|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eleuthera's beaches are definitely the most fabulous reason to visit there. There is little commercial development on this island that has the Atlantic ocean on one side and Exuma sound on the other (Caribbean). It is a long narrow island that runs 110 miles long and about 2 miles wide. So, much of the island is oceanfront, and there are some gorgeous beaches there-but most are not easy to find. Which is a good thing for those seeking secluded beaches where you are more than likely to be the only people there, and bad for those who don’t want the hassle of figuring out where these prime spots are.
The beaches for the most part, are sandy and shallow some way out, so most beaches make for excellent wading and swimming- which also makes it pretty kid friendly, if you wanted to have a family vacation there. The Caribbean side has the warmer and calmer waters of the 2 sides- so the best swimming can be found there. The Atlantic side for the most part is pretty calm and sandy bottomed as well, but there are some places where it is more turbulent, and offers better snorkeling. If you plan on traveling to Eleuthera, here are several beaches that aren’t too difficult to find and that will more than likely be not be too crowded.
Harbour Island:
Not hard to find at all, Harbour Island is posh, while still being casual. (It is much more populated and upscale than anything you will find in Eleuthera) It is a 5-minute water taxi from the North end of Eleuthera. The beach there is a 3 mile pink sand beach on the Atlantic side that has been voted in the top 10 beaches of the Bahamas. We saw a modeling photo shoot there, which isn’t uncommon and rented horses race up and down the beach bouncing wobbly tourists on their backs. This will not be a beach you will find yourselves alone at, but it also wont be a beach like you would see in Waikiki or Daytona. There are several hotel/resorts there, and the beaches are immaculate as a result. The water is amazing, turquoise warm and doesn’t sting your eyes (saline content must be low here). We walked a little ways off and found that the people congregate right outside their hotels and there were expanses of beach with no one there, but the occasional strollers.
Spanish Wells:
Also a short water taxi ride away, Spanish wells has nice Caribbean side beaches. White sand and soft, the water is shallow and calm. There are houses along the beach, so more than likely you wont be alone, but there wont be many people there. Like I said, no beach will ever be crowded.
Surfers Beach, Eluthera
This is well known beach, they say in the wintertime the waves rival those found on Maui. It is on the Atlantic side, and the water ranges from deep blue (more rocky underneath) to impossibly clear turquoise water, with pink sandy bottoms-, which will seem strange when you see the decent waves such clear turquoise water can make. And the surf breaks for a few miles along the coastline. There are signs on Queens Highway (the only "big" N/S road on Eleuthera) that point to Surfers beach (most beaches don’t have signs posted) It doesn’t seem easy to find, because the dirt roads are narrow and barely hatcheted out. You will pass Surfers beach manor, and if you are worried about your car, you can park there and walk - its a little bit of a trek, but not too bad. This is a popular beach, especially with the surfers in the wintertime. There are also some reef sharks, but if you see them, you can see them a mile away the water is so clear. We saw one, about 3 feet, just cruising down the coastline. We are pretty pansy about sharks, and it didn’t scare us at all, so it isn’t like it sounds.
This isn’t a very private beach either, it is one of most popular, I am told, but we didn’t see anyone there at all.
Club Med beach, Eleuthera
This is the site where Club Med used to be before Hurricane Floyd tore it all down. It faces the Atlantic side, and has a long wide pink sand beach. The sand there is impossibly soft, and the water is shallow, warm and calm. There are a few unafraid fish, but they are small and not too much of nuisance unless you really hate fish. Again, this is one of the more popular beaches, but we saw no one there. There are some houses along the coastline, and the Club Med site is currently being built up for condos. There are several access roads to Club Med, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding it.
Ten Bay Beach, Eleuthera
This is on the Caribbean side, and it is a protected bay with a wide sandy beach. There is a lot of shade along the beach from pine trees and palm trees. The water is shallow and the sand is flat for quite a ways before you can finally get in over your head. We found this to be an excellent water Frisbee beach, and it had some nice sunsets. There are houses along this beach, so it isn’t a secluded beach... but again, the times we were there, there was only one other couple there on the entire beach. We found sand dollars and very pretty conch shells there. There wont be any signs to find this beach, but there is an access road that is close to an old A frame house that sits a little ways back on the Caribbean side of the road- the small dirt access road is on the corner.
Savannah Sound and Flats, Eleuthera
This beach is on the Atlantic side, pretty much across from the Ten Bay Beach. It is a long narrow sandy beach, and it is shallow all the way across to Windermere Island (which is an exclusive gated community island). It is calm and clear, and more secluded than the other beaches mentioned already. (Especially if you head north)
If you want to find the very remote and secluded beaches in Eleuthera, and there are a LOT, there is a book we found at the "Dis n Dat souvenir shop" at the North Eleuthera airport. It is called "The Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera" and it provides directions, and commentary about the swimming, snorkeling, shelling, and privacy of all the beaches they have found. It also rates the beaches on aforementioned categories, so you can scan through and find the best ones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Help our site and your fellow travelers out by reviewing this place. It doesn't matter if you have reviewed it elsewhere, your opinions will help our visitors too!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Facebook
Twitter
News RSS Feed