Shroud Cay: tidal creek rules, park status and what to know before you go

Shroud Cay is the northern end of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. The park runs from Shroud Cay in the north to Bell Cay in the south¹. The park rules apply here, and one rule belongs to this cay alone: the tidal creeks.

Can you take a dinghy into the Shroud Cay creeks?

The north tidal creek on Shroud Cay is a strict Idle Speed/No Wake Zone. Motorized vessels are prohibited from entering any of the other tidal creeks in Shroud Cay².

In the north creek the limit is idle speed with no wake. In every other tidal creek on the cay, motorized vessels may not enter at all². The operator Yacht Warriors describes Sanctuary Creek as the creek that allows motorized vessels at idle speed⁶; follow the Trust’s rule above. The same operator says to jump in a kayak or paddleboard to explore the other shallow creeks and estuaries⁶.

Park-wide, all vessels, including dinghies and jet skis, run at idle speed in any mooring field or anchorage². Jet skis stay at least 300 yards off any moored or anchored vessel². The dinghy rules page covers the rest of the crew’s rules.

What is the Shroud Cay lazy river and when can you float it?

Yacht Warriors calls Shroud Cay one of its top spots in the Exumas and names the Sanctuary Creek waterslide and the hike to Camp Driftwood as the highlights⁶. It advises checking the tides so you float the Sanctuary Creek lazy river on a mid-to-high rising tide⁶. Its seven-day itinerary makes the same point: the river is only passable on a mid or high tide⁹.

A 2023 report from Lindblad Expeditions describes the Washing Machine as a place where water flowing in and out of the mangroves causes a natural lazy river⁷. Yacht Warriors places the trail to Camp Driftwood just north of the washing machine⁶.

What is Camp Driftwood?

Yacht Warriors describes Camp Driftwood as a well-used trail from the washing machine, easily found just to its north⁶. The operator says the camp was established in the 1960s by a sailor who lived aboard his boat inside Shroud Cay, and that not much is left of it now⁶. It also says the spot gained notoriety in the 1980s, when the DEA used it to spy on Pablo Escobar’s activities to the north at Norman’s Cay⁶. Those history claims are the operator’s own.

Norman’s Cay has its own page.

Where does Shroud Cay sit in the park?

The cay’s position is about 24.545°N, 76.786°W⁵. The cay is inside the park, at its northern end¹. At 24.545°N it falls between the latitudes of the park’s north-west corner (24°30′37″N 76°52′37″W) and north-east corner (24°35′30″N 76°45′50″W)^3,5. The park boundaries page lists all four, and the places hub shows how Shroud Cay relates to the other cays. For another cay in the park, see Hawksbill Cay; the park’s mooring fields have their own page.

Where can you anchor or pick up a mooring?

Anchoring is not permitted in the mooring fields, on coral reefs and certain other designated areas within the park². The park takes no reservations, and paying in advance does not guarantee a mooring⁴. Fees are paid through the Bahamas National Trust’s ParkPay app or site⁴.

Yacht Warriors suggests the North Shroud Cay anchorage if your vessel’s draft is suitable, and says it puts you close to the entrance of Sanctuary Creek⁶. It tells readers to check Garmin Active Captain for it⁶.

Park fees and mooring fees has the rates by boat length. Anchoring rules in the park covers where you can and cannot drop the hook. Fees change, so check the ParkPay page on the day you pay.

What wildlife can you see on Shroud Cay?

Yacht Warriors says the cay’s mangrove environment shelters many animals, including turtles, conch, lobster, nurse sharks and birds⁶. A 2023 Lindblad Expeditions outing reported sightings of green turtles and lemon sharks in the sandy shallows⁷. Staniel Cay Adventures lists hiking and bird watching as popular activities on Shroud Cay⁸. The wildlife guide covers the park’s animals.

On shore: trails, pets and camping

Stay on marked trails². Pets are restricted to beaches only, with none on trails or in the brush². Leashes may be no longer than six feet, and pets may not be tied to trees, bushes, tables or shelter facilities even when the owner is present².

Camping in the park is allowed only at Hawksbill, Warderick Wells and O’Brien’s². Shroud Cay is not one of them. Where camping is allowed, it needs a $250 permit valid for a maximum of 10 days, and campers notify park headquarters at least two weeks ahead². Open fires and fireworks are not permitted in the park². Trash disposal is not available within the park, so take out everything you bring in².

What does the no-take rule mean here?

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is a NO TAKE ZONE: no fishing, conching, shelling or lobstering. Nothing living or dead may be removed from within the boundaries of Exuma Park².

That includes shells and anything dead. Poaching violations bring fines and confiscation of vessels². The no-take zone guide explains the rule in full, and the park rules page lists every rule in one place.

Who do you call from Shroud Cay?

Call the park office as “Exuma Park” on VHF channel 09³. The office is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to noon on Sunday³. It is on a remote small island, so reaching it can sometimes be challenging³. Channel 16 is monitored 24 hours a day for emergencies, and you can contact the Bahamas Defence Force on VHF 16³.

To report suspicious activity, call “Exuma Park” on channel 09³. For the park’s headquarters, moorings and trails, see Warderick Wells, and for the rest of the radio routine see VHF channels in the Exumas.