Long Island, Bahamas: Untouched Beauty From Dean’s Blue Hole to Cape Santa Maria

Dean’s Blue Hole drops 663 feet straight down — that’s taller than the Eiffel Tower, and it’s the second deepest blue hole in the world. You can stand at the edge on Long Island, Bahamas, and watch the water shift from turquoise to deep navy in a matter of meters. This article covers the island’s standout natural spots — from that legendary marine sinkhole to the white-sand arc of Cape Santa Maria — and who each one suits best.

Long Island stretches roughly 265 km southeast of Nassau, and its narrow shape means you’re never far from the coast. The east side faces the Atlantic with dramatic cliffs and surf; the west side shelters calm turquoise shallows. That contrast shapes everything you do here, from snorkeling at a world-class blue hole to casting for bonefish on a flat that sees a dozen people a week.

Dean’s Blue Hole

You can walk right to the edge of Dean’s Blue Hole — no boardwalk, no entrance gate, no crowd. The hole opens near the shore in a sheltered cove on the island’s west side, and the water is so clear you can see the sand shelf drop away into darkness. It’s a natural limestone sinkhole that descends 663 feet, making it the second deepest blue hole in the world. Snorkelers can hover over the shallow rim and watch reef fish, while freedivers use the site for training because of its easy access and consistent conditions.

A drone gives you the full picture here. The hole is striking from above — a perfect dark circle ringed by pale shallows and turquoise sea. We brought a compact drone with a 4K HDR camera on our trip, and the aerial perspective was the best way to show the kids just how deep the colour change really is. The wind can pick up fast inside the cove, so keep flights short and watch your return-to-home altitude.

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Cape Santa Maria Beach

If Long Island has a postcard image, Cape Santa Maria is it — a long arc of white sand that curves along the northwestern tip of the island. The water graduates from clear shallows to deeper turquoise, and the beach faces west, which makes it one of the best sunset spots in The Bahamas. The sand is soft and fine, and the slope is gentle, so it works well for wading and swimming without a strong drop-off.

We packed sandwiches, fruit, and a big water jug, and it was the right call. There’s no shade beyond the tree line near the back of the beach, so bring an umbrella or a pop-up shelter if you plan to stay past midday. The sand gets hot by noon — reef-safe sandals help.

Newton’s Cay

Newton’s Cay is the kind of spot you find when you stop asking for directions and just follow the coast. It’s a small cay connected to Long Island by a shallow sandbar at low tide, with calm water on both sides and very few people. The beach is composed of soft sand mixed with coral fragments, and the flats behind it are ideal for spotting small rays, starfish, and juvenile fish.

We spent about an hour here walking the sandbar and watching hermit crabs scuttle across the shallows. It’s the kind of stop you slot between bigger attractions — a quiet breather with no entry fee and no agenda. If you’re short on time on Long Island, this is the easiest spot to skip without missing a defining experience.

Salt Pond Flats

Salt Pond sits on the island’s eastern side, where the shallow flats stretch out toward the Atlantic. These flats are some of the most productive bonefishing grounds in The Bahamas, with regular catches of snapper, grouper, and the occasional marlin in deeper channels. The flats are accessible from the shore in places, but a guide with a skiff can reach the better zones where the fish aren’t spooked by wading.

We didn’t fish ourselves, but we watched a guide work the flats with a couple from the resort one morning. The stillness out there is different from the beach — quiet enough to hear the tail splashes from 50 meters away. For anyone who fly-fishes, this is the reason to come to Long Island, and it’s worth planning the whole trip around the tide chart rather than the calendar.

Clarence Town

Clarence Town is the largest settlement on Long Island, but it still feels like a village. The main road runs past pastel-coloured houses, a couple of small grocery stores, and two distinctive churches that rise above the skyline. The town has a waterfront where fishing boats tie up, and the remnants of Loyalist-era stone buildings are scattered along the side streets — a reminder that settlers fleeing the American Revolution established plantations here in the late 1700s.

We grabbed lunch at a small spot near the dock — conch fritters and cold Kalik beers while watching a skiff unload yesterday’s catch. It’s not a half-day attraction, but it pairs well with Dean’s Blue Hole since both sit on the same stretch of coast. If history interests you, the island’s Lucayans originally inhabited the land long before the Loyalists arrived, and a few shell middens remain along the shore.

Practical Tips for Long Island Travel

Long Island is less developed than New Providence or Great Exuma, and that’s its biggest draw and its biggest complication. Services are spread out, public transport is limited, and most of the best spots require a car to reach.

