Ben Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas
Eleuthera, an out-island in the Bahamas, is situated about sixty miles east of Nassau. While this beautiful island, one of many in the Bahamas chain, is barely two miles wide (and that’s at its widest point), it stretches for almost 110 miles, North to South. That blesses this island with more than 200 miles of shoreline. And much of that shoreline is sandy beaches. However, finding all the beaches of Eleuthera can be quite a challenge.
A small number of beaches can only be visited by boat. Many beaches lay at the end of a rocky dirt road. There are, of course, a few beaches that can be seen and reached from the Queen’s Highway and a handful that are easily reached from a hotel or restaurant.
The most widely known, and perhaps the most photographed, beach in Eleuthera is Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island. That fabulous beach is somewhat crowded with expansive estates, a few upscale resorts and some private homes. When you arrive at the Harbour Island water taxi dock, all you need to do is walk to the other side of the island and you’re at the beach. There are several sandy paths down to the beach.
On Eleuthera itself you’ll find many beaches just as beautiful as Pink Sand Beach, however, you’ll likely find you’re the only ones on the beach! Even some of the better known beaches will only have a few people, if any, on them. Lighthouse Beach, at the very southern tip of Eleuthera is one of those beaches. It just seems to go on forever. Right from in the ocean, you can walk around the southernmost tip of Eleuthera!
And, Princess Cay is just a stone’s throw from Lighthouse Beach. Princess Cay may ring a few bells with some people, and not surprisingly. It’s a standard port of call for many cruises run by Princess Cruise Lines. You’ll find a small gathering of local merchants near the gates to Princess Cay. It’s worth the visit to check out some local crafts.
Be sure to visit Cape Eleuthera as well while you’re at the southern end of Eleuthera. It’s on the other part of the “whale tail” that forms the southern end of this amazing island. Cape Eleuthera Resort has created two fabulous beaches that shouldn’t be missed. Along the way, stop at Cape Eleuthera Institute, a environmental research facility that welcomes visitors. Also plan to make a stop at the Island School. It’s right next door to Cape Eleuthera Institute. It offers a semester of unique experiences for adventurous students.
Some of the beaches that can been seen from the Queen’s Highway (the main road running North and South) are: Tarpum Bay Beach, Alabaster Beach, James Cistern Beach, Rainbow Bay beach and a couple of beaches in Current. Beaches that are easily accessible from the main road include Savannah Sound Beach and French Leave Beach (aka Club Med Beach).
However, the majority of the beaches, most of them deserted and spectacular, are much more difficult to find without specific directions. Surfers Beach, Ben Bay, Jacks Bay and more are some of these hidden, yet fabulous, beaches. Luckily there is a terrific guide book that gives directions to almost all of the beaches. The book is appropriately named The Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera. It not only supplies easy-to-follow directions, it also gives GPS co-ordinates and assessments for each beach.
