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Back to Cat Island

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Voykit pocket guide · The Bahamas

Cat Island

Two nights minimum: fly from Nassau (1 h), rent a car, and spend your days on empty beaches, snorkelling and hiking to the monastery ruins.

Cat Island is one of the least developed Out Islands in the Bahamas — one road, a few villages, no public transport and no nightlife. It rewards travellers who want solitude, long walks on white-sand beaches and slow conversations with locals. Two nights let you settle in; three give you time for a boat trip or a hike to the monastery.

NassauAndrosBiminiCable BeachElbow CayFreeportGreat ExumaHarbour IslandInaguaLyford CayParadise IslandStaniel CayCat Island200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
The Bahamas
Best months
Dec–Jun
Avoid
Jul–Nov (hurricane season, fewer flights)
Stay
2 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
BSD
Money
Currency is the Bahamian dollar (BSD), held at par with the US dollar; US dollars are accepted everywhere and change often comes back mixed.
Daily spend
Budget BSD 150–250 excl. bed · Mid BSD 250–400 excl. bed · High BSD 400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
BTC and Aliv sell prepaid SIMs and eSIMs at Nassau airport and in town.
Emergency
Police / Fire / Ambulance 911 or 919
Plugs
Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
Tipping
Restaurants: 15% often added; check the bill.; Taxis: 15%.; Hotels: Gratuity often added; extra for porters and housekeeping.
Water
Nassau tap water is treated but many buy bottled; on the Out Islands drink bottled or filtered.
Toilets
In hotels, restaurants and marinas; few public toilets.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Beachside villa per nightBSD 120–600
Fried fish or conch at fish fryBSD 12–20
Local beer (Kalik)BSD 5–8
Car rental per dayBSD 60–120
Flight from Nassau (one way)BSD 100–180

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

ATC · Arthur's Town Airport
Northern end of the island; flights from Nassau, about 1 h
TBI · New Bight Airport
Central Cat Island; more car rentals nearby

Typical fares

Nassau → New Bight (flight)
about BSD 100–180 one way, 1 h (check)
Car rental per day
BSD 60–120 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

No public transport. Rent a car from one of the agencies near New Bight (check availability ahead). Some villas offer bicycles. The main road runs the length of the island — about 1.5 h end to end.

See and do

Known for

  • Empty white-sand beaches
  • The Hermitage monastery ruins
  • Fish fry at New Bight
  • Snorkelling and sailing on the western bank

Day trips

WhereHowTime
The Hermitage monasteryDrive to the trailhead north of New Bight, then a 15–20 min hike uphillAbout 30 min from New Bight
Fish fry at New BightWalk or drive to the collection of food stalls near the airport5 min from New Bight Airport

Sleep

New Bight area
Closest to the airport, the fish fry and the monastery hike; most car rentals here.
Arthur's Town area
Quieter, near Da Smoke Pot restaurant; good for the northern beaches.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloHellohello
Thank youThank youthank you
How much?How much?how much
One beer, pleaseOne beer, pleaseone beer please
Where is the bathroom?Where is the bathroom?where is the bathroom

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Good morning / good afternoon first; avoid: Straight to business
  • Dress: Cover up in town; avoid: Swimwear on Bay Street
  • Pace: Allow island time; avoid: Showing impatience
  • Photos: Ask before photographing people; avoid: Assuming consent

Scams and watch-outs

  • Mosquitoes and sandflies at sunset: bring DEET repellent.
  • Restaurants often require a call ahead to order; plan meals in advance.
  • No ATMs on the island — bring enough cash (BSD or USD) for your stay.
  • Fuel stations are limited; fill up when you see one.

Cat Island is very safe for tourists. The main nuisances are mosquitoes and sandflies at dusk. No violent crime reported against visitors in recent years.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Cat Island yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Empty white-sand beaches
  • The Hermitage monastery ruins
  • Fish fry at New Bight
  • Snorkelling and sailing on the western bank

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Cat Island

To this address, please

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

English is the official language; Bahamian Creole is common in casual speech.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/cat-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.