Ok first…

How do you pronounce Eleuthera??

Eleuthera is pronouced (ee-LOO-thur-ah), but when you say it fast like me its more like… eh-LOO-thra.

Where is Eleuthera?

Eleuthera is part of the Bahamas – about 240 miles from the coast of southern Florida and about 60 miles from Nassau. Eleuthera is unique because it’s a long, skinny island at 110 miles long (!) but only a mile wide for most of it. Which means a lot of beaches, coves, lagoons, and other hidden places.

And yes, the Bahamas is it’s own country so you’ll need a passport to travel here!

Which leads me to my first tip if you’re traveling to Eleuthera: having Global Entry will make your travel days a lot easier.

If you’ve heard of TSA Pre-check, Global Entry is the same thing but for International Travel. Going through customs in the Bahamas is no problem, but coming back can have a very long line – there were a few flights that if we didn’t have Global Entry, we would have missed our connecting flights.

How to Get to Eleuthera

There are 3 different airports in Eleuthera: North Eleuthera (ELH), Governor’s Harbour (GHB) or Rock Sound (RSD)

Flying into North Eleuthera (ELH) is going to be the easiest since there are more flights — but unless you’re coming from Atlanta or Florida, none of them are direct.

To get to ELH:

• American Airlines – Daily connections from Miami and a weekly connection from Charlotte.
• Delta – Daily connections from Atlanta and direct flights from New York JFK to Nassau.
• Silver Airways – Connections in Fort Lauderdale and a weekly connection from Orlando (ahem, Disney World!) to North Eleuthera.
• Aztec Airways – Five weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale.
• Bahamas Air – Multiple flights from Nassau to Governors Harbour and North Eleuthera.
• Southern Air Charter – Multiple daily flights from Nassau to Governors Harbour and North Eleuthera.
• Pineapple Air – Multiple daily flights from Nassau to Governors Harbour and North Eleuthera.
• Western Air – Four weekly flights from Nassau to North Eleuthera.
• Makers Air – Four weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale to North Eleuthera.

To get to GHB:

• American Airlines – Tuesdays + Saturdays connections from Miami
• Silver Airways – Seasonal connections from Fort Lauderdale and Miami

To get to RSD, Bahamas Air and Makers Air fly from Nassau.

In the past, we’ve flown into ELH and drove an hour south to Governor’s Harbour – it isn’t as bad as it sounds since it’s a nice easy drive. If you go this route, stop at Daddy Joe’s halfway for lunch!

Eleuthera Car Rentals

Because the island is so big, you’ll want to rent an SUV when you’re staying on Eleuthera. There are a few car rental places on the island:

Justin Pinder Car Rentals – This is the one I recommend. Very clean vehicles, excellent service and was able to have an infant car seat for our 5-month old which I was appreciative of!

Lutra Car Rentals – email Gladys at: gladys@lutrarentacar.com

Some other options:

John McCardy 

Frankie’s Car Rentals

Butch Johnson 

Hewitt Fernander 

Just a heads up, when you get to Eleuthera you’ll be driving on the left side of the road!

Best Spot with Kids on Eleuthera

We’ve stayed at a few diffferent parts of the island and found Governor’s Harbor is the best for it’s convenience and being minutes away from beautiful French Leave Beach, grocery stores, coffee, ice cream, restaurants, and a library.

Where to Stay on Eleuthera

Since we’re with the kids, we like to rent an entire house so we have our own kitchen and a washer and dryer.

When you’re looking at where to stay, the first thing to know are the different areas and go from there.

Gregory Town is the northern town of the island, closest to Harbour Island. This is the first town you’ll see outside of North Eleuthera Airport, but it’s the smallest town on the island.

Shorebreak Eco Cottage*
Cocomo Cottage
The Cove Resort

Governor’s Harbour is central on the island (about an hour south of Gregory Town) but has the most restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping. This is our favorite part of the island to stay!

Biight House*
Dogtrot
Beach House
Squire Estates
French Leave Resort
Tir na nog Estate*
Dream Weaver* in North Palmetto (another beautiful area 10 minutes south of Governor’s Harbour.)

_{*Homes we’ve rented. DM me on Instagram if you have any questions about these!}

Getting to Harbour Island from Eleuthera

Eleuthera’s tiny neighbor, Harbour Island, is an easy 5-minute boat ride away. Since it’s only 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, the preferred mode of transportation is a golf cart. Quaint, magical, and famous for its pink sand beaches. My husband took me here in 2013 and we instantly fell in love. 

To get from North Eleuthera to Harbour Island is easy – there are always little boat taxis running back and forth from the “Three Island Ferry” dock on Eleuthera. The ride takes under 10 minutes and costs about $5/person. You don’t set this up ahead of time, it’s very informal. 

Things to know About Visiting Eleuthera

• Since you’re most likely taking 2 planes to Eleuthera, your travel day is going to feel long. Opt for an earlier flight if you can to avoid delays.
  
• Coming back to the US, you’re going to go through customs. Since you’ll most likely have a layover, get Global Entry to avoid the potentially-chaotic line when you re-enter the country. It’s WORTH IT.
  
• Because most things are imported, food is expensive on the island. Think double. When you’re at the grocery stores, opt for off-brand names so you’re not paying $11 for Triscuits. The good news is that fresh produce and greens are reasonable.
  
• Locals drink the tap water, but if you’re from off the island you’re told to buy and drink only purified or bottled water. I’ve never been brave enough to test this…so expect to purchase water while you’re there. That being said, we use boiled tap water for our tea every night and that seems just fine.
  
• The island is extremely safe. Like, people leave the keys in the ignition kind of safe.
  
• Bring sunscreen, and as much as you’re able. You’re going to need a lot of it and it’s hard to find sunscreen at a decent price once you get on the island. Just make sure it’s reef-safe.

In conclusion

If you’re looking for a spot that’s easy to get to and has all your creature comforts, I would look into a different destination. You won’t find an overcrowded town with a Target or busy cruise ship ports. But if you’re okay with a little adventure, Eleuthera’s inconvenience is what keeps it beautiful, quiet, and magical.

You can sit on the beach for a week or you can hop in an SUV with your camera and go on an adventure. There’s snorkeling, diving, fishing, boating tours, pink sands, bridges, bars, seashells, caves, natural baths, inland blue holes…the island is what you make it.