Eleuthera is an outer island of the Bahamas. Pronounced “ee-loo-thra”, the island is named after the Greek word for “free”.
The island is very narrow, with a minimum width of just 30 feet. In length, Eleuthera measures 110 miles- so it can still take some time to drive from end to end.
How to Get to Eleuthera
Despite having three airports on the tiny island, direct flights to Eleuthera are few and far between- mostly out of Florida and North Carolina. There are some direct flights on local, budget carriers out of Nassau, but make sure to keep a long layover in mind, since you’d have to go through immigration in Nassau prior to your next flight.
Out of New York, I found that my best bet was to have a layover in Miami before arriving into Governor’s Harbor airport.
Many people also visit Eleuthera via cruise ship, something that seems to be controversial amongst the locals.
How to Get Around
I regret to inform you that you will absolutely need to rent a car to get around Eleuthera.
There are no real taxi services and walking is not a safe option on the narrow and winding main road- although I’m told that hitchhiking is safe and common (but don’t quote me on that!).
Eleuthera doesn’t have a car rental company like Hertz or Enterprise, so you’ll have to rent a car from a local. This is much less off the cuff than it sounds- it’s more like renting from a local business with receipts and all.
I had a pleasant experience renting from Roderick (roderick_pinder@hotmail.com) who met me at the airport with my car rental and sent me on my way.
Since the Bahamas are a commonwealth country, they drive on the left side of the road. The good news is that there is only one main road in Eleuthera- Queen’s Highway- that runs from tip to tip of the island.
This is actually the perfect place to try driving on the left side of the road— theres not too many turns to confuse you!
You’ll notice that local drivers tend to have blue plates and rental cars will have yellow- or sometimes white- plates. This handily flags when someone is from the island vs when you may need to give a new driver a little bit of grace.
The roads can be a little rough, and potholes are common, so watch out!
Beaches
From white sand to pink, Eleuthera has over 100 beaches to choose from. Each beach is sublime with sparkling cerulean waters and almost no one to share them with. It’s the perfect destination for a quiet beach getaway.
Weather
Weather doesn’t vary all that much here— we’re in the Caribbean. I visited in June and it was 85 and sunny the whole time I was there. Even if it drizzled for a few minutes, we just waited and it passed quickly.
That’s the thing with Eleuthera- if the weather is poor, just wait for a few minutes!
May through October is technically the “Wet Season”, when the temperatures are higher and it’s more likely to rain.
Winter and Spring tend to be a more comfortable mid-to-high 70s and has a lower average humidity, but it all depends on your personal preference.
Either way, you’ll have a lovely beach trip!
Language
As a part of the Bahamas, Eleuthera speaks English! This makes it an easy bet for English speakers, who don’t have to worry about playing charades the way I had to in Guadeloupe. The people here are exceptionally friendly, so don’t feel shy about chatting with the locals if you have any questions!
Currency
The Bahamas uses the Bahamian Dollar, which is colorful like most non-Americas bills tend to be. The Bahamian dollar is tied to the US dollar in a direct 1:1 exchange, so using American bills is also absolutely accepted- though keep in mind that you may receive Bahamian dollars in exchange (which are not accepted in the States).
Credit cards such as Mastercard and Visa are also accepted- though American Express is typically not. Not everywhere accepts card, though, so make sure to have cash on hand while visiting Eleuthera.
Drinks
You’re in The Bahamas, so is it any wonder that Bahama Mamas are such a hit? Rum Punch are also popular here, as is the (new to me!) Sky Juice- usually coconut milk and gin.
The weekly fish fry in Governor’s Harbor is also well known for its Rum Bubbas. Be careful with these! This rum-forward drink is extremely strong. Best to just start with one and grab some food.
In addition to cocktails, Caribbean beer such as Kalik and Sands Beer are also popular and refreshing on a hot day.
Food
I found the food in Eleuthera to be delightfully varied. Avid readers may remember the volume of curried chicken I ate in Guadeloupe and I am happy to report that this was not the case in Eleuthera!
It is an island, of course, so fish is very popular. Conch fritters are a particular favorite!
Chicken and vegetable dishes are also popular and made fresh. Barbecue is common. You’ll even find options like the popular Coconut Rum French Toast at the Buccaneer Club. There’s something for people of all palates!
Keep an eye out for fresh Eleuthera pineapples, which are very small and taste very sweet.
Grocery food tends to be pretty expensive- keep in mind that pretty much everything has to be shipped into the island.
If you’re visiting Eleuthera on a Friday, make sure to stop by Governor’s Harbor for their famous Fish Fry!
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