If you’re searching for your next vacation destination, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Located in the Exumas, a chain of 365 islands in the Bahamas, the park features gorgeous beaches, bright blue water, and perfect weather. All of that ensures a great experience no matter what time of year you visit.
However, the park does more than offer up slices of paradise to enjoy. It also protects local wildlife on land and in the sea, so by supporting the park, you’re also helping to promote conservation efforts in the region.
To help you better understand the different parts of the park, we’ve put together this guide explaining some of the different highlights. We’ll also touch on how to get to Exuma Bahamas.
Read on to get started!
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park: What to Know
How to Get to Exuma Bahamas
Before talking about what the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park has to offer, it’s worth knowing how to get there. That way, as soon as you learn how amazing it is, you can book a day trip to take you there.
Beautiful conservation on display at the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
The entire region of the Exumas is a bit more remote than many other parts of the country. Staniel Cay, one of the most popular islands, is around 83 miles away from Nassau, the country’s capital. The region’s isolation means that things in the Exumas are quieter, less hectic, and less touristy — especially compared to Nassau.
However, it also means that the islands can be tricky to get to. Cruise ships can’t reach the area, nor can large airplanes, since the region lacks an international airport. However, Staniel Cay and several other islands do have smaller, local airports, which makes flying on a private-class plane the best way to get there.
While a ferry from Nassau to the Exumas is an option that many people choose, flying by plane is ultimately the better choice: Nassau to Exuma Day Trip. It allows you to reach the area from Florida or Nassau in a fraction of the time it would otherwise take. It’s also a much more comfortable experience than the boat rides.
If you’re curious how to get to Exuma Bahamas, know that air travel is the easiest way!
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park 101
As mentioned, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is an area in the Exumas. It’s a protected area that stretches from Shroud Cay in the north down to Bell Cay in the south. Throughout the area, laws prohibit fishing, shelling, conching, lobstering, and anything else that would remove living or dead organisms from the park.
If someone poaches or otherwise violates park laws, fines and the confiscation of vessels may be a mandated consequence. While those laws might sound strict, they help preserve local wildlife, ensuring that the remarkable creatures that call the area home stay safe and protected at all times.
Since the laws first passed in 1958, other countries in the Caribbean have created similar reserves. Exuma Cays adventures in the region support the reserve and also allow you to experience the biological diversity present.
The Wildlife
The park encompasses several distinct biomes, all with their own share of flora and fauna. From mangrove forests and seagrass meadows to colorful coral reefs, you could spend days and weeks just trying to see some of the many animals that call these spaces home.
A skeleton of a sperm whale on display at Warderick Wells Cay.
For example, the Bahamian rock iguana has a population of less than 5,000. After decades of habitat destruction and agricultural growth, the reptile’s numbers declined drastically. However, it’s stabilized in recent years, thanks in large part to the efforts of the park.
Likewise, the park is also a spot where the Caribbean spiny lobster can grow in shallow and deep water reefs without fear of disturbance. This has had a spillover effect in nearby regions, helping to stabilize populations that would otherwise have continued to decline.
While countless other endangered animals call the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park home, another one you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for is the hutia. This large rodent is only found on a few remaining islands in the country.
If you’re ever wondering what to do in Exumas, make time to appreciate the local wildlife!
Exuma Cays Adventures in the Region
We already discussed how Bahamas day trips by plane from Miami or Nassau are one of the best ways to experience the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. But what can you expect from Exuma Cays adventures in the region?
Here are some of the highlights.
Staniel Cay
When you travel on a day trip with Bahamas Air Tours, you’ll use Staniel Cay as your base of operations in the region. That’s because the island features a small airport that’s perfect for the private-class plane you’ll fly in to get there.
While you might not find any endangered animals on the island, Staniel Cay is famous and unique for other reasons. For one, it’s beautiful and drops your right into the heart of the Exumas. Nearby attractions like Thunderball Grotto and a sunken plane wreck also are just a short boat ride away, ensuring that you’re never far away from local attractions. The island also features a famous Staniel Cay Yacht Club where you can eat lunch.
The crystal-clear waters around Staniel Cay.
Sandbars at Pipe Creek
Sandbars are a unique element of many tropical ecosystems. However, aside from their biological importance, they’re also beautiful.
The sandbars at Pipe Creek showcase the beauty of the Bahamas and the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. When you arrive at low tide, you’ll be able to walk around on them, making you feel like you’re floating in the sea. As the tides come in, you’ll see the sand around you slowly become submerged.
Picture-perfect sandbars in the Exumas.
Keep a quality camera on hand, as you’re going to want to take many pictures!
The Exuma Pigs at Pig Beach
While pigs might be an endangered or unique animal, the Exuma Pigs on Big Major Cay (or as it’s nicknamed, Pig Island) is another one of the highlights in the region.
The pigs inhabit an island home that’s completely devoid of people. There aren’t any full-time residents that live along with them, giving them free rein over the island. However, because farmers used to travel by boat to feed them in the past, the pigs have become conditioned to expect food when boats arrive. That’s made them friendly and eager to greet any arrivals on their island.
The Exuma pigs might not be endangered, but they’re still a highlight of the region.
When you travel with Bahamas Air Tours, you’ll stop at Big Major Cay and get to see the Exuma pigs up close. As you walk on the beach with them and even swim alongside them, you’ll find it impossible not to have a smile on your face.
What to Do in Exumas? See All of the Amazing Sites!
While the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park might be more remote than other parts of the country, the Exumas are a region you can’t miss out on. The park protects unique and endangered animals, ensuring that their populations remain stable. It’s also beautiful and a fantastic place to explore!
Bahamas Air Tours makes reaching the Exumas easy. When you sign up for a Staniel Cay day tour, you’ll fly out to several of the top sites in the area, then head back to Nassau or Florida that evening.
Make your dream trip a reality by signing up for a tour today!
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