Looking to maximize your sight seeing in Eleuthera? Look no further than my step by step guide of all the best spots in Northern Eleuthera.
The nice thing about Eleuthera, Bahamas is that there’s just one main road that runs the entire length of the island. There are some smaller turn offs, of course, but you really can’t get lost here! Just look for Queen’s Highway and you’ll be fine.
With that being said, the signage in Eleuthera can be a little lackluster so it’s easy to miss some of the best sights on the island unless you’re looking for them.
This roadtrip will take approximately four hours, depending on how long you choose to stay at each stop. It’s about an hour in each direction nonstop.
These are the stops you just can’t miss!
Squires Cafe
Let’s start by getting breakfast. Depending on your accommodation you may already have this sorted, but I’ve made absolutely no secret about my love for Squires. Seriously, it’s the best coffee I’ve had in a while!
They also offer a good selection of souvenirs. This is a good spot to look for higher end items like beach cover ups and jewelry, as well as magnets and stickers.
Rainbow Bay Beach
This beach is super cute! Take your breakfast here and enjoy it on one of the benches overlooking the water.
I was so charmed by this small beach with its palm trees and Little Free Library that I just had to add it to the itinerary.
Queens Baths
Queen’s Baths is a popular spot amongst influencers. I get it- floating in one of those tide pools looks so peaceful! For me, it looked like a bacteria infection waiting to happen. I suspect that visiting at high tide would have changed my opinion on this, but only slightly- I did not like the color of some of these pools during my visit.
There is some space to park on the side of the road, which is marked by a sign stating “Hot Tubs, Queens Bath”.
There is a short path that leads to a rocky area, and you’ll want to head to the left to see the best of the baths. If you don’t see any pools, you probably have to keep going- it’s further than you’d think!
Despite not actually going into any of the pools , it’s still cool to see the waves splash up along the rocky shoreline and definitely worth the stop.
Glass Window Bridge
No trip to Eleuthera is complete without a stop at the famous Glass Window Bridge. This bridge marks the narrowest part of the island- only about 30 feet wide!
More importantly, it also marks the divide between the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean and the turquoise of the Bite of Eleuthera. It really is something to see such a stark difference in colors.
Parking is a little tricky- there is a pull off on the north side of the bride, and visitors can walk back to the bridge for a better view. There’s not much traffic in Eleuthera but the cars drive quickly so be careful of oncoming cars when you’re on the bridge!
Bad weather can be dangerous in this area. Glass Window Bridge is known for its ‘rages’- massive waves crashing into the bridge from the Atlantic Ocean. These rages can and will claim lives- it’s not worth the pictures, I promise.
Island Made Gift Shop
If you’re looking for the perfect Eleuthera souvenir, you’ll probably find it at Island Made Gift Shop. The whole shop is dedicated to souvenirs- mostly made on the island! There is a whole selection of clothes and I briefly considered picking up a rash guard to protect me from the sun.
I ended up picking out a locally made bar of soap that incorporated some of Eleuthera’s pink sands, but I also really liked the sea glass and shell jewelry they had on display.
Blue Sapphire Hole
The Blue Sapphire Hole is a huge natural sinkhole, popular for cliff jumping. Its bright blue waters look inviting, but don’t be fooled- it’s a 25 foot drop to get down there!
There are a few railings to protect people from falling in, but make sure to watch your step.
If you choose to jump in, the most obvious spot to do so is from a wooden platform that juts out over the water, limiting any accidental knocks into the sinkhole walls on the way down.
Traditionally, cliff jumpers will pull themselves back up to the top with a knotted rope. If you’re lucky, there will be a rope ladder available instead. When we first arrived, the ladder looked pretty sketchy, but while we were waiting new visitors arrived bringing their very own rope ladder! How smart of them!
Depending on your visit, this ladder may or may not still be available to use so prepare accordingly.
Don’t jump in if you’re by yourself! The sinkhole is deep and you don’t want to get stuck down there with no escape!
Preacher’s Cave
In 1648, a group of English Puritans now known as the Eleutheran Adventurers shipwrecked on a nearby beach and sought shelter in a large limestone cavern. This cavern, Preacher’s Cave became the location of the first colonial settlement in the Bahamas.
There’s admittedly not too much to see today, but it’s still worth a visit to see the naturally sunlit cave and carved rock pulpit where they once hosted religious services.
Eleuthera also received it’s name from this colony of Puritans. They named the island after the Greek word for free, “eleútheros“.
There’s also a very nice beach just across the parking area, which is spacious and easy to access.
Lunch
You’ll pass a bunch of options for lunch on your way up Queen’s Highway. I recommend a location such as Mel’s Snack Shack, Delish’s Beach Sports Bar, or LeoRose Bar and Grill. All three of these are located along the water and it’s always nice to eat by the ocean!
I’ve also heard good things about Daddy Joe’s Restaurant and Inn, which is a bit farther north than the other three options.
What to Bring
- Water
- This isn’t a particularly long road trip, but it does get hot on Eleuthera! Make sure to bring enough water for the day.
- Bug Spray
- It gets BUGGY in some of these places! Preacher’s Cave and Sapphire Blue Hole were particularly egregious offenders.
- Sunscreen
- You’ll be in the sun for most of these stops- trust me, you’ll need some!
- Good shoes
- You can get away with sandals in most of these places, but Queen’s Bath is particularly rocky, and you’ll want to have shoes with thicker soles to protect your feet
- Towel
- If you’re planning on hitting the water at any of these points, you’ll want to dry off with a towel. There are plenty of other beaches along this route, so don’t feel afraid of pulling over and checking out the water if it looks nice! A towel is also a handy tool to protect you from your scorching hot car seat if you’ve parked in the sun for a while.
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