What to pack for an Exumas boat trip: gear, documents and park rules

Packing for the Exumas is mostly about the park rules, not the weather. Several things people pack by habit, from fireworks to a pet on a leash, run into Exuma Park rules. This page covers what to bring and what to leave on the dock.

Documents to carry

Every traveler who is not a citizen or legal resident of The Bahamas must present a passport valid for at least six months at the time of entry². Check the expiry date before you book, not at the airport. Travelers from some countries must also hold a return or onward ticket and may be asked for proof of funds to support the stay².

On arrival everyone fills out and signs an immigration form, and an oral baggage declaration is required². Keep the passport and a pen in a dry bag you can reach without unpacking, so the form takes a minute, not a search.

If you arrive on your own boat, the paperwork is different: Customs clears the vessel and sells the cruising permit. The cruising permit cost guide has the table, and the Bahamas customs by boat guide covers the steps.

Footwear and sun cover

Flip-flops, walking sandals or water shoes are the order of the day on a catamaran charter⁵. The same logic holds on a day trip: you step off a boat into shallow water more often than onto a dock.

For the sun, the CDC’s Bahamas page advises sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, protective clothing and shade³. Long-sleeved sun shirts and a hat cover what sunscreen leaves exposed.

Snorkel gear

Pack a mask, snorkel and fins⁴.

See the snorkel sites in Exuma Park for where the reefs are. A short-sleeved rash guard keeps the sun off your back while you float.

Trash: pack it out

Trash disposal is not available within Exuma Park. Take out everything you bring into Exuma Park¹.

This is the rule that changes how you pack. Bring a few heavy-duty bags and a small container with a lid for food waste. Choose bottles and snacks with little packaging, and decant what you can into reusable containers before you leave the dock. Everything that goes in the park comes back out with you. If you see trash on the trails or beaches, pick it up and ask park headquarters where to dispose of it¹. Stay on marked trails¹.

What to leave behind

Open fires and fireworks are not permitted in Exuma Park, and portable stoves are for cooking only¹. A beach bonfire, sparklers or a small fire pit have no place in the packing list.

The park is a no-take zone: no fishing, conching, shelling or lobstering, and nothing living or dead may be removed from within its boundaries¹. Do not pack a fishing rod for park waters or a bag for shells. Poaching brings fines and confiscation of vessels¹. The no-take zone guide explains where the line sits.

Pets are restricted to beaches only, with none allowed on trails or in the brush¹. Captive wild species, native or non-native, and barnyard animals are prohibited from park property¹. A dog on a boat can go ashore only on a beach.

Camping gear

Campers need a permit, which costs $250 and is valid for a maximum of 10 days¹. Camping is only allowed at Hawksbill, Warderick Wells and O’Briens¹. Tell park headquarters at least two weeks before the planned date so your stay does not clash with other park users¹.

Tents go up on beaches only¹. Pack a portable stove for cooking, since open fires are banned and stoves are for cooking only¹. Add enough bags to carry out all your trash, because the same no-disposal rule applies to campers¹. The full list of fees and permits sits on the park fees page.

Before you go

Pack any prescription medicine in your carry-on, in original packaging. The CDC’s Bahamas page suggests considering medical evacuation insurance³; the travel insurance guide covers what to check in a policy. For the season, see the best time to visit the Exumas. The plan hub lists the rest of the planning pages.