Secret Islands: Eleuthera, Bahamas

Filed in archive Islands on June 16, 2010

© jeremyparr


When you think of the Bahamas, you probably think of colorful art deco towns, great seafood, beautiful beaches - and tourists. If you're in Nassau or Freeport, that's a valid description (especially the part about tourists). But if you want a less commercial experience in the Bahamas, you're looking for Eleuthera.

Eleuthera is one of a number of secret (as in undiscovered by the tourism industry) islands around the world. The island is 110 miles long and largely undeveloped - lined with pink sand beaches. Eleuthera is just 50 miles from Nassau. Only eight thousand people live on the island.

Eleuthera is a charming little island. It was settled in the mid-1600's by Puritan Pilgrims. Today the island has about 110 little churches. If you tire of the pink sand beaches, visiting the churches is a nice way to pass the time. But the most popular past time on Eleuthera is simply doing nothing - and enjoying it.