Travel Guide: Fantasize About Your Post-Quarantine Vacation in Bermuda

Bermuda’s turquoise water beckons swimmers of all ages. / Photo by Matt Henry Gunther/Getty Images

Let’s face it: None of us is boarding a plane bound for paradise anytime soon. But while you’re drooling over dream destinations on the Travel Channel from the safety of your sofa, there’s no harm in fantasizing about susurrating palm trees and sherbet-colored sunsets—and no place beckons Bostonians quite like Bermuda. For such a tiny island (just 20 square miles), there’s an awful lot to do.

Of course, decompressing in a hammock suspended over cerulean waters is always appealing, but after being cooped up all spring, you might be more inclined to get out there and explore. Watersports such as sailing, wind surfing, and body surfing abound, and the coral reef ringing Bermuda makes for world-class snorkeling and scuba diving. But there’s also plenty of fun to be had on dry land. The Bermuda Railway Trail runs through gardenia-scented groves and along rocky coastline, following what was the island’s rail line from 1931 to 1948. Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve, meanwhile, boasts extensive walking trails and one of Bermuda’s best-kept secrets, Clearwater Beach, where you can fuel up at the genial dive bar/snack shack Gombey’s Bar. Looking to escape the sun for an afternoon? Discovered by some cricket-playing kids in 1907, Crystal Caves, an underground grotto with stark white stalactites and a crystal-clear lake, was dubbed the “most beautiful cave in the world” by Mark Twain, one of the first tourists to visit it. Other luminaries enamored with Bermuda include artists Winslow Homer and Georgia O’Keeffe, whose paintings are on display at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.

Spend enough time snorkeling and trekking through caverns, and you’re guaranteed to work up a healthy appetite. No trip is complete without sipping a rum swizzle (or three) aboard a sunset cocktail cruise, followed up with an elegant dinner at Harry’s Restaurant, where the catch of the day is always a sure bet. Whatever adventures await, be sure to give yourself at least a moment to take in Bermuda’s candy-colored charm from a chaise lounge on the beach or a balcony, and let the healing breeze wash over you. As Twain famously put it: “You can go to heaven if you want. I’d rather stay in Bermuda.”

A beachfront cabana at the Hamilton Princess. / Photo courtesy of Hamilton Princess

Getting There

The beauty of Bermuda is that it’s only a two-hour flight from Boston, but it feels like you’ve traveled all the way to the tropics. JetBlue has daily nonstop service from Logan—perfect for an easy weekend (or weeklong) escape.

Staying There

After a $100 million renovation completed in 2016, the Hamilton Princess, a.k.a. the “Pink Palace,” offers the best of both worlds: proximity to downtown Hamilton, Bermuda’s one “city,” as well as a private beach club, handily reached via regular shuttle service. Other five-star amenities include a museum-worthy art collection, a Marcus Samuelsson restaurant, and the island’s only full-service hotel marina.

While many flights, destinations, and hotels have been affected by coronavirus, we hope you’ll take advantage of our inspirational travel suggestions to plan your next getaway.