Travel Tips for Eleuthera Island, Bahamas

• Eleuthera Island, Bahamas, is 50 miles east of Nassau.plage de turkoises bahamas image by foxytoul from Fotolia.com
  
  Eleuthera is an island 50 miles east of Nassau in the Bahamas. Eleuthera is approximately 110 miles long and one mile wide at its widest point. The Atlantic Ocean borders one side of the island and the Caribbean Sea lies on the other side. Eleuthera, also called the Island of Freedom, was developed by English Puritans seeking religious freedom in the 1700s. The island has pink sand beaches, coral reefs just offshore and is known for its diving, snorkeling and sailing opportunities. Eleuthera also attracts visitors interested in history and nature.
  
  

Annual Events

• Annual Pineapple Art Festival -- Mid-March
  Fifty artists from Eleuthera showcase their creations for one day in Gregory Town, with island pastries and preserves available.
  
  Annual Eleuthera Pineapple Festival -- Early June
  This four-day pineapple celebration features a Junkanoo parade, craft displays, dancing, a pineapple-recipes contest, tours of pineapple farms and a "pineathalon," which consists of a half-mile swim, three-mile run and four-and-a-half mile bike ride.
  
  Savannah Sound and Bluff Homecoming -- Early July
  This five-day event takes place in Savannah Sound and the Bluff on Eleuthera focuses on bringing home descendants of the community with fashion and cultural shows, native cooking, dancing and band performances.
  
  North Eleuthera/Harbour Island Regatta -- Early October
  Taking place off the north shore of Eleuthera, this is one of the largest sloop-racing events in the Bahamas. Activities during the five-day event include a church service and entertainment nightly with well-known Bahamian musicians and entertainers.
  
  Junkanoo -- December 26
  Junkanoo is the National Festival of the Bahamas. It originates from the days of slavery when slaves were granted one day to celebrate the holidays with African music, dance and costume.
  
  Eleuthera Tourist Office
  Queen's Highway
  Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera
  The Bahamas
  011-242-332-2142
  bahamas.com/vendor/eleuthera-tourist-office
  
  

Beaches, Bridges and Caves

• Eleuthera has pink sand beaches and many caves for diving, snorkeling and casual exploration. Among the best-known beaches and caves are:
  
  Glass Window Bridge is a strip of rock just 30 feet wide, enough to drive one car safely across. The Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea meet below.
  
  Hatchet Bay Cave is just south of Surfer's Beach, a mile-long cave featuring stalagmites and stalactites that create a cathedral look. It's recommended to go with a cave guide.
  
  Lighthouse Beach is considered one of the best beaches on Eleuthera. It's located on the Atlantic side of the island and features great snorkeling.
  
  Preacher's Cave is where the English Puritans originally took refuge after their shipwreck and held Eleuthera's first religious service.
  
  Surfer's Beach, two miles south of Gregory Town, is where the southwest winds coming in from the Atlantic produce challenging surfing conditions. Surfer's Beach is a two mile stretch of soft white sand.
  
  

Diving

• Eleuthera's coral reefs have cut through and sunk many ships, creating many diving, fishing and snorkeling sites. Top diving sites just offshore include:
  
  Egg Island Wreck where the "Arimoroa," a 260-foot freighter, ran aground in 1970 after catching fire. Many schools of fish stay around the hull in shallow water.
  
  Devil's Backbone is the site of dozens of shipwrecks, including three wrecks layered on top of one another.
  
  The Arch is a giant stretch of coral that forms a grotto.
  
  The Pinnacles is a 100-foot dive to a cavernous mountain of coral.
  
  

Fishing and Snorkeling

• Eleuthera is known worldwide as a bonefish capital. There are more than 10 professional guides to take fishermen to key bonefish sites. Guides have reef- or bottom-fishing boats and can provide all equipment and bait.
  
  Eleuthera has some of the world's best snorkeling sites because the island is surrounded by large coral farms. Among the most popular snorkeling sites are:
  
  Pineapple Dock is a wrecked ship that attracts a wide variety of tropical fish.
  
  Blue Hole is a low-lying reef around an extinct blue hole.
  
  Glass Window Bridge is an old bridge that has a new life as an artificial reef.
  
  Paradise Beach is a barrier-reef system with many colorful fish and corals. There are large parrot fish, schooling jacks and many tropical fish.