If you’re looking for a vacation that’s a little out of the ordinary, Eleuthera may just be what you’re looking for. You should know, though, that it’s not everyone’s idea of a vacation destination. If you’re looking for nightlife and casinos, then Eleuthera is not for you. If you hope to spend time just relaxing and enjoying an amazing tropical location in a friendly, slow-paced location, they this is the right place.
Just Where is Eleuthera
Eleuthera is located about 60 miles east on Nassau and is considered an out-island or family island. If you look at a map of the Bahamas, Eleuthera is directly East of Nassau (which is on New Providence island). It’s long and skinny with a distinctive “whale tail” effect at the southern end. The island is over 100 miles long but only 2 miles wide at its widest point. There are several places that are even narrower than that - like the Glass Window Bridge.
How Do You Get To Eleuthera
Remarkably, Eleuthera boasts THREE international airports - North Eleuthera (ELH) which is obviously in the northern part of the island, Governor’s Harbour (GHB) which is more central and Rock Sound (RSD) in the south.
From Florida you have several options to fly to Eleuthera. American Eagle (American Airlines) offers flights from Miami to North Eleuthera. Continental Airlines offers flights from Fort Lauderdale Airport into both North Eleuthera and Governor’s Harbour. TwinAir/Calypso (a private airline) operates flights from Fort Lauderdale to all three airports in Eleuthera.
BahamasAir also flies to Eleuthera, but from Florida, you’ll need to make connections through Nassau.
From Nassau there are other options. BahamasAir flies to all three airports SouthernAir also provides service from Nassau to all three of Eleuthera’s airports. Bahamas Ferries offer high-speed service from Nassau to Spanish Wells, Harbour Island and Governor’s Harbour.
It is always wise to check the most current schedules for any option you choose.
Where to Stay in Eleuthera
There are no large hotels or resorts on Eleuthera and that’s one reason many people find it so appealing. The most upscale resorts are found on Harbour Island - a place that many rich-and-famous choose to have second homes.
You can also find a few deluxe resorts on the main island of Eleuthera - The Cove, Pineapple Fields and Cape Eleuthera Resort. Most of the hotels on Eleuthera are small, low-key and welcoming. There are many such hotels in Eleuthera. A few that come to mind are Surfers Manor, Rainbow Inn, Duck Inn and Unique village.
For a more private, home-away-from-home experience, there are several vacation home rentals available. By researching each of these options you will most certainly be able to find the type of accommodations that suit both your taste and your budget.
The Breathtaking Beaches of Eleuthera
With more than 50 amazing beaches, some of them very hard to find, you could miss some of the best ones when you visit Eleuthera.
However, there is a great book available that can help guide you to pretty much every beach on the island. This book gives you valuable ratings for each of the beaches. That will help you decide, if your time is short, which ones to visit. This must have book - The Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera - is an absolutely necessity for finding those hidden gems.
When Should You Vacation in Eleuthera
The winter months - November to April - are probably the best time of year to visit Eleuthera. Summers tend to be hot and humid with a lot more rain and even the possibility of tropical storms or hurricanes. The summer season also produces more thunderstorms. I actually really like a good tropical thunderstorm and the ones in Eleuthera can be pretty exciting.
We have only scratched the surface of all that Eleuthera has to offer. While it’s a little off the beaten path it’s most definitely worth the effort.