Welcome to the Bahamas
The Bahamas is well known as a playground for the rich and famous. The collection of 700 islands, cays and islets sitting in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the state of Florida and east of the Florida Keys, is just a one hour flight from Miami. A former British colony and now independent realm of the Commonwealth, the Bahamas retains the British Monarch as its head of state.
We travelled to Harbour Island, a 3.5-mile long by 1-mile wide strip located off the northeast coast of Eleuthera Island, renowned for the unspoiled pink sand beach which runs along its east coast, and the preponderance of billionaires that own property there. The island is a tropical sanctuary, surrounded by turquoise water; an escape from the hustle and bustle of mainland USA, where the preferred mode of transport is the golf cart. It has a population of approximately 2,000 people, with a reputation for their hospitality and friendliness.
Dream
Our journey to Harbour Island began with the flight to North Eleuthera Airport, followed by a ten-minute transfer by taxi to the boat dock for the brief ten-minute “water taxi” crossing on a small motor boat. Once on the island, we were transferred to the Dunmore via another short ten-minute taxi ride.
The Dunmore: This boutique Caribbean beach hotel is set at the end of a long private driveway, guaranteeing seclusion. It sits atop the crown of the island’s incredible three-mile Pink Sand Beach, which is frequently voted among the world’s best. This elevated position makes for spectacular views out across the powdery pink sands and the myriad vibrant blue shades of the ocean beyond.
Guests are accommodated in 14 cottages and four private homes. Each guest cottage is nestled among lush tropical landscaped gardens, and has a private patio, many with a view of the ocean.
The resort has its own restaurant and hotel bar. These are situated in The Clubhouse on the ocean side of the main building. Guests may dine either in the casually elegant dining room or alfresco on the outside patio. Food at the hotel is excellent, and the very welcoming staff make visitors feel like part of the family.
There are just enough beach chairs for the guests on the hotel’s stretch of beach. The hotel also has its own heated swimming pool set beside a stylish pavilion and surrounded by palm trees.
Ocean View Club: Another place we would consider when visiting the island, this is a nine-room boutique hotel, also set on Pink Sands Beach. The hotel entrance isn’t as dramatic as the Dunmore but the grounds, including a large patio with whitewashed wooden furniture overlooking the ocean, are striking.
Dine
We enjoyed fine cuisine while on the Island. We took breakfast each day at the Dunmore. For lunch, when we weren’t at the Dunmore, we ate at local favorite Sip Sip – one of the most popular lunch venues on the island. Sitting on the elevated outside patio under the shade of the large royal-blue umbrellas, the ocean view is breathtaking.
Coffee lovers may like to try the high-quality brews at Bahamas Coffee Roasters on Dunmore Street, which also serves breakfast and lunch.
We ventured out for some of our dinners and were pleased to find a number of high-quality establishments. Here are a few recommendations.
Restaurant at The Dunmore: The menu offers a selection of dishes that blend French and Continental-style cuisine with fresh seafood, tropical fruits and other local ingredients.
The Landing: Down by the harbour in Dunmore Town, the Landing Hotel is a historic property dating back to 1800. The hotel’s highly regarded restaurant serves a contemporary menu with an emphasis on fresh and quality ingredients, including freshly caught local fish.
Runaway Hill Inn: This restaurant is set in an estate home dating from 1940 at the top of a hill with magnificent ocean views. We dined on the seaside verandah, with a menu focusing on locally grown produce as well as local fish and seafood.
Do
We went to Harbour Island for sun and relaxation. And with our hotel located on one of the most famous three miles of pink sand beach in the world, that goal was accomplished. The hotel provides all the equipment necessary for a fun day at the beach, including snorkeling gear, canoes and paddle boards. You can also borrow fat-tired bikes to tour the entire length of the beach.
Our favorite day was a long walk along the beach, pink sand, turquoise water and a glimpse of the many enormous beachside mansions. We also took a trip out in our personal golf cart to Dunmore Town, the tiny main hub of the island, with its pastel-painted houses, boutiques and coffee shops.