Eleuthera Island

Three hundred years ago a small band of English pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, landed on this island and gave it the ethereal name, Eleuthera, which means "Freedom" in Greek. The name seems to be as apt today as it was then. Eleuthera, delivers on its initial promise by bestowing its gifts upon the lucky who've stumbled upon it, or the smart who know to go there. Miles of glistening pink and white sand beaches, serene colonial villages, and the rolling acres of pineapple plantations make Eleuthera an island of the most casual sophistication. The cool laziness of Eleutherean life and dusty-yet-drenched colors of the island give it the feel of a giant illusion; it seems to have a kind of unbounded air of calm and grace. With its two companions, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, Eleuthera has long been a favored destination among smart travelers seeking a bit of quiet charm.

Attractions

• Eleuthera is not really the sort of place that lends itself to plans, but you'll probably find yourself at some point ready to do some exploring. Preacher's Cave is a good place to start. It's a subterranean cave in which the Eleutheran Adventurers, the happy few pilgrims who first landed here, took refuge and held religious services upon their arrival. If Preacher's Cave was a chapel in the wilderness, the magnificent Cave at Hatchet Bay gives the appearance of a vaulted cathedral. It is more than a mile long, with stalagmites and stalactites that gleam in the torchlight.


• Another magnificent sight is the Glass Window Bridge, which spans a gap in which the turbulent waters of the Atlantic meet the calmer seas of the Exuma Sound on the island's leeward side. The existing man-made structure has replaced a naturally-formed bridge that was blown away during a hurricane years ago, but the view of the deep blue ocean and crashing surf is still as spectacular as when it captured the painterly eye of Winslow Homer.

Currency

The Bahamian dollar (BSD) is the official unit of currency. U.S. dollars, traveler's checks and credit cards are widely accepted.

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