Spanish Wells

Spanish Wells is a small, close-knit settlement and district of The Bahamas, located on St. George's Cay just off the northern tip of Eleuthera. Known for its calm harbour, pastel houses and strong fishing traditions, it offers a slower, more local alternative to the busier resort centres of Nassau or nearby Harbour Island.

The community traces its roots to the Eleutheran Adventurers, English Puritans who settled in the region in the 17th century, and those origins remain visible in the island's New England-style architecture and deeply cooperative way of life. Much of the settlement's economy has long been built on commercial fishing, particularly the Bahamian spiny lobster, which is harvested, processed and exported by local fishing crews.

Visitors explore the settlement and connected Russell Island by golf cart or on foot, stopping at quiet beaches, small shops and docks where fishing boats unload their catch. Offshore, the reefs around the Devil's Backbone and trips to cays such as Meeks Patch offer snorkelling, fishing and encounters with Bahamian rock iguanas.

Dining and daily life centre on fresh seafood, from lobster and conch to grouper, served in modest local restaurants and takeaway spots. Tourism here is small-scale, focused on vacation rentals, boating and independent travel rather than large resorts.

For leisure travellers, Spanish Wells works as a peaceful base for exploring northern Eleuthera, Harbour Island and the surrounding waters. For business and trade, the district remains an important lobster-fishing and seafood-processing centre, with travel links through North Eleuthera International Airport and a short ferry connection.