Four experiences define a visit to Warderick Wells — here’s what each involves, how much time to allow, and what your crew will actually get out of it.
| Activity | What You’ll See | Best For | Time on Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival & Orientation | Park headquarters, mooring field, ranger station, visitor centre | First-time visitors, boaters | 1–2 hours |
| Beach & Snorkelling | Fine white sand, turquoise water, eagle rays, parrotfish, sea turtles | Snorkellers, families with kids | 2–3 hours |
| Boo-Boo Hill Hike | Panoramic views, ancient limestone, white-tailed tropicbirds | Hikers, photographers, older kids | 1–2 hours |
| Wildlife Watching | Iguanas, Bahama mockingbirds, lemon sharks, green turtles | Nature lovers, curious kids | Ongoing |
The Uninhabited Headquarters
Warderick Wells Cay functions as the nerve centre of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, even though no one lives there permanently. A park warden and officers from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force are stationed on the cay for patrols and surveillance, and the visitor centre — open Monday to Friday 9:00–17:00 and Sunday 9:00–12:00 — is where you check in, get a mooring assignment, and pick up the latest conditions. The park communicates on VHF Channel 09; Channel 16 is reserved for emergencies.
The park’s history gives its quiet authority some weight. Between 1955 and 1958, an expedition led by Ilya Tolstoy — working with Bahamian and North American conservationists including Oris Russell, Herbert McKinney, Robert P. Allen, and Carleton Ray — reported “outstanding natural values” in this chain of cays. That report led directly to the Bahamas National Trust Act of 1959 and the creation of the 176-square-mile Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the world’s first land-and-sea protected area. In 2018 it received the Platinum Global Ocean Refuge Award, a recognition of its success as a model for marine protected areas globally.
A Day on the Water — Beach and Snorkel
The beach at Warderick Wells is the kind of place that resets your sense of what a beach can be. Fine white sand, water so clear you see the bottom at 15 feet, and the only sounds are osprey calls and the occasional long-tail boat engine. The real show, though, is underwater.
After securing your mooring and checking in with the warden on VHF 09, take the dinghy to the main beach. Coordinates are 24.394800°, -76.634600° — look for the whale skeleton landmark on the sand. The water is shallow and calm, ideal for getting younger kids comfortable with a mask before you head to the reef. Late November through May offers the calmest conditions and the clearest water; June through November falls in peak hurricane season, when weather windows can close fast.
The park’s no-take rules have been enforced since 1958, and the reef shows it. Groups regularly encounter five or more spotted eagle rays in a single session, along with blue tangs, scrawled filefish, queen angelfish, and rainbow parrotfish. Green sea turtles surface close to snorkellers, and on at least one documented outing a juvenile bull shark five to six feet long swam through the area — guests were asked to exit the water calmly. If your crew includes confident swimmers, a drift line tethered between two boats lets you cover more ground without fighting the current. Check with the warden on VHF 09 for the day’s recommended snorkel sites and any recent shark or current advisories.
As the tide drops, a sandbar emerges off the beach — wide enough to stroll, shallow enough that a five-year-old can wade safely. This is where the park’s mangrove edges meet open water, and where lemon sharks and green turtles often cruise the sandy shallows. It’s also a good spot for photographing the turquoise water without a housing or drone. Carry reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard; the sun is intense even on overcast days, and there is no shade on the sandbar.
The Warderick Wells mooring field fills early during peak season (December–April). Contact the park on VHF 09 by 9:00 a.m. on the day you arrive — boats that show up after midday often have to anchor further out or move to a different cay.
The View from Boo-Boo Hill
Boo-Boo Hill rises a little over 100 feet above the cay — not a climb that will test your fitness, but enough to change your perspective entirely. From the top you look out over the entire Exuma Cays chain: the shallow sea floor patterned in bands of turquoise and navy, the curve of the park’s boundaries visible in the way the water colour shifts where the reef drops off. White-tailed tropicbirds wheel overhead, and Bahama mockingbirds call from the limestone scrub.
The trail starts behind the visitor centre and climbs through low coppice forest before breaking out onto the limestone cap. In places the rock is worn smooth by decades of visitors; in others it’s sharp and uneven, so sturdy sandals or water shoes are a better bet than flip-flops. From the summit you can see the park’s boundaries in the water colour changes — the no-take zone is visibly richer in marine life than the areas outside it. It’s a quiet, unforced lesson in why protected areas matter, and it lands more effectively than any interpretive sign.
Why This Park Matters
The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park isn’t just a pretty stretch of water — it’s a working conservation model that has been studied and replicated around the world. The no-take rules mean fish grow larger and reproduce more successfully inside the boundaries, and that surplus spills over into the surrounding waters, supporting the fisheries that local communities depend on. The park supports ongoing research into coral health, mangrove restoration, and seagrass dynamics, and its 2018 Platinum Global Ocean Refuge Award places it among the most effective marine protected areas on the planet.
Acres of protected coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, and beaches — the first land-and-sea park ever created.
For visitors, the practical effect is simple: you see more wildlife here than almost anywhere else in the Bahamas. Spotted eagle rays, green sea turtles, lemon sharks, and a half-dozen species of parrotfish are routine sightings. Iguanas sun themselves on the rocks near the beach. The mangrove creeks at nearby Shroud Cay — also within the park — host juvenile turtles and lemon sharks in water shallow enough to stand in. If your family’s goal is genuine encounters, not postcard scenery, this park delivers both.
Poaching is an ongoing challenge despite the warden presence. If you see suspicious activity, you can report it anonymously on VHF 09 using the name “Miss Molly” — a practice the park encourages. The three RBDF officers stationed at headquarters can respond via VHF 16.
