About Harbour Island

Known as “Briland” by the locals and those in-the-know, Harbour Island is a three by one mile island off the coast of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. A British colony in the 1700’s (until the 1960’s), Harbour Island housed the original Bahamas government, and the island inhabitants excelled in boat building, sugar refining (and piracy) in its early years.

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Dunmore Town, named after the Governor Lord Dunmore who made his home there, is the island’s only town and much of the architecture of the 1700’s era still exists there. The island is small, safe, naturally beautiful and charming both in its architecture and attitude.

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The island’s most remarkable natural physical asset is its pink sand beach. A three mile long swath of powder soft pale pink sand and crystal clear water is a guaranteed stress reliever and tonic for the soul.

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Harbour Island has long been frequented by those who enjoy a laid back, naturally beautiful, happy place that is a little off the beaten path. A decade ago, a New York Times journalist declared Harbour Island “the next St. Barths” and this tiny island became a dream destination of travel bugs around the globe. The year-round population is 1,200, but that swells to 2,800 during the busy season (December to May).   But even when it gets crowded, the “island time” pace of Briland remains the same.