Long Island - Located southeast of the Exuma Cays, this 76-mile long
island is an unspoiled, tranquil, and scenic hideaway divided by the
Tropic of Cancer and bordered by two strikingly different coast
lines, one with powder white beaches and the other, rocky headlands
that descend suddenly into the sea.
Its interesting caves, gorgeous bays, towering cliffs and rolling
hills are in direct contrast with the more tropical landscape and
coast lines found elsewhere in The Bahamas.
The area has truly stunning beaches and, in fact, Cape Santa Maria
has one of the worlds top ten beaches. Columbus Point, located 1/2
mile north of the primary beach resort in Cape Santa Maria, offers a
tremendous view of the protected harbor Columbus sailed into as well
as a monument and plaque commemorating his landing. Stella Maris,
which means Star of the Sea, is another primary resort area on Long
Island. Stella Maris is a famous meeting place for sports fishermen
and scuba divers.
It is located 12 miles south of Cape Santa Maria. Visitors headed to
either Cape Santa Maria or Stella Maris should fly into the Stella
Maris International Airport.
Long Island's biggest event is the annual Long Island Sailing
Regatta, featuring Bahamian made boats. It is held in Salt Pond in
May or June and attracts contestants from all over the Islands of
the Bahamas.
Loyalists from Carolina settled here in 1790 with their slaves.
 They
built vast plantations, which thrived briefly growing sea-island
cotton, but the abolition of slavery made them unprofitable.
Today many of the Loyalist mansions stand in skeletal form etched
against the sky.Although the plantations are no more, agriculture
is still very much a part of the life here. Many Long Islanders
engage in pot-hole farming, which involves planting in fertile holes
in the limestone where good top soil collects.
From these an abundance of peas, corn, pineapples and bananas are
grown. Raising sheep, goats and pigs also provides a living for the
inhabitants. Long Island is famous for its local fisherman who are
divers and go to sea for week long trips to spear spiny lobster and
fish. Fresh seafood is readily available at very reasonable prices.
N.B., The photos and much of the information on Long
Island has been supplied by
Sunshine Real Estate
Flight
Options:
Deadman's Cay is the nearest airport 10 miles north
of Clarence Town. Stella Maris airport is approx. 60 miles north of
Clarence Town. There are convenient
Bahamasair
flights from Nassau into both Stella Maris and Deadman's Cay. Gems
at Paradise will furnish transportation from the Deadman's Cay
airport free of charge.
Daily flights on Bahamasair (242.377.5505) arrive into Long Island
at 1:30 p.m. This is usually from the U.S. to Nassau and then to
Long Island.
BH Charters (242.377.0017) offers twice daily flights from Nassau to
Deadman's Cay departing Nassau at 6:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
An American Eagle flight can be taken to Exuma and then by
chartering Island Wings (Long Island charter - 242.338.0028) to
Deadman's Cay.
For more details on pricing, please contact the respective airline
companies.
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