Where Is Cat Island in The Bahamas? Location, Geography & What Its Remoteness Means
Cat Island sits in the central Bahamas, approximately 176 km (110 miles) southeast of New Providence, the island where Nassau is located. Government geographic documentation identifies Eleuthera to the northwest and San Salvador to the southeast as its closest major island neighbors.
That position is important for understanding Cat Island. Although it belongs to the same country as Nassau and Paradise Island, it offers a fundamentally different geographic setting: dispersed settlements, long stretches of coastline, limited large-scale tourism development and considerable distance between many visitor services.
The island lies around 24° north latitude and 75° west longitude, within the Bahamian archipelago in the Atlantic. To its west lies Exuma Sound, the body of water separating Cat Island from parts of the central Bahamian island chain.
For travelers, knowing where Cat Island is helps answer several other questions: how to reach it, why renting a car is useful, why its beaches can feel so quiet and why travel here requires more planning than a Nassau vacation.
For complete trip planning beyond geography, connect this article naturally to the Ultimate Cat Island Travel Guide .
WHERE EXACTLY IS CAT ISLAND?
Cat Island is part of the central section of The Bahamas.
The Government of The Bahamas places it at approximately 24°23′N, 75°30′W and about 110 miles southeast of New Providence. Its nearest major island neighbors include Eleuthera to the northwest and San Salvador to the southeast.
In broader geographic terms, Cat Island sits:
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Southeast of New Providence and Nassau
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Southeast of Eleuthera
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Northwest of San Salvador
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East of Exuma Sound
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Within the central Bahamas
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In the Atlantic Ocean
This position places Cat Island away from the country's largest population and tourism centers while keeping it connected to Nassau by domestic air service.
It is this combination—accessible but geographically removed—that defines much of the Cat Island travel experience.
IS CAT ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN?
Travelers commonly describe The Bahamas as a Caribbean destination, but geographically the Bahamian archipelago lies in the Atlantic Ocean, rather than within the Caribbean Sea.
The Bahamas extends east of Florida and north of Cuba and Hispaniola as part of the wider Lucayan Archipelago.
Cat Island occupies the central portion of that Bahamian chain.
For travel planning and tourism, "Caribbean vacation" remains a familiar regional description. From a strict physical-geography perspective, however, Cat Island is an Atlantic island within The Bahamas.
This distinction helps explain some of the island's marine geography, particularly the difference between its more protected western waters and its more exposed Atlantic-facing eastern coastline.
HOW FAR IS CAT ISLAND FROM NASSAU?
Cat Island lies approximately 110 miles southeast of New Providence, according to Bahamas government geographic documentation.
For visitors, however, distance is better understood in terms of transportation than straight-line mileage.
Cat Island is not connected to Nassau by road. Most visitors arrive by air, making the island feel considerably more removed from the capital than its map distance might suggest.
This separation contributes to a different pace of travel.
Nassau provides dense hotel development, cruise infrastructure, shopping, nightlife and extensive transportation services. Cat Island instead consists primarily of smaller settlements and low-density accommodations distributed along the island.
Travelers combining the two can therefore experience two very different sides of The Bahamas within one trip.
WHAT ISLANDS ARE NEAR CAT ISLAND?
The most important nearby geographic entities are Eleuthera, San Salvador, Long Island, the Exumas and New Providence.
Eleuthera lies northwest of Cat Island, while San Salvador lies southeast. Government geographic records specifically identify Eleuthera and San Salvador as Cat Island's closest neighboring major islands.
To the west is Exuma Sound, beyond which lie parts of the Exuma island chain.
Farther southwest lies Long Island, another long, relatively lightly developed Out Island destination.
These geographic relationships are valuable for destination SEO because they place Cat Island correctly within the broader central Bahamas rather than treating it as an isolated entity.
HOW BIG IS CAT ISLAND?
Cat Island's elongated shape is one of the most important things to understand before visiting.
Geographic datasets put its length at roughly 77 kilometers, or about 48 miles.
That means Cat Island is not a compact resort destination where everything can be reached on foot.
Communities are distributed along its length, including:
Orange Creek → Arthur's Town → Bennett's Harbour → Smith's Bay → New Bight → Old Bight → Port Howe
This long north-south geography influences where visitors should stay, which airport makes sense and whether they should rent a vehicle.
Someone staying in northern Cat Island may experience the destination quite differently from someone based around New Bight or farther south.
