Cat Island: Mount Alvernia, Beaches and Rake & Scrape

Cat Island offers different points of interest to consider when planning your trip: a prominent peak, beaches with varied features, and a musical tradition rooted on the island. There are also places that bring together architectural history, landscape and local culture.

Views and architectural history at Mount Alvernia

At 206 feet (63 meters), Mount Alvernia, also known locally as Como Hill, is the highest point in the Bahamas. At the summit stands The Hermitage, a small medieval monastery built from local stone in 1939. The path there leads up a steep, rocky slope via a stone staircase. As you climb, you pass hand-carved stone reliefs of the Stations of the Cross; from the summit, you can enjoy a 360-degree view across the lush island.

Beaches and lakes with varied features

Old Bight Beach has white sand. Near Port Howe, there is a stretch of pink beach, while Rollezz Beach is the longest continuous stretch of beach on Cat Island. Their features therefore vary in color and size.

Lakes are also part of the island’s landscape: Great Lake, also known as Mermaid Hole, contains four blue holes that lead to underground caves and passages. The saltwater lake The Healing Hole is known on Cat Island for its healing properties.

Music, history and local encounters

The indigenous Bahamian music Rake & Scrape has its roots on Cat Island. The Annual Rake & Scrape Festival takes place every June; quadrille dancing is part of the festival. The program may vary from year to year, so check the dates and program for your chosen year before traveling.

Academy Award-winning actor Sir Sidney Poitier grew up on Cat Island outside Arthur's Town. Another historic landmark is St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Old Bight: it is a historic ruin with a Gothic façade, frescoes, engravings and sculptures. It is not usually open to the public; check with locals about access when you are there.

The People-to-People program on Cat Island brings visiting travelers together with local hosts. Dika teaches travelers how to make flour cakes using a Cat Island original recipe. The Fish Fry is located in New Bight.

Getting to Cat Island and finding a hotel

When choosing a hotel on Cat Island, you can start by considering what you want your trip to focus on: views and architectural history, music and cultural history, local encounters or local cuisine. Western Air offers flights between Nassau and Cat Island; check the route and flight times before traveling.

The wider destination: the Bahamas

Cat Island is part of the wider Bahamas destination. The Bahamas is an archipelago of more than 700 islands and cays, with 16 distinct island destinations, spanning 100,000 square miles.

Discover more destinations: Orange Creek, Arthur's Town, Smith Town, Old Bight Settlement, North Andros, City Of Freeport, Bahamas, Acklins.

Back to the wider travel overview: Bahamas.