Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in Eleuthera after the Devil's Backbone reef ripped open their boats. They were later joined
by Loyalists, who brought their slaves and founded new settlements.
Massive pineapple exports in the late 1800s and early 1900s were replaced with less in-
tensive farming crops. Abandoned silos recall the thriving cattle and chicken industries that
evolved in the 1950s. Alas, following independence the government bought out the farm-
ers, and within a short period of time the farms were derelict. Since then, with the excep-
tion of Harbour Island, tourism on Eleuthera has also withered and many once-fashionable
resort hotels are now closed. St Georges Island's Spanish Wells, however, has a thriving
lobster industry.
Hurricane Andrew knocked the socks off much of North Eleuthera in 1992, and Hur-
ricane Floyd hit the island with a right hook in 1999. The 2004 hurricanes also added to the
general damage sustained by the infrastructure and many villages.
Getting There & Away
Most travelers to Eleuthera fly into Governor's Harbour Airport or North Eleuthera Inter-
national Airport (if they are heading to Harbour Island). Others take the daily fast ferry
from Nassau to Harbour Island. There are also two weekly fast ferries and one medium-
speed ferry from Nassau to Governor's Harbour. A number of day trips to the cays from
Nassau on super-zippy powerboats are also very popular. Cheaper but slow mail boats and
expensive private boat charters round out the options.
Please refer to
Click here
for flight, ferry and mail-boat information to Eleuthera.
Getting Around
You'll need your own transportation if you want to explore Eleuthera outside of Governor's
Harbour or Harbour Island. Fortunately, car-rental agencies can be found at the airport and
through accommodations. If you fly in, you'll have to catch a ferry or water taxi to Har-
bour Island where bicycles or golf carts are the modus operandi; they're easily rented at the
dock.
See individual destinations for specific details.
