Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
birds include Paget Marsh, just south of the City of Hamilton; the Idwal Hughes
Nature Reserve in Hamilton Parish; and Spittal Pond in Smith's Parish.
SEA LIFE
In the deep waters off the shores of Bermuda are some of the finest game fish in the
world: blackfin tuna, marlin, swordfish, wahoo, dolphin, sailfish, and barracuda. Also
prevalent are bonefish and pompano, both of which prefer sun-flooded shallow
waters closer to shore. Any beachcomber is likely to come across hundreds of oval-
shaped chitons
(Chiton tuberculatus),
a mollusk that adheres tenaciously to rocks in
tidal flats; locally, it is known as “suck-rock.”
Beware of the Portuguese man-of-war
(Physalia physalis),
a floating colony of jel-
lyfish whose stinging tentacles sometimes reach 15m (50 ft.) in length. Give this
dangerous and venomous marine creature a wide berth: Severe stings may require
hospitalization. Avoid the creature when it washes up on Bermuda beaches, usually
between March and July—the man-of-war can sting even when it appears to be dead.
The most prevalent marine animal in Bermuda is responsible for the formation of
the island's greatest tourist attraction—its kilometers of pale pink sand. Much of the
sand consists of broken shells, pieces of coral, and the calcium carbonate remains of
other marine invertebrates. The pinkest pieces are shards of crushed shell from a single-
celled animal called foraminifer. Its
vivid pink skeleton is pierced with holes,
through which the animal extends its
rootlike feet
(pseudopodia),
which cling
to the underside of the island's reefs
during the animal's brief life, before its
skeleton is washed ashore.
2
Impressions
Bermuda . . . it's a nutty, nutty place.
—Paul Shaffer,
Late Night
with David Letterman
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
The eco-tourist will find Bermuda a rich stomping ground with its bird-watching,
nature trails, and tours.
Some of these chief attractions include the following:
W
The Arboretum,
Middle Road in Devonshire Parish, is 7.7 pristine hectares (19
acres) close to the City of Hamilton, with a large expanse of open space and a small
woodland.
W
Bermuda Railway Trail,
West End. Totaling 34km (21 miles), this trail provides
a scenic route from East to West. It is used by walkers and birders alike.
W
Blue Hole Park,
Hamilton Parish. An abundance of wildlife exists in nearly 5
hectares (12 acres), with a natural small pond and caves close by.
W
Hog Bay Park,
Sandys Parish. On 15.4 hectares (38 acres), this park has well-
maintained trails, vegetable gardens, and wooded hillsides with native and
endemic vegetation.
W
Spittal Pond Nature Reserve,
Smith's Parish. At South Road, 13.8 hectares (34
acres) of nature form the largest and most accessible nature reserve on the island.
There are excellent trails plus bird-watching at several observation points, where
you can see a large variety of wildlife.
Some of the best eco-tours are offered by
Bermuda Lectures & Tours
(6 Lea-
craft Hill Rd., Southampton Parish;
&
441/234-4082;
www.bermudatourism.
com/217.aspx). Lasting 1
1
⁄
2
hours and costing $15 per person, this outfit's tours are
