Discover Eleuthera – the jewel of the Bahamas’ Out Islands – a pristine and undeveloped pencil-thin island (3km wide by 160km long) that offers verdant pineapple plantations, rolling green hills, dramatic cliffs, unspoiled white-sand beaches and quaint pastel-coloured colonial villages – the perfect location for a romantic honeymoon.
In Eleuthera, you can unwind at a choice of secluded villas and upmarket resorts flanked by sheltered coves and stunning unspoiled pink- and white-sand beaches that gently shelve into crystal clear turquoise waters, including the famous Pink Sand Beach on nearby Harbour Island.
Eleuthera (pronounced Ah-leu-thra) is Greek for ‘freedom’, an appropriate name for a Caribbean island that is free from casinos, cruise ships and crowds.
The island is divided into North Eleuthera and South Eleuthera: soaring wave-lashed cliffs edge the eastern coast facing the Atlantic Ocean; while the western side is lapped by the calm waters of the Caribbean. You can see both at Glass Window, where the island is only wide enough for one car to pass at a time.
Eleuthera is fringed with countless named and unnamed white-sand beaches, sometimes separated by soaring cliffs, often edged by shady casuarina trees and typically lapped by shimmering turquoise waters.
South of Moray Pond on the eastern side of Eleuthera, a fringing coral reef offers protection from Atlantic Ocean waves.
The best beaches in Eleuthera, include …
Pick your own spot to sunbathe and swim on this wide crescent of casuarina-fringed, soft white sand that shelves into calm turquoise waters.
There are no facilities at this secluded and picture-perfect beach, so it’s probably best to pack a picnic.
Ten Bay Beach is a 10-minute drive south of Palmetto Point and just north of Savannah Sound.
Dig your toes into the soft, pick-hued sand of this reef-protected beach that is framed by towering bush-clad cliffs, edged by shady casuarina trees and lapped by calm, turquoise waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling in nearby rocky flanked coves.
There are no facilities on this pristine and secluded beach, which is located in South Eleuthera.
Unwind on the stunning pink sand of this pristine beach located on the Atlantic side of South Eleuthera.
There are no facilities here, so you may wish to bring a picnic.
Go swimming in calm, crystalline waters that are protected by an offshore reef. Sunbathe on the soft sands, relax in the shade of palm trees or stroll along the unspoiled wide sands.
Catch some waves at this legendary Atlantic-facing white-sand beach located a few kilometres south of Gregory Town. The best time to surf is from December through to May.
Sunbathe on the pink-hued sands of this idyllic beach and swim in the turquoise waters of a small cove framed by rocky headlands.
Enjoy the calm waters, snorkel the nearby coral head, explore the shoreline by kayak and relax in comfort at the beachfront resort, The Cove Eleuthera (formally known as Pineapple Cove).
Cove Beach is located near Gregory Town.
Dig your toes into the soft, pink-hued sand of this stunning beach located just outside of Governor’s Harbour.
There are no facilities on the beach, so you may want to pack a picnic.
Pick your own spot to sunbathe and swim on this long and soft pink-sand beach located in South Eleuthera near Cape Eleuthera, close to an old lighthouse that sits high on a limestone promontory overlooking the ocean.
For some of the best diving in this part of the Bahamas, head to Current Cut Dive, one of the world's fastest (9 knots) drift dives – simply ideal for active honeymoon couples.
Located in the waters between Eleuthera and Current Island, the water races between an underwater chasm, sweeping along schools of stingrays, mako sharks and various colourful reef fish.
Hook up a fishing charter for tuna, amberjack, dolphin fish, wahoo and marlin: the islands are perfect for reef, bottom-, bone- and deep-sea fishing.
Hire a car and drive the length of the island, stopping off for a swim and picnic at a choice of casuarina-fringed, pink-hued and white-sand beaches.
Or pop across to one of the nearby satellite islands such as Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, where you can experience excellent snorkelling and diving among coral gardens, reefs, drop-offs and wrecks teeming with rainbow-hued fish.
Don’t miss peering into the 180m-deep Ocean Hole: this saltwater lake is one of Eleuthera's most ecologically unusual spots and brims with fish and birdlife.
For honeymoon couples, Eleuthera offers the largest concentration of resorts outside of Nassau and Paradise Island.
Try the plush Cape Eleuthera Resort at Rock Sound on the southwest tip of the island, a mega-resort that is flanked by three gorgeous white-sand beaches and boasts a championship 18-hole golf course and a marina.
Or head to the Sky Beach Club at Governor’s Harbour.
Cape Eleuthera Resort and Yacht Club
Location: Freetown
Rating: 4-star
Prices: from AUD418 per room
Description: Featuring exotic architecture and beautiful views of Rock Sound, these luxury waterfront vacation homes boast their own private beach and a pool. Guests can also arrange to go fishing with an expert guide. A private balcony and large windows offer stunning views from each townhouse of the Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina. A full gourmet kitchen and cable TV are included. Guests of Cape Eleuthera and Marina can take to the water and learn to scuba dive or snorkel. Other services are also offered such as water sports and island tours. Free coffee is always available.
Sky Beach Club
Location: Governors Harbour
Rating: 4-star
Prices: from AUD346 per room
Description: Sky Beach Club is located in Governor’s Harbour, 1.4 km from the French Leave Beach and 1 km from the ferry dock. It offers an outdoor pool, free WiFi access and features a restaurant on site. The accommodations are bright with a modern style. They feature modern amenities like flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, CD and DVD players. The bathrooms have showers. Some units also boast a spa bath. Each accommodation offers stunning views of the seafront. At Sky Beach Club guests will enjoy of a garden and a bar. Other facilities offered on site include meeting facilities. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including snorkelling. The property offers free parking.
The best time to visit Eleuthra is from late-November to late-April during the winter dry season. However, Eleuthra is considered a year-round destination.
For hot weather, visit Eleuthra from mid-March through to late-May, and from late-October to mid-December.
Eleuthra experience a hot tropical climate with a warm, winter dry season from November to April, and a hot, wet summer season from late-May to late-October.
More information about Bahamas weather…
Eleuthera is located in the Great Bahama Bank, around 80km (50mi) east of Nassau and 320km (199mi) southeast of Florida.
Eleuthera can refer to the single island of the same name as well as its associated chain of small islands, including Harbour Island, Windermere Island, Man Island and Current Island.
The eastern side of Eleuthera faces the Atlantic Ocean, and its western side faces the Great Bahama Bank.
Eleuthera is a long and thin island: 180km (110mi) long and little more than 1.6km (1mi) wide at its narrowest, and offers 336km (210mi) of coastline.
The most convenient route to Eleuthera is by air to North Eleuthera Airport (ELH), which receives the most number of daily nonstop flights from Atlanta, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Nassau. Hotels and resorts can provide transport by prior-arrangement.
By sea, Bahamas Ferry Services provides daily high-speed ferry service from Nassau to the settlements of Current, Hatchet Bay and Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera.
You can also travel on one of three mailboats to several towns on a weekly (or more frequent) basis.
More information about how to get to Eleuthera…
Latest update: Eleuthera: 2 July, 2022
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