Eleuthera

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City/Settlement

Governor’s Harbour, Gregory Town

Location

About 60 miles from Nassau at its nearest point, Current Island, and approximately 200 miles from Florida

Size

Two miles wide and 110 miles long

Population

Approximately 11,000

History

Seventy hearty souls set forth from Bermuda in 1648 to found a colony devoted to religious freedom.  Called “The Eleutherian Adventurers,” they were really Puritans.  After being shipwrecked on the treacherous Devil’s Backbone, shelter was found in a cave.  Called Preachers Cave, it had a natural pulpit and was used for religious services long after the colonists left to establish towns elsewhere.  The cave and nearby pink sand beach are still enjoyed.  Eleuthera is taken from the Greek word for freedom, a concept still very important on this 100-mile long island.

Activities

Today, visitors are attracted to Eleuthera by miles of secluded (and often empty) pink and white sand beaches and water activities.  Snorkelers explore reefs just offshore, while divers take a closer look at shipwrecks and wall dives.

Airline Service

Eleuthera has two main airports.  North Eleuthera Airport, serves the north along with the two major offshore cays, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells.  Governor’s Harbour Airport serves the center of the island.  The following air carriers offer scheduled flights from South Florida: 
Continental Connection (800-525-0280)
US Airways Express (800-428-4322)
Island Express (954-359-0380)
Lynx Air (888-596-9247)
Twin Air (954-359-8266)

The following airlines service Eleuthera from Nassau:
Bahamasair (800-222-4262)
BH Charters (242-377-0017)
Southern Air (242-377-2014)

Accommodation options on Eleuthera include:
The Cove Eleuthera (800-552-5960)
Rainbow Inn (800-688-0047)
Cocodimama Charming Resort (242-332-3150)
Pineapple Fields (877-677-9539)
Cotton Bay (242-334-2849)

Attractions

Hayne’s Library: This historical landmark, built by Governor William Frederick Haynes Smith in 1897, is the oldest Government Complex on the island. The building was recently renovated and remains a Public Library, hosting weekly social events and an Internet cafe.

Glass Window Bridge: About two miles east of Upper Bouge, at the narrowest part of the island (30 feet), there is a striking rock formation known as the Glass Window Bridge. The land here falls away abruptly to nearly sea level almost dividing the island in two. On the west side are stunning views of the turquoise-blue Caribbean waters, on the east, the deep blue Atlantic.

Annual Pineapple Festival: This annual four-day celebration of the Eleuthera pineapple is held during the first weekend of June in Gregory Town.  It features a Junkanoo parade, craft displays, dancing, a pineapple recipe contest, tours of pineapple farms and a pineathalon-half-mile swim, three-mile run and 4.5-mile bike ride.

Preacher’s Cave: This large, blue-shadowed cave is located about 10 miles outside the settlement known as “Bluff.” In 1647, Captain William Sayle was shipwrecked at the Devil’s Backbone and found refuge here. In addition, survivors from the Eleutherian Adventurers made it their temporary home after being shipwrecked when they were fleeing religious persecution in Bermuda. They held what was said to be the first Christian religious service in The Bahamas in the cave utilizing a large boulder resembling a pulpit, which still exists. Today, the site is used by many visitors and locals for picnics and other outings because of the lovely white sandy beach nearby.

Other Information

U.S. currency is accepted and is interchangeable with the Bahamian dollar. In September through May, the temperature on the Island averages 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit; the rest of the year is warmer, with temperatures between 80 and 85 degrees. Nighttime temperatures are generally cooler by 5-7 degrees. The entry requirement for U.S. and Canadian residents is proof of citizenship, in the form of either a passport or an original, raised-seal birth certificate and a photo ID (e.g. a valid driver’s license). All U.S. citizens and foreign nationals traveling to the United States from The Bahamas are required to present a valid passport or another secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. For more information please visit Bahamas.com.