Moriah Harbour Cay National Park borders Hartswell, giving the area a clear connection to nature. The park protects 22,833 acres of beaches, sand dunes, blue holes, coral reefs, mangrove creeks, coppice forests and seagrass meadows. Sea turtles are also part of the park’s wildlife. Its landscape combines open coastal areas with reefs and vegetated habitats. This variety appeals to travelers looking for more than one type of landscape at a destination.
Reefs, trails and park experiences
Near Hartswell, the snorkeling reefs at Fowl Cay are among the Moriah Harbour Cay National Park’s most important visitor experiences at present. Other key park experiences include hiking trails on Moriah Harbour Cay, Basil’s Classroom and trails at the eastern end of Stocking Island. Fowl Cay is the specific snorkeling destination; the trails offer hikes at two named locations within the park area.
Activities around Moriah Harbour Cay
For Moriah Harbour Cay and its surroundings, the park lists kayaking, snorkeling, kiteboarding, bonefishing, hiking and photography as things to do. The options combine activities on and in the water—such as kayaking, snorkeling and kiteboarding—with hiking, photography and bonefishing as a distinct type of fishing. This means the range extends beyond reef snorkeling and lets visitors choose according to their different interests.
Exuma as the wider setting
The wider destination of Exuma is made up of Great Exuma, Little Exuma and the Exuma Cays. Hartswell’s specific local reference is the adjoining Moriah Harbour Cay National Park; the island groupings also place Hartswell within the wider Exuma setting.
Another natural attraction in Exuma is Thunderball Grotto, an underwater cave system with marine life and coral reefs. Visitors can snorkel, dive and wade there; at low tide, they can swim through it. Tides and conditions affect these activities. The grotto also served as a filming location for the James Bond films “Thunderball” (1965) and “Never Say Never Again” (1983). Exuma therefore offers a cave experience alongside the coastal landscapes of Moriah Harbour Cay National Park.
A different natural setting in Exuma is Tropic of Cancer Beach on Little Exuma, also known as Pelican Beach. This crescent-shaped beach, with white sand and blue-green water, is the longest beach on Little Exuma. Exuma thus offers caves and beaches as distinct natural settings.
Use the natural setting to plan your trip
When searching for hotels in Hartswell, the park’s location can serve as a local point of reference: the national park borders the area, while Thunderball Grotto and Tropic of Cancer Beach are separate natural attractions within the wider destination of Exuma.
Discover more destinations: Steventon, Alexander, Moss Town, Rokers Point Settlement, Farmer's Hill, William's Town, George Town
Go to the main travel overview: Exuma.
