We went in search of Bermuda’s iconic pink sand and were treated with an unexpected adventure and a sample of the island’s stunning natural beauty. Horseshoe Beach … the curvaceous, U-shaped world famous pink sand beach … the one in all the pictures … the must-see Bermuda attraction … that was our sole destination until we met a local shop owner in Hamilton who told us that the “much more pink” beach is found a bit farther east.
You can go straight to famous Horseshoe Bay … many cruise ship passengers do just that. Travel in an air conditioned mini bus from the Royal Navy Dockyard, take a taxi, rent a scooter and make your way on winding, coastal South Road, or you can take Bermuda’s public bus (#7) – an easy, inexpensive way to see some of the island’s highlights.
Spend the day swimming and soaking in the crystal turquoise sea or relaxing on the shore. There are lounge chairs and umbrellas waiting for you. A concession stand has lunch and your beverage of choice — including Margaritas, Piña Coladas, and Mai Tais. The delightful, soft powdered sand is a mix of mostly creams and whites with, yes, some pinks. The warm, welcoming, often crowded beach is absolutely beautiful.
To see the beach that sings glorious pink though, you must venture a bit farther to Warwick Long Bay. With jagged outcroppings and a coral island that rises out of the sea, the breathtaking beach is a half mile stretch of soft, uninterrupted pink sand paradise.
One of Bermuda’s most beautiful beaches, Warwick Long Bay is the most easterly of the beaches of South Shore Park and the longest in Bermuda. It is more secluded and far more private than its famous neighbor. The road less travelled also offers a hike along the stunning coastline replete with spectacular views, lush flora, verdant tree tunnels, birds and butterflies, and, finally, the wondrous beach itself with the pink sand that is featured in jewelry and local crafts throughout the island.
The coastline is steep and rocky – the trail is sometimes a bit challenging, but the landscape and the wide, richly colored pink beach is well worth the journey. And just what makes the sand so pink? The famous rosy hue comes from foraminifera, a tiny marine organism. The pink to red shells of foraminifera eventually sink to the ocean's bottom, wash ashore, and mix with the sand to create this expansive, glorious pink beach that is a pure joy to visit.
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