Posted by: travadmin on Apr 06, 2004 – 08:06 PM
ecotourism  Mesmerized by the pale-jade waters of Great Bahama Bank and the schools of multicolored fish that call this home, you look up only to see a tropical bird, with its three-foot-long tail feather floating in the breeze. Then you resume your paddling with your sole purpose-to find another lovely crescent of sand to pitch your tent that evening.

Welcome to your daily existence on a sea-kayaking tour of Bahama’s Exuma Islands. While daily sightings of exotic birds and neon fish are common, Homo sapiens are rarely seen or heard outside your own flock. Days are spent kayaking, picnicking on long stretches of beach where only birds have left footprints, and taking breaks snorkeling in the soothing ocean near reefs coated with green coral, lavender sea fans, parrot fish, and angelfish. At night, you find another vacant sandbar and lull yourself into a deep sleep listening to the waves rushing ashore.

Emma Thomas / Starfish. Sea kayaking in the Bahamas’ Exuma Islands

No wonder the Exumas, a mostly uninhabited, 130-mile-long archipelago that stretches southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas to the Tropic of Cancer, is starting to attract attention among the paddling set. Fly from Miami on American Eagle’s daily flight to George Town on Great Exuma Island. Once there, the people at Starfish (877/398-6222, www.kayakbahamas.com) will escort you to the beach at Coco Plum to start your journey. They rent kayaks (starting at $160/week) and can provide camping equipment and suggested itinerary. Most of the islands you’ll be sleeping on are within view of Great Exuma Island, so it’s virtually impossible to lose your way. Purchase food in George Town and be prepared to bring at least a gallon of water per person per day aboard your kayak. Too much sun without hydration and you might go loco on Coco. Starfish also rents sailboats ($85/day) out of George Town.

Note: By Stephen Jermanok Budget Travel