Travel Guide To Harbour Island, Bahamas
Here’s my blog on arguably my most favourite holiday destination in a long time ~ Harbour Island, Bahamas.
Being Caymanian and in love with our islands, it’s not often that I travel to another island and feel like I’d want to live there, but the Bahamas and specifically Harbour Island, really really blew me away.
So here’s my take on what makes this island so special, our stay at the Pinterest famous Ocean View Club and the best places to eat, drink and explore so you can plan a dream vacation just like ours - the only catch is I might come with you!
“A month later and I’m still speaking about Harbour Island to anyone who will listen and wondering how soon is too soon to pop back!”
The Islands
The Bahamas has 700 islands full of incredible natural beauty, the friendliest of people (and pigs and turtles), and the most quaint Caribbean architecture.
The scale of the Bahamas is hard to get your head around as it spans across more than 5,000 square miles with something like 2,400 separate cays, with only thirty of the 700 islands actually inhabited.
With so many islands to choose from it can be overwhelming to organise where to stay and for how long.
Our week-long trip included Nassau (3 nights) Eleuthera (in transit) and Harbour Island (for 4 nights). If we had more time we would have definitely visited the Exumas too (most famous for Pig Beach).
Getting There & Travel Requirements
We flew direct with British Airways from Grand Cayman to Nassau. To get to Harbour Island, we flew from Nassau to North Eleuthera with Pineapple Air and Southern Air charter and then jumped on the water taxi from Eleuthera to Harbour Island which runs daily every 15 minutes.
In terms of COVID requirements, things have changed since we went (and actually gotten even easier). You no longer need a PCR test to travel and can do an antigen test no more than 72 hours before travel. You also still have to apply for a Bahamas Health Visa and pay the $50 which covers health insurance. See all the latest requirements here.
The Weather
The Bahamas is a wonderful temperature, it reminded me a bit of Miami which makes sense given the latitude.
Of course with it being the Caribbean, it’s warm. 70-90 degrees kind of warm! But in the winter months, it is a bit cooler than we were expecting (cooler than Cayman for sure). It’s warm in the days but there’s a fresh breeze and it’s definitely cool enough for a jacket or cardigan in the evenings.
Harbour Island
Only 3 miles long and half a mile wide, Harbour Island - known as "Briland" to locals - sits just a mile off the larger island of Eleuthera. Quaint, picturesque and with a down to earth charm about it, Harbour Island is a very special island.
It’s no surprise that a roster of celebrities like to call it home (Elle Macpherson, India Hicks to name a few.)
Our Stay At Ocean View Club
After many years of drooling over this gorgeous hotel on Pinterest, with its glamping tent-like structures built around the coconut trees, we finally had the chance to stay at Ocean View Club and it was everything I could have hoped for.
Located on beautiful Pink Sands beach on the eastern coast of the island, this hotel has the dreamiest view high above a pristine white beach with turquoise water and rolling waves. (For those from Cayman, think Seven Mile Beach with a higher vantage point and waves).
Passed through three generations, Ocean View Club is built on family and you do get a sense of that even though the owners now live at their sister property The Other Side.
There are three types of accommodation here: the Beach Shacks (3) which are the most private and secluded beach-front cottages, the Tent Cottages (2) that are freestanding and overlooking the ocean (pictured above) and, the Rooms (3 options) that are either part of the main building or entrance building. We stayed in a Lower Ocean Front Suite #2 and it was perfect for our needs. If we went back again I would splash out on one of the tent cottages or Beach Shacks just for the experience.
Ocean View Club has a really lovely restaurant on site (above the Ocean Front Rooms) which serves fantastic food 3 x day. The fresh produce is unreal - delicate microgreens, scrumptious local tomatoes, fresh sourdough toast and so much more. Ben’s Benedict was a personal fav for brekkie!
Included in your stay at OVC:
Daily Breakfast (tea/coffee, juice, toast, oatmeal and fresh fruit)
Yoga mats, paddleboards & snorkel gear
Beach chairs & towels
Access to the sister hotel The Other Side - wish is incredible and highly worth a boat trip over for lunch and a tour of their stunning setting and IG-worthy pool! Be sure to book in your trip over as there’s limited daily access.
Recommended ACCOMMODATION
Where To Eat & Drink
The Dunmore: Arguably our favorite place to dine on the island. For lunch, the poke bowl and fried chicken were firm favourites. For dinner, the West Indian fish curry was out of this world. Stefan was jealous he didn’t order it.
Ocean View Club: Popular with non-hotel guests too so make sure you reserve in busy season even if staying at the hotel. The crab claw appetizer is a favourite, and all the salads are delicious! Stefan enjoyed the Rum BBQ Babyback Ribs, Mac N Cheese and 'Creole' Slaw with Jerk Cashews and Mint.
Coral Sands: The perfect lunch spot overlooking the beach with a cold glass of rosé and their popular lobster salad sandwich. For dinner, we enjoyed the steak, seafood pasta and their beautiful wine selection. Touring the grounds is also not to be missed, it’s just beautiful with mature landscaping and a cute little hotel shop.
The Landing: Absolutely incredible food and drink in a more central location. We made friends on the plane and they joined us for an after-dinner drink at the bar. For breakfast we LOVED the ricotta honeycomb banana hotcakes are unreal. We're still talking about them. For dinner, I had one of the best lobster meals of my life. A must-visit.
Romora Bay: A nice place to go for happy hour and watch the sunset behind the yachts.
Places To Explore
Hire A Golf Buggy - The best way to get around the island is with a golf buggy which will set you back about $40 per day. We loved having one and your hotel will either organise one for you or provide them on site.
Boat Day to see the Pigs - We didn’t have enough time to head to the Exumas and see Pig Island but there’s now a closer option that involves an afternoon excursion to Spanish Wells and the pigs they have there. It was a great day out that we’d highly recommend, although it wasn’t cheap at US$600 for the afternoon’s private boat charter.
Explore Dunmore Town - It sounds obvious but be sure to explore Dunmore Town and all of the historic Bahamian homes that are so beautifully maintained. We loved strolling through the harbour and seeing these charming cottages lining the coast.
Swim with the turtles - On the coast of Eleuthera Island (just down from The Other Side) there are little clusters of shallow clear water where wild sea turtles hang out just waiting for their next feed. Although we have sea turtles in Cayman, I’ve never seen them so tame! It was amazing to be in the water with them as they come up to you for a piece of squid!
Go Horse Riding with Briland Horses - A special moment on Pink Sands beach, was watching the horses go back and every now and again there was someone riding with them (often bare back). It would be a really special experience I’m sure.
Afternoon At The Other Side - We‘d highly recommend lunch and an afternoon on the beach at The Other Side, Ocean View Club’s sister hotel located on Eleuthera island. The hotel is comprised of individual tent cottages, a gorgeous infinity pool and restaurant which you can dine at. Make sure you book ahead as it has limited service (for guests/weddings and events only). See photos below.
My Lustic guide to Harbour Island: including what makes this island so special and the best places to stay, eat, drink and explore so you can plan a dream vacation just like ours - the only catch is I might come with you!