Things to Do on Eleuthera
The town of
Governors Harbour, the main town on the island, features a historic waterfront, colonial homes, and the recently restored
Haynes Library. Governors Harbour has grocery stores, restaurants, liquor stores, two banks with ATMs, a bakery, gift shops, a dive shop, and a medical clinic. It has a nice little collection of 19th century homes and churches overlooking a picturesque harbor. You can buy fresh fish and lobster every afternoon from fisherman at the town dock.
Friday night Fish Fry in Governors Harbour is a street/beach party that brings together all the tourists and locals with food, drink, and dancing in the street. You won't want to miss it.
Harbour Island, a five-minute water- taxi ride from Eleuthera, offers five-star hotels, shopping, and celebrity sightings. No private cars are permitted on the streets of Harbour Island, so plan on renting a golf cart.
Upscale beachfront restaurants in the area include
Pascal's at Sky Beach Club (International cuisine with Bahamian influences),
Tippy's (international and fusion),
The Buccaneer (Bahamian cuisine with Caribbean-Chinese fusion),
La Bougainvillea (international cuisine),
1648 Restaurant (Bahamian cuisine inspired by European influences),
Bacchus Fine Foods (gourmet restaurant and food store), and
The Rainbow Inn (famous for its steaks and seafood). The above all have live music one or more nights a week, so there is live entertainment somewhere nearby almost every night. The Governors Harbour area also has numerous little takeouts and restaurants offering local cuisine, including Da Perk (coffee shop and sandwiches), Mate and Jenny's (pizza and Bahamian), the Sunset Inn (local cuisine), and LeoRose Sunset Beach Bar and Grill (local cuisine, drinks, live music).
Eleuthera is most famous for its 100 miles of spectacular, deserted beaches. It has a population of just 8000, and everyone knows everyone. It's famous for being very safe. It's the kind of place you can pick up every hitch-hiker you pass on the island, and leave your keys in your car. The snorkeling and diving on the island are world class. There are many reefs which you can snorkel or dive right from the beach.
The fishing is also excellent, because the island is so undeveloped and thinly populated. Bonefishing is very big, as is deep sea fishing and reef fishing. You can fish on your own or hire a guide. Boating, surfing, and other water sports are also popular. You can rent power boats, sailboats, sea kayaks, paddle boards, jet skis, bikes, and scooters. You can have a charter captain take you out for fishing, snorkeling, or diving excursions. You can go horseback riding on the beach and on trails. There are several popular spots for cliff jumping, including some tame enough for children. There is excellent sightseeing as well. Eleuthera has vast caves, cliffs, a bottomless ocean hole, dozens of beaches, each one unique, some historic churches and 19th century homes, and little villages to explore. There are local tour guides who can show you around. The island is truly magical.
Where do I go to swim with the pigs in Eleuthera?
The traditional place to
swim with pigs is on Big Major Cay in the Exumas, but you can also find swimming pigs in Spanish Wells on the far north end of Eleuthera. Contact Captain Ryan Neely for a tour to see the Spanish Wells swimming pigs.
Where can I rent kayaks and paddle boards?
We suggest KC Watersports, Governors Harbour: (904) 236-6320. They have a number of different water toys, including power boats, sailboats, and surf boards that are for rent.
