A Guide to Bermuda's Horseshoe Bay Beach

 You should visit Horseshoe Bay if you just visit one beach in Bermuda. The beach is one of the most recognizable in all of Bermuda, thanks to its combination of pink sand, blue ocean, and rugged cliffs.

Beach and water

Given its status as Bermuda's most well-known beach, visitors should anticipate crowds, especially when cruise ships are in port. The Rum Bum Beach Bar and the front entry attract a large number of visitors, so if you're looking for some peace and quiet, head to the east side of the beach, but be prepared to walk further to reach the facilities and the café.

Horseshoe Bay Cove is a natural shallow pool ideal for toddlers who want to splash and wade, therefore families with young children should set up tent on the western edge of the beach there.

Beachgoers looking for more of a challenge might make the trek eastward around the first rock formation to reach Butt's Beach. The cliffs on either side of the little sandy cove prevent large waves from entering the cove, making it an ideal place to go floating. There is over a mile of shoreline to explore, full with tidal plunge pools, quiet coves, and nearly empty beaches.

Given its status as Bermuda's most well-known beach, visitors should anticipate crowds, especially when cruise ships are in port. The Rum Bum Beach Bar and the front entry attract a large number of visitors, so if you're looking for some peace and quiet, head to the east side of the beach, but be prepared to walk further to reach the facilities and the café.

Horseshoe Bay Cove is a natural shallow pool ideal for toddlers who want to splash and wade, therefore families with young children should set up tent on the western edge of the beach there.

Beachgoers looking for more of a challenge might make the trek eastward around the first rock formation to reach Butt's Beach. The cliffs on either side of the little sandy cove prevent large waves from entering the cove, making it an ideal place to go floating. There is over a mile of shoreline to explore, full with tidal plunge pools, quiet coves, and nearly empty beaches.

Facilities and logistics

• It's completely free to use Horseshoe Bay Beach.
• Rental prices for chairs ($18) and umbrellas ($15) are available everyday at Rum Bum Beach Bar.
• For $150 for the day, you may rent four seats, a tent, and a cooler full of ice water.
• There are public restrooms and foot baths nearby the café.
• During the peak summer months, lifeguards are present.

Food and drink

Beach staples like hot dogs, burgers, and ice cream bars may be found at the low-key Rum Bum Beach Bar, along with regional specialties like fish and chips and fish cakes. Get your food to go at the quick-service counter, and then either eat it at one of the surrounding picnic tables, claim a bar stool at the establishment next door, or eat it on your beach towel.

There is a lot of live music and umbrella drinks at this bar. Cold beers and ciders, little bottles of Prosecco, and a wide variety of frozen cocktails (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are available. We recommend a rum swizzle or dark and stormy, both created with Bermuda's own Gosling's Black Seal Rum. The beach is a public place where intoxication is permitted, so feel free to order a drink to enjoy in your chair or to carry a six pack with you. The bartender will bring your beer to you in a cooler filled with ice, so you won't even have to get up from your seat until it's time to have a swim. Payment through credit card is permitted.

Transportation

Getting to and from Horseshoe Bay is a breeze with the help of public transit. Minibuses, taxis, and single-ride public bus tickets all require cash.

• The fare for a ride on a local minibus to and from the Royal Naval Dockyard is $7 one way. A native driver who is both courteous and knowledgeable about the island might even provide a running commentary throughout the trip. Buses are plentiful in the afternoon, especially after 3 p.m., when passengers from passing cruise ships begin making their way back to their vessels. Travel to and from Horseshoe Bay is included in the price of many cruise line shore excursions, but minibuses are easily accessible from the dockyard as well as the beach itself, so cruise passengers can easily go it alone (just make sure to leave yourself enough time to get back to the ship before embarkation).
• Fares for riding the bus start at $3.50 for one person. Stops around the south shore beaches, including Horseshoe Bay, are served by the municipal bus Route 7, which travels between Hamilton and the Royal Naval Dockyard (where many cruise ships dock). One-day passes for unlimited rides on public transit start at $19, and monthly passes cost as much as $69. (for seven days). Post offices, visitor centers, the Royal Naval Dockyard, the Hamilton Ferry Terminal, and several hotels all sell public transportation passes.
• Taxis are accessible all around the island and are metered by the government; you can usually find a few waiting in the Horseshoe Bay parking lot.
• Parking for scooters is accessible at the base of the hill leading to Horseshoe Bay, right next to the beach entry.

If you're taking a scooter, a cab, or a public bus to Horseshoe Bay, be sure to turn around at the top of the hill for a picture-perfect vantage point of the shoreline. The name of the beach comes from its crescent form, which is highlighted by the aerial perspective, and the pink sands stand out against the blue water.