Harbour Island, Bahamas
Photo © by Derek Zoebelein

Pink Lady in Paradise
Harbour Island - Bahamas

Famous for its Pink Sands beach and often compared to St. Barts and Nantucket, it's easy to see why this small island in the heart of the Bahamas has always been a favorite of the rich and famous. The fact that it was recently selected as one of the world's best beaches by a famous travel magazine only adds a bit more splash to its celebrity status. But this rustic gem has always been about an 'island escape' - not glitz and glamour - even if Sports Illustrated did shoot a recent Swimsuit Issue there.

So what's this place all about? Take an island three miles long and perhaps one mile wide at its widest, add a thousand or so friendly Bahamians, a like number of equally friendly expats, a similar number of golf-carts, a few dozen SUV's (for the Hotels and taxis of course), several impeccably kept hotels, a good smattering of condos and beach house rentals dotted here and there, a dozen or so flavorfully unique restaurants, a world class three mile beach - and you have a paradise called Harbour Island, or as the locals like to call it, 'Briland.'

What don't you have? Not much contact with the outside world, no speeding tickets (no speeding, period), no electricity (on occasion), no flashy shopping centers, no wild discos, no fast food restaurants, no high-speed Internet connections - unless someone's downloading via satellite (when I tried to connect to the island's high-speed Internet Provider, it's website would not open), no noise, no polution, no hectic schedule, no 'must do/must' see travel venues, no beach vendors, no boss (unless you brought your spouse), no worries (unless you brought someone other than your spouse) and no money (occurs just at the end of your visit when you leave).

What do you have? One of the prettiest beaches in the world, a convivial group of islanders who treat you as if you are one of their own, world class lodgings, exquisite dinning, unequaled sunrises and sunsets, gentle cooling trades, birds singing sweet tropical mantras, the fresh pungent smell of salt sea air, the delightful squinch of sand between your toes as you walk hand in hand along the beach, friendly frothy bubbles to greet you as you enter the ocean for your morning swim, the strong aroma of that first cup of coffee as you breakfast alfresco on your veranda before an iridescently blue sea. In other words, everything you could hope for in a relaxing holiday - a perfectly restful and rejuvenating retreat from that high stress treadmill world called 'modern civilization'. So when do we go?

Best Season

Best time to go is December through April. Temperature up to low 80's during the day and down into the 60's at night. Little rain. Air conditioning is not necessary, unless you're a virtual arctic penguin.

Places to Stay

The big three resorts, Pink Sands Resort, Coral Sands Hotel and Dunmore Beach Club are all on the beach on the Atlantic side of the island. The island is surrounded by reefs so there is usually no significant surf to deal with, even on the Atlantic side. Pink Sands recently did a several million dollar upgrade to its property. Its zesty collection of gingerbread rooms are open, roomy, beautifully appointed and expensive. But then all three of the primary resorts sport hefty price tags. However there are numerous smaller hotels and individual rentals as well that you can find on the Internet at more modest prices - if you're willing to do a bit of research. You can save even more if you're willing to cook some of your own meals. And Johnson's Grocery will give you a helping hand. They deliver groceries to your condo or house - no extra charge. And they'll even let you run a tab. See if you can get that kind of service at your grocer back home.

Getting There

Commercial flights are available from Nassau, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami to the North Eleuthra airport, which is a Port of Entry with a 4,500-foot runway. You can also arrange a 15 minute charter flight from Nassau to Eleuthera for several hundred dollars if you prefer the privacy of your own plane. Taxis at Eluthera airport take you to the dock, then it's a short water taxi ride to Harbour Island and another land taxi on Harbour Island to wherever you're staying. A half hour transit (or less) is normal. Cost is about $15.00 per person for the entire transit. Alternatively, you can take a high speed Fast Ferry - 2 1/2 hours, service daily - from Nassau directly to Harbour Island. The ferry leaves Nassau for Harbour Island at 8:00 AM each day and arrives at 10:30 AM, then leaves from Harbour Island at 3:50 PM and arrives at Nassau at 6:20 PM. The ferry dock in Nassau is 45 minute by taxi from the airport. Expect a cost of about $60 each person one way. If you are staying in Nassau you can use the ferry to take a day trip to Harbor Island and enjoy the beach and local ambiance for about five hours without actual staying there. Many travelers do.

For an extensive overview of what Harbour Island has to offer visit Harbor Island Guide.

For more about Bahamas beaches see the Bahamas Beach Page.