Eleuthera/Harbour Island

At 110 miles long and a mere two miles wide, Eleuthera effortlessly keeps travelers near its pink-and white-sand beaches, ranging from secluded coves to endless stretches along the coastline. Together with Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, Eleuthera charms travelers with colonial villages and pineapple fields. 

 

Eleuthera

More than 300 years ago, English Adventurers in search of religious freedom founded the western world’s first true seat of democracy and named it Eleuthera, the Greek word for freedom. Its settlers, fleeing persecution in Bermuda and England, called themselves "The Eleutheran Adventurers” and time and circumstances would prove that tag more accurate than they ever expected.

 

Led by Captain William Sayle, the 70-member band of adventurers first went ashore near Governor’s Harbour. Disputes arose among the group and Sayle and his faction headed off toward the northern part of the island by boat. Their boat floundered on the treacherous reefs and their supplies were lost. Many of them nearly starved, but they made do, living and worshipping in a cavern that is now known as Preacher’s Cave.

 

Harbour Island

Harbour Island was a noted shipyard and sugar refinement center in the late 1800s, and the resourceful residents have also made their way in the world as skilled shipbuilders and farmers. The island itself has little fertile soil, but residents were given land to farm on the “mainland” (Eleuthera) in 1783, and much of that original grant is still being tilled by Brilanders today.

 

Shipbuilding and farming of citrus, pineapples and tomatoes made Harbour Island fairly prosperous until World War I.  The first regular tourist business, which provides the bulk of the island’s livelihood today, began in 1941 with weekly flights on Bahamasair’s predecessor, Bahamas Airways.

 

Spanish Wells

Spanish Wells was first inhabited in 1649 when the Spanish Conquistadors sunk a well there to provide their ships with potable water. The island was designated the final landing point for their galleons before attempting the arduous journey back to their homeland, loaded down with the riches of the New World.

 

In 1776 the island was settled by some of the Loyalists who came from the Carolinas and many of today’s residents proudly claim that their heritage goes back to those early pioneers. The residents are very industrious and for centuries they have been making their living from the bounty in the miles of deep blue sea around the island. In fact, this small community provides 75% of all the crawfish caught in The Bahamas during the season. They also make excellent fishing guides and diving instructors. Those who are not employed in the fishing industry are involved in farming.