Most Travelers Don’t Visit These 6 Islands In The Bahamas. Here’s Why You Should Visit

There are so many things travelers get wrong about The Bahamas, and it usually starts with the location. Made up of more than 700 islands and cays, the archipelago offers more than what meets the eye.

People can travel to 16 islands in The Bahamas, but most tourists only scratch the surface by visiting Nassau on New Providence Island and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. We got the inside scoop from locals on other Bahamian islands to have on radar for your next visit — and why.

Cat Island

Known as the wellness capital of The Bahamas, Cat Island offers a quiet, serene atmosphere for travelers seeking to relax and unwind. Cat Island’s most recognizable landmark sits atop Mount Alvernia, the tallest point among the 16 islands. At the top is The Hermitage: a small, medieval-style stone monastery and hermitage built in 1939. At 206 feet above sea level, the summit features stunning 360-degree views of the island.

The beaches on Cat Island are filled with majestic white sands and a rose-colored stretch near Port Howe. Another crown jewel on the Island is The Healing Hole, a natural and highly saturated salt pond surrounded by mangroves. The mineral-rich water is reputed to be a natural spa with healing properties.

Another interesting fact is that Cat Island is the home of Sidney Poitier, the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. He lived here until he was 10.

Andros Island

Andros Island is commonly referred to as the “Sleeping Giant” of the Bahamas because of its massive, undeveloped size of roughly 2,300 square miles and low population of around 10,000 residents. Located nearly 170 miles southeast of Miami and just 20 miles west and south of Nassau, Andros Island is the eco-tourism capital and the largest island in The Bahamas, and the 5th-largest island in the Caribbean.

Travelers looking for world-class diving, kayaking, and even fishing should look no further than Andros Island. Home to the world’s third-largest barrier reef, the Andros Barrier Reef is the island’s greatest attraction. Spanning over 140 miles, the reef has a variety of shallow reef dives, ocean and inland blue holes, and wall diving in the Tongue of the Ocean.

There are more than 40 diving spots and over 100 fish species on Andros Island alone.

Inagua Island

Another untouched area is the Inagua Islands, comprising Great Inagua and Little Inagua. It’s the southernmost island in The Bahamas. Travelers will find it’s a bird watcher and bird enthusiast paradise, as it’s home to over 80,000 flamingos and 140 species of migratory birds.

For a little adventure, climb to the all-white lighthouse in Matthew Town. Dating back to 1870, the top offers panoramic views of Inagua and Cuba to the southwest. Like Andros Island, Inagua is also great for water activities such as snorkeling.

The island hosts the Inagua Seafood Fest during Easter and the Inagua Heritage & Salty Festival around Emancipation Day. Both festivals are great for tasting the local twist on jerk pork, cracked conch, and vegetarian dishes.

Long Island

Locals will tell you that Long Island has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Bahamas, and that says a lot. While the island is only about four miles wide, it features a striking contrast between the tranquil white-sand beaches on the Western side and the rugged cliffs on the Eastern side.

The water is also said to be the clearest in the Bahamas, with the most captivating hues of blue. Tucked beneath the cliffs of Long Island’s shores is Dean’s Blue Hole, the third deepest blue hole in the world. It’s popular among the free diving community.

During your time on Long Island, head to Conception Island National Park. It’s a short boat ride from Long Island, where you can snorkel the reef or explore the historic ruins found in this uninhabited national park. Another highlight is Hamilton’s Cave. This ancient cave system is the largest in The Bahamas, with 50-foot-wide passages and ceilings over 10 feet high. 

The Exumas

Known for their breathtaking, sapphire-blue waters, The Exumas are a chain of 15 islands home to secluded, unspoiled beaches, deserted cays, and ultra-exclusive resorts. It’s a slice of heaven on Earth, so much so that astronauts often photograph the island chain for its striking contrast between the shallow, light-blue water and the deep-blue tidal channels that cut between the small cays, according to Live Science. If an island can be that beautiful, to witness from the International Space Station, imagine the beauty up close.

Start your visit at the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the world’s first “no-take” marine reserve. No-take means that the extraction or destruction of natural and cultural resources is prohibited. Next, head to Thunderball Grotto, a popular snorkeling cave system near Staniel Cay.

Aside from its unbelievable scenery, the Exumas are also known for their most famous residents at Big Major Cay: the pigs. This is one of many animal encounters to take part in if you choose to do so. Compass Cay is also known for swimming with gentle nurse sharks and seeing native iguanas up close on Guana Cay.

While here, take in the unmatched beauty that locals take so much pride in. It’s easy to do here because the Exumas offer a quiet, low-key, and slow-paced lifestyle known as Out Island living.

Eleuthera & Harbour Island

Often called the Martha’s Vineyard of the Bahamas and the Nantucket of the Caribbean, Harbour Island is a premier 3.5-mile-long destination off Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The seaside town is quaint and storied with New England-style architecture.  

Harbour Island is a small island, at its widest, approximately .5 miles running east and west and 3.25 miles north and south. Despite its size, it offers one of the most stunning beaches in the Caribbean: Pink Sand Beach on the eastern side of the island.

Eleuthera is also a beauty. The only thing separating these two destinations is a five-minute ferry ride. Situated about 60 miles east of Nassau, Eleuthera and Harbour Island are surrounded by clusters of cays and sandbars. A must-see attraction is the Glass Window Bridge, the island’s narrowest point. It’s famously known as the place to witness the dramatic contrast of the deep blue Atlantic Ocean on one side, and the light turquoise hues of the Caribbean Sea on the other.

What makes Eleuthera a standout is that it consistently ranks the island with some of the best beaches in the world. Eleuthera features world-famous pink sand, formed from billions of crushed red shells of microscopic organisms known as foraminifera. It’s something you can take in amid the rush of crowds because it has a private-island feel, attracting stars like Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Carey.

Don’t forget to explore Queen’s Bath. This rocky collection of natural pools is healing for the soul.

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