West Side National Park

The West Side National Park covers the entire western flank of Andros, an enormous mosaic of tidal creeks, mangrove, mudflat and shallow bank that is by far the largest protected area in the Bahamas. Nothing reaches it by road. The flats are the nursery for a very large share of the country's bonefish, along with lobster, conch and snapper, which is why it was protected, and the shallows carry flamingos, ospreys and enormous numbers of shorebirds. It is one of the emptiest places in the region.

What you actually see

• The tidal creeks - a maze of channels and mangrove covering the western shore.
• The bonefish flats - shallow banks that nurse a large part of the national fishery.
• The birdlife - flamingos, ospreys and shorebirds across the mudflats.
• The emptiness - a protected area the size of a small country with no roads at all.

When to go

November to April is the dry season and the best for both fishing and birds. Tides govern everything on the flats. Hurricane season runs June to November and Andros is exposed.

Honest expectations

There is no access without a boat and a guide who knows the water; the flats are shallow, unmarked and easy to strand a boat on. There are no facilities of any kind, no shelter and no phone signal. Most visitors see it on a guided bonefishing day rather than as a park visit.

Nearby

Andros Town is on the eastern side of the island, and the Andros barrier reef is offshore to the east.