Getting to Warderick Wells — What to Bring, What to Expect
Boat access only. No roads. No public transport. That’s the fundamental constraint of visiting Warderick Wells, and it shapes every decision you’ll make about the trip. Here’s how the main access options compare.
| Option | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private boat | Full control over schedule; can stay multiple nights on the mooring field | Requires experience with Bahamian waters, navigation, and weather planning | Experienced boaters, families with their own vessel |
| Chartered liveaboard | Captain and crew handle logistics; can visit multiple cays in one trip | Cost is higher; less flexibility on timing at each stop | Families who want a guided experience without the planning burden |
| Day charter from Staniel Cay or Exuma mainland | No overnight commitment; easier to fit into a broader itinerary | Short visit; weather-dependent; must coordinate with the mooring field | Families already based in the Exumas who want a day trip |
There is zero commercial food, water, or lodging on Warderick Wells. Every group must bring all drinking water, meals, sun protection, and first-aid supplies. The leave-no-trace policy is strictly enforced — you carry out every wrapper, bottle, and food scrap. Groups that arrive unprepared have to turn around and motor back to Staniel Cay, losing the better part of a day.
If you’re weighing which side of the Exumas to base yourself, this interactive map of the island’s hotels and rentals makes it easier to compare options against the park’s boundaries and the nearest marinas with fuel and provisions.
What to pack
Beyond the obvious — water, food, reef-safe sunscreen — a few items make the difference between a comfortable day and a hard one. Rash guards or sun shirts for the whole family cut down on sunscreen reapplication and protect against jellyfish stings. Water shoes with a sturdy sole handle the sharp limestone on the Boo-Boo Hill trail. A dry bag keeps cameras and phones safe during the dinghy ride to the beach. If you’re snorkelling, bring your own mask and fins — the park doesn’t rent gear, and the quality of rental masks from marinas is inconsistent.
Best time to go
The dry season from late November through May offers the calmest seas, clearest water, and most reliable weather windows. June through November is peak hurricane season; even when no storm is active, winds and currents can make the mooring field uncomfortable and reduce underwater visibility. December through April is the busiest period for the park — book moorings early and expect company on the beach and trail.
Before You Go — Warderick Wells
How do I actually get to Warderick Wells?
By private boat or chartered vessel only. There is no ferry, no airstrip, and no road access. Most visitors approach from Staniel Cay (about 45 minutes by powerboat) or from Nassau/Exuma via a longer charter. You’ll need to contact the park on VHF Channel 09 upon arrival for a mooring assignment.
The park’s coordinates are 24°30′37″N, 76°52′37″W (northwest boundary) through 24°18′37″N, 76°28′47″W (southeast boundary). Punch those into your chart plotter before you leave the dock.
Can I stay overnight on Warderick Wells?
Yes, on your boat. The mooring field is managed by the park warden, and you can stay multiple nights if space allows. There are no hotels, villas, or rental cottages on the cay. Some visitors anchor outside the mooring field in designated areas, but anchoring is restricted in many zones to protect seagrass beds.
If you’d rather sleep on land, Highbourne Cay has a marina and a small resort about 12 nautical miles northwest of the park boundary.
What should I bring for a day visit?
All your own drinking water, food, sunscreen, snorkel gear, and a first-aid kit. There is no shop, restaurant, or freshwater tap for visitors. A dry bag, rash guards, and sturdy water shoes are strongly recommended. Remember: everything you bring in must go back out with you.
If you’re planning to hike Boo-Boo Hill, bring a hat and more water than you think you need — the trail is exposed and the sun is intense even with a breeze.
Is Warderick Wells safe for kids?
Yes, with the usual water-safety precautions. The beach is shallow and calm in good weather, and the sandbar at low tide is safe for wading. The snorkelling requires basic confidence in the water — currents can pick up, and the juvenile bull shark sighting documented in 2023 is a reminder that this is a wild ecosystem. Keep young children close on the reef and check daily conditions with the warden on VHF 09.
The Boo-Boo Hill trail is short enough for most kids, but the limestone is uneven — hold hands with younger children on the steeper sections.
What’s the single most important rule?
No fishing, shelling, or conching anywhere within the park boundaries. These rules have been in place since 1958 and are the reason the reef is as healthy as it is. Violations can result in fines and confiscation of gear. If you see poaching, report it anonymously on VHF 09 as “Miss Molly.”
The park is also home to protected bird species including white-tailed tropicbirds and Bahama mockingbirds — give them space, especially during nesting season.
The Uninhabited Heart
Warderick Wells doesn’t try to impress you. There’s no welcome sign, no gift shop, no curated experience. The cay lets the water and the reef and the view from Boo-Boo Hill do the work, and that restraint is exactly what makes it memorable. In a region where every island seems to be selling something, this one just sits there — protected, wild, and worth the effort it takes to reach it. If your family is ready for that kind of trip, start planning around the mooring field at Highbourne Cay and work your way south.
References
Bahamas National Trust. “Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.” BNT, 2025. ↗
OnlyBeaches. “Warderick Wells Beach.” OnlyBeaches, 2025. ↗
Lindblad Expeditions. “Warderick Wells Cay, Exuma Cays — Daily Expedition Report, 3 March 2023.” Expeditions.com, 2023. ↗
If you’re building a longer Exumas itinerary, the ultimate Exuma Cays adventure guide covers the swimming pigs and island escapes that pair naturally with a stop at the park. For quieter corners, Ten Bay Beach beachcombing and SUP adventures at French Leave Beach offer a different pace on the Atlantic side of Eleuthera. And if you’re travelling without a boat, the Bahamas solo travel guide includes practical advice on chartering and group excursions that can get you to the park without owning a vessel.
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