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THE ELEUTHERA CONNECTION the most complete source for Eleuthera Bahamas' vacation fun!
The most comprehensive list of the best things to do and see on Eleuthera scroll for contact information for ~ Swim,Surf,Snorkel,Dive, Restaurants,Golf, Fish, Boat Charters,Spear Fishing,Wind Surfing, Kayaking, Tennis, Marina's, Camping, Caving, Movie Theatre and more...
110 miles long with a population of just 8000, Eleuthera is an island of rolling green hills, sleepy villages, and 60 miles of deserted beaches. To visit Eleuthera is to step back to a time when life was simpler. The island community is a small town where the residents know one another. Young and old hitchhike everywhere, and no one bothers to lock a door. Famed for their friendliness to visitors, Eleutherans will stop to wave at you as you drive through their villages.
There are no shopping centers on Eleuthera, no crowds, and no traffic. The guidebooks are fond of noting that Eleuthera has not a single traffic light, but that isn’t surprising when you consider that most of it has only one paved road. The Queen’s Highway, as it’s called, is a two-lane country road on which you can drive for miles without seeing another car. Needless to say, there is little need for a map, and on an island less than a mile wide for long stretches, you’re never far from the beach.
“Surfer's Beach is for wave riders, but there are also beaches for snorkelers, swimmers and shell collectors. Best of all, you can have one all to yourself .Around mid afternoon on New Year's Eve, when nearly all the island's rooms were booked, not a single soul could be spotted on Ten Bay Beach, six miles south of Governor's Harbour, despite a brilliant sunshine and near perfect temperatures.” New York Times, February 19, 2006.
It’s obvious that the reporter who penned these lines was seeing Eleuthera for the first time. Regular visitors are surprised to find anyone on their favorite beach. With sixty miles of beaches and a few dozen hotel rooms, Eleuthera is a paradise for beach lovers who enjoy privacy and unspoiled natural beauty.
Beyond the beaches, Eleuthera is surrounded by coral reefs that offer exceptional diving and snorkeling. Buttonwood Beach has a shipwreck, and there is even a sunken train wreck off the north coast of the island. The Devil’s Backbone, another popular dive, is a large coral formation notorious for wrecking ships. The Current Cut, a narrow channel with currents that regularly reach 10 knots, has been rated one of the ten best dives in the world.
Eleuthera is famous for bonefishing, and deep-sea fishing, reef fishing, and spear-fishing are also popular. The Caribbean side of the island is usually free of heavy surf, providing excellent conditions for sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking. Trails through the fields and woods are perfect for jogging, hiking, and mountain-biking. You won’t find them on a map or in a guidebook, so ask a local resident or watch for trails on the side of the road. The Atlantic side of the island offers many excellent beaches for surfing, with Surfer’s Beach being just the most famous. For golfers, Eleuthera has the only Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course in the Bahamas, once ranked among the best in the world. Although currently a bit worn at the edges, it is still a very enjoyable course with an oceanfront hole.
Eleuthera offers varied and unique sightseeing. The Hatchet Bay Cave extends for a mile underground. At The Cliffs, giant ocean swells crash into a limestone precipice. The Rock Sound Ocean Hole, said to be bottomless, is an inland salt lake connected by subterranean passages to the sea. Feed the tame saltwater fish miles from the ocean. The Glass Window Bridge, painted by Winslow Homer, is the narrowest point on the island, where the calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean almost touch the turbulent deep blue of the Atlantic. The cavernous Preacher’s Cave provided shelter for the first European settlers of Eleuthera, and served as their first church. The Queen’s Baths are a collection of small pools carved out of the soft rock by wave action. At low tide, the Queen—or anyone fortunate enough to be on Eleuthera—can bathe amongst the little fishes. These sites are all in their pristine state. Don’t expect to find a guide booth--or even a paved road.
Each of Eleuthera’s score of picturesque villages deserves a visit. Gregory Town, home of the annual Pineapple Festival, has a popular gift shop featuring local handicrafts. Spanish Wells is an island fishing village off the north coast of Eleuthera with lovely nineteenth century cottages in pastel colors. Governor’s Harbour, fifteen minutes south of Buttonwood Reserve, features an historic waterfront, colonial homes, and the recently restored Haynes Library. Governors Harbour also hosts the Friday night fish fry, a waterfront street party that brings out locals and visitors alike. Harbour Island, a five-minute water-taxi ride from Eleuthera, offers five-star hotels, shopping, and celebrity sightings. No private cars are permitted on the streets, so plan on renting a golf cart.
Live music is also popular on Eleuthera, part-time home to Lenny Kravitz, Patti Labelle, and others. For an insider’s guide to live music on Eleuthera, click here: http://eleu.net/krismusic.html
For a complete list of restaurants on the island, click here:
http://www.discover-eleuthera-bahamas.com/eleuthera-restaurants.html
FISHING, SPEAR-FISHING, AND SNORKELING CHARTERS
Gladstone and Paul Petty, Governors Harbour: 242-332-2993 or 242-332-2963 Call 6:30-7:00 am eastern and after 9-9:30 pm eastern. http://www.eleu.net/petty.html
Captain James McCartney, Palmetto Point: 242-332-3393
Fly-fishing, spear-fishing, and reef fishing; snorkeling; picnic cruises (include cruising, snorkeling, beach lunch).
