Fly Away Sailboat: Hawksbill Cay, Warderick Wells Cay, and Bell's Island, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

In February we enter the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a protected national Bahamian park that has 15 major cays, encompasses 176 square miles, and stretches 22 miles from Wax Cay Cut south of Norman's Cay to Conch Cut by Bell's Island.

Gordon and Jean pose by the Park sign when we enter at Hawksbill Cay

We enter the park and moor at a mooring ball at Hawksbill Cay. Tacks Free, Fair Winds, and Fly Away are the only boats moored. A sailboat anchors later in the evening, but we are essentially the only boats! This paradise is ours...

The white sandy beaches and hills to climb at Hawksbill Cay

We see a hill with a huge cairn - a must climb. The beaches are pristine sandy white and the water clear pool water. The best anchorage yet!

We reluctantly leave Hawksbill and go south to Warderick Wells Cay, the park headquarters. It's lovely, too, and very popular. The North anchorage is full, so we circle around to Emerald Rock and join Tacks Free and find Lord Charlton, too! We meet Rick and Robin on Endangered Species, a Voyage 430 Catamaran. They are just back from a 12 year circumnavigation.

Tacks Free by Emerald Rock which we all snorkelled

Gordon is 60 feet up to the top of Tacks Free mast
looking to solve the anchor light problem

A relieved Jeannie rests on the bean bag on bow of Tacks Free
after Gordon is safely down on the deck.

One of my favorite pictures - so much is going on,
dinghies, laser, stand up paddle board, sailboats!

We hike. We snorkel. We enjoy!!

Margaret and Jeannie can't resist a tree pose on knotty tree

Bananaquita bird

Night Heron

Oyster Catcher

Hutia - an adorable pest on Warderick. Enjoys all the Sundowners!

We continue south with the next weather window to Harbor Bay at Bell's Island. We hike Cambridge Cay to see Bell's Rock. This is the last island in the park.