WHY DOES CAT ISLAND FEEL SO REMOTE?
Cat Island's sense of remoteness is not simply marketing language. It results from geography and settlement patterns.
The island is separated from Nassau by open water, has a relatively small population, lacks a large urban center and distributes accommodations, restaurants and services among numerous settlements.
There is no continuous tourism corridor comparable with Nassau's Cable Beach or Paradise Island.
Instead, visitors travel between small communities, beaches and individual accommodations.
This low-density pattern means that a quiet beach may genuinely have few people around it. It also means travelers need to think ahead about transportation, fuel, dining, groceries and other practical needs.
The same geography that creates solitude also rewards preparation.
WHERE IS ARTHUR’S TOWN?
Arthur's Town is in northern Cat Island.
The official Bahamas tourism site identifies Arthur's Town as Cat Island's capital and notes that it is served by nearby Arthur's Town Airport (ATC).
The airport itself is located on Queen's Highway and serves the northern end of the island. The Bahamas Department of Aviation places it at approximately 24°37′46″N, 75°40′26″W.
Arthur's Town is also strongly associated with the Cat Island roots of Sidney Poitier.
For visitors staying around Arthur's Town, Orange Creek or other northern communities, understanding this geography is useful when selecting flights and accommodations.
WHERE IS NEW BIGHT?
New Bight lies in the central portion of Cat Island and serves as one of the island's most useful geographic reference points for visitors.
Nearby is New Bight International Airport (TBI), which the Bahamas Department of Aviation lists on Queen's Highway at approximately 24°18′55″N, 75°27′08″W.
New Bight is particularly important because it sits close to Mount Alvernia, the highest point in The Bahamas.
The official Bahamas tourism authority notes that New Bight Airport is located near Mount Alvernia and provides Customs and Immigration facilities.
For travelers interested in The Hermitage, Mount Alvernia, central beaches and communities around central Cat Island, New Bight provides a logical base.
WHERE IS MOUNT ALVERNIA?
Mount Alvernia rises in central Cat Island near New Bight.
At 206 feet, it is the highest point anywhere in The Bahamas. Its summit is occupied by The Hermitage, the small stone retreat constructed by Father Jerome in 1939.
The elevation may seem modest compared with mountainous Caribbean islands, but it is geographically significant in the extremely low-lying Bahamian archipelago.
Mount Alvernia also gives visitors one of the clearest visual impressions of Cat Island's landscape—low limestone terrain, vegetation and extensive surrounding coastline.
A dedicated Mount Alvernia and Hermitage Guide should provide the detailed visitor experience rather than expanding this location-focused article too broadly.
WHICH SIDE OF CAT ISLAND FACES THE ATLANTIC?
Cat Island's eastern coastline faces the open Atlantic, while its western side faces toward Exuma Sound.
Exuma Sound lies immediately west of Cat Island.
That east-west distinction matters to travelers because coastal exposure can influence waves, wind and swimming conditions.
Beaches facing more open water may experience different conditions from protected bays and western shorelines.
Travelers should therefore avoid assuming that conditions at one Cat Island beach represent the entire island.
This geographic variety is particularly relevant for swimmers, snorkelers, boaters and travelers choosing beachfront accommodations.
HOW DO YOU GET TO CAT ISLAND?
Air travel is the primary way most visitors reach Cat Island.
The island has two important airports:
Arthur's Town Airport (ATC) serves northern Cat Island, while New Bight International Airport (TBI) serves the central portion.
Choosing between them should depend partly on where you are staying.
If your accommodation is near Arthur's Town or Orange Creek, arriving in northern Cat Island can reduce ground travel. Visitors staying around New Bight, Mount Alvernia or central Cat Island may find New Bight Airport more convenient.
Flight schedules can change, so travelers should confirm current routes directly with airlines rather than building an itinerary around historical schedules.
Internally link this section to Getting to Cat Island and Transportation on Cat Island.
WHY LOCATION MATTERS WHEN CHOOSING WHERE TO STAY
One of the most common mistakes when looking at Cat Island accommodations is focusing entirely on the property without considering where it sits on the island.
Because Cat Island stretches for nearly 50 miles, a hotel or beach cottage can be substantially farther from an attraction than the island's small scale on a Bahamas map suggests.
Before booking, identify whether the accommodation is in:
Northern Cat Island — useful for Arthur's Town, Orange Creek and northern beaches.
