How to Visit Blue Hole Park in Bermuda
Ready for a swim?
To be honest, before visiting Bermuda I didn’t know that much about it. I thought it was an island in the Caribbean (which turns out to be wrong– it’s actually farther north in the Atlantic). So besides that incorrect nugget I really only knew that Bermuda has beautiful beaches.
Guess what, I was correct about that part at least! Bermuda does have beautiful beaches. Horseshoe Bay and St. Catherine’s Beach are two of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen.
But the beaches weren’t my favorite part about Bermuda. The secluded swimming spot in Blue Hole Park was!
If you are planning a trip to Bermuda, go ahead and add Blue Hole to your list. Then keep reading. Trust me, you are going to want to visit this beautiful little spot.
Ok, did you add Blue Hole Park Bermuda to your list? (A mental list works too). Great, now let’s dive into the details so you know exactly how to visit the Bermuda’s best swimming hole!
The Basics
Blue Hole Park is a 12-acre park in the northern part of Bermuda. Here you can find the secluded swimming hole that gives the park its name. (Ok, to be fair, the name is a bit misleading. The main swimming hole is really part of a connection of pools, caves, and underground tunnels.)
When you are in the deep Blue Hole, it feels like you are swimming in a secluded pool. The pool just happens to be surrounded by a mangrove forest, cliff jumping spots, and an intriguing cave.
Tom Moore’s Jungle vs Blue Hole Park
You might hear Blue Hole Park referred to as Tom Moore’s Jungle. Many locals use this name because the famous Irish poet Tom Moore was heavily inspired by this area for some of his most famous works. Another name for the park is the Walsingham Nature Reserve.
Location
This park is located in Hamilton Parish. The entrance is close to the famous Swizzle Inn and Crystal & Fantasy Caves. We will go into more details about nearby attractions and how to get to this park later in the post!
Good to Know
- Blue Hole Park is free to visit.
- Swimming inside the caves isn’t allowed.
- The park is open daily from dawn to dusk.
How to Get to Blue Hole Park Bermuda
Blue Hole Park is easily accessible from public transportation. Take a # 1, 3, 10, or 11 bus to the Grotto Bay Beach Resort. These buses run between Hamilton and St. George, so you will need to get to either of these starting points first. You will need a transportation pass, token, or tickets