Best beaches in Eleuthera and Harbour Island

A couple of miles to the south of Gregory Town, this is easily one of the best surfing beaches in the Caribbean - often likened to Hawaii’s offerings. You’ll find it on the Atlantic side of the island, where south westerly winds create consistent breaks. It’s a looker: two miles long with amazingly soft, white sand.

Southerly winds are known to create incredible ten footers on this beach in James Cistern, which is another of Eleuthera’s surfing greats. There are calm moments too, when snorkelers can explore the nearby shipwreck.

Set aside a whole day and travel to the southernmost tip of the island, where pink-white sand goes on for miles, dotted with sand dollars. Strictly speaking, Lighthouse Beach is to the east with the Atlantic, and Lighthouse Bay to the west with the Caribbean Sea. On Lighthouse Beach, rock formations jut out in every shade of grey, topped in lush green dunes. It’s possible to walk up to the old lighthouse for an awesome photo opportunity. On the Bay, the Exuma Sound has smashing snorkelling potential. There’s no denying that this neck of the woods requires a bit more effort to reach, but there’s also no doubt that it’s worth it for the stunning scenery.

On the Atlantic side, this one comes with pale sands, lush greenery, and an ongoing stretch of sand for beach walks. It takes a while to get to via a narrow, overgrown track – but it’s worth it for the faraway feel and excellent snorkelling.

Mother Nature’s done a marvellous job with Ten Bay, nudging calm waters against the golden shore, providing lush trees for shade and positioning it all so that the sunsets will blow your flip flops off. Swimming and snorkelling provide hours of fun, and explorers can seek out the open cave (look out for the bats). It’s gloriously remote and takes a while to get to, but that’s half of the charm.

Near Preacher’s Cave, Tay Bay is lovely and wide with soft, pale sand. Scramble over the rocks and you’ll uncover two more little beaches.

Old timers sometimes still call it Club Med beach after the resort that was here, but this beach by any other name would still be as beautiful. Sand with a pinkish tint goes on for a good mile and the waters are reef protected (you can swim out to explore the fish and corals). A clear favourite on the Eleutheran coastline, and you might just have it all to yourself.

The best thing about this beach is that you can swim or walk out to the cay during low tide. Or it could be the snorkelling around the cay – shallow enough for those still getting the hang of their flippers. Maybe it’s the white sand and clear waters, which you can sometimes spot starfish and sand dollars through. Of course, it could always be the fact that you’re often the only person on it…

Or Receiver’s Beach, depending on who you’re talking to… Either way, you’ll find powdery white sand, and over a mile of it. Pass the time swimming and paddling in the shallows, or doze off in the shade. Perfect for a last-ditch attempt for tanning or that one last swim before check in - as it’s really close to Governor’s Harbour airport.

Crescent shaped and classically Caribbean, Ben Bay has gentle, protected waters making it ideal for swimmers and snorkelers.

Three miles of yellowy-pink sand (watch it glow as the sun sets), contrasting the bright turquoise sea make this one of the most spectacular beaches in the Bahamas. Protective reefs make snorkelling and swimming a dream. If ever there was a bucket list of beaches, this is most definitely one of them.

This two-in-one beach consists of a couple of coves on either side of a sandbar that leads to a tiny cay. Both are dotted with palms and set against brilliantly blue water that’s perfect to swim and snorkel in.

A firm family favourite – Rainbow Beach is nice and easy to get to from Queen’s Highway, with shallow waters and snorkelling on reefs that are reachable from the shore. Send sprogs searching for sand dollars while you relax on a shady spot or at a picnic table.