Cat Island

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City/Settlement

Arthur’s Town and Moss Town

Location

About 325 miles southeast of Miami and 130 miles southeast of Nassau/Paradise Island

Size

48 miles long and one to four miles wide

Population

Approximately 2,000

History

No one is quite sure how Cat Island acquired its name; however, this island has many lives.  A pirate and contemporary of Edward “Blackbeard” Teach, Arthur Catt was a frequent visitor to the island, which is one explanation of its name.  Others say the island resembles a feline sitting on its haunches when looking at it from above. 

For more than four centuries, Cat Island was actually called San Salvador, and many believed this was where Christopher Columbus first landed in the new world.  However, in 1926 a nearby island was redesignated San Salvador (as it is known today) and the name Cat Island was revived. British Loyalists who were fleeing the newly formed United States settled the island in 1783.  They established cotton plantations, but when the cotton industry failed and the slaves were freed, the people of Cat Island turned to farming peas, corn, potatoes and later growing pineapples.

Activities

Cat Island is the ideal spot for travelers looking for a quiet, secluded vacation. The island is fringed with miles of empty beaches, including an eight-mile pink sand beach.  World-class diving, snorkeling, fishing and miles of nature trails offer the opportunity for fun and adventure.  Check out the Blue Hole where inside the opening, divers often encounter schools of fish, large grouper and Caribbean reef sharks.

Airline Service

A number of airlines service Cat Island from South Florida:
Continental Connection (800-525-0280)
Island Express (954-359-0380)
Lynx Air (888-596-9247)

The following airlines depart Nassau and fly to Cat Island:
Bahamasair (800-222-4262)
Cat Island Air (242-377-3318)
Southern Air (242-377-2014)

Accommodations on Cat Island include:
Bridge Inn (242-342-3013)
Fernandez Bay Village (800-940-1905)
Greenwood Beach Resort& Dive Center (877-228-7475)
Hawk’s Nest Resort & Marina (800-688-4752)
Pigeon Cay Beach Club (242-354-5084)
Sammy T’s Resort (242- 354-6009)

Attractions

Deveaux Mansion: At Port Howe, one can see the ruins of the Deveaux Mansion, a two-story, white washed building formerly used as a cotton plantation and now overrun with wild vegetation.  Deveaux Mansion was once the home of Col. Andrew Deveaux of the U.S. Navy and was given to him as a reward for recapturing Nassau from the Spaniards in 1783.

Hermitage on Mt.Alvernia: The Hermitage, a small monastery at the summit of this mountain, remains shrouded in mystique even to this day.  Father Jerome, an Anglican seminarian turned Catholic priest who was well-known for having built cathedrals and convents throughout the islands, built the Hermitage and the rock staircase leading to it as a final act of religious dedication.

New Bight Beach: This active beach, located near the Government administration building, is the site of the annual Cat Island Regatta and is used by the locals for weekend dances and holiday picnics.

Other Information

U.S. currency is accepted and is interchangeable with the Bahamian dollar. In September through May, the temperature on the Island averages 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit; the rest of the year is warmer, with temperatures between 80 and 85 degrees. Night time temperatures are generally cooler by 5-7 degrees. The entry requirement for U.S. and Canadian residents is proof of citizenship, in the form of either a passport or an original, raised-seal birth certificate and a photo ID (e.g. a valid driver’s license). All U.S. citizens and foreign nationals traveling to the United States from The Bahamas are required to present a valid passport or another secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. For more information please visit Bahamas.com.