Transportation
- Regional Travel
- Bohenia Ferry to Harbour Island or Spanish Wells
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No apps; Call Arthur Nixon or 'Fine Threads' Taxis ($20-$50 local trips)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Eleuthera Car Rentals (Bikes approx $25/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- French Leave Beach (Atlantic side) - Pink sand and swimmable
- Top Regional Airline
- Bahamasair or Southern Air (Flights to Nassau/North Eleuthera)
- Top International Airline
- Silver Airways or American Eagle (Direct from Miami/Fort Lauderdale)
- Highway Access
- Queen's Highway (The only main road running North to South)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- None; Governor's Harbour Airport (GHB) is the transit hub
- Public Transport Passes
- No public transit; Jitneys (mini-buses) are rare and unscheduled
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Governor's Harbour Community Clinic (Basic); Air evac required for major issues
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Health & Body Fitness (Queen's Highway) - Yoga classes available
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Gym at Squires (Private membership or guest pass)
- Laundry Services
- Governor's Harbour Laundromat (High Street)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- None; Local restaurants like 1226 offer private delivery by phone
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Conch Salad from the dock (approx $12-$15)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Island Farms (Queen's Highway) - Organic produce and fresh hummus
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bacchus Fine Foods - Gourmet pastries and gelato
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- The Blue Room for local snacks and essentials
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Most residents use freight forwarders like GWS to ship Amazon from Miami
- Grocery Delivery
- Eleuthera Grocery Delivery (Custom concierge service)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Cupid’s Cay Fish Fry area on Friday nights
- Local Brewery
- None local; Sands and Kalik are the national beers widely available
- Wine Bars
- 1226 (at French Leave) - Extensive wine list with harbor view
- Street Food Stalls
- Charade’s (Near the dock) for conch fritters and chicken in the bag
- Popular International Cuisine
- Tippy’s Restaurant (Banks Road) - Fusion Caribbean/International
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
- Museums & Art Venues
- Haynes Library (Historic colonial building from 1897)
- Historical Sites
- Cupid's Cay - Site of the first capital of the Bahamas
- Religious Sites
- St. Patrick’s Anglican Church
- Annual Events
- Eleuthera All That Jazz (April), Pineapple Festival (June, nearby Gregory Town)
- Cultural Districts
- The Settlement (Historic core)
- Theater Venues
- None; Outdoor community stages at the Fish Fry
- Local Markets
- Governor's Harbour Fish Market (Daily at the dock)
- Music Scene
- Rake 'n' Scrape bands at Ronnie’s Hi-D-Way
- Street Art
- Hand-painted signs and colorful clapboard houses in the Settlement
- Cooking Classes
- Private sessions available at Island Farms
- Art Galleries
- Princess Street Gallery (Fine art and local framing)
- Historic Buildings
- The Pink Elephant (Historic colonial residence)
- Local Heritage
- Eleutherian Adventurers (Founding heritage)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Ten Bay Beach (Calm Caribbean side water)
- National Parks Nearby
- Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve ($10 entry)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Banks Road (Scenic 5-mile stretch along the beach)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Hill overlooking the harbor and Cupid's Cay
- Birdwatching Locations
- Edwin’s Turtle Lake Marine Reserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- French Leave Beach (Permission usually required from local council)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL (located at Eleuthera Supply) or GWS Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Limited; BTC Shop for mobile/modem issues
- Table Tennis Spots
- None publicly listed
- Language Classes
- None (English is the native language)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Haynes Library (Free Wi-Fi and air conditioning)
- Community Centers
- Haynes Oval Community Grounds
- Gaming Lounges
- None
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Casinos are located in Nassau/Bimini)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² ($340,000 for 40 m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² ($240,000 for 40 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,000 per m² ($540,000 for 60 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,500 per m² ($450,000 for 60 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $11,000 per m² ($880,000 for 80 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² ($680,000 for 80 m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 0% for IBCs (International Business Companies)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- No income, capital gains, or inheritance tax for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0%
- VAT
- 10% (Effective 2022)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No
- Property Tax
- Owner-occupied: 0% on first $250k, tiered up to 0.75% above $500k
- Property Transaction Tax
- VAT on Property Transfers (2.5% to 10% based on value)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, BEATS (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay) permit offers 0% tax for 1 year
Essentials
- City
- Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera, The Bahamas
- Population
- Approximately 1,800
- Internet Speed
- Average 25-50 Mbps via Aliv or BTC (Fiber available in select areas)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 BSD = 1 USD (US Dollars widely accepted/interchangeable)
- Tap Water
- Generally unsafe to drink; bottled water like Chelsea's is standard
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B (Same as USA/Canada)
- SIM Card
- Aliv (Discovery Plan $25/mo) or BTC (Liberty Plans)
- Banking for Expats
- Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) or CIBC FirstCaribbean
- Accommodation
- Luxury villas, colonial guest houses, and Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; larger resorts and restaurants take cards, small shops prefer cash
- Short Term Rentals
- French Leave Resort ($600+/night), Eleuthera Vacation Rentals
- Budget Accommodation
- The Buccaneer Club ($180-$250/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- French Leave Beach / Banks Road
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Cupid's Cay or Governor's Harbour Town Center for walkability
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- None dedicated; French Leave Resort Library serves as a quiet workspace
- Best Cafe for Work
- Da Perk Coffee Shop (High Street) - Good Wi-Fi and harbor views
- Networking Events
- Friday Night Fish Fry at Haynes Oval - Primary social/business hub
- Social Events for Expats
- Eleuthera Community Center events and Rotary Club of Eleuthera