Eleuthera

Travel Guide Caribbean Bahamas Eleuthera

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Introduction

Lighthouse beach

Lighthouse beach

© spear_one

Eleuthera is an island in the eastern part of the Bahamas. Generally, the name also refers to many of the smaller surrounding islands, such as Harbour Island. Eleuthera forms a part of the Great Bahama Bank. The island of Eleuthera incorporates the smaller Harbour Island. "Eleuthera" derives from the feminine Greek adjective ἐλεύθερος (eleutheros), meaning "free". Known in the 17th century as Cigateo, it lies 80 kilometres east of Nassau. It is long and thin - 180 kilometers long and in places little more than 1.6 kilometres wide. Its eastern side faces the Atlantic Ocean, and its western side faces the Great Bahama Bank. The topography of the island varies from wide rolling pink sand beaches to large outcrops of ancient coral reefs, and its population is approximately 11,000. The principal economy of the island is tourism.

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Geography

The topography of the island varies, including wide rolling pink sand beaches, large outcrops of ancient coral reefs, caves and other geological features. The island features, among other flora and fauna, 13 catalogued species of native amphibian and reptile species, three of which were listed as endangered in 2000. The main island is home to a 25-acre nature preserve; the Leon Levy Native Plant Reserve, which includes an environmental education centre. The waters around Eleuthera contain an abundance of Sharks and Rays, which is attributed by the local Cape Eleuthera Institute to the banning of long-line fishing in local waters.

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Sights and Activities

Pink Sand Beach

Pink Sands Beach chaise lounge

Pink Sands Beach chaise lounge

© jlamarre

There are several beaches with pink sand on the Bahamas island of Eleuthera and its neighbouring islands like Harbour Island. On this latter island is the famous Pink Sand Beach, a 5-kilometre stretch of beach on featuring pink sand and clear waters which has often been cited by various travel magazines as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. At least it is one of the most popular ones of the Bahamas and Harbour Island, unlike its big brother Eleuthera, is more crowded and developed. Still, it is quite an experience and sight and something different again from the ubiquitos white sand beaches.

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Weather

Eleuthera has a pleasantly warm but humid climate. Compared to Caribbean islands more to the south, there are some differences regarding temperatures, mainly because it is somewhat colder during the wintermonths of November to April. Generally though, temperatures are high, with summer maximum temperatures averaging around 30 °C and minimum temperatures around 24 °C. During the wintermonths temperatures are about 5 °C lower. The rainy season lasts from May to October, with September and October being the wettest months. This is also the time (especially from August to October) when hurricanes are a possibility.

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Getting There

By Plane

  • Governor's Harbour Airport (GHB) has with flights to/from Nassau, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
  • North Eleuthera Airport (ELH) has flights to/from the same destinations.
  • Rock Sound International Airport (RSD) only has flights to/from Nassau.

By Boat

Bahamas Ferries operates regular ferries between Eleuthera and Nassau. The ferry docks on Eleuthera at Governor's Harbour, Spanish Wells and neighboring Harbour Island.

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Getting Around

There are flights between North Eleuthera Airport and the other two airports and between Rock Sound and Governor's Harbour as well.

To get to and from Eleuthera and Harbour Island or Spanish Wells, you can take a water taxi.

Eleuthera has no public transport system. There are taxis and car rentals. It's generally best to rent a car to explore Eleuthera. Hitchhiking is popular and locals are generally helpful and friendly. Bicycling is increasingly popular.

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Eat

  • Mate & Jenny's (Mate & Jenny's Pizza Restaurant & Bar), South Palmetto Point (Turn towards South Palmetto Point from Queen's Highway and you will have Mate & Jenny's on the right very soon), ☎ +1 242-332-1504. Reasonable prices and good pizzas. A good place for a laid back dinner. The owner seems to have run the place for many decades.
  • Sammy's Place (Sammy's Restaurant & Bar), Rock Sound (Follow the signs or ask the locals when in Rock Sound), ☎ +1 242-334-2121. Very reasonably priced and good local food.
  • The Beach House Tapas Bar & Lounge, Club Med Beach (On the Atlantic side beach next to the road between Governor's Harbour and North Palmetto Point). Great food. Live music and open air "home cinema" alternates.
  • The Laughing Lizzard Café, Gregory Town (On a hillside next to the main road just north of Gregory Town). Closes at 4:00pm. Good place for lunch. Tasty wraps and smoothies.
  • Buccaneer Club Restaurant, Governor's Harbour. OK and reasonably priced food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week.
  • The Bistro at Sky Beach Club, Queen's Highway, Govenors Harbour (4 miles south of the Governors Harbour airport), ☎ +1 242-332-3422. Beachside and poolside restaurant with excellent seafood and international cuisine. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Tippy's Restaurant, Banks Road (Banks road between Governor's Harbour and North Palmetto across from Pineapple Fields.), ☎ +1 242-332-3331. Lunch 12:30-2:30pm Dinner 6:00-10:00pm. Open air dining and a breathtaking view of Club Med beach and the Atlantic ocean. New York Times said "This is not some down-at-the-heels fish fry, but the epicenter of the islands's emerging social whirl." Reservations should be made for dinner.
  • Bank's Road Deli (Part of the Pineapple Fields compound just a short stroll south of Tippy's). Stop by in the morning for cappuccino and croissants on the deck. Then pick up fresh bread (baked on the premises throughout the day), cured meats, cheese, olive oil and other essentials for a picnic on the beach

