Eleuthera has always been known for it beaches, but there are lots of other things to do on Eleuthera besides visiting beaches. What may have started as a beach vacation may very well end up being the adventure vacation you’ve been looking for and that is what I’ve always loved about the island and its surrounding neighbors. You’re never going to run out of things to do.
By the way, the right answer for the number of
Things To Do
on Eleuthera should really be zero. Not that there aren’t a lot of things to do, but the best way to enjoy Eleuthera is to plan to do none and then do as many as you want. Time and time again I see visitors trying to fit everything into one trip and that’s simply not possible. If you like Eleuthera, then you’ll be back…again and again and again. In my opinion, it’s best to do Eleuthera with as little planning as possible. Wake up each morning and see which way the wind blows. That’s how we do it on Eleuthera!
For those who want to know what some of the options are please read my list below of The Best 15 Things to Do on Eleuthera.
#15 – Festivals (Homecoming, Eleuthera All that Jazz, Pineapple Fest, Junkanoo)
Depending on when you are visiting the island attending festivals could easily be the number one thing for you to do on Eleuthera. Attending one of these events could be the primary reason for the timing of your trip. All of the festivals on Eleuthera are oodles of fun and will surely be a memorable part of your vacation. The combination of good food, drink and music combine perfectly and complement the charged vibe of the crowds that attend the events. Keep your eyes on the calendar. It might make sense to time your trip to coincide with one of these events. Attending a festival could make your vacation complete! Eleuthera All that Jazz is usually in April. Pineapple Fest is in June. Junkanoo is late December. The Homecoming celebrations happen throughout the year in different settlements depending on which one is celebrating.
Bright costumes color the junkanoo parade near Governor’s Harbour
#14 – Ruins
The island’s ruins serve vestige to bygone eras. Rather than remove many of the old structures, they have simply remained. Dilapidated and in disrepair, many have been enshrouded by the surrounding jungle vegetation. The ruins in the southern areas of Eleuthera have more historic relevance, in my opinion, since they show off more of the primitive island architecture. They capture a different way of life than we know it now. If you can find them, the remains of buildings such as the Deal’s Town jail and the Bannerman Town Anglican Church are really interesting and historic.
More modern ruins such as the NAVFAC facility that closed in 1980 or Arnold Palmer’s Beachfront Inn are neat finds as well, but don’t have the rich heritage of the much older Bahamian buildings. If you research the old clinic in Whale Point you’ll find that it had a very checkered past making it one of the island’s more macabre ruins.
The ruins of the old jail in Deal Town, Eleuthera, Bahamas
#13 – Fish Fry
The weekly Friday night Fish Fry, held at Anchor Bay in the capital settlement of Governor’s Harbour, is a vivacious outdoor street party. Good food, drink and loud music begin the evening leading to limbo contests, street dancing and lots of libationary social interaction. Due to Covid the Fish Fry has been put on hold, but once restrictions have been lifted this should be on everybody’s weekly things to do list.
The Fish Fry gets hopping once the sun goes down
#12 – Shelling
A must-do for those passionate about collecting the island shore’s free treasures, Eleuthera has so many miles of beaches that this activity could be done each day on the island. Remember to go early or at low tide, take your time, go to beaches that are less visited, of which we have quite a few, and look for wet sand. Treasure hunters are likely to find a bevy of sea glass, conch, whelk, angel wings, scallops, clams, and banded tulips to name a few. Consider picking up a copy of a shelling book such as the Bahamian Seashells guide or the Caribbean Shell Card to help identify your finds.
Combers Beach in Tarpum Bay is one of the more prolific shelling spots
#11 – Scuba Diving
Since I’m a diver this always goes to the top of the list. Alas, there is not a lot of organized diving on Eleuthera, but the dives we do have are some of the best and most interesting in the world.
The best diving is found at the northern and southern extremes of the island. Any diving done mid island consist of either shallow shore diving or diving off of one’s own boat as there are no dive operators other than on Harbour Island and Cape Eleuthera. Valentine’s Dive Center is your choice for northern diving. Most of its boat dives will be done along the extensive reef system between Harbour Island and the Glass Window Bridge on Eleuthera in depths from 50′ to 100′. If you can coax them to do it, the best dive in the north is the Current Cut, which offer a series of 12 minute high speed drift dives in the channel that separates Eleuthera from Current Island.
To the south you have two dive operators that cover the Great Exuma Wall and the inshore shallow reefs. The wall drops to 6000′ and offers an amazing array of pelagics, rays, turtles and sharks. Your dive operator choices are Scuba Eleuthera or Ocean Fox. My favorite southern dives are the airplane wreck, Hole in the Wall and the Boiling Holes, which are cold fresh water springs that attract the best sea life and have the healthiest reef systems surrounding them.
Scuba Eleuthera with Captain Daryl Miller operates out of south Eleuthera
#10 – Fishing (Deep Sea, Shore, Bone)
As one of the more popular things to do on Eleuthera, there are lots of fishing options. Whether by boat, on shore or in the flats you are bound to have a good time pursuing your favorite catch. Several tour operators and many dedicated fishing guides can be found up and down the island. They will build a schedule to cater to your particular fishing passion. Bonefishing is probably the primary reason why DIY fishing enthusiasts continue to flock to Eleuthera.
