Meet one tall, gorgeous, leggy blonde of an isle.
I left my heart in Long Island, Bahamas. This sweetheart of an island boast the kind of jaw-dropping sensuality and beauty that kind of just makes you want to cry. As a veteran travel writer, it is not often that a destination brings me to my knees.
Although Long Island is eighty miles long, it is very narrow—no more than four miles at its widest point. This is one tight mistress—svelte, lush, and sun-kissed. The island is divided by the Tropic of Cancer and bordered by two very distinct coastlines, one with soaring cliffs and caves that dip dramatically into the sea and the other with broad white sand beaches.
Sloping hills are dominant in the northeast, while low hillsides make up the southern portion of the island. This multi-faceted landscape is the reason Long Island is considered to be one of the more breathtakingly beautiful islands in The Islands of The Bahamas. It’s also reputed to be one of Columbus’ early stops, probably his third, after San Salvador and Rum Cay.
An uninterrupted eighty-mile stretch of contrasting coastlines gives this island its name and a distinct landscape. Long Island beaches are unique in their vivid beauty and are considered among the best in the entire Bahamian archipelago. This is a true a paradise for divers, snorkelers and water lovers. Outstanding visibility, large tropical fish, turtles, bountiful coral and stunning sponges, breathtaking walls, and coral canyons reaching back from the wall onto white sand plateaus, are all undisturbed here by the hoards of tourists found at other, more densely populated destinations. Even with its modern amenities, this island is still unspoiled.
From world-class scuba diving to bone fishing to quiet villages and beaches, Long Island offers the duality of thrilling encounters and peaceful isolation. My favorite Long Island outing was most definitely a snorkeling day trip. The magnificent coral ridges offer the most pristine diving. The multiplicity of sponges, from the electric bio-luminescent blue sponge to the giant elephant ear, are spectacular. I viewed the graceful flight of stingrays, just three feet beneath me! I admired the schools of snappers and grouper.
I love the slow, meditative pace of this island. Back in the day, Loyalist families settled on Long Island, setting up cotton plantations and raising cattle and sheep. Today, Long Island farmers cultivate corn, peas, bananas, pineapples, and other crops through pothole farming—utilizing the fertile topsoil that gathers within holes in the limestone.
If you’re a beach lover like me, then the natural delights of the friendly Long Island with miles of undiscovered and luxurious white sand beaches surrounded by brilliant turquoise waters will no doubt blow your mind. Feeling the soft silky sand under your feet, looking out to the pale blue horizon, listening to the waves lapping at the shore, floating in the warm water and feeling the lush tropical breeze and—yes, indeed, this is perfection.
After seeing many sides of the beautiful Bahamas, I was amazed by the spectacular beauty of Long Island’s lush, emerald green hillsides, intense blue skies, and turquoise water so bright I could hardly believe it was swimming in it. Bright sunshine and balmy breezes warmed my skin. The salty smell of the ocean and the sweet scents of tropical flowers and rich greenery filled the air.
Where to Stay:
Stella Maris Resort Club
PO Box LI 30.105 Stella Maris,
Long Island Bahamas
Reservations:
Fort Lauderdale Office:
(800) 426-0466 | (954) 359-8236
Fax: (954) 359-8238
Stella Maris Resort:
(242) 338-2051/2053/2050
Fax: (242) 338-2052
By Si Si Penaloza, Editorial Director, WOMAN.ca
