One of the nicest things about Eleuthera is their endless amount of stunning white sand beaches with crystal clear waters. It is The Bahamas after all!
The big difference with Eleuthera is that, unlike the more popular islands like Nassau or Paradise Island, there are very rarely other beachgoers joining you on the beach. In fact, for most of my time at these beaches, we had the whole place to ourselves!
I was staying just outside of Governor’s Harbor, so most of my beach visits were in and around this area, but there are plenty of options to choose from.
Eleuthera has well over 100 named beaches, so you can spend your whole trip bouncing from beach to beach without ever seeing them all!
I was only visiting for a few day, but I gave it my best shot.
French Leave Beach
French Leave Beach was one of my favorite beaches I visited during my stay. It was a little alarming to get to at first, with a narrow dirt road that made for a heck of a welcome for driving in Eleuthera, but the beach itself made up for it.
French Leave offers a wide stretch of pink sand that is virtually untouched by visitors- we saw only five other people here during our visit and that was considered busy!
There are several cut outs along the dirt road that allow space for a car or two to park. There is usually a garbage bin next to the cut out area, which helps to not only mark the best spots but also keep the beach clean.
The color of the sand here can vary throughout the day, so keep in mind that it looks the most pink when the sun is low in the sky- usually towards the morning. If you look closely at the sand, you can see little specks of the pink coral that gives it its color.
Despite being on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island, the water is still a crystal clear cerulean, and really made me reconsider my Caribbean water preference!
Mind your step in the water though- I did see a tiny shark and almost tripped over it! Sorry, buddy!
Twin Coves Beach
Just past French Leave Beach- or maybe part of it, depending on who you ask- Twin Coves Beach gets its name from the (you guessed it) two coves, separated by a tiny isthmus.
This was my first beach in Eleuthera, so I was very impressed, but I have since seen even more gorgeous beaches.
The cove formation is impressive, and I liked checking out the tide pools formed by lava rocks, but the downside of there being two coves is that one of them is probably catching seaweed!
This isn’t the end of the world, of course, but it did take away from the otherwise white sandy beach.
We didn’t see a single other person the whole time we were here, which was a nice perk- and probably at least a little bit because of the narrow and rocky road to get here!
Just keep an eye on the color of the water here- there’s a drop off much closer to shore than at the other beaches.
Cocodimama Beach
Cocodimama Beach, sometimes known as Receiver’s Bay, is probably the most popular beach in the area. This is where we saw the most people at the beach during our whole stay in Eleuthera- a whopping 15 people on a Sunday!
Cocodimama is conveniently close to Governor’s Harbor with relatively easy road access and even some shade!
This beach is now named after the nearby beach resort, but don’t be afraid to head further down the shoreline for a better spot.
The water here is very clear and stays shallow for a long time. You can walk quite a bit out into the water before the water even gets to your hips.
On the weekends, you may spot some locals selling drinks on the beach. I highly recommend the rum punch, but the sky juice is another popular drink- and probably more hydrating.
This beach is where my airbnb host picked us up for a sailing trip, which really added to the experience.
Rainbow Bay Beach
Although I didn’t get the chance to swim at Rainbow Bay Beach, I was absolutely delighted by this tiny beach with its Little Free Library and palm trees! It was so cute, and had I had more time, I definitely would have been back for a swim.
As it was, I enjoyed the pretty clear water splashing against a wall of volcanic rock along one side of the beach.
There was also a stack of kayaks that I suspect visitors were able to rent. I didn’t see anyone at this beach to ask, so I’m not quite sure how it would work!
This beach was another one of my favorites in part because of its unique landscape. There really aren’t as many palm trees in Eleuthera as you might assume, so it really made itself stand out from its fellow beaches.
Ten Bay Beach
Ten Bay Beach may be a favorite of visitors to Eleuthera, but it wasn’t one of mine! In retrospect, I think visiting later in the day may have been a mistake because the lower angle of the sun made the water look more brown than blue to me! I’m trying to give it the benefit of the doubt.
After half a dozen beaches with clear cerulean water, it was a bit of a let down.
Color aside, this water was equally crystal clear and shallow for an exceptionally long time. I walked a more than a hundred feet into the water before it even hit my knees! The waves during my visit were also extremely minimal, so I can see why this is such a popular beach for young families.
Make sure to watch your feet when you walk- I spotted sand dollars and star fish and little silverfish swimming around. Who needs snorkel gear with water this clear!
Preacher’s Cave Beach
I popped by Preacher’s Cave Beach super briefly to try to escape some of the mosquitoes by the historic site. This beach had a grassy hill to walk through before arriving at the waterline, which was pretty neat.
I didn’t stay here for long, but I really liked the look of this beachy area.
Lighthouse Beach
Okay, I’ll admit it, I didn’t make it to Lighthouse Beach personally. Listen, it would have been a 90 minute drive and there were still dozens of perfectly good beaches to visit within 15 minutes of Governor’s Harbor!
I had to shout out this beach because of how popular it is with cruise visitors! I kind of got the impression that Eleuthera sequesters its cruise visitors to the lower part of the island, and this was easily the most popular beach in the area!
Lighthouse Beach is at the very southernmost tip of Eleuthera and offers a cove protected by a dramatic rock structure. There’s even a lighthouse to climb for a better view!
Pink Sands Beach
Lastly, I have to mention Pink Sands Beach. This beach is located on Harbor Island, so it would take up most of the day to visit from Governor’s Harbor. Unsurprisingly, I did not have the time to fit this into my schedule, but I’ve heard good things!
Harbor Island is an area of Eleuthera known for its upscale hotels and resorts, so it’s no wonder this beach is so popular.
I’ll tell you a little secret though- French Leave Beach is just about as pink as the popular Pink Sands Beach, but only a fraction of the hassle to get to and significantly more private.
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