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Drink

  • Tippy's - on a very nice pink sand beach between Governor's Harbour and Palmetto Point.
  • Elvina's - rustic night spot in Gregory Town where Lenny Kravitz performs occasionally. Open mike jam sessions with local musicians on Tuesday and Friday nights.
  • Fish Fry - Governor's Harbour, next to Haynes Library, fish-fry every Friday night where locals and tourists meet on the water front. The food and drinks are good - the music very loud.
  • Governor's Harbour Bakery - Local bakery with Bahamian bread, donuts and meat pies. You can ask at the grocery or liquor store for directions.
  • Kel-D's Bar & Grill - Queen's Highway (across from pier in heart of James Cistern), ☎ +1 242-335-6061. Basic local bar, cold beer and good Bahamian food.

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Sleep

On Eleuthera there are only about 3 hotels on the waterfront even though the island is 150 kilometres long. Many foreigners rent their homes.

  • Pineapple Fields Hotel, Banks Road (Banks Road south of Governor's Harbour), ☎ +1 242-332-2221. Pineapple fields is a residential Island resort development with spectacular ocean views, just a step away from our breath-taking beach on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
  • The Rainbow Inn, Queen's Highway, P.O. Box EL25053, Governor's Harbour (2.6 miles south of Hatchet Bay), ☎ +1 242-335-0294.
  • Quality Inn Cigatoo, Haynes Avenue PO Box 86, Governors Harbour, ☎ +1 242 332-3060. The beautiful pink Bahamas beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea are all within walking distance of this Governors Harbour hotel.
  • Hut Pointe Inn, Queens Highway, north of Governors Harbour (3 miles north of Governors Harbour and 4 miles south of the Governors Harbour airport.), ☎ +1 760-908-6700. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Hut Pointe Inn is a lovely, family owned, eco-friendly, inn featuring recently renovated 2 bedroom suites on lush grounds centrally located near the town of Governors Harbour. Each suite has two bedrooms, a large living room and dining area, fully equipped kitchen,bath, air conditioning, ceiling fans, satellite tv, dvd player, in room safe and free wifi. Historic Hut Pointe was built in 1944 by the first Premier of the Bahamas and is included in the Historic Registry of the Bahamas. It was completely renovated in 2010 and is now the only eco-friendly hotel on Eleuthera. Hut Pointe Inn is a few minutes walk to the pink sand beach on the Atlantic and a 2 minute walk to the Caribbean Sea. The glorious beaches of Eleuthera are all within a short drive of Hut Pointe and there are many great restaurants and bars all located within a few minutes of the property. From $210.
  • Sky Beach Club, Queens Highway, Governors Harbour, Eleuthera (3 miles north of Governors Harbour, 4 miles south of Governors Harbour airport), ☎ +1 239-482-8173, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Put your feet up, relax and enjoy a book on the pink sand beach. Bistro, with a full-service swim-up cocktail bar. Sky Beach Club blends modern amenities with the splendor of unmatched natural beauty and excellent service. From $300/night.
  • Unique Village (Unique Village Resort), North Palmetto Point (Follow the road along the Atlantic side in Palmetto Point until you see the signs). Friendly budget hotel/resort on a gorgeous pink-sand beach. Has rooms, apartments, villas, a small pool and a restaurant. The second-floor "de-luxe" rooms and the restaurant have great ocean views. From $90/night.

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This is version 5. Last edited at 9:40 on Aug 27, 18 by Utrecht. 10 articles link to this page.

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