Cat Island is one of the least developed islands in the Bahamas, and that is precisely its appeal. There are no cruise ship crowds here, no mega-resorts, and very few tourists. What you get instead are empty pink-sand beaches, tiny settlements, and a pace of life that the rest of the Bahamas lost decades ago.
The island's most notable landmark is Mount Alvernia, which at 63 meters is the highest point in the entire Bahamas. The Hermitage, built entirely by hand by Father Jerome — an architect-priest who lived as a recluse on the island — sits at the top, and the short hike up offers fine views across the island. Cat Island is also the birthplace of Sidney Poitier, who grew up here before leaving for Miami as a teenager.
The beaches on the Atlantic side are stunning and almost always deserted, and Fernandez Bay on the western shore is the island's calmest swimming beach. Diving and bonefishing are excellent, and the island has a strong tradition of rake-and-scrape music that you can still hear at local gatherings. Getting here requires a short flight from Nassau, which keeps the visitor numbers low and the island wonderfully quiet.