The Anchorage: Your Ideal Vacation Rental on Eleuthera

ABOUT THE ISLAND.....

Stretching for 100 miles across the Great Bahama Bank, Eleuthera harbours a dark past - a history written in blood by Spanish invaders. Yet the time of trials here has long passed and this paradise of crystal air, warm sunshine and sugar-soft sandy beaches now rightly enjoys its reputation as a haven of peace and tranquillity.

Eleuthera is different from its neighbours. Just off the tourist map, it's a little more relaxed, a little friendlier. That doesn't mean there's nothing to do. Quite the opposite in fact. You can stalk schools of bonefish across the sand flats, take a boat out to the reef or catch a wave at Surfer's Beach.

Eleuthera is a special place. Derived from the Greek eleutheria, meaning freedom or liberty, that's just what this island offers. It's a world away from the stresses of civilisation - yet has all the comforts of home.

If you'd rather be under the water than on it, then the reefs and wrecks just offshore offer some of the finest dive sites in the world. Prefer to keep your feet on terra firma? Then drive up through the old colonial villages and pineapple plantations and take in the breathtaking views. And if you see people waving to you on the road, that's ok - wave back, they're just saying hello.

Come evening-time, the choice of restaurants on the island covers just about every taste,

from the incredible local-caught seafood to beachfront grills and pizza restaurants, even gourmet á la carte.

You won't find any neon-nightclubs or shopping malls on Eleuthera. In fact, just as it managed to escape the attentions of marauding pirates 300 years ago, so it continues to keep invaders at bay today.

THE CLIMATE

You will find the trade winds that blow almost continually throughout the Bahamas give the islands a warm, agreeable climate which hardly varies all year round with a temperate climate ranging from 27 to 32°C (80 - 90°F). Night-time temperatures are generally 5 - 7 degrees cooler.

The official Bahamas' hurricane season is between June and November. The Bahamas' official rainy season is between May and October. You will find that the Islands Of The Bahamas can experience rain year-round but they are often very brief showers that clear quickly. The northern islands normally receive twice as much rain as the southern islands.

You will find that hitch-hiking is an accepted custom on Eleuthera, if you are comfortable in participating, it's a great way to meet the locals, sip-sip and blend into local life!

TINGS TO SEE AND DO.....

If you are looking for "tings to do" during your stay you will find that Eleuthera has plenty, whether it is dining out, listening and dancing to local live music, places to see or activities to do!

ATTRACTIONS

If you are looking to explore during your stay you will find Eleuthera has plenty of attractions to visit from one end of the island to the other such as Glass Window Bridge and Queen's Baths, Sapphire Blue Hole and Ocean Hole, The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve which is a 30-acre botanical garden located in Governor's Harbour and is. managed by The Bahamas National Trust, it is a living part of Bahamian history and was the first National Park on the island of Eleuthera. You will also find Sweetings Pond which has recently been declared a National Park and is now called Seahorse National Park due to its unique seahorse population (currently closed to the public).

EXPLORE beaches

There are lots of stunning beaches to explore from one end of the island to the other and Rainbow Bay Beach is one of them right on your doorstep!

Eleuthera also has some great caves to explore, a couple are Hatchet Bay Caves, one of the longest dry cave systems in The Bahamas and once a haunt of pirates and buccaneers, is a towering mile-long chamber rich in stalactites and stalagmites; and Preacher's Cave which is down North, has both a natural and historical appeal. It was in this large blue-shadowed cave that the Eleutheran Adventurers sought shelter after shipwrecking nearby. They had fled Bermuda in search of religious freedom, and it was in this cave that they held their first services in what would become their permanent home. It is advisable to go caving with someone experienced.

ACTIVITIES

There are plenty of tours and charters to choose from if you want to experience the local flora and fauna. Local to Rainbow Bay is Eleuthera Fishing Charters based out of James Cistern, Jeremy Lewis can "Make it Happen" for you!

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

You will find plenty of places to eat and drink on the island, some with live music on certain nights.

Heading South into James Cistern, a 5-10 minute drive away, you will find:

Delish Lifestyle Beach Sports Bar and Restaurant with live music on Sunday's
LeoRose Sunset Beach Bar & Grill which has live music on Thursday's
Mel's Snack Shack
D'Jay's Cafe
Da Conch Hut
Juice City
The infamous and oh so delicious Stubbs BBQ (Under the Tamarind Tree Grill)

Further afield on the way into Governor's Harbour you can find:

Drinks by the Sea which is a great new weekend beach bar with food ( Char's Platter and Sweet Treats ) run by the charming Mr Derrick Johnson located at Receiver's Beach down Cocodimama road ( turn right at Cocodimama sign then follow the road right down until you see a blue tent on your right). A beautiful set up on a beautiful beach with the best rum cocktails and delicious food ( a full menu on Saturday's and conch fritters and chicken wings only on Sunday's ).
Hours - Saturday's from 8am till sundown and Sunday's from 10am till sundown
Tel: 242-395-1709 / 242-820-5310
Pascal's at Sky Beach - great restaurant and pool with swim up bar and live music with bbq on Sunday's, a great spot to while away the afternoon.

Heading North into Hatchet Bay, a 5-10 minute drive away, you will find:

The Front Porch (reservations only)
Twin Brothers
Rednip Sports Lounge & Grill
Boaters Haven Bar, Grill & Convenience Store

Further afield into Gregory Town you will find:

Unca Gene's
Dave's at Pitman's Cove where you can get the best conch salad washed
down with a beer or two!
Daddy Joe's opposite Gaulding Cay beach

For a full list of Restaurants please click here!

Note that you drive on the left hand side of the road here! Please drive safely!

GETTING HERE.....

Just 55 minutes from the Florida coast and just 20 minutes from Nassau makes getting here easy, there are direct flights from Florida and Nassau plus a ferry service from Nassau. Eleuthera has 3 airports - Rock Sound, Governor's Harbour International Airport (which is the nearest to our cottage in Rainbow Bay) and North Eleuthera Airport.

Taxi's are available on the island, they are usually waiting at the airports so you can pick one up easily on arrival. If you need one for a special night out arrangements can be made by Your Hosts with advance notice. See Our Services for information.

We would highly recommend you hire a vehicle for the duration of your stay to enable you to explore the island and shop for groceries as you will find there is no public transport. The nearest store is 3.1km away.

OUR SERVICES

DIRECTIONS

BOOK NOW

For local vehicle hire recommendations please see below, note they are also on

Whatsapp on the numbers provided.

rolle's auto rentals

Naaman and Indira Rolle

Rainbow Bay

Cell: 242-359-7166 (Naaman)

Cell: 242-470-4812 (Indira)

Email: banro2@batelnet.bs

Email: banro235@gmail.com