CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons (Joachim Greiner / Wikivoyage user Jamaicajoe), map of Conception IslandPermit· Conception Island· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Conception Island National Park
23° 50.1′ N · 75° 6.8′ W
A 30,000-acre Bahamas National Trust park covering uninhabited Conception Island, Booby Cay, South Rocks and the surrounding bank: pink- and white-sand beaches, sandstone cliffs, a mangrove creek full of green turtles, and some of the healthiest reefs in the southern Bahamas.
Practical
Managed by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). The BNT page gives 1964 in its history and 1978 in its header as the establishment date. The whole park is protected: Noonsite says anchoring and landing are allowed but absolutely nothing may be taken or left, and Southern Boating's summary is 'take nothing, leave only footprints'. Treat it as no-take (no fishing, spearing, shelling or conch). 4-knot speed limit inside the creek; do not harass turtles. There is no warden on site, no infrastructure, no water, fuel, trash disposal or cell service, and no nearby shelter - BNT warns swell can build quickly. BNT lists a park admission fee page but publishes no fee for Conception; check bnt.bs before you go. Position is the park centroid from Wikipedia/Protected Planet.
Best for
The wildest national park a cruiser can reach in the southern Bahamas
Season
Nov-May in settled easterlies; leave before westerlies
Nearby
- Conception Bank silver boa0.1 NM away
- Conception Island settlement ruins0.6 NM away
- BNT bird well (Conception)0.8 NM away
- Conception Island East Bay Anchorage0.9 NM away
- Conception Island Creek (dinghy tour)1 NM away
- Conception Island West Bay Anchorage1 NM away
- Winter cold fronts at Conception1 NM away
- Conception Island hiking trails1.1 NM away