Eleuthera & Harbour Island
The history of Eleuthera began more than three centuries ago with English Adventurers establishing the first seat of democracy of the Western World on the island then called Ciguateo. The name Eleuthera, coined by the settlers, signifies freedom and the adventurers were seeking religious freedom from the persecution in England and Bermuda. The 70 freedom seekers headed by Captain William Sayle landed near the Governor’s Harbour. The tale of disputes and strife is signified in the cave now known as the Preacher’s Cave and marked the birth of Bahamas.
Geography of Eleuthera and Harbour Island
Located 60 miles from Nassau and around 200 miles from Florida at its northern tip, the 100 mile long Eleuthera is a sickle shaped island with pink and white sand beaches. The charm of pineapple plantations and colonial villages is the hallmark of this well developed strip of land. The Harbour Island is a small portion of the land mass and the most beautiful and scenic location in Bahamas. It is also known as Briland and once was the capital of Bahamas and still is the largest city after Nassau. The island enjoys the status of being the best island in the Caribbean as of 2005 with a stamp of authority from Travel & Leisure magazine.
Things to do
The islands have a well developed tourist infrastructure and provide all the adventure activities available in most of the Bahamian locations. Apart from that, the oldest settlements in Dunmore Town and Spanish Wells have been making their living from crawfish catches in the sea. The land is bursting with antiquity and folk lore; old buildings, churches and settlements are a traveler’s photo shoot paradise.
How to Reach
The Island is highly developed and has three government airports and one private airstrip. The North Eleuthera Airport is just a couple of miles away from the Harbour Island. The Rock Sound International Airport is located in the South Eleuthera and another at Governor’s Harbour, somewhat mid of the island.