Lucayan National Park Named Among Top Ten Caribbean Attractions by USA Today

January 18th, 2023 – Nassau, Bahamas

Grand Bahama’s Lucayan National Park (LNP) was recently named among the top ten attractions in the Caribbean by USA Today.

The ranking was bestowed upon the park by voters of the news company’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards 2023. The LNP ranked seventh overall.

The Lucayan National Park is one of 32 national parks managed by The Bahamas National Trust (BNT), and three in Grand Bahama. It is known for protecting one of the world’s largest charted underwater cave systems; and an array of healthy ecosystems, including pine forests, mangroves, coral reefs, and the world-famous Gold Rock Beach. Established in 1982 and expanded in 2015, this national park plays a significant role in the economy of Grand Bahama, supporting the livelihoods of many Bahamians on the island.

The Lucayan National Park is currently receiving several major upgrades which aim to transform it into a fully functional, world-class national park destination, especially after it was significantly impacted by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. These upgrades include the construction of a gift shop, welcome centre, and additional visitor experiences. There are also several natural resource management projects underway, including dune restoration and invasive species removal. 

BNT Executive Director Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle said, “The Lucayan National Park is a vital component of the Grand Bahamian economy. It’s the ‘bread and butter’ for many tour guides, taxi drivers, and other small business owners, and is the second most visited park in the national park system. The park, including Gold Rock Beach, consistently wins top awards as one of the Caribbean’s premiere outdoor attractions. Thanks to several donors and partners, it is currently going through a major transformation which will greatly improve the visitor experience.” 

USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards asks readers to pick their favorites from 20 nominees in categories of food, lodging, destinations, etc. selected by travel experts. 

The notable win for the LNP  tops off a celebratory year following the park’s 40th anniversary in June 2022. Its anniversary was hailed by the soft opening of its gift shop and the groundbreaking of its welcome centre. The BIOPAMA project funded the gift shop, and the welcome centre was partially funded by donors who attended the BNT’s Cuban Pig Roast event in 2019.

To learn more about the role the BNT plays to manage terrestrial and marine national parks, protect species that inhabit them, and inform environmental policy, please visit its website: www.bnt.bs and follow/subscribe to various social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.