• Get in
• Regions
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

Eleuthera is an island in Bahamas.

[edit] Get in

Eleuthera has 3 airports: North Eleuthera (ELH), Governors Harbour (GBH), and Rock Sound (RSD). All airports are small, open-air and convenient. ELH and GBH have onsite bars and ELH has an onsite restaurant.

ELH has the most flights arriving and departing. ELH is a short taxi ride and water taxi ride to Harbour Island. Most car rental places on the island will gladly pick you up at ELH and drive to another town on the island. ELH is 15 to 20 minutes north of Gregory Town.

GBH is the centrally-located island, located just south of the town of James Cistern and a 10 to 15 minute drive to Governor's Harbour, the largest town on Eleuthera.

Delta [1] will begin thrice-weekly service from Atlanta in June 2007. Continental [2] flies into ELH from Ft. Lauderdale (FLL). Twin Air [3] flies from Ft. Lauderdale into all 3 airports on Eleuthera. You can fly from Nassau to Eleuthera on Southern Air [4] or Bahamas Air [5]; the flight is less than 30 minutes. Another option is the Bohengy, the Bahamian Fast Ferry [6]. The Fast Ferry docks in multiple locations on Eleuthera: Governors Harbour, Harbour Island, and Spanish Wells. To get to Eleuthera from Harbour Island or Spanish Wells, you take a water taxi and then a cab ride to reach your destination in Eleuthera.

[edit] Regions

Harbour Island To reach Harbour Island, one can take a water taxi (~$5) from the main island of Eleuthera. Harbour Island has the highest concentration of hotels; many of them upscale. Harbour Island is more densely populated than Eleuthera. The 3 mile beach on Harbour Island features pink sand and clear waters and has often been cited by various travel magazines as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.Image:463343669 65c4174388.jpg

[edit] Get around

Eleuthera has no public transport system. There are taxis and car rentals. It's generally best to rent a car to explore Eleuthera. It's not ideal for bicycling along the highway. Hitchhiking is popular and locals are generally helpful and friendly.

Eleuthera island is 100 miles long, and delightful to explore. Be prepared: Eleuthera's gas prices can be twice those of the U.S. Car rental costs are based on a per day basis and never involve extra fees. In many cases, you don't sign papers. No car rental chain companies exist on Eleuthera -- you rent from locals who may keep a fleet of rental cars in their yards. Some entrepreneurs combine their car rental companies with a gas station or with a taxi company. As you drive around (on the LEFT-HAND side of the road), you will need a good map or good local knowledge.

Do not try to bike or jog down the main road. Eleuthera has one main road, Queen's Highway. Queen's Highway is in a constant state of repair. You will find minimal traffic here and no bike paths. Cars speed across curves and are not ready to find a biker around the bend. Side roads in some of the towns are better for biking. Hitchhiking is okay here -- you can hitch or pick up hitchers with no penalties.

[edit] See

• The Current Cut in North Eleuthera.

• The beaches - the main attractions of Eleuthera.

• The Glass Window Bridge connecting North-Eleuthera with the rest of the island,

• The big Ocean Hole in Rock Sound, South Eleuthera.

[edit] Do

The best activities are...

1. Surfing near Gregory Town in North-Central Eleuthera.

2. Swim, snorkel or dive the tidal current. Thrilling!

3. Fishing is one of the biggest sport in Eleuthera.

4. Explore the Hatchet Bay cave... bring a flashlight!

[edit] Buy

Eleuthera is really not an island for shopping. There's a nice souvenir shop in Gregory Town - The Island Made Gift Shop. Most of the larger towns have a few shops or more.

[edit] Eat

Billy and Brenda Stubb's BBQ in James Cistern (just north of GHB) is a source of some of the most delicious Bahamian fare on the island: conch fried rice; mac'n'cheese; BBQ ribs, chicken and pork chops; tender slices of beef plus tasty home-made deserts (including the best carrot cake you'll eat anywhere. Serving every Friday and Saturday from noon - get there early as it sells out quick. $8-$10 will get you a feast. In Gregory town there is a little bakery that makes delicious pinapple tarts. Ask at the general store for directions.

[edit] Drink

There are only a few beach bars. One is the Cocodimama, one mile south of Governor's Harbour airport. Then there's Joe's Place between Governor's Harbour and Palmetto Point. Tippy's bar and restaurant [7]- the real in-place - on a very nice pink sand beach between Governor's Harbour and Palmetto Point. DolceVita Restaurant [8], just south of Palmetto Point, has a nice bar and deck for watching beautiful sunsets over Exuma sound.

A very rustic night spot is Elvina's in Gregory Town, where Lenny Kravitz sometimes is playing. Participate in jam sessions with local musicians.

And in Governor's Harbour - next to the library - there's the Fish-Fry every Friday night where locals and tourists meet on the water front. Food is good. Music very loud.

[edit] Sleep

On Eleuthera there are only about 3 hotels on the waterfront even though the island is 100 miles long. But many foreigners rent their homes. The Rainbow Inn is a friendly and attractive place to stay with an onsite restaurant/bar. The innkeepers are adept at helping tourists figure out how to spend their time on the island. Another wonderful place to stay is LaBougainvillea, which is a private villa, right on the ocean with beautiful pink sandy beaches.

[edit] Get out