Captain Z, Gregory Town: 242-335-5185 or 242-551-0641 capt.z@coralwave.com http://www.fisheleuthera.com/
Fishing and diving charters.
Unique Charters, S. Palmetto Point: 242-332-1830 or 888-820-8471 Uniqvill@batelnet.bs; http://www.bahamasvacationguide.com/uniquevil2.html
Fishing and diving charters.
Crazy Pete: 242-551-0995
Fishing and diving charters. Pete is also a skilled seafood chef.
SCUBA AND SNORKELING
Ocean Fox Diving, Harbour Island: 242-332-2323
Davis Harbor, South Eleuthera: 242-334-6300
Email: fish@oceanfox.com
Dive excursions, training, and equipment. Also fishing charters.
http://www.oceanfox.com/
Valentine's Dive Center, Harbour Island: (242) 333-2080
Dive excursions, training, and equipment. Also fishing charters.
http://www.valentinesdive.com/dive.html
Clear Water Dive Shop, Governors Harbour: 242-332-2146
Snorkel and scuba equipment rentals.
Surfer Pete, Gregory Town: 242-335-5436, 872@msn.com
Diving and fishing equipment rentals. Also surfboard rentals, bike rentals.
Forty’s, Governors Harbour: 242-357-3378
Rents kayaks, small sail boats, snorkel gear for use on the Club Med beach. Will soon have power boats for fishing and water skiing. Also rents bikes.
SURFING
Bahamas Out Islands Adventures, Gregory Town: 242-551-9635 or 335-0349
www.bahamasadventures.com Tom Glucksman, manager
Surfing school, and board rentals. Also camping and kayaking trips.
Surfer Pete, Gregory Town: 242-335-5436, 872@msn.com
Surfboard rentals, long and short. Also diving and fishing equipment rentals, bike rentals.
CAMPING AND KAYAKING TRIPS
Bahamas Out Islands Adventures, Gregory Town: 242-551-9635 or 335-0349
www.bahamasadventures.com Tom Glucksman, manager
Camping and kayaking trips. Also a surfing school and board rentals.
MARINAS
Runaway Bay Marina, S. Palmetto Point: 242-332-0400
Hatchet Bay Marina, Alice Town: 242-332-0186
Davis Harbour Marina, Rock Sound: 242-334-6303
SMALL BOAT RENTALS
Forty’s, Governors Harbour: 242-357-3378
Rents kayaks, small sail boats, snorkel gear for use on the Club Med beach. Will soon have power boats for fishing and water skiing. Also rents bikes.
SAILING LESSONS
Mark Adams: Palmetto Point, 242 554- 6950
Sailing lessons on the Caribbean side of Eleuthera near Palmetto Point.
WINDSURFING
Jethro Armstrong, Tarpon Bay: jethro.armstrong@hotmail.co.uk
http://eleu.net/windsurfing.html
BICYCLE RENTALS
Dexter Bootle, Governors Harbour: 242-332-2229
Tom Glucksman: Gregory Town: 242-551-9635 or 335-0349
www.bahamasadventures.com
Forty’s, Governors Harbour: 242 357-3378
For more info: http://eleu.net/bike.html
CAVING
Calvin Monroe: 242-464-0962
TENNIS LESSONS
Sammy Sands, Pro, North Palmetto Point: 242 332-1632 sammy.s@batelnet.bs http://sammysands0.tripod.com/index.html
GOLF
Cotton Bay Club
The only Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course in the Bahamas, once ranked among the best in the world. Although course maintenance is currently haphazard, it is still a very enjoyable course with an oceanfront hole.
MOVIE THEATER
Princess Movie Theater, Governors Harbour: 242 332-2735
8:15 pm only. Closed Thursdays.
LIBRARY
Historic Haynes Library, Governors Harbour: 242 332 2877 hayneslibrary@coralwave.com http://www.hayneslibrary.org/
Membership to borrow books: $5. Internet access: $5 per hour.
Arts and crafts for children Sat morning at 10 a.m.
LIVE MUSIC
For an insider’s guide to live music on Eleuthera, click here: http://eleu.net/krismusic.html
RESTAURANTS
For a complete list of restaurants on the island, click here:
http://www.discover-eleuthera-bahamas.com/eleuthera-restaurants.html
GIFT SHOPS
Almond Tree, Rock Sound, Eleuthera
Bank’s Deli, Governors Harbour
Brenda’s Gifts & Souvenirs, Governors Harbour
Frank's Art Gallery & Souvenirs, Harbour Island
Island Farm, South Palmetto Point: 242 332-1921
Pam's Island Made Gift Shop, Gregory Town: 242 335-5369
Rebecca’s Beach Shop, Gregory Town
Sugar Mill, Harbour Island
The goal of The Eleuthera Connection is to give our visitors thorough - up to date and correct information The Information we post was given to us by reliable sources and is deemed to be reliable. We will not be responsible however for any omissions, errors or changes that may have occurred since posting the information.
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