Need a quick getaway with that special person.......put this one on your list......
My wife and I are always looking for unique places to visit and that’s when we stumbled across the island of Eleuthera, one of the out islands of the Bahamas.
The island is Located about 50 miles East of Nassau, and is definitely one of the Bahama’s best kept secrets. It's only an hour flight from Miami on America Airlines, if the weather is co-operating. It is off-the-beaten-path and full of adventure, really the perfect place for a weekend island getaway. The entire length of the island is only 110 miles which makes exploring easy. For most part, there is only one main road which is paved and runs the entire length of the island, the "Queen’s Highway". There are a number of little towns and villages that remain untouched by commercialization.
We flew into the North Eleuthera Airport (ELH) which serves the Northern end of the island. ELH is a tiny airport, but one of the busiest I am told. After collecting our luggage we met our friendly driver who took us to the Cove hotel.
The spectacular Cove resort is nestled between two white sand coves that make you feel as if you have discovered your own tropical island paradise. It was definitely the right choice to get away from it all. It is an intimate quiet place with great service and I highly recommend this resort if rejuvenation is what you are after.
The resort provides bicycles which came in real handy for getting around. The day we arrived we cycled to Gaulding's Cay, spent some time on the beach soaking in the unspoiled beauty. We felt as if we were on our own private island. On the way back to the resort we stopped in at a local bar for lunch and a drink - "Daddy Joes Restaurant and Inn", which was awesome! Great service and equally great conversation with the locals.
The following day after breakfast we again set off on our bicycles in search of "The Glass Window Bridge". The Glass Window Bridge is a place where you can experience the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean on one side of the road and the calm crystal clear water of the Caribbean on the other. Both bodies of water are separated by a narrow bridge and strip of rock just 30 feet wide. Climb up on the rocks and take in the panoramic view, it will take your breath away..
On our way back to the Cove, we decided to stop in at The Queen’s Baths, which are located about 0.5 miles south of the Glass-window Bridge on the Atlantic side of the island. These natural pools are filled with the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean during high tide. As the tide comes in, bath temperature tidal pools are created and make the perfect spot for lazing about. I suggest visiting the The Queen’s Baths during low or medium tide to experience them fully. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes as the rocks have sharp, jagged edges.
Day 3 of our getaway started with a jeep rental through our hotel (it wasn't the most well maintained vehicle and that was something we were thankful for later) and set off in search of Lighthouse Beach. We were told Lighthouse Beach was exquisite and worth the drive to the southern most point of the island. The drive itself is between two to three hours without stops, but we planned on making a day of it and exploring along the way.
The Ocean Hole was our first stop on our journey South. It is a large inland salt water lake, or rather a bottomless blue, hole with a rich eco-system. It is amazing that it is connected to the Atlantic Ocean and rises and recedes with the tides. The Ocean Hole Park is a protected area that surrounds this landmark and definitely worth a quick stop.
The final stretch of road getting to Lighthouse Beach was no joke, not sure how we would have made it without a Jeep. The narrow one lane road had tons pot holes, bumps, and large rocks that we needed to navigate. There were a few times when I wasn’t sure if our Jeep was going to make it. All I can say is that is was worth it! The views are amazing and the pink sand beach is picture perfect. The color of the Caribbean Sea is flawless and given the remote location we had the entire beach to ourselves!
After spending several hours exploring the beach, we headed back to the hotel hoping to find a spot for a late lunch. That is when we found Tippy's Restaurant and Beach Bar and stopped in for lunch and a cold drink. It was the perfect way to end an amazing day in paradise. It is a day I would live over again in a heartbeat!
The Cove and the unspoiled beauty of Eleuthera is still one of our favorite places in the world. I hope you put it on your list and get a chance to go! It will forever remain as one of the best places my wife and I have explored and we look forward to returning at some point.
Eleuthera Itinerary quick picks:
Gaulding's Cay
Daddy Joe's Restaurant & Inn