Surfers Beach, Eleuthera, Bahamas
For a vacation that’s anything but ordinary, think about visiting the island of Eleuthera. However, it’s not for everyone. If you like a hopping nightlife and busy casinos, then Eleuthera isn’t for you. However, if what you’re seeking is a slower pace in an amazingly beautiful tropical location, then this is it.
Where is Eleuthera Located
Eleuthera, one of over 700 Bahamian islands, is located about 60 miles east of Nassau. When you look at a map of the Bahamas, it’s a long, thin island with a “whale tail” at the southern end. The island is over 100 miles long but only 2 miles wide at its widest point. Most of the island is much narrower than that, with the narrowest point at the Glass Window Bridge.
How To Get To Eleuthera
Eleuthera is home to THREE international airports – North Eleuthera (ELH), Governor’s Harbour (GHB) and Rock Sound (RSD).
When departing from Florida there are a number of options for flying to Eleuthera. American Eagle (American Airlines) offers flights from Miami to North Eleuthera. Continental Airlines operates regularly scheduled flights from Fort Lauderdale airport to either North Eleuthera or Governor’s Harbour. A small, private airline – TwinAir/Calypso – leaves from Fort Lauderdale and visits all three Eleuthera airports.
BahamasAir also flies to Eleuthera, but from Florida, you’ll need to make connections through Nassau.
Flying from Nassau provides other choices. BahamasAir offers service to all three airports on Eleuthera. SouthernAir also provides service from Nassau to all three of Eleuthera’s airports. Another option is to take the high-speed ferry from Nassau to Eleuthera. They offer routes to Spanish Wells, Harbour Island and Governor’s Harbour.
Be sure to check the schedules for each of these options.
Eleuthera Hotels and More
There aren’t any large resorts on Eleuthera and that’s just fine with most people who visit. The most expensive resorts are on Harbour Island where many of the rich-and-famous also have homes.
There are also a few upscale resorts on the main island of Eleuthera. These include The Cove, Pineapple Fields and Cape Eleuthera Resort. However, the majority of hotels on Eleuthera are low-key, laid-back and comfortable. That includes such places as Surfers Manor, Rainbow Inn, Duck Inn and Unique Village, to name a few.
There’s also the option of vacation rentals in Eleuthera and there is a wide variety to choose from. Many of these can be found by simple internet searches. It’s fairly easy to find something that’s just right.
The Beaches of Eleuthera
Eleuthera is home to more than 50 incredible beaches, however a good number of them are difficult to find. If you’re only visiting for a short time you might not find the best ones.
However, there is a great book available that can help guide you to pretty much every beach on the island. This book even tells you, by way of a rating system, which are the best ones. That will certainly help you decide the ones you simply mustn’t miss. Appropriately named “The Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera” it’s a valuable resource that you don’t want to be without.
What’s the Best Time to Visit Eleuthera
While you can visit Eleuthera any time of the year, you’ll find the best weather during the winter months – November to April. The season for tropical storms and hurricanes is from June to November. That doesn’t mean Eleuthera will get them, but summers are also hotter and more humid. You’ll get more thunderstorms in the summer, too. Personally, I love thunderstorms and the ones in Eleuthera can be pretty impressive.
This is just a quick review of everything that Eleuthera has to offer. It’s a little off the beaten path but well worth the effort.
Our slogan is “Because you’re never too old”, but the reality is we know that, at some point, we are going to prefer sitting and rocking on the front porch to skiing down a black diamond hill. Actually prefer is not the right word but now that just getting up off the couch is accompanied by numerous grunts and groans it seems inevitable that we will have to find enjoyment in less physical activities.