The Bahamas' Nature Sites

There is no denying that a vacation spent on the beaches of the Bahamas is a successful one, but futher inland there is much beauty to behold.  More than a dozen national parks and a handful of dazzling gardens dot the landscape, just waiting to be explored.  Make your vacation that much more special by taking some time to explore the natural side of the Bahamas. 

Bahamas National Trust

The Bahamas National Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and replenishment of the environment, as well as outdoors education. The trust makes contributions in caring for nearly all of the natural attractions listed below.

Gardens

Versailles Garden

Located on Paradise Island, the Versailles Garden showcases statues, beautifully crafted terraces, and traditional Bahamian landscaping. Located on property is the Cloisters, which is constructed of the pieces of a French monastery brought to the island in the 1920s.

Ardastra Gardens

Named for the phrase “Ardua astrum” which translates to “striving for the stars,” Ardastra Gardens is a garden, zoo, and conservation center. The facility houses rare animals such as Bahamian Boa Constrictors and Bahamian Rock Iguanas. Ardastra Gardens became famous in the 1950s for capturing and training the nearly extinct flamingos to do a marching dance for visitors.

Garden of the Groves

All though Hurricane Wilma did it's best to destroy the Garden of Groves when it struck the Bahamas in 2005, the Garden was quickly rebuilt and is currently open for visitors to tour. The 12-acre botanical garden features duck ponds, waterfalls, orchids, and the Grand Bahama Labyrinth.

National Parks

Abaco National Park

Abaco is the best island in the Bahamas for bird watching, so if you're interested in seeing rare species of bird during your trip, a visit to Abaco National Park is in order. The Park consists of 20,500 acres of land in South Abaco, 5,000 acres of which is forested land inhabited by the endangered Bahama Parrot.

West Side National Park

West Side National Park is an area of coastal wetlands in Andros that serves at a feeding area for the West Indian Flamingo, and the habitat of bonefish and conch.

Andros Barrier Reef National Park

One of the continuous barrier reefs in the world is located off the coast of Andros. As a national park, important areas of the reef are protected from unnatural damage.

Crab Replenishment National Park

Crab Replenishment National Park is home to the best land crab habitat in Andros. This area is kept as a national park to ensure that land crabs do not become extinct in the future.

Blue Holes National Park

Andros Island has the most Blue Holes per land area than anywhere else in the world. Blue Holes National Park protects these anomalies.

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is both a land and marine park. Coral reef gardens are the focus of the underwater portion, while unusual wildlife, such as the Hutia Geocapromys ingrahami, makes the land park unique.

Harrold & Wilson Ponds National Park

Established in 2002, Harrold & Wilson Ponds is located in New Providence. The Park has been established as the Bahamas first Watchable Wildlife Pond, and features 250 acres of birds and sea life.

Inagua National Park

Since the 1960s, Inagua National Park has been the world's largest breeding ground of West Indian Flamingos. Wild donkeys and other species of bird occupy the park grounds, which is made beautiful by bonsai trees.

Lacayan National Park

40 acres on Grand Bahama is dedicated to the Lacayan National Park. This is where one of the world's largest underwater cave systems is located. The park is also unique in that all of the Bahamian vegetative zones are present.

Moriah Harbour Cay

Moriah Harbour Cay is an area of protected coast land in Great Exuma that includes beaches, sand dunes, bird habitats, and mangrove creeks.

BNT Rand Nature Centre

Downtown Freeport is home to 100 acres of pine forest featuring Bahamian vegetation and wild life. Located on property are 2,000 feet of trails, the offices of Bahamas National Trust, and the Gloria Banks Art Gallery.

The Retreat Garden National Park

The Retreat Garden National Park is 11 acres of one of the largest private collections of palm trees in the world. There are over 160 species located on the grounds, as well as a large collection of other native trees and vegetation.

Union Creek National Park

Union Creek National Park is comprised of nearly five thousand acres of enclosed tidal creeks that are the perfect habitat for Green Turtles. The Park serves as a living laboratory at which scientists and tourists can study turtle life.

Bonefish Pond National Park

1200 acres of wet lands in New Providence make up Bonefish Pond National Park. Living on property here are numerous species of birds, plants, and other wildlife. Of special importance are the reddish egrets, which make their homes in the park.

Don't spend your vacation cooped up in your hotel room with the AC cranking; natural attractions in the Bahamas provide a breath of fresh air. So, get out and explore all that Mother Nature has to offer at one of the many gardens and national parks on the islands.