With direct flights from the US, Eleuthera is one of the most accessible Out Islands, but feels a world away. The 110-mile-long island has charming settlements, natural sights, and remote beaches.
Derived from the Greek word for Freedom, Eleuthera evokes a sense of freedom to this day with its expansive landscape. It has history as being one of the first place that European settlers started expanding. The Eleutheran Adventurers arrived from Bermuda seeking religious freedom in 1648. They were shipwrecked on The Devil’s Backbone on the northern point of Eleuthera and hid out in Preacher’s Cave for 1 year while their dingy skiff returned to Bermuda for help and additional supplies. They eventually established settlements in Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, where the majority of their livelihood came from a shipwrecking industry. Despite the bustling settlements on the neighboring islands, Eleuthera has maintained a quiet, peaceful and natural charm about it.
Surfers visit Gregory Town and to Surfer’s Beach to take advantage of the year-round surfing scene. Governor’s Harbour, one of the older settlements in the area, is the main town, hub of commerce and is centrally on the island. Local farms provide produce to restaurants and farmer’s markets and Eleuthera is home to the famous sweet Eleuthera pineapples and the annual Pineapple Festival held in Gregory Town.
Traditionally a fishing and lobstering village, Spanish Wells has seen major growth in recent years as the younger generation has caught onto tourism. Newly opened restaurants, barsand boutique accommodations make Spanish Wells the new “in” place to vacation.