Planning a Trip

Getting There

To reach Harbour Island, take a flight to the North Eleuthera airstrip, which is only a 1 1/2-hour flight from Fort Lauderdale or Miami, and a 30-minute flight from Nassau. From there, it's a 1.5km (1-mile) taxi ride to the ferry dock. The taxi costs about US$5 (£2.50) per person if you share the expense with four or five other passengers. From the dock, you'll take a 3km (2-mile) motorboat ride to Harbour Island. There's usually no waiting because a flotilla of high-powered motorboats makes the crossing whenever at least two customers show up, at a cost of around US$5 (£2.50) per person. If you're traveling alone and are willing to pay the US$8 (£4) one-way fare, the boat will depart immediately, without waiting for a second passenger.

Another way to get to Harbour Island is to board a speedy 177-passenger catamaran in Nassau. Contact Bahamas Ferries (tel. 242/323-2166; www.bahamasferries.com). You can begin this 2-hour trip at Potter's Cay Dock, which is under the bridge leading from Paradise Island to downtown Nassau. The fare for one of these daily excursions is US$110 (£55) round-trip or US$65 (£33) one-way for adults, and US$70 (£35) round-trip or US$45 (£23) one-way for children ages 2 to 11. This ferry pulls up to Harbour Island's Government Dock, where taxis wait to take you to your hotel.

Getting Around

Once they reach Harbour Island, most people don't need transportation. They walk to where they're going, rent a bicycle (check your equipment carefully before renting because some bicycles rented to tourists are way past their prime), or putt-putt around the island on an electric golf cart. Most hotels offer these for rent or at least will arrange for a cart or bicycle; usually, they'll be delivered directly to your hotel.

Michael's Cycles, on Colebrook Street (tel. 242/333-2384), is the best place to go if you want some mobility other than your own two feet. The shop is open daily from 8am to 6pm. Bikes rent for US$12 (£6) per day, and you can also rent two-seater motorbikes for US$30 (£15) per day, or a four-seater golf cart for US$48 (£24) per day. You can also rent kayaks for US$40 (£20) per day, paddleboats for US$40 (£20) per day (or US$10/£5 per hour), and jet skis for US$85 (£43) per hour.

Visitor Information

The Harbour Island Tourist Office on Dunmore Street (tel. 242/333-2621) is generally open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Fast Facts

The Royal Bank of Canada is on Dunmore Street (tel. 242/333-2250) and has an ATM. Hours are Monday to Thursday 9:30am to 3pm and Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm.

The Harbour Island Health Centre, South Street, Dunmore Town (tel. 242/333-2225), handles routine medical problems. Hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The on-call doctor can be reached at tel. 242/333-2822.

Resorts usually provide Internet access. Arthur's Bakery, located in the center of town, also offers it. You can use the computer there or bring your own laptop. Hours are Monday to Saturday 8am to 2pm, and the cost is US$10 (£5) for 15 minutes.

You can get prescriptions filled at Briland's Pharmacy (tel. 242/333-3427), at Johnson's Plaza on Dunmore Street. Hours are Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm.

The post office (tel. 242/333-2215) is on Gaol Alley; it's open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm.

The police can be reached at either tel. 919 or tel. 242/333-2111.