If you’re planning a Bahamas vacation, you might be wondering how to get from Nassau to Harbour Island. If you’re not, you should be!
With pink sand beaches, a charming town, and many other fantastic sites, Harbour Island should be at the top of any Bahamas-based itinerary. And, while the island may be more remote than other parts of the country, it’s still accessible, making a Harbour Island day trip from Nassau the perfect addition to any trip.
Bahamas Air Tours can fly you out to Harbour Island or just about anywhere else you want to go. You can even embark on Staniel Cay day trips from Nassau, giving you the chance to see the Exuma pigs and many other top sites in the region.
How to Get From Nassau to Harbour Island
Ready to explore the Nantucket of the Bahamas? Here’s how to get from Nassau to Harbour Island.
The Harbour Island Ferry
The Harbour Island ferry is one of the most popular ways travelers embark on a Nassau to Harbour Island day trip. It takes you from Nassau to Eleuthera (a nearby island), over to Harbour Island, then back to the capital that same evening. However, while seemingly convenient, it does come with some downsides.
The ferry is a popular option, which means that there’s never a shortage of people on the boat with you. According to the company website, the ferry from Nassau to Eleuthera can accommodate up to 400 passengers.
On top of that, it’s also a lengthy journey. As Harbour Island is around 375 miles away from Nassau, you can expect the trip to take at least three hours. Besides being boring, that also means a shorter day trip; when the ferry finally arrives at Harbour island at 11 am, you’ll only have about four hours before you head back at 3:30 pm.
The Harbour Island ferry is a popular, albeit slow, way to reach the island.
If you’re wondering how to get to Harbour Island Bahamas, know that the ferry might not be the best way.
Flights From Nassau to Harbour Island
Thankfully, if you’re looking to partake in a Harbour Island day trip from Nassau, you’re not stuck taking the boat. You can also fly by air!
Flights from Nassau to Harbour Island allow you to sidestep many of the problems that go along with the Nassau to Harbor Island ferry. For one thing, you get to save time and enjoy a longer Nassau to Harbor Island day trip.
While the island doesn’t have an airport, Eleuthera, an island right next door, does. Because of that, travelers first embark on flights to North Eleuthera. That takes no more than 30 minutes, and after that, there’s just a quick, 15-minute boat ride to the island. As flights from Nassau to Eleuthera leave at 7 am, you’ll be there by 8 am.
Besides helping you save time, flights to North Eleuthera are also much more comfortable. You don’t have to worry about hundreds of people around you, as at most, you’ll share your private-class plane with just several other travelers. Plus, if you want a completely personal experience, you can sign up for a private trip!
Nassau to Harbour Island Day Trip: 3 Sites to See
Once you know how to get to Harbour Island Bahamas (again, by plane is the easiest!), you can start figuring out what to see and do once you arrive. Here are three sites you won’t want to miss out on.
1. Pink Sands Beach
One of the biggest attractions in Harbour Island and the Bahamas, in general, is Pink Sands Beach. Located on the island’s eastern side, Pink Sands Beach is famous for its bright and unique color.
If you’ve never seen a pink sand beach, a Harbour Island day trip from Nassau is your chance to do so.
Pink Sands Beach gets its color from the millions of microscopic shells found along the sand. Depending on the light and the weather conditions, the beach appears whiter at some times and more pink at others.
From sunbathing to splashing around in the water, hanging out at Pink Sands Beach is, without a doubt, one of the top things to do on a Nassau to Harbour Island day trip.
BONUS: Horseback Riding on the Beach
While exploring Pink Sands Beach is a fantastic experience on its own, some travelers might want to observe the area from a different perspective. And there’s no better way to do that than by horseback!
If you’re interested in riding a horse along the beach, you can choose to do so for either a 30 or 60-minute session.
2. Dunmore Town
Dunmore Town is the only town on the island, and while it might have less than 2,000 residents, there are still plenty of great things to do.
It’s full of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars — all of which are worth popping into on your Nassau to Harbour Island day trip.
The island gets its name from Lord Dunmore, the first governor of the Bahamas. As the history of the Bahamas stretches back hundreds of years, there’s no shortage of historical sites to see throughout the town, as well.
After getting off flights from Nassau to Eleuthera, Dunmore Town on Harbour Island is just a short boat ride away.
BONUS: Driving a Golf Cart Around Town
Just like horseback riding can make a trip to Pink Sands Beach even more memorable, there’s another fun way to explore Dunmore Town: golf carts!
When you travel with Bahamas Air Tours, we can set up a golf cart rental before you, even including it in the price you pay when you sign up for a trip. By taking advantage of it, you’ll get to see even more sites and attractions around the island than you’d otherwise be able to if you were on foot.
While golf cart driving isn’t difficult, you’ll still need to provide proof of a driver’s license and give your credit card for liability purposes.
3. The Exuma Pigs
While it’s not technically on Harbour Island, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the highlight of any Bahamas vacation: the swimming pigs.
Located in the Exumas, a chain of 365 islands to the south of Nassau, signing up for Bahamas day trips by plane with Bahamas Air Tours lets you see the famous and friendly pigs. And, just like on a Nassau to Harbour Island day trip, you get to fly there in comfort and style on a private-class plane.
Whereas boat trips from Nassau to Exuma are uncomfortable and take hours, a plane ride has you there in 30 minutes.
Plus, besides seeing the Exuma pigs, Staniel Cay day trips also let you see many other incredible sites. From nurse sharks at Compass Cay to sand bars at Pipe Creek, take a moment to check out all the highlights that you get to see on Exuma day trips today.
Planes Make Getting From Nassau to Harbour Island Easy
The Bahamas has many beautiful destinations, with Harbour Island being one of them. Because of that, it’s not surprising that many people wonder how to get from Nassau to Harbour Island easily.
While you can take the ferry, traveling by plane gives you the extra time you need to ensure that your day trip is one you’ll never forget. On top of that, it’s also a much more comfortable experience and lets you avoid crowds with hundreds of people.
If you’re ready to start planning your Bahamas vacation, get in touch with us today. Remember to explore some of our other travel options, like Exuma day trips, as well!
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