Exuma Park moorings: how to get a ball, call ahead and pay

Boaters searching for an Exuma Park mooring reservation are looking for something that does not exist. The park runs on a simple rule: you arrive, you get a ball, and only then do you pay. This page explains how that works at each field, so you can plan a day on the water without relying on a booking.

No reservations, and what that means

The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park does not take reservations¹. Pre-payment does not constitute a reservation or guarantee a mooring¹.

In practice this changes how you plan. You cannot lock in a night at a field six weeks ahead, so build a second choice into every day: another field, or an anchorage where anchoring is allowed. The anchoring rules page explains where you can drop the hook and where you cannot.

Warderick Wells: call ahead on VHF 09

Moorings inside Warderick Wells, including the Warderick Wells North, Emerald Rock and Pirates Lair fields, require boaters to call in advance on VHF channel 09 to request a mooring¹. Call “Exuma Park”².

The radio call is a request, not a booking. Keep your plan flexible until you have a ball. If you want more detail on the headquarters and the cay itself, see the Warderick Wells headquarters page.

The other fields: first come, first served

All mooring fields outside of Warderick Wells operate on a first-come, first-served basis¹. You do not request a ball. If one is free, you take it. If every ball is taken, you move on or anchor where anchoring is allowed.

Because nothing is held for you, arriving with daylight to spare keeps your options open. Use the weather windows guide to pick the day, and the Exuma Bank or Sound guide to pick the route that gets you to the park with daylight to spare.

Pay after you have a ball

Visitors must secure a mooring before making a payment¹. Payment goes through the Trust’s ParkPay app or site¹.

All marine and park fees carry Bahamas 10% VAT, added at checkout since 1 January 2022¹. Pick the product that matches your boat type and length, and the number of days you will stay. The Trust’s ParkPay page is the source for current prices, so check it on the day you pay.

What a ball costs

The park prices moorings by boat length, per day, in Bahamian dollars (BSD). Two examples for a private boat, before VAT¹:

Boat length	Daily mooring rate
Up to 39’11”	BSD 27.271
40’ to 49’11”	BSD 36.361

Charter vessels pay an additional BSD 14.00 per person per day on top of the mooring and anchorage fee¹. The complete table, with anchoring, landing and camping fees, is on the park fees and mooring fees page. For annual passes, email exumapark@bnt.bs¹.

Reaching the park office

The park office answers on VHF channel 09 when you call “Exuma Park”². Its hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to noon on Sunday². The office is on a remote small island, so contacting it can sometimes be challenging².

If a call does not connect, wait and try again rather than assuming the answer is no. The VHF channels guide lists the other channels boaters use in the Exumas.

Moorings outside the park

Not every ball in the Exumas belongs to the park. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club, an operator and not the Trust, offers 21 balls for daily or nightly rental³. Its rates and booking terms are the club’s own and are separate from the Trust’s charges, so read the club’s marina page before you rely on it³.

Planning the whole trip? Start from the boating hub, where every guide for clearing in, moorings, weather and routes is linked. Chartering instead of bringing your own boat? The Exumas yacht charter guide covers the options.

Quick checklist

• Call “Exuma Park” on VHF 09 before you head into Warderick Wells¹.
• Take an open ball at any other field; there is no booking¹.
• Pay in ParkPay once you are on the ball¹.
• Keep a second field or an allowed anchorage in mind for each day.