Notrh Eleuthra/Russell Island
 

We are going to be flying into North Eleuthra in mid-December for a few days. We will actually be going to Russell Island off Spanish Wells. It is very remote and hard to find much on it. I guess that's sort of a good thing b/c one really just goes there for the beaches and the quiet. Anyone out there have anything to share about Russell Island, Spanish Wells and North Eleuthra? Thank you!!

you may find some useful info in blamona's latest trip report on this area. either type blamona in the search box or scroll down to what is currently #7 ". Trip report w/pics Harbor Island, Eleuthera, Paradise"

Thanks for the suggestion on Blamona. Great photos and it seems the only poster on Eleuthra so far. Unfortunately, a lot of what I find is on the middle and southern part of the island. We have three full days there but since that is not very long, we wont have time to go very far. Hopefully next time we will be able to explore more of the island!

Sorry, I don't know Russel Island, so it must be very remote.

Spanish Wells is a very laid back community, mostly fishermen and some boat building on island. There are I think 2 hotels (B&Bs) and one restaurant and I think 1 bar, but it is a very sleepy island, with beautiful beaches, and some VERY intersting history. The natives there are from Dutch decent, and the accent and speech patterns, are english with a specific sound. I actually met a couple here in NY from Spanish Wells on vacation, and recognized where they were from immeidately and all of us were shocked.

You will take a taxi over to the water taxi over to the island which won't take very long and water taxi ride over is really beautiful.

N. Eleuthera has a few settlements, and you can rent a car and explore a bit, or you might want to go over to Harbour Island and site see there as well.

Hope this helps a little.

I did not make it to Spanish Wells nor some of the Northern beaches, because Royal, our taxi hire, said to get to Tay Bay Beach, you definately needed a 4x4 to reach, since the last hurricane the roads were hard to get through. I believe Royal now rents cars, or he would know about who would have a jeep. I think, you can also hire a boat around Spanish Wells, and get to those beaches that way. In the meantime, I found this website to be helpful:

http://www.discover-eleuthera-bahama...a-beaches.html

Even better directions than "The Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera". You can also click on that website for more pictures of the individual beaches.

Also, definately purchase "The Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera" either directly from their website, or Amazon.com. Do not even consider going to Eleuthera without it.

http://www.elusivebeaches.com/

From the north, you should check out Glass Bridge, and some of the beaches I saw, such as Goulding Cay Beach (one of my favorites) Rainbow Inn beach, The Cove (maybe for lunch?) and even make it down to Governor's Harbour. (If you go that far, probably about 2 hours with stops at all the beaches, make sure you check out French Leave Beach, the beach at Tippy's, and have lunch at Joe's at Popini Beach-another of my favorites.) Governor's Harbour is probably as far down as I would go, the Southern Beaches require another day to explore. There are also some coral rocks on the Atlantic side, close to the Cove area, with "natural pools" and blow holes to explore. You may want to even consider hiring Royal to give you a tour-as the beaches are actually hard to find. If you had more time, you could take the adventure, but Royal knows the best places, and worth paying him on limited time.

Another day trip to check out is Harbour Island. Easy to walk around, yet you can rent a golf cart too to get around. There are water taxis from Spanish Wells to HI.

Royal will be at the Northern Eleuthera airport, he's there for every flight. If you want me to try to locate his number, just ask.

There are a few permanent taxi drivers in N. Eleuthera and they know the island VERY well and are a book of knowledge. I can also recommend Royal and if he is not there ask for Wendell (tell him Gail from NY said HELLO).

If you make it over to Harbour Island, Reggie, will be waiting with his van at the dock and you can ask him to take you on a tour of the island. He is another encyclopedia of knowledge of the area. (give Reg a HUG for me please).

You will so enjoy your trip. The ocean in this area is so beautiful and clean, that when you are landing at N. Eleuthera, look out the windows and you can no only see to the bottom, but will see fish in the water.

Thank you very much to Virginia, Travelbuff and Blamona for the help!! Really appreciate it. I'm wondering--do I need to contact these drivers in advance or are they just there? My one semi concern is that when we go home, we fly out of N Eleuthra at 7:35am. So, we will need to get a water taxi from Spanish Wells to N Eleuthra a little before 7am. I'm sure it will work out but I worry a little about Island Time!! Do I need to plan in advance for one of them to get us or maybe just ask when I get to Spanish Wells about the return?

Yes the taxi drivers are there to meet every flight, so don't worry about that at all.

Also make sure you get on the water taxi back to N. Eleuthera by at least 6:30, if you don't get to the airport early enough, you seat will be given away, don't think you can show up half an hour before flight time.

You can schedule a water taxi with one of the drivers when you get to the island, and let them know when you need one to get back to the airport.

Everyone there have cb radios hotels/restaurants/cabs/water taxis so everything is put in place for you.

Have a GREAT time.

Thank you for the good info--We would have showed up there at the last minute, shocked that our reserved tickets were given away!!!! Once we get off the water taxi in N Eleuthra, how far of a drive is it to the airport? Thanks!