Rum Cay/San Salvador

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City/Settlement

Cockburn Town

Location

Easternmost island of The Islands Of The Bahamas

Size

12 miles long and five miles wide

Population

Approximately 1,000

History

The island’s several name changes are a reflection of its deep historical past.  The Lucayan Indians, an indigenous Arawak tribe, initially named the island Guanahani which meant “welcome” in Arawak.  Then, in 1492, Columbus made his first landfall in the New World on the island.  He named it San Salvador or “Holy Saviour,” which he noted in his travel journal, and described it saying “the beauty of these islands surpasses that of any other and as much as the day surpasses the night in splendor.”  Today, four separate monuments mark the exact spots where he came ashore, although it is generally regarded that he landed at Long Bay where a large stone cross stands.  However, in the 17th century British Pirate Captain George Watling took over the island, making it his headquarters and named it Watling Island, after himself.  The island retained this name until 1925 when it was then renamed San Salvador.

Shopping

Marsh Harbour has a variety of stores for most every need, with many shops located along the waterfront on Bay Street.  Additionally, the small village of Treasure Cay offers a quaint variety of shopping opportunities, including local crafts and jewelry.

Activities

San Salvador is dotted with monuments, ruins and wreck sites, all illuminating its history.  Besides lounging on secluded beaches, basking in sunshine and diving, snorkeling and fishing in clear waters, guests to the island enjoy touring the old plantation ruins, climbing to the top of the old kerosene-operated lighthouse, and exploring the archeological site of the Lucayan Indians.

Airline Service

Bahamasair (800-222-4262) has flights six days a week from Nassau to the Island.

Options for accommodation on San Salvador include:
Club Med Columbus Isle (800-331-2000)
Riding Rock Inn Resort & Marina (800-272-1492)

Attractions

Dixon Hill Lighthouse: Built in 1887 on a former plantation owned by John Dixon, this 400,000 candle powered lighthouse has a visibility of 19 miles. Standing 163 feet above sea level, it maintains four-hour watches nightly, giving a double flash every 10 seconds. This kerosene lit, hand-operated lighthouse is the last of its type in The Islands Of The Bahamas.

New World Museum: Located at CockburnTown, the Museum is housed in a 1910 building formerly used as the government’s administrative offices and jail. This traditional museum contains many important artifacts and a display on the life of Christopher Columbus.

Cut Cay: Columbus referred to Cut Cay (the island that is not an island) in his journal. It is the small island across a shallow channel off North Point. At low tide, one can wade across to Cut Cay.  Columbus believed that it would be a good site for a fortress.

Watling’s Castle/Sandy Point Estate: Watling’s Castle, the ruins of a late 18th century Loyalist plantation house, was named after George Watling, a buccaneer who frequented the place. The substantial ruins at Sandy Point, including the three storey “Great House,” kitchen, slave quarters, barns and boundary walls, were studied by the Bahamian Field Station, a center for academic research in archeology, biology, geology and marine sciences. The Lookout Tower, which overlooks French Bay, has been restored.

Big Fortune Hill Plantation: Mr. Burton Williams, a Loyalist, maintained a cottage plantation at Fortune Hill in the late 1780s. The ruins of the “Great House” and slave quarters are still located here.

The Landfall Park: The Landfall Park (at the Long Bay Site), a 10-acre site rich in archaeological artifacts, is the first landfall site of Christopher Columbus in the “New World.” On Oct. 12,1492, after 33 days at sea, it is widely believed that Columbus landed at beautiful Fernandez Bay (Long Bay). A simple white cross, erected in 1956 by Mrs. Ruth D. Wolper, commemorates the historic event. Also on this site is the Mexican Monument which housed the Olympic flame in 1968 on its journey from Greece to Mexico City.

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. Nighttime 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.