escapeartist

Has anyone been to Cat Island in the Bahamas? We have been there a number of times but continue to look for little known things to see and do. Any suggestions as to things not to miss?

A_Traveller

I'm sorry but I got a chuckle from your post. Having visited Cat Island once a few years ago I dare say the whole island falls into the category of "little know things to do". Quite frankly we found the island much too sleepy for our tastes and we usually like quiet places. Cat islands gives a whole new meaning to the word secluded!!!

Since you say you've been there several times I'm sure you've already climbed Mount Alvernia to explore the Hermitage and you've probably wandered along many of the island's empty beaches. As a repeat visitor you probably know more about the island than most, if not all, of the contributors on this forum.

I hope you enjoy your stay.

Callaloo

Did you visit the Bat Cave, on the Queen's Highway? Have you had lunch at Sammy T's or Hawksnest or Greenwood's or Fernandez Bay? Have you kayaked to a blue hole? Gone bonefishing? Visited any of the many wonderful, empty beaches? I'm sure you've visited the Hermitage.

Hmm, I feel I've covered just about everything....

Robert59

What about the tavern/restaurant owned by Sidney Poitier's daughter, with the original rake N' scrape music? Yes, Sideny Poitier was born and raised on Cat and his daughter still owns the tavern. That would be a nice place to visit and just talk with her about dad. Who knows, maybe he'll show up again there. Robert59

HelenB4

escapeartist
have you stayed in the Sunset Beach House or have any knowledge of it?
thanks

RobertoB

We stayed at Shangri La and can highly recommend it. Two bedroom stone house on a large piece of property for plenty of seclusion.

Looking at some charts after our trip, I wish that we would have explored the point out from Orange Creek and the the north side, beyond the paved road.

mahobaygirl

I just read an article in Islands magazine about one man's trip to Cat Island, I found it rather interesting as there is a legend there, obeah, a folk-religion originating in Africa. The legend goes he fought a priest. The locals do not like to talk much about what they call "the man who rushes" (a zombie) but the children do. The author goes searching in the night for the old mansion, anyways it is in the June 2007 issue and really caught my interest. Try to search out that article.

Ljyoung

funny mahobaygirl mentions this article. I just read it a few days ago and it grabbed my interest. We are planning a visit to the Bahamas in June and we'll have our two girls who very much want to spend some time at Atlantis. My husband and I would like to experience a more "true" Bahamas experience before hitting Atlantis and we were looking at Eleuthera and HI ( partly due to the proximity to Nassau )but this article made me want to do a little research re: Cat Island. That's how I wound up here. Don't mean to hijack escapeartist - just curious if the landscape/beaches/vegetation is much the same between Eleuthera and Cat?

Callaloo

Eleuthera and Cat Island are very similar in landscape. They are both long, skinny islands -- not much more than a mile wide at points -- with spectacular beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and Exuma Sound sides of the island.

Cat Island is a slight bit higher in elevation (the Bahamas' highest point, Mt. Alvernia, is on Cat Island), and Cat also has a bit more topsoil. The result is that the higher hills and topsoil catch a little more rain, and there is slightly more vegetation on Cat.

On the other hand, Eleuthera is a teeny bit more developed (and that is truly relative, as both are verrrry sleepy places!).

A very cynical Abaconian friend of mine claims that Eleutherans are not as friendly as other Out Islanders, but I don't give much credence to that at all! Eleuthera does have a handful of settlements (SPanish Wells, Royal Island) which are somewhat insular, and the residents quite reserved, but that is very much the exception. Both islands have families who have been living there for generations, so you'll see many family names over and over again.

Both are incredible places to visit for the self-sufficienct explorer.

StanKase

Having not been to Cat Island can anyone compare it to Andros and Stella Maris in terms of nice, not glitzty, accomodations with A/C and excellent snorkeling if there is a genuine reef and the resort or small group tour boats can take you out for 3 hrs. to different excellent spots for avid snorkelers. Andros is almost as good as St. John. THanks.

Ljyoung

Great description Callaloo. THX!!

Ljyoung

Callaloo - if you check back can you tell me, which island has more sights to see and or colorful towns to visit? Thanks again.

Callaloo

If are looking for sights and colorful towns, I would suggest the Abacos over either island. But as between Eleuthera and Cat, Eleuthera would probably have more "attractions" and for a colorful town, you could always ferry over to Harbour Island.

