Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Norman's Cay
One look at the stunning beaches and you'll understand why 4-mile-long Norman's Cay
was once an idyllic hideaway for the wintering wealthy, and then a less salubrious crowd.
In the 1970s, most of the island was bought by Colombian drug lord Caelos Lehder Rivas.
After his arrest and extradition to the US in 1987, his land was confiscated by the Bahami-
an government and sold to private investors. The bonefishing here is said to be superb.
Norman's Cay Beach Club at MacDuff's
( 242-357-8846;
www.ncbcmacduffs.com
;
r $250; ) has four one-bedroom villas that will sleep 16
people in all. The villas are pleasantly decorated and come with an equipped kitchen. Water
sports are offered, and food can be stocked by arrangement. The restaurant and bar here is
a popular lunch spot for yachties.
Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park
This park is an unspoilt underwater idyll teeming with all sorts of fish and marine life that
scarcely notice your presence as they dart through a labyrinth of vast caverns, through blue
holes and along miles of reef. It's the first marine 'replenishment nursery' in the world. The
park consists of 175 sq miles of protected islands and surrounding seas, and was created in
1958. All fishing and collecting is banned. No marine or plant life, whether dead or alive,
may be taken from here, including shells. Fish spawned in the park have now been proven
to be breeding further afield and replenishing overfished areas, to everyone's delight.
The park runs 22 miles south from Wax Cay Cut (immediately south of Norman's Cay)
to Conch Cut and Fowl Cay. It is 8 miles wide, extending 3½ miles east and west on each
side of the islands. It has outstanding anchorages and even more outstanding dive sites.
On land, you may glimpse the Bahamian mockingbird, Bahamian banana quit, or the rare
red-legged thrush. Sea birds abound, including terns, waders, and the elegant, long-tailed
tropicbird, which nests in high bluffs. Land animals include curly-tailed and blue-tailed liz-
ards, plump iguanas and endangered hutias, which look like oversized guinea pigs.
With no commercial development, the main cays in the park's vicinity are perfect for
camping. There are no facilities, however, and you will need to take all food and water
with you. The
Bahamas National Trust
(BNT; 242-225-1783;
www.bnt.bs
;
Warderick
Wells Cay; 9am-noon & 3-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat) has posted information leaflets
on several cays; park access is free.
Apart from day tours to the park from Staniel Cay or Nassau or kayaking tours from Ge-
orge Town, your best bet is to hire a boat and camping gear from George Town and enjoy
exploring this wonderful region in your own time. Boaters must anchor at Hog Cay at the
south end of Warderick Wells Cay. Moorings cost from $15 per day, depending on your
vessel's length. Call 'Exuma Park' on VHF 16 at least 24 hours in advance to check avail-
ability.
