It’s a warm day on Bermuda’s breezy northeastern coast and you’ve saddled up for a trail ride on horseback to explore the beauty of Bermuda’s beaches. With the island’s iconic pink sand underfoot, your horse slowly makes its way across the beach as the sun illuminates the turquoise water that splashes on the shoreline.
These trail rides, offered at Moran Meadows, are one of the many dreamy adventures you can have by visiting Bermuda during the winter months. “December through March is a perfect time of year to explore the island,” says Natalie Moran, owner of Moran Meadows, which runs guided horseback rides from its East End ranch year-round. “In Bermuda there’s really no change of season,” she says, “so whatever you want to do, whether that’s boating, fishing, or horseback riding, the climate couldn’t possibly be better.”
Pair that with two-hour flights from most east coast gateways, and Bermuda is tailor-made for your next adventurous winter getaway. Here are some great reasons to go.
On the Water See why Bermuda is called the shipwreck capital of the Atlantic by booking a two-tank wreck dive with Blue Water Divers. With more than 300 wrecks in its waters, including fully intact freighters and old wooden schooners, Bermuda is home to some of the world’s finest sites. On the East End, don’t miss the wreck of the Cristobal Colon—at 499 feet, the Spanish cruise liner is the island’s largest shipwreck.
Since Bermuda is an archipelago comprised of more than 180 islets and cays, the island nation is best seen from the water. Explore tranquil bays and secluded beaches by chartering a sailboat for an unforgettable day at sea. With daily departures from the City of Hamilton, Sail Bermuda is one of the island’s top charter companies.
If you’re visiting in March or April, don’t miss the chance to watch humpback whales in their natural habitat. During those months, these majestic mammals pass Bermuda’s south shore en route to North Atlantic feeding grounds, so hop aboard a whale-watching cruise to spot them breaching or slapping their fins on the ocean. For several operations that run 5- to 6-hour tours, contact Island Tour Centre.
On Land Moran Meadows is Bermuda’s only ranch offering guided horseback rides on its beaches and through its historic sites, so saddle up for an exciting experience. Rides through the East End include one-hour trots past military fortresses like Alexandra Battery and Fort St. Catherine; 90-minute excursions and off-the-beaten trails through lush elevated fields with scenic coastal views.
Cultural adventures abound in the City of Hamilton, where festive events are held in December and January. Most notably, you can see live performances by Bermuda’s own Gombeys—a troupe of colorful dancers that whirl and twirl in the city streets to the infectious sounds of goatskin drums, beer bottle fifes, and tin whistles. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one of their performances in neighborhoods on Boxing Day (Dec. 26), New Year’s Day, and possibly even Christmas Day.
Rent a bicycle from Oleander Cycles and explore the Railway Trail, an 18-mile-long, noncontiguous pedestrian and cycle path, which was once home to a working railway from 1931 to 1948. The trail is divided into nine sections, but one particularly picturesque stretch on the West End starts at Morgan’s Point and ends at Somerset Bridge, where you can picnic within eyeshot of the turquoise Atlantic.
Check out more wonderful winter adventures in Bermuda at gotobermuda.com.
—By David LaHuta
