Cat Island

Cat Island is one of the Bahamas' districts and is located in the middle part of the country. Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island, is the highest peak in the country (formerly known as Como Hill). It reaches a height of 63 meters (207 feet) and is crowned by The Hermitage monastery.

Cat Island, 130 miles southeast of Nassau, disputes San Salvador's claim to be Columbus' first New World landfall. Leaving aside the ongoing inter-island controversy, travelers to Cat Island will discover a wealth of other histories. They may explore the ruins of two late-eighteenth-century island plantations, Armbrister and Deveaux. The Mount Alvernia Hermitage, located near Armbrister Plantation, is a modest stone monastery erected by the reclusive Father Jerome in the early part of the twentieth century. The modest church is perched on Como Hill, the Bahamas' highest point at 206 feet.

Cat Island is one of the Out Islands (locally known as the Family Islands) that make up the eastern limit of the Bahamas and is named for the pirate Arthur Catt rather than the animal. The 48-mile-long island has a population of around 1,700 people and no major resorts, making it a perfect destination to visit if you want to disconnect from the rest of the world (especially the cruise ship throngs that may be found on other prominent Bahamian islands). So pack your beach bag and fly to the Bahamas on the next available aircraft.

Location: Cat Island, Bahamas