Bermuda

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic, about 1,050 kilometres east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It is not part of the Caribbean geographically, though it often gets lumped there commercially. The island is 34 kilometres long and rarely more than 3 kilometres wide, with a total land area of about 54 square kilometres. The pink sand beaches on the south shore are the principal draw for most visitors – the pink comes from single-celled organisms called foraminifera whose red shells mix with the white sand, creating a blush colour that is genuinely distinctive rather than a tourism exaggeration.

The economy runs on international insurance and reinsurance alongside tourism. Bermuda consistently ranks among the most expensive places in the world to visit, and costs reflect this without apology. A week here is priced substantially above comparable time in the actual Caribbean.

Beaches

Horseshoe Bay on the south shore is the most photographed beach, with the pink sand at its most pronounced and a sheltered bay for swimming. It is the most visited beach and on summer weekends can be crowded; parking is limited, so arriving by bus or scooter is more practical.

Warwick Long Bay is about 1 kilometre west of Horseshoe Bay along a coastal walking path, considerably less visited with the same sand and similarly clear water without the organised facilities.

Tobacco Bay on the northeast St George’s side is a small protected cove with calm water and coral formations close to shore, useful for snorkelling.

John Smith’s Bay has the reef only 200 metres from shore; the calm, shallow water makes it good for families with children.

Crystal Caves

About 2 kilometres north of Hamilton, the Crystal Caves contain stalactite formations and a floating pontoon bridge over a subterranean lake reaching 40 metres depth. Discovered in 1907 by two boys following a cricket ball into a sinkhole. The guided tour takes about 30 minutes. Fantasy Cave next door is a second system with different formations; combined tickets cover both.

St George’s

St George’s in the northeast was the original capital and is the oldest continuously inhabited English settlement in the Western Hemisphere, founded in 1612 and UNESCO-listed. The historic centre is compact and walkable: Town Square, St Peter’s Church (one of the oldest Protestant churches in the western hemisphere), and the surrounding fortifications. Several forts in the area are open for exploration.

Where to Eat

Wahoo’s Bistro & Patio in St George’s does straightforward fish cooking with local catches; the fish chowder with sherry pepper sauce is the standard Bermudian dish to order. Bouchée in Hamilton is the go-to for a more upscale lunch in the capital. The Bermuda rum swizzle (dark rum, fruit juice, bitters) is the local cocktail; the Swizzle Inn near the airport in Bailey’s Bay claims the original recipe.

Getting Around

Tourists cannot rent cars in Bermuda. The practical options are scooter rental (about $68 USD per day), the public bus and ferry network (cheap and reliable), or small electric vehicles. The ferry from Hamilton to the south shore beaches is faster and more pleasant than the road. Bermuda drives on the left.

Getting There

Direct flights from New York and Boston (about 2 hours) and London (about 7 hours). Best weather runs May through October; late summer storms are possible but hurricanes are less frequent than in the Caribbean.