Event: Bahamas

Lucayan National Park

When:	Daily
Where:	Lucayan National Park
Costs:	A small fee is charged to non-residents; kayaking is extra
Opening Hours:	All year round; visitor access is restricted June-July (nesting season for bats in caves)

Lucayan is the most splendid of the Bahamas' 12 national parks. Luscious pine forests and one of the largest underwater cave networks in the world are highlights of the 40-acre conservation area. Kayaking tours along the park's Gold Rock Creek are available for those keen to combine sightseeing with a bit of exercise.

Among the mangroves, orchids, rare animals and insects of the park are the entrances to a cave network so vast it hasn't even been mapped yet. Visitors can enter into the crystal clear pools at Ben's Cave or Burial Ground Cave, but make sure to time your visit right: the caves are closed from early spring to summer in order to protect the migrating bats that retreat there in order to safely bring up their young.

The park, named after the aborigines who lived there long before the arrival of Columbus, boasts five separate ecosystems that visitors can experience and learn about. A giant sand dune and a breathtaking beach, Gold Rock Beach (where good swimmers can go snorkelling) are further must-sees.