With its pristine collection of virgin beaches, Cat Island is one of the most beautiful islands in the Bahamas, and the island is so seldom visited that has retained an inexpensive and undiscovered charm. Many local historians claim that Cat Island residents were the first to see the great explorer Columbus, who was believed by some to have been welcomed by the Arawaks.

GEOGRAPHY

Situated southeast of Eleuthera and north of Long Island and the Exumas, the boot-shaped Cat Island is the sixth largest island in the Bahamas and has the nation's highest point at Mt. Alvernia.

VISITING CAT ISLAND

Cat Island has one of the best climates in the Bahamas, with temperatures in the high 60s during the brief winters, rising to the mid-80s in summer. Its constant trade winds infuse the island with perennially comfortable days and nights year-round, and its beautiful beaches set the stage for an array of water sports. The island's north side is comprised of wild, untamed shoreline, but visitors can go swimming or snorkeling at several other locations around the island. Boating and diving are among the main reasons to go to Cat Island, and diving lessons are readily available for novices.

WHAT TO DO

Mt. Alvernia Hermitage
At 206 feet, Mount Alvernia is the highest point in the Bahamas and home to this monastery from the 1930's. The late Father Jerome painstakingly carved out the steps to the top of Mt. Alvernia, and is said to be entombed inside the stone building. The climb to the top is intense, but the sweeping views of the ocean on both sides are worth the steep hike.

Learn more about historic sites on Cat Island...

Fountain Bay Beach
Located near Bridge Inn around New Bight, this secluded strand boasts a natural inland fountain that flows for one mile into a lagoon. Bring your snorkel gear to explore the reefs, then picnic on this isolated stretch of shoreline.

Cat Island Beaches...