Cat Island

Cat Island is a quiet, unspoiled island district in the central Bahamas, known for its long shoreline, rolling hills and relaxed pace of life. It is not a dense city destination but a collection of small settlements, including the administrative centre Arthur's Town and the southern community of New Bight.

The island's name is often linked to the 18th-century pirate Arthur Catt, though its origin remains uncertain. Its history includes Loyalist settlement, cotton plantations and traditional fishing and farming villages, and traces of that past survive in old ruins and local family heritage.

Cat Island holds the highest point in The Bahamas, Mount Alvernia, a 63-metre hill topped by The Hermitage, a small stone monastery built by Father Jerome in the 1930s. Visitors also find pink-sand beaches, quiet cays, blue holes and some of the clearest waters in the islands.

Culturally, Cat Island is known as the home of rake and scrape music, a traditional Bahamian style, and as the birthplace of musician Tony McKay, who performed as Exuma. Its unhurried settlements, local festivals and small churches give the island a distinctive character.

For travellers, Cat Island is primarily a low-key escape rather than a business hub, with small guesthouses, cottages and local restaurants spread across its communities. New Bight Airport and Arthur's Town Airport connect the island to Nassau and nearby islands, making it an appealing destination for beach holidays, fishing, diving and cultural travel.