Ljyoung

hi again Callaloo. I really appreciate your input. So, the Abacos eh? What turned my head to Cat was the article that I read and a description of stone cottages on the beach just steps from turquoise water and gorgeous swimming (Fernandez Bay Village )- at a price of about $350./night for the (4) of us. I had researched guidebooks but had not picked up on the sense of mystery and intrigue of Cat Island that I gleaned from this article. When looking at Eleuthera, I was able to find a place for the (4) of us ACROSS from the beach and w/out a view of the water for about $300./night and on HI a place w/ a view of the beach/ocean but having to pay for (2)units @ $365. ea./night!!!! Anyway, our desire is to have a cottage on a great beach (some amount of vegetation would be great -we love palm trees but I'm getting the feeling that palms aren't plentiful in the bahamas)that is part of a small group of units ( we don't want to feel totally isolated ) w/ a bar/restaurant, and interesting locations to visit either on land or by a small boat. As mentioned, we will end our trip back on Nassau at the Atlantis for the girls to get a taste of that whole scene. We'll likely spend (5) nights on an out-island and (4) at the Atlantis. I will do some more reading on the Abacos but maybe you know of something there that you think I should look into. Many thanks - again.

Callaloo

The Abacos are sort of like the Out Islands for beginners; Cat and Eleuthera are more advanced.

The Abacos have the same laid-back vibe and the same stunning beaches, but they have more stuff going on. Instead of one long island, it's a large island with a dozen inhabited cays offshore for island-hopping (by ferry or rental boat). There are more restaurants and shops, and there are quaint little villages (Google Hopetown lighthouse, and you'll see what I mean). There are many cottages and small inns that are within your price range, many of them right on the beach. Check out www.coconuttelegraph.net and www.abacoforum.com for some great forums and information.

joan

Ljyoung, you are getting excellent advice here from Callaloo. I love that last post "The Abacos are sort of like the Out Islands for beginners; Cat and Eleuthera are more advanced."

One thing I wanted to mention (I've been to Abaco once and Eleuthera about four times) is that you can stay beachfront on Eleuthera for much much less than the price you quoted.

We stayed most recently at Romantic Bungalow. Of course you get a discount if you stay a whole week, but the nightly rate is $225-275, depending on the month. This home would be perfect for a couple with two children, as there is a master and a second bedroom with two twin beds. Fully air conditioned, new, and directly on the beach.
http://romanticbungalow.com/

There are quite a few more that are less than $300 per night. In my experience, Abaco is slightly more expensive to visit. The homes cost a bit more to rent, and if you want to rent a boat for your time there, and you really should - it's great fun, but that does add quite a bit to the cost. Have you checked out this website (VRBO)?
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...an/bahamas#382

Now you have really piqued my interest in Cat Island. Stop it!!!

Ljyoung

wow Callaloo and joan - really good info - thank you. I will set off to do more research and see where we end up!!

Ljyoung

Callaloo and Joan- if you read this i'm curious - as i've read a bit more, something that i'm finding appealing about the Abacos is that we could rent a small boat and take short trips around the area exploring. I don't get the sense that one might do that as much around Eleuthera or Cat? Am I right about that. Thanks for any follow-up.

Callaloo

Your conclusion is correct -- the Abacos are ideal for island-hopping by small boat (because there are islands to hop to, in a relatively protected sea); not so much for Cat or Eleuthera.

I will tell you that my husband and I do a ton of kayaking when we're on Cat. We stay at Fernandez Bay Village, which has a mangrove creek beginning at the south end of the bay. We love poking around in there, and finding other beaches. (See trip reports here: www.homestead.com/islandtime/MainPage1.html). But that's not the same as going around by small motorboat from island to island as in the Abacos.

joan

Yes, that was lots of fun. There is a well known book, called the Dodge Guide, that lists all the snorkel and fishing spots and all the depths. This is in the bay between Great Abaco and the barrier islands. Don't know about Cat, but Eleuthera is directly on the ocean, no barrier islands.

Here is a map showing where you can cruise. We actually flew into Marsh Harbour airport, then rented the boat and cruised (with our luggage and groceries!) across to our rental house on Elbow Cay, about a fifteen minute direct run:

http://www.go-abacos.com/mapart/gra_rnbo_map.html