Central Cat Island — useful for New Bight, Mount Alvernia, The Hermitage and nearby coastal areas.
Southern Cat Island — useful for Old Bight, Port Howe and southern beaches.
Location becomes especially important if you do not intend to rent a car.
HOW CAT ISLAND’S LOCATION SHAPES THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
Cat Island's geography affects almost every aspect of a visit.
Its separation from Nassau helps preserve a lower-density tourism environment. Its elongated shape makes road transportation important. Its dispersed settlements mean restaurants and services are not concentrated into one visitor district.
Its position between different marine environments also creates varied coastal landscapes.
As a result, travelers generally experience Cat Island less as a single resort destination and more as a sequence of settlements, beaches, bays and landscapes connected by road.
Understanding that structure before arriving can dramatically improve itinerary planning.
IS CAT ISLAND GOOD FOR ISLAND HOPPING?
Cat Island can form part of a multi-island Bahamas itinerary, but travelers should plan according to actual air and marine connections rather than simply choosing islands that look close together on a map.
Geographically, Eleuthera and San Salvador are Cat Island's closest major neighbors. Nassau remains particularly important as a transportation hub for the wider Bahamas.
Travelers combining Cat Island with another destination should compare flight schedules before booking accommodations.
A geographically logical itinerary is not always the same as the easiest transportation itinerary in an archipelago.
FAQS ABOUT WHERE CAT ISLAND IS
IS CAT ISLAND CLOSE TO NASSAU?
Cat Island is approximately 110 miles southeast of New Providence, where Nassau is located. Travelers normally reach it by air rather than treating it as a simple road or short-transfer extension of Nassau.
WHAT PART OF THE BAHAMAS IS CAT ISLAND IN?
Cat Island lies in the central Bahamas, southeast of New Providence and Eleuthera and northwest of San Salvador.
WHERE IS CAT ISLAND COMPARED WITH ELEUTHERA?
Cat Island lies southeast of Eleuthera. The Bahamas government identifies Eleuthera as one of Cat Island's closest major island neighbors.
CAN YOU FLY TO CAT ISLAND?
Yes. Cat Island has Arthur's Town Airport (ATC) in the north and New Bight International Airport (TBI) in the central portion of the island.
ARE ARTHUR’S TOWN AND NEW BIGHT ON THE SAME ISLAND?
Yes. Both are on Cat Island. Arthur's Town is in the north, while New Bight is farther south in the central portion of the island.
WHY DOES CAT ISLAND FEEL MORE REMOTE THAN NASSAU?
Cat Island has a much smaller population, dispersed settlements, limited large-scale development and no urban tourism center comparable with Nassau.
HOW LONG IS CAT ISLAND?
Geographic data places Cat Island at roughly 76.8 kilometers, or about 48 miles, in length.
WHERE IS THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE BAHAMAS?
Mount Alvernia is on Cat Island near New Bight. At 206 feet, it is the highest point in The Bahamas and is crowned by The Hermitage.
EXPLORE MORE CAT ISLAND GUIDES
LOCAL & DESTINATION CONTEXT
Cat Island occupies a distinctive position in the central Bahamas, approximately 110 miles southeast of New Providence, with Eleuthera to its northwest and San Salvador to its southeast. Exuma Sound lies to the west, while the island's eastern coastline faces the Atlantic. Within Cat Island itself, communities such as Arthur's Town, Orange Creek, New Bight, Old Bight and Port Howe form a long north-south settlement pattern. Arthur's Town Airport and New Bight International Airport reinforce that geography by serving different portions of the island. Together, these relationships place Cat Island firmly within the wider network of Out Island destinations that defines much of The Bahamas beyond Nassau.
CONCLUSION
So, where is Cat Island? It lies in the central Bahamas, roughly 110 miles southeast of New Providence, positioned between the wider geographic influences of Eleuthera, San Salvador, Exuma Sound and the open Atlantic.
Its location explains much of what travelers experience after arriving. Cat Island is long rather than compact, its communities are dispersed, its beaches can be remarkably quiet and transportation requires more planning than in Nassau.
That remoteness is not simply an inconvenience to overcome—it is fundamental to the island's character. Travelers who understand the geography before booking flights, accommodations and transportation are better prepared for Cat Island's slower, more independent rhythm.
Continue to the Ultimate Cat Island Travel Guide to turn that geographic understanding into a complete island itinerary.
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Updated as of Augst 2026.