Getting to Long Island

Deadman’s Cay Airport and Stella Maris Airport both serve the island with flights from Nassau. Several resort properties arrange transfers from either airport. If you’re island-hopping from Great Exuma, a passenger ferry connects the two islands, though schedules are seasonal and change year to year.

Getting Around

You need a rental car. The Queen’s Highway runs the full length of the island, and most attractions are signposted from it. Dirt tracks lead to beaches like Newton’s Cay and some of the less-visited coves — a standard sedan can handle them in dry weather, but a small SUV gives more confidence after rain. Gas stations are few: fill up when you pass one, especially if you’re driving to the northern or southern tips.

Where to Stay

Most visitors base themselves at Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort for its beachfront villas and pool. The rest of the island’s lodging is a mix of small guesthouses and rental cottages concentrated near Clarence Town and Stella Maris. If you’re still weighing which side of the island to sleep on, this interactive map of Long Island’s hotels and rentals makes it easier to compare proximity to the beach or the trailhead.

Seasonal Timing

November through mid-April offers the most reliable weather — warm days, cool nights, and very little rain. July through October falls in hurricane season, and many smaller accommodations close during those months. Water temperatures are warmest from May through October, which matters if freediving at Dean’s Blue Hole or spending full days in the water is your priority.

Before You Go: Long Island, Bahamas

Is Long Island safe for families?

Yes. Crime rates are low, and the island’s small population means people look out for each other. The main safety considerations are sun exposure and water conditions — the Atlantic side can have strong currents, and some beaches have no lifeguards.

Stick to the west-side beaches for swimming with young kids. The water is calmer, the slope is gentle, and you won’t have to worry about unexpected drop-offs. Bring a first-aid kit for coral scrapes and jellyfish stings.

Do I need a car on Long Island?

Yes. Public transport is limited to a few jitneys that run between settlements, and they don’t follow a published schedule. Most of the island’s best spots require driving on unpaved roads that a bus won’t reach.

Rent a car before you arrive — the airport rental desks have small fleets and often sell out. Book at least two weeks in advance for peak-season travel.

How much time should I spend on Long Island?

Four to five days give you enough time to visit the main spots without rushing. A long weekend (three days) lets you hit Dean’s Blue Hole, Cape Santa Maria, and one more stop — but you’ll be driving every day.

If you’re short on time, prioritize Dean’s Blue Hole and Cape Santa Maria Beach. They’re the island’s two defining attractions, and each needs at least half a day to feel worthwhile.

Can I visit Dean’s Blue Hole without a guide?

Yes. The site is open and free to access — no guide, no ticket, no fence. Walk-in access from the roadside pull-off is straightforward.

That said, if you want to freedive or scuba dive the hole, a local guide is strongly recommended. The depth and overhead environment demand proper training and safety gear, especially if you’re not a certified diver.

What should I pack for Long Island?

Reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, a reusable water bottle, a cooler bag for beach lunches, insect repellent, and a light rain jacket for sudden afternoon showers. A dry bag helps protect electronics on boat trips.

If you plan to fly a drone, check Bahamas civil aviation rules before you go — permits are required for certain zones, and enforcement around sensitive natural sites has increased in recent years.

A Different Pace of Bahamas

Long Island doesn’t try to impress you. The blue hole is just there, the beach is just a beach, and the road is just a road. That’s the point. You don’t queue, you don’t book, and you don’t share the view with a crowd. For anyone who has visited the busier Out Islands and wondered what it felt like thirty years ago, this is the closest you’ll get — and if you’re curious about other low-key Bahamian spots, you might enjoy exploring Stocking Island’s uncrowded beaches on a quieter day trip.

References

HG Christie. “Long Island, Bahamas: A Traveler’s Paradise.” HG Christie Blog, June 2025. ↗

Island Hopper Guides. “The Lucayan National Park: Hiking Through History in Grand Bahama.” ↗

Island Hopper Guides. “Witness Tiny Turtles Emerge in The Bahamas.” ↗

Between the blue hole, the beach, and the quiet settlements, Long Island stays with you in a way busier destinations don’t. If you’re planning a Bahamas trip that leans toward solitude over nightlife, the island rewards a slow pace. For more ideas on where to go next, our guide to hidden caves and lesser-known Bahamas spots pairs well with the Long Island mindset, and Chub Cay’s isolated beaches offer a similar off-the-grid feel in a different corner of the archipelago.