6 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.

At a narrow point of the island a few miles north of Gregory Town, a slender concrete bridge links two sea-battered bluffs that separate the island's Central and North Districts. Sailors going south in the waters between New Providence and Eleuthera supposedly named this area the Glass Window because they could see through the natural limestone arch to the Atlantic on the other side. Stop to watch the northeasterly deep-azure Atlantic swirl together under the bridge with the southwesterly turquoise Bight of Eleuthera, producing a brilliant aquamarine froth. Artist Winslow Homer found the site stunning and painted Glass Window in 1885. The original stone arch, created by Mother Nature, was destroyed by a combination of storms in the 1940s. Subsequent concrete bridges were destroyed by hurricanes in 1992 and 1999. Drive carefully because there is frequent maintenance work going on.

A small inland saltwater lake a mile southeast of Rock Sound is connected by tunnels to the sea. Steps have been cut into the coral on the shore so visitors can climb down to the lake's edge. Bring a piece of bread or some fries and watch the fish emerge for their hors d'oeuvres, swimming their way in from the sea. A local diver estimates the hole is about 75 feet deep. He reports that there are a couple of cars at the bottom, too. Local children learn to swim here.

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 natural sinkhole located at the northern tip of Eleuthera is a popular spot for divers in the know. The water is an unbelievably bright turquoise but clear enough that you can see straight to the bottom. Though the hole doesn't look deep, it's about 30 feet. Note that because this is a natural attraction, Sapphire Blue Hole is surrounded by rocks, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. There's no ladder to climb out of the water (only a rope), so this isn't recommended for young children or those who aren't physically fit.