Exuma Land and Sea National Park

On the northwest side of the stretch of islands and cays that forms this island paradise you will find Exuma Land and Sea National Park, a protected area that allows nature to stay in good health - and an area for us to enjoy.  We stayed three nights up there, cut off from Wifi and cell phone connection – just wonderful.  Enjoying hikes we visited BooBoo hills where sailors leave offerings to Neptune for good fortune and a longer hike on search of Stromatolites  - the earliest form of life on the planet – to be found here. On the way stopping by Pirates lair a fresh water hole where the pirates found fresh water and space to sleep while on land. We could almost see Captain Jack Sparrow walking up and down the beach…

Since we can’t scuba dive there (no air/tanks) we did some snorkeling instead – pretty good though. We intruded a nurse sharks reef and got checked out before he/she left us to it and found another reef. Usually the nurse sharks are sleeping under a rock, so it was a treat to see him swimming around – posing no threat to divers they are docile creatures with small mouths…

Rays – there are rays everywhere! And we most often see them from the dinghy cruising the shallows, small and large southern stingrays. The reefs seen here so far have not been in so pristine conditions we see in Bonaire, but yesterday we took a dinghyride up to a snorkelsite called Aquarium close to Cambridge Cay – a beautiful cay and bay where we ankered up for the night. Indeed is was like an aquarium, hundreds of fish, mainly sergeant major fish greeted us as we entered the water – it was packed fish fish on a beautiful healthy reef. A southern stingray dosing off at the seabed – not even bothered by Stein the fishman diving down to say Hi.

Now crusing southeast, we have good winds and are stopping at small settlements on our ways. A few not so small houses we can observe from the boat only, - this is the playground of the rich and famous. Passing by Overyounder Cay yesterday – a huge place with it’s own seaplane waiting outside we could only guess which celebrety was enjoying that luxury now. For us though this sailboat is perfect though, the real thing – life is easy and we are in the mercy of the winds – and our perfect hosts. Life on board this sailboat is just a treat we are so fortunate to experience, learning the science and art of sailing as we go along.