Car Rental Is Critical When You Visit The Island Of Eleuthera, Bahamas

Although Eleuthera is a relatively sparsely populated out-island (11,165 as of the 2000 census) of the Bahamas, it is quite a large island. It stretches for almost 110 miles. So, if you plan to explore the beaches, attractions, restaurants and more, you’re going to need a rental car.

Eleuthera Beaches

With well over 200 miles of coastline, it goes without saying that Eleuthera beaches are in plentiful supply. In order to visit most of these beaches you’ll need to have a car.

For example, if you plan to visit Lighthouse Beach, and your accommodations are near Governor’s Harbour, that’s at least a 45-mile drive. However, it’s a drive that you won’t regret making.

Many fabulous beaches are strewn across the length of Eleuthera’s coast. There are many you won’t want to miss.

Ben Bay, at the northern end of the island, is a tropical cove like you see in the movies. Again, assuming you’re staying in the Governor’s Harbour area, the distance to Ben Bay is also about 45 miles but in the opposite direction.

Other Places to See in Eleuthera

There are, naturally, other places to see while you’re exploring the numerous beaches.

Preacher’s Cave is just a short jaunt from Ben Bay.

The Ocean Hole in Rock Sound is a good place to stop while driving south to Lighthouse Beach. Prepare a picnic for the outing and save some pieces of bread for the many fish at Ocean Hole.

Allowing for the Distances in Eleuthera

Because of the length of Eleuthera, a long and skinny out-island in the Bahamas chain of islands, the distances between settlements can be significant.

Traveling between settlements can be very difficult without access to a vehicle. It’s a common site to see people hitchhiking.

Taking a taxi between places could get pretty expensive. If all you want is a cab from the airport to your resort, that would be reasonable. However, if you want to do any exploring at all, you will need a rental car.

From Governor’s Harbour Airport (GHB) to the settlement of Governor’s Harbour is no more than ten miles. So if you don’t plan to go anywhere from there, it makes sense to take a cab.

However, if you’d like to see Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island, the water taxi dock is about 35 miles from Governor’s Harbour. That would be a pretty hefty cab fare.

Such distances are just a fact of life in Eleuthera. Most things are pretty far apart.

You’ll need to make the decision about a rental car and whether or not it fits into your vacation plans. If you want to just stay at a resort, you may not need a car. If you plan to do even a little bit of exploring, you are going to need one.

Eleuthera Rental Car

Getting an Eleuthera car rental is a different experience from regular car rentals. There are no national chains or regular rental offices here. In most cases, you’ll be dealing directly with the owner of the cars.

Sometimes there will be a formal rental agreements, sometimes there won’t. A rental may have a full tank of gas, half a tank or very little gas at all.

The prices for rental cars can vary depending on the size and type of vehicle you want and the length of the rental period. You should be able to negotiate a better daily rate if you want the car for a week or more.

Eleuthera is a wonderful place to explore Make sure you take advantage of everything this island has to offer.