Stretching south of Cat Island and east of the Exuma chain, Long Island is home to famed offshore diving sites, such as the Arawak green hole – a stunning "bottomless" hole that's actually a captivating shade of blue. The best beach bets include Deal's Beach, Cape Santa Maria Beach, Salt Pond Beach, Turtle Cove Beach, and the South End beaches, the latter offering miles of waterfront with powdery white or pink sands.
Most historians agree that Long Island was the third island Columbus sailed to during his first voyage of discovery. The native Lucayans, or Arawaks, who had come from South America via Cuba, called their island Yuma, but Columbus renamed it Fernandina, in honor of King Ferdinand, and then claimed it for Spain.
Nearly 80 miles from end to end, Long Island is only 4 miles across at its widest point. Among its visual treasures are its high cliffs in the north, shallow sand beaches throughout, and an abundance of historic plantation ruins, native caves, and Spanish churches that span its variant landscapes, including dense forest, mangroves, and salt flats.
VISTING LONG ISLAND
Tourism is picking up on Long Island in recent years, with diving, snorkeling and fishing excursions among the main draws for visitors. The settlements of Cape Santa Maria and Stella Maris to the north offer a selection of petite beachfront resorts and some of the loveliest stretches of beach on the island, while the larger Deadman's Cay and Clarence Town settlements in the south are busier and offer more dining options and historical shops and buildings to explore.
WHAT TO DO
Cape Santa Maria
The Caribbean enjoys countless postcard-perfect beaches in its crystal blue waters, but Cape Santa Maria is regarded as one of the best - and not just in the region, but around the world. Spend the day with a book and a picnic lunch, or take a short stroll to Columbus Cove - a monument to Columbus' arrival that offers stunning views.
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