Allan Cay is strictly for nature lovers and conservationists. It is the home to some endangered species like the Audubon Shearwater and the gentle but fearsome looking iguanas. Access is limited to boat with no wheelchair access. Activity on the cay is limited to walking, swimming and diving. A walk to the signing tree, where a plethora of items hanging from it naming cruise ships, sporting teams, visitors’ names and even blog web addresses have been left by visitors to the cay. The iguanas are partial to fruit and vegetables, particularly lettuce, which you can feed to them. They are a protected species and care should be taken during any interaction with them. There is nowhere to buy food on the cay and you should take your own food with you, remembering to take away with you any packaging or bottles.
At the northern end of the Exuma Land and Sea Park, Hawksbill Cay is a gorgeous uninhabited island boasting some of the best loyalist ruins in the whole of the Bahamas. A vision of limestone cliffs, shallow silver sandbars, azure waters, and towering palms, Hawksbill Cay is a magnificent spot for yacht charters. Captains love to drop anchor here thanks to the pleasant trade winds, the warm air and water temperatures, and the consistency of conditions. For history lovers, it is well worth exploring the nature-tangled walls of the former loyalist settlement that date back to the 18th century when loyalists to the English crown came and settled on the island. Water lovers will be in their element as Hawksbill Cay boasts endless scope for swimming, snorkeling, and walking the length of the silver starlit sands.
Sitting adjacent to the Exuma Land and Sea Park, Wax Cay is an exquisite private island and the perfect stop for immersing yourself in a barefoot luxury experience. The island itself is all mangrove creeks, sweet sandbanks, blissful beaches, and protected coral reefs. The trade winds bring a soft and sweet breeze and lush vegetation cloaks the land. Active charter guests will love the hiking trails that wrap around the generous 125 acre island, finding a number of scattered secluded beaches for picnics. There’s a wealth of water activities on offer, from sports fishing to snorkelling, kayaking, and even kiteboarding. Back on the main part of the island and you can wine and dine in style or practice yoga at the pavilion overlooking the sparkling cerulean sea. Of course, the Exuma Land and Sea Park is right on your doorstep.
Norman’s Cay was once a major trans-shipment base for smuggling of cocaine from Colombia to the USA. The operation was closed down, the cay will become a tourist resort being now privately owned. Apart from beaches, one of the diving sites is a sunken aeroplane once used by drug smugglers. The cay has a single eatery which serves Bahamian and Caribbean food.