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- Harbour Island In The Bahamas Remains A Top Holiday Destination!
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Summary
- The proximity between South Florida and the Bahamas offers multiple options for getting to Harbour Island, including short plane rides and ferry services.
- Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island gets its unique pink hue from crushed shells, creating a stunning contrast with the turquoise waters. Sunbathing, photography, swimming, snorkeling, and hiking are popular activities on this beach.
- The best time to visit Harbour Island is during the off-season from April to December, as flights and hotels are historically cheaper. However, visitors should be aware of the risks involved in traveling during hurricane season. May, November, and December offer the best weather and slightly cheaper accommodations.
Florida is a top destination for a noticeable number of reasons, but it's also a great jumping-off point from which to visit another destination: the Bahamas. From the tip of South Florida, those interested in seeing one of the Caribbean's most unique beaches will be happy to know it's just a short ferry ride away.
Harbour Island is perhaps one of the most well-captured pink beaches in the world and features sand in pastel hues that seem to defy all logic. While the science behind the color of this beach is intriguing, it's the photo ops that bring many to its sandy shores. This Caribbean location is beautiful, in general, but Pink Sands Beach is truly unique in its own right. Here's how to get there quickly from South Florida and how best to enjoy its stunning coastline.
UPDATE: 2023/06/27 18:16 EST BY NOAH STAATS
Harbour Island In The Bahamas Remains A Top Holiday Destination!
This post has been updated with new information regarding Harbour Island in the Bahamas, as well as insight on the cheapest times to come here. Whether someone wants to lay in the sun, try new food, snap a photo of the pink sand beaches, or mesh with local culture and flare: Harbour Island is the place to be. Remember, it's only a short flight or boat ride from Southern Florida
Getting From South Florida To Harbour Island
The great thing about the proximity between Florida and the Bahamas is that it leaves multiple options for getting to the Bahamas. While the distance is short, travelers have their pick of short plane rides or numerous ferry rides to bring them to the final destination of Harbour Island.
Ferry Services
The ferry services between Harbour Island and South Florida require a bit of boat hopping to connect routes. If avoiding airfare is the goal, travelers can hop on a ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport, Bahamas, before boarding another ferry from Freeport to Nassau. The ferry ride to Harbour Island from Nassau is only a short trip.
- Fort Lauderdale to Freeport: Three trips weekly with a duration of two hours and 30 minutes; ~$500/ticket.
- Freeport to Nassau: Roughly nine hours; ~$77-$134/ticket.
- Nassau to Harbour Island: Roughly two hours and 40 minutes; ~$62/ticket.
Flights
The more accessible - and quicker - option between South Florida and Harbour Island is a string of flights to connect each island. Flights can often be cheaper, as well; travelers should decide if having their car is something they'll need and, if not, opt for a flight.
- Flights can be taken into Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or Nassau, Bahamas, to North Eleuthera airport. From there, it's a ten-minute taxi ride into Harbour Island.
- Flights: ~$464; Harbour Island water taxi: $5-$7/person.
Once You've Arrived At Harbour Island
Harbour Island is not massive, and it's pretty easy to find Pink Sands Beach once travelers have made their way onto the island. There's a parking lot if visitors are driving their own car there, and then it's just a short walk down to the beach itself. To make things even easier, several hotels and resorts are well within walking distance of the beach.
This is an excellent option for those planning on spending a few days there, which is advised to explore both the beach and Harbour Island itself. These hotels and resorts are located directly, or within walking distance, of Pink Sands Beach:
- Villa Bee
- Pink Sands Resort
- Coral Sands Hotel
- The Dunmore Hotel
- The Ocean View Club
- Runaway Hill Inn
Things To Know About Pink Sands Beach
From how it got its unique color to what there is to do besides take photos, here are some other things to know before booking this trip.
How The Beach Got Its Pink Sand
The sand gets its unique pink hue from a marine animal - that's right, the color of this sand comes from old shells! The animal is called foraminifera, and it has a shell that, when crushed, produces a reddish hue.
When this is mixed with the grains of sand on the beach, it becomes a beautiful pastel, bubblegum pink color. When set against the beautiful turquoise color of the water at its shores, the result is something altogether otherworldly and breathtaking.
What To Do On Pink Sands Beach
Of course, sunbathing and photography are popular pastimes at this beach. However, its gentle waters also lend themselves well to other activities. With a collection of coral reefs sitting just offshore, there's rarely any rough surf on this beach, which means swimming and wading are popular activities.
Snorkeling is another great option, especially for those who wish to see all of the marine and plant life that exists just below the surface. Hiking isn't an activity that many people associate with tropical getaways, but walking up and down Pink Shores Beach is worth it. The surrounding area is relatively rural, so there's plenty to see on a leisurely stroll through its natural landscape.
When To Go
While there's not necessarily a 'bad' time to visit the Bahamas, visitors will probably want to avoid hurricane season. The summer months mean scorching temperatures, so opting for the winter or spring is a good bet for temperate weather and warm waters.
Harbour Island vs. Harbor Island
Harbour Island of the Bahamas is located off the eastern coast of Eleuthera Island. However, people confuse this Bahamian island with another one in Tampa, Florida. The island in this Florida town is called Harbor Island and does not feature pink sand beaches.
The Importance Of Renting A Golf Cart On Harbour Island
The center of Harbour Island, Dunmore Town, is best explored via a golf cart. The center features several attractions, including iconic boutiques, picturesque buildings, various dining options, and more. Visiting the Piggly Wiggly grocery store is a must when touring Dunmore Town.
People who prefer to do more exercise while getting around Harbour Island must rent a bike instead of a golf cart. Bicycles can be found on Colebrooke St. in Dunmore Town at Michael Cycles.
What To Know About Visiting The Bahamas
- The Bahamas is an independent country.
- Both the USA and the Bahamas are friendly with each other, leading to increased travel.
- There are sections of the Bahamas with high crime rates.
The Bahamas is an independent country just off the coast of Florida. It is one of the friendly near-neighbors of the United States. Unfortunately, the Bahamas is known to have fairly high levels of crime, so caution is advised (especially in the main town of Nassau). Still, the Bahamas Out Islands are known to be safer.
The Bahamas uses the Bahamanian Dollar, which is pegged to the USD (and the USD is readily accepted on the islands). It is a fairly expensive country to visit, so $100 USD will generally not go very far on the islands. One will also need to bring a passport to the Bahamas (although there are some limited exceptions for those coming by cruise ship).
All in all, the Bahamas are one of the easiest and most convenient countries in America's near-aboard to visit. Take the time and explore this wonderful paradise, including the famous pink beaches of Harbour Island.
What Is The Cheapest Time To Visit Harbour Island In The Bahamas?
- The cheapest times to visit Harbour Island are between April and December.
- Coming here during hurricane season, although cheaper, can be risky.
One of the best times to come see Harbour Island in the Bahamas is during the off-season, typically from the middle of April to the middle of December. Although that is a broad timeframe, flights, and hotels are historically cheaper, which is nice for those trying to stay on budget. As mentioned, the Bahamas aren't a place where little amounts of money can be spread thin, so coming to them during less crowded and 'prime' times is a great alternative.
Coming to Harbour Island in the Bahamas during 'off-season' times will save the most money. Typically, the months of April through December are less expensive than prime times, so keep that in mind when booking flights and hotels.
It's also worth noting that during the summer, hurricane season is in full swing. Therefore, someone may get a great deal on flights and hotels but then have to cancel because of a tropical storm or hurricane. That is a risk one takes when coming here during the hurricane season. Instead, for the best weather and slightly cheaper accommodations and transportation, May, November, and December are perfect times to come here.