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Pretty in Pink Beach – A Bahama Gem

By Barbara Edie

Of the 700 islands that comprise The Bahamas, 40 are inhabited but only one possesses a famous pink beach the color of candyfloss – Harbour Island.

Sixty miles from Nassau, and just 2.5 hours by ferry, Harbour Island is at the northern tip of Eleuthera, one of the Bahamas’ principal Out Islands, known for its pineapple plantations and miles of cloistered beaches.

Described by Caribbean Travel and Life as one of the beaches that will leave you speechless, Harbour Island’s three-mile stretch of pink granular glory is tropical glamour at its best. Warm, clear aquamarine waters provide a stunning backdrop to the pale rosy sands colored by pulverized conch, coral and other shells. A technicolor location to swim, snorkel or ride horses, the Pink Sand Beach is not nearly as crowded as one might expect.

Only 3.5 miles long and a mile and a half wide, what Harbour Island lacks in size it makes up for in beauty, charm and history. The island’s palatial colonial homes, calypso villas and seaside cottages, leftover from the days of the loyalists, are a reminder that this was once the capital of the Bahamas and is one of its oldest settlements. Here, old world British tradition meets Caribbean charisma with a town – and beach – painted with a pastel brush. Narrow streets are lined with white picket fences and carved pineapple posts, lush garden courtyards pop up unannounced, and sweeping verandas invite you in to stay a spell. Pink municipal buildings, bright yellow churches and deep green shutters add the perfect touches to this storybook town.

Today, between 1500 and 2000 people call Harbour Island home, and almost everyone calls it “gorgeous.”

The natives are friendly, and happy to direct you to the nearest boutique, snorkeling spot, or the local bakery with the best pineapple tarts in all of the Bahamas. The island is easy to navigate by foot but the preferred choice of transport is a golf cart, which you can rent from the ferry dock or rental shops near the harbour. Under the shade of a mobile buggy, visitors zip to and from the beaches, villas and restaurants without ever breaking a sweat in the usual 80-degree heat.

While many island hoppers just stay for the day, long-term loungers can choose from accommodations that range from luxurious hotels to colorful cottages. Many of these are located on the island’s legendary  beach with oceanfront views or along the tranquil harbourfront of Dunsmore Town. In any case, a sandy shore is only minutes away.

With its trendy shops, secluded boutique hotels and exclusive restaurants overlooking emerald waters, this palm-lined hideaway is a good place to spot celebrities or compare sunburns with the wealthy. But whatever level of luxury you’re seeking, the enchantment of Harbour Island is open to everyone. On the list of island bestsellers this tiny pink paradise may just be the next big thing.

Getting to Harbour Island:

By high speed ferry from Nassau to Harbour Island: call (242)323-2166 or visit www.bahamasferries.com

By air from Nassau to Eleuthera: call (242)377-8451 or visit www.bahamasair.com

By water taxi from North Eleuthera: check at the Eleuthera tourism office: (242)332-2142

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