9 Best Sights in Eleuthera and Harbour Island, Bahamas

The horseshoe-shape Ben Bay Beach is mostly accessed via boats, but it is one of the top beaches for swimming in Eleuthera. The turquoise waters are clear and almost always calm, with rosy pink sand along its shores. The beach is somewhat hard to find, so don't expect to ever encounter crowds of people here. Take advantage of the seclusion and nap under the palm trees, or go snorkeling along the rocky areas of the cove. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; snorkeling; swimming.

This is the fairest pink beach of them all: three miles of pale pink sand behind some of the most expensive and posh inns in The Bahamas. Its sand is of such a fine consistency that it's almost as soft as talcum powder, and the gentle slope of the shore makes small waves break hundreds of yards offshore; you have to walk out quite a distance to get past your waist. This is the place to see the rich and famous in designer resort wear or to ride a horse bareback across the sand and into the sea. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; showers. Best for: partiers; sunrise; swimming; walking.

Located at Rainbow Cay to the south of Hatchet Bay, this small, pristine beach with miles of powdery, baby-pink sand is one of the most visited in the area. The water is calm and clear, with an abundance of marine life that make the beach a great snorkeling or fishing spot. Relax under the deck or one of the many thatch umbrellas with picnic tables along the beach, or take advantage of the kayaks that are available for use. Amenities: water sports; parking. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This stretch of pink sand is home to French Leave Resort. The gorgeous Atlantic-side beach is anchored by fantastic bistros like The Buccaneer Club and Tippy's. The wide expanse, ringed by casuarina trees, is often deserted and makes a great outpost for romantics. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Snorkelers and divers will want to spend time at this beach, three miles north of Gregory Town. You'll most likely have the long stretch of white sand and shallow aqua water all to yourself, and it's great for shelling. At low tide, you can walk or swim to Gaulding's Cay, a tiny rock island with a few casuarina trees. There's great snorkeling around the island; you'll see a concentration of sea anemones so spectacular it dazzled even Jacques Cousteau's biologists. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; sunset.

This is Gregory Town's claim to fame and one of the few beaches in The Bahamas known for surfing. Serious surfers have gathered here since the 1960s for decent waves from December to April. If you don't have a jeep, you can walk the ¾ mile to this Atlantic-side beach—take a right onto the paved road past the Hatchet Bay silos, just south of Gregory Town. Look for a young crowd sitting around bonfires at night. Amenities: water sports. Best for: surfing.

Steps from historical Preacher's Cave, this beach offers a long expanse of powdery white sand. The area is remote, so you're likely to have the beach to yourself. There are plenty of palmetto trees to relax underneath for a quiet afternoon. Just offshore is Devil's Backbone, where the Eleutheran Adventurers shipwrecked and sought shelter in the cave. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

This unique beach got its name because of its interesting geography: being split into two coves by a narrow sand bridge. Frequent sightings of nurse sharks, lobster, various kinds of fish, rays, and other marine life are what you'll find on either side of the beach. Not many people visit here during the week, so it's the perfect place to relax and go swimming or snorkeling. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: swimming; snorkeling; solitude.

The long, bumpy road is worth driving on just to get to this beautiful secluded beach located on the Atlantic side of the island. Whiteland Beach features an incredible stretch of clear, white sands with beautiful blue waters. The beach is never crowded, so it's a great place to relax privately. There are also reef and rock formations close to the shore, which make it a great place for snorkeling. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; snorkeling; walking.