Overview
Stella Maris is a small settlement on the northern end of Long Island, one of the longest islands in The Bahamas at roughly 80 miles from tip to tip. It sits where the pale turquoise shallows of the Great Bahama Bank meet the deep indigo of the Exuma Sound, giving the area a striking visual contrast visible from the air and from clifftop viewpoints along the island's eastern shore.
The settlement takes its name from the historic Stella Maris Resort, which has anchored tourism in this part of Long Island for decades. Beyond the resort, Stella Maris itself is quiet — a handful of houses, a small airstrip, a marina, and the kind of unhurried atmosphere that characterises the Bahamian out islands. Most visitors come deliberately, not by accident, and that self-selecting quality keeps the crowds minimal.
Long Island as a whole has a reputation among serious anglers for world-class bone fishing on its flats, and among divers for wall dives that plunge hundreds of feet into the Tongue of the Ocean. History is present too: Christopher Columbus is traditionally believed to have stopped at Long Island in 1492, and a monument near the southern town of Clarence Town marks the spot. Stella Maris serves as the northern gateway to all of it.
Before You Go
Visas and Entry
The Bahamas has its own entry requirements that vary by nationality and can change. Do not rely on informal sources. Check TravelerPulse's Visas section and consult the official Bahamas Immigration Authority before travel.
Health
No routine vaccinations are specifically mandated for The Bahamas beyond those recommended for general international travel, but confirm current requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic before departure. Tap water quality can vary in remote settlements — bottled or filtered water is a sensible precaution on Long Island.
What to Bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen (important for coral conservation and increasingly regulated in The Bahamas)
- Insect repellent, especially if you plan to be near mangroves at dusk
- Cash in small denominations; card acceptance is limited outside the resort
- Any prescription medications you need, as pharmacy access is very limited in Stella Maris
- A light jacket or layer for evenings in winter months
Getting There
By Air
Stella Maris Airport (SML) receives scheduled and charter flights. Several Bahamian carriers, including Flamingo Air and Southern Air Charter, have operated inter-island services connecting Nassau (Lynden Pindling International Airport) with Stella Maris, though schedules and operators change. Verify current service directly with carriers or your accommodation before booking, as inter-island schedules on small routes can be irregular.
Flights from Nassau to Stella Maris are typically short — around 45 minutes to an hour — on small propeller aircraft. Booking in advance is advisable, especially in high season.
By Boat
The Bahamas government ferry service (Bahamas Ferries / official mail boats) connects Nassau with Long Island, though the journey is long — often overnight — and docking points are generally further south at Deadman's Cay or Clarence Town rather than Stella Maris. Verify current schedules and stops with the operator before planning this route.
Getting Around
Long Island is long and narrow with a single main road running its length. There is no public transport system. In Stella Maris, the resort can arrange vehicle hire or transfers, and a small number of local rental vehicles may be available — confirm availability before arrival rather than assuming you can secure one on the ground.
Driving is on the left, as in the rest of The Bahamas. Fuel availability in the north of the island should be confirmed before setting out on longer drives toward the south. Distances look short on a map but road conditions and the island's length mean journeys can take longer than expected.
For exploring the water, the Stella Maris Marina accommodates private yachts and can connect visitors with local boat charter operators for fishing, diving, or island excursions.
Where to Stay
Accommodation options in Stella Maris are limited, which is part of its appeal for travelers seeking genuine seclusion. The Stella Maris Resort has long been the primary lodging option in the settlement, offering rooms, villas, and cottages in a low-key, nature-integrated setting. It has its own pools, dive operation, and marina. Verify current ownership, rates, and availability directly with the property, as out-island resorts in The Bahamas can change management or temporarily close.
Beyond the resort, a small number of rental properties and private villas exist on Long Island's northern end. These can be found through major vacation rental platforms but should be vetted carefully — read reviews, confirm that the property has reliable water and power, and establish communication with the owner before committing.
Visitors accustomed to full-service hotel amenities should calibrate expectations: Stella Maris is deliberately quiet, and that is the point.
Things to See & Do
Diving and Snorkeling
The underwater terrain around Long Island's north end is exceptional. The wall dives drop sharply into the Exuma Sound, and visibility in these waters is frequently excellent. The Stella Maris dive operation (verify current availability) has historically offered access to shark reef dives, blue hole dives, and reef systems. Snorkelers can explore shallower reef areas closer to shore.
Bone Fishing
Long Island's flats are regarded as some of the finest bone fishing grounds in The Bahamas. Local guides know the tidal patterns and channels intimately. Guided half-day and full-day trips can typically be arranged through the resort or marina. This is a catch-and-release fishery and local guides take conservation seriously.
Blue Holes
Long Island has several inland and ocean blue holes — circular sinkholes that drop into submerged cave systems. Some are accessible to casual visitors for swimming; others require dive certification. Ask locally about access and conditions before visiting independently.
Scenic Drives and Clifftop Views
The road south from Stella Maris passes through a series of small settlements and offers access to dramatic cliff edges on the island's eastern Atlantic side. The contrast between the wild ocean cliffs and the calm, shallow western bank is one of Long Island's most distinctive features. Cape Santa Maria Beach, further north near Seymour's, is frequently cited as one of the most beautiful beaches in The Bahamas — verify road access and facilities locally.
Food & Drink
Dining options in Stella Maris are limited primarily to the resort's restaurant and bar, which has historically served a mix of Bahamian and international dishes. Outside the resort, small local eateries appear along the main road through Long Island's various settlements, typically serving cracked conch, fried fish, peas and rice, and other Bahamian staples.
Conch is the defining local protein — conch salad, cracked conch, and conch fritters are the dishes most associated with Bahamian cuisine. Seafood generally is fresh and central to the diet. Kalik, the national Bahamian beer, is widely available. Wine and spirits selections are limited outside the resort.
Bring some supplies from Nassau if you are self-catering or have specific dietary needs. Grocery options in Stella Maris and northern Long Island are modest — a small number of local shops carry basics, but specialty items are difficult to source.
Practical Information
Money
ATM availability in Stella Maris is unreliable — do not count on one being operational. Bring sufficient Bahamian or US dollars in cash from Nassau before traveling. The Bahamian dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, so both circulate freely.
Connectivity
Mobile coverage on Long Island exists but can be patchy, particularly in northern and southern extremes of the island. BTC (Bahamas Telecommunications Company) is the primary local carrier. Wi-Fi at the resort is typically available but speeds will be modest by urban standards.
Medical
There is no hospital in Stella Maris. A government clinic exists on Long Island (verify current location and hours locally), but serious medical emergencies require evacuation to Nassau. Travel insurance that covers emergency medical evacuation is strongly advised for all visitors to remote out islands.
Emergency Numbers
Verify current emergency contact numbers locally or through your accommodation on arrival. The NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) of The Bahamas is the relevant authority for disaster situations.
Safety
Stella Maris and Long Island generally have a reputation for being safe and low-crime environments. The community is small and tight-knit, and serious incidents are rare. Standard travel common sense applies: secure valuables, lock rental vehicles, and be cautious when swimming in the ocean — currents near the wall and in tidal cuts can be powerful.
Ocean swimming away from sheltered beaches should be approached with awareness of conditions. The Atlantic side of the island can have strong surge and wave action, particularly in winter. Always ask locals or your dive operator about conditions before entering the water at unfamiliar spots.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the peak risk window in August and October. Long Island has been affected by major storms in recent decades. If traveling in shoulder season, monitor weather forecasts and have a contingency plan.