Small, uncrowded coral reef. Stunning white sand beaches. Charming and historic city center. From the island-hopping paradise of Abaco Island to the postcard-perfect cabins and villas of Harbor Island, they are two of the most popular corners of the Bahamas.
But historically, they haven’t been that easy to get to. This is where Tradewind Aviation comes into play. The luxury airline has been flying to top destinations in the northeastern Caribbean from its San Juan hub for several years, focusing on remote, hard-to-reach luxury hotspots like St. Barts, Anguilla and Virgin Gorda.
Now, thanks to Tradewind’s new base in Palm Beach, it now connects South Florida travelers to Marsh Harbor, Abaco and North Eleuthera International Airport, the gateway to Harbor Island ( It’s just a short five-minute ferry ride from nearby Harbor Island Airport).
Tradewind has officially launched two routes to the Bahamas, with both flights operating from Thursday to Monday. This is the kind of luxury we always enjoy when flying Tradewind: state-of-the-art Pilatus aircraft, complimentary snacks and drinks, seamless private check-in, impressive service.
According to the airline, both routes will operate during the peak season and the flight schedule will last until May 26, 2025.
What’s the price? For reference, you can take a round-trip flight from Palm Beach to North Eleuthera for about $707.83. It’s only a few hundred dollars more expensive than a Miami-North Eleuthera flight, and you’re actually flying privately and landing at a fixed base of operations (FBO) (eliminating the sometimes challenging experience at North Eleuthera’s commercial airport) , which is quite a bargain.
Are you planning a trip to one of these luxury resorts?
If it is Harbor Island, we have stayed in the top resorts on the island, and we prefer dunmorethe legendary jet-set resort perched above the island’s iconic pink sand beach. Rooms start at $2,018 per night. If you’re looking to stay in Eleuthera, the Governor’s Harbor area has been heating up lately (about an hour from the airport) and there are some lovely boutique hotels here, such as the Pineapple Fields Hotel. Rooms start at $421.
What about Abaco? While Marsh Harbor is the gateway to the islands, the key to enjoying Abaco is heading to the smaller islands in the archipelago. Our favorite? green turtle island, Endlessly Lovely Bluff HouseIt is an eight-room gem with a wonderful beach and beach bar. This is an authentic and unforgettable outer island experience. Rooms start at $275.
If you want to stay on the “mainland,” your best bet is South Abaco, home to the world-class Abaco Club and one of our favorite golf courses in the Caribbean. One thing to note is that you can only stay once as a hotel guest, otherwise you will have to come back as the owner of one of the cabins or villas.
