Landmark· Long Island· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
St. Mary the Virgin church ruins
23° 16.6′ N · 75° 6.1′ W · approximate
The roofless stone ruin of St. Mary the Blessed Virgin, which Cape Santa Maria dates to 1669 and Bahamas.com calls the oldest church in the country. It marks the trailhead to the Red Shrimp Cave.
Practical
Position is approximate, placed beside the Queen's Highway trailhead about 10 minutes' walk from the OpenStreetMap cave entrance. noforeignland and a 2025 cruiser describe the cave sign and arrows starting at the abandoned church. A good stop to break the drive between north and south.
Best for
History stop combined with the Shrimp Hole
Nearby
- Red Shrimp Cave (Shrimp Hole)0.1 NM away
- West Blue Hole (Thompson Bay day trip)1.2 NM away
- Guana Cay (curly-tail lizards and shallow wreck)1.9 NM away
- Guana Cay beach (Pinders)1.9 NM away
- Deadman's Cay flats anchorage2.7 NM away
- Long Island Regatta (Salt Pond)3.8 NM away
- Long Island Petroleum fuel dock (Salt Pond)3.9 NM away
- Propane refills (Long Island)3.9 NM away