Harbour Island is one of the Bahamas’ luxury destinations. Known to locals as “Briland”; it measures a total of 3.5 miles by 1.5 miles. One of the oldest settlements in the island nation, this tiny island has gained international acclaimed for its exceptional natural attractions and high-end resorts, hotels and dining options.
The most popular attraction on Harbour Island is its spectacular three-mile Pink Sands Beach. Aside from its uncanny color, the beach enjoys great warm weather and clear turquoise waters, which all set perfect conditions for swimming, snorkeling, strolling and sand bathing. Situated at the end of this stunning beach is the Pink Sands Resorts. This grand 20-acre resort offers 25 elegantly decorated pastel cottages to the delight of guests who are willing to pay extra.
After enjoying one of the finest beaches in all Bahamas, you can also go for a hiking adventure in search of the hill steps. These historic steps were believed to have been created by prisoners together with an underground tunnel that leads to Rock House. Another notable attraction on the island worth visiting is Titus Hole. This open mouth cave is said to be the very first jail house on the island. Today, tourists visit the cave, not only for its historical value, but also for its spectacular view of the harbor.
Because of the size of the island, the main means of transportation is a golf cart. This transport mode truly delights guests as it is fun, easy to drive and runs on a speed that allows you to soak in the Caribbean atmosphere and admire the scenery. Even though Harbour Island has its fair share of large top end resorts, there are also other accommodation options like vacation homes, houses, cottages or villas.
Dunmore is the main town on the island, and is the original capital of Bahamas. It exudes a warm and friendly atmosphere, and is adorned by buildings exhibiting New England or Georgian architecture marked by pastel colors and white picket fences. Dunmore features a cluster of boutiques, galleries, restaurants and cafes, which provides entertainment and relief to those who have been out in the sun for too long.
The period of December through April is considered to be high season on Harbour Island, and lodging rates are relatively high at this time. Nevertheless, the island remains the perfect getaway as it does not get too overcrowded with tourists and has a very small local population. Access to Harbour is typically through Eleuthera Island, which runs an international airport that accommodates regular flights from Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Nassau. From the North Eleuthera Airport, you can take a taxi to the boat dock, and finally ride a water taxi to Harbour Island.
Although vacation on the island is generally laid-back, you can still engage in various activities and trips. You can rent a bicycle or boats to go around, or arrange an offshore diving or fishing excursion. The sunset scene is one of most highly anticipated times of the day on the island, and the Government Dock is the most favored place to witness such phenomenon. And as the sun dramatically goes down, spreading vibrant colors into the sky, people order their cocktail of choice in anticipation of much appreciated romantic Harbour Island evening sky.
