Clifton Heritage National Park: Bahamas' Premier Site for History, Nature, and Underwater Art

The scrub forests, wetlands, beaches, and historic relics of Clifton Heritage National Park were nearly lost to tourist developments but were preserved in 2000, safeguarding a vital part of the Bahamas' natural and cultural heritage. Renowned for its surreal underwater sculpture garden, the park also features significant colonial and pre-colonial sites—perfect for a day trip from Nassau while exploring New Providence.

Exploring Clifton Heritage National Park

As the Bahamas' youngest national park, saved from development in 2000, Clifton Heritage showcases the full spectrum of human history on the islands. Nestled in lush coppiced woodlands and wetlands, it includes remnants of the Loyalist-era Whylly Plantation, artworks by Bahamian artists, and sacred sites of the original Lucayan people.

Perched on a dramatic cliff, the Whylly Plantation features restored huts and stone walls from the owners' mansion, gradually reclaimed by nature. These structures highlight the cotton plantation era in Bahamian history, often overshadowed by today's beaches and resorts. Guided tours provide deep insights into the site's complex past, offering a peaceful contrast to Nassau's bustle.

The cliffs descend to picturesque beaches famous for movie cameos: Jaws Beach for safe swimming and snorkeling, Flipper Beach from the dolphin film starring young Elijah Wood, and Johnston Beach from The Bachelorette. Wildlife sightings like sharks or dolphins are rare, but romantic encounters aren't.

Underwater, the Sir Nicolas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden features Jason de Caires Taylor's monumental Ocean Atlas—a Bahamian girl bearing the ocean's future—alongside other statues encrusted with marine life. Launched in 2014 by the Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation, it's accessible via snorkel for BS$22.50 (or BS$50 with gear rental), supporting reef conservation.

Getting to Clifton Heritage National Park

Located at New Providence's western tip, the park is best reached by taxi, rental car, or scooter, as buses from Nassau don't extend this far. Nearby, Adelaide Village—settled by freed enslaved people—offers a sandy beach where snorkelers might spot harmless nurse sharks.