If you want the big ones, take a bonefishing excursion with Fishbone Tours out of Savannah Sound
#9 – Wildlife and Nature (Leon Levy Preserve/Birding)
The Bahamas is home to 379 different species of bird. While they can be found everywhere on the island, one of the more unique places to do your birding is at the Leon Levy Preserve, which is located between Governor’s Harbour and North Palmetto Point along the Bank’s Road. It is the first national park on the island of Eleuthera and is an environmental educational center as well as a facility for the propagation of native plants and trees. One of it’s unique functions is to research traditional bush medicine.
The Preserve serves Bahamians and visitors who can now walk miles of trails through the native habitat, viewing the beautiful orchids, food, medicinal plants, and the hardwood trees that serve such a vital role in supporting the bird population. Check out some of their neat videos by clicking here.
This great blue heron is doing some hunting at dusk at Ten Bay Beach
#8 – History, Sightseeing & Natural Attractions
Dating back to 1648 when Eleuthera was originally settled, there are numerous historical landmarks and buildings. Allocating at least one day of your vacation to sightseeing and visiting the natural attractions is a given. Most of the natural attractions, such as the Glass Window Bridge, The Queen’s Baths, The Cow and Bull, and The Cliffs can be found on the northern end of the island while most of the historic landmarks, plaques, and buildings can be found in the settlements or at the extreme ends of the island. Consider hiring a private guide to see the best of the best. Arthur Nixon is one of the island’s best tour guides. He can be reached at 242-359-7879.
The narrowest place on Earth – The Glass Window Bridge where two oceans collide
#7 – Island hopping
A trip to Eleuthera seems not complete without a visit to neighboring Harbour Island and/or Spanish Wells. I personally prefer the former for a daytrip as there are more things to do. There are several other uninhabited islands that can also be explored by private boat as well.
The Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island is one of the best beaches in the world
#6 – Caves
We have some pretty awesome caves, and they are quite varied. Beginners prefer Preacher’s Cave because it is open and airy. Serious cavers like the Ten Bay Caves because of their overall size, difficulty and plethora of bats. Folks who are in between will prefer the Hatchet Bay caves. There are lots of other hidden caves including a recently discovered cave beach that is accessible only by water. Additionally, we have several cave beaches that can be reached by land, too.
The Ten Bay Caves have some chambers that let in natural sunlight
#5 – Talking to Locals
It is said that the spirit of the Bahamas can only be truly felt through its people. The Eleutherans are amongst the friendliest people you will ever meet and they love to share their knowledge, insight and experiences. Seek them out. You won’t be disappointed!
Mr. Millard Bethel owns a small market in North Palmetto Point
#4 – Blue Holes
The Sapphire Hole in North Eleuthera, which until recent years was almost completely hidden by the jungle, is now sought after by folks who want to perform the dramatic 10′ jump into it. It has become a must-see for adventure seekers. The Ocean Hole in Rock Sound is still a favorite and can be swam or snorkeled, however, many folks go to simply feed the fish. There are a number of other cenotes that can be found through some research and exploration.
The Sapphire Hole (bottom of pic) is close to Tay Bay Beach and Preacher’s Cave
#3 – Non-motorized watersports (SUP/Kayak/Surfing/Snorkeling/Cliff jumping)
Where there is ocean there is fun and adventure to be had! If your rental doesn’t come with any non-motorized equipment it can be easily rented at one of the shops in Governor’s Harbour or Gregory Town. The best surf breaks can be found at Surfer’s Beach near Gregory Town, but there are several other spots that are worth trying if you have your own board. Cliff jumping is best done on the northern end of the island where heights range from 10′ to 40′ from Glass Window Bridge to James Cistern. The other activities can be done off of almost any beach if the conditions are right, but if they aren’t then visit Edwin’s Turtle Lake Marine Preserve just outside of Governor’s Harbour to experience SUP and kayaking in a more protected environment.
Snorkeling at Half Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas
#2 – Guided Ocean Tours
Hire one of the tour guides and see Eleuthera from the ocean. You can snorkel, dive, fish, interact with turtles, find huge starfish, and if you don’t mind some wet pig scat, swim with the pigs. The Schooner Cays are really beautiful and can be experienced by boat off of the southern end of Eleuthera. Seeing the island from sea is a completely intoxicating experience. A list of tour guides can be found here.
Aqua Bliss runs daily charters
#1 – Beaches
The best thing to do on Eleuthera is explore and find new interesting beaches. The pilgrimage to Lighthouse Beach is almost expected, but there are 134 other majestic deserted beaches that provide an incredible variety of experiences. You can spend your entire vacation searching and experiencing them if you wish to. Depending on the ocean conditions, you can snorkel at almost all of them. Consider picking up The Eleuthera Beach Book and The Eleuthera Snorkel Book to enhance your trip and speed your journey to the best spots.
A trip to Eleuthera is not complete without an excursion to Lighthouse Beach
Conclusion
I hope you liked my list of The BEST 15 Things to Do on Eleuthera. I’ve spent many years exploring the island and all it has to offer, and it never grows old. Even after 21 years, each time I visit I find something new. I hope you seek out some of these locations and turn Eleuthera into your go to place for vacation adventure!
A satellite view of Eleuthera reveals both shallow and deep water surrounding it
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