QUASART'S ONE WEEK SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR
NASSAU AND THE NORTHERN EXUMA CAYS
The Exuma Cays lie in an all but unbroken chain from Beacon Cay in the North to the islands of Great and Little Exuma in the South. They form possibly the most beautiful cruising ground in the western hemisphere. Settlements are small and picturesque, the people friendly and courteous. The water is crystal clear, a vivid rainbow of blues, and beneath the surface lies a treasure trove of coral reefs and schools of fish to charm even the most seasoned snorkeler.
DAY 1. Nassau – Rose Island (12 nautical miles, about 1.5 hrs)
Take a dip and unwind in the cool blue ocean, snorkel out to a nearby shallow reef, or simply walk along the powder-white beach.
DAY 2. Rose Island – Allen’s Cay (44NM, about 5.5 hrs )
The Allan’s Cay grouping contains the well known Leaf Cay; one of the few remaining habitats of iguanas in the Bahamas. A dinghy ride to this unique spot is a “must do”. Standing quietly, guests will be charmed to see first one and then another iguana come forward to get a closer look. In a matter of minutes, the beach will be dotted with 20 to 30 of these odd but loveable creatures poised silently in the sand. Swim or kayak in the sheltered turquoise waters off this special island.
DAY 3. Allen’s Cay – Hawksbill Cay (22NM, about 2 hrs 45 mins)
An uninhabited cay owned by Exuma Park, has numerous soft sand beaches on both the western and eastern shores of the cay. The waters along the northern shore and in the southern cove of the cay are very shallow and ideal for snorkeling.
DAY 4. Hawksbill Cay – Staniel Cay (25NM, about 3 hrs)
This small island is known for its hospitality and Thunderball Grotto, one of the most outstanding snorkeling attractions in all of the Bahamas. While this hollowed out rock has been the location for the James Bond movies Thunderball and Never Say Never Again and also Splash, it lures snorkelers to enjoy a natural fishbowl... swim in at slack low tide (when the current takes about an hour break from its normal fast run), and enjoy many varieties of colorful fish, corals, sponges and other sea life. Weave through the grotto’s many entrances and passageways, escape to the outside through its holes. Gaze skyward when inside the amphitheater to see light streaming through the roof where rain has eroded natural skylights.
DAY 5. Staniel Cay – Warderwick Wells Cay (12NM, about 1.5 hrs)
Considered to be the most popular cay in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. The colors are awe inspiring and make this a lovely spot to moor while dining.
DAY 6. Warderwick Wells Cay – Shroud Cay (20NM, about 2.5 hrs )
An uninhabited cay owned by Exuma Park, is an archipelago of cays and rocks surrounding a shallow tidal mangrove salina which serves as a unique nursery for conch, crawfish (lobster), sea turtles, birds and many varieties of fish. Creeks are best explored by kayak as only non-motorized vessels are permitted to enter these pristine shallow estuaries that all dead-end in the mangroves.
DAY 7. Shroud Cay – Nassau (55NM, about 7 hrs)
After a relaxing breakfast, we will be under sail and heading back up to Paradise Island and Nassau Harbour. Even if you have no interest in the Atlantis Hotel, the Casino, or the beaches here, it is surreal to just observe the structure of this scale. The Aquarium, alone is worth the visit. There you’ll marvel at a walk-through tunnel surrounded by a reef, a glass-sided fish domain and the ‘Atlantis Dig,’ an archaeological fantasy world surpassed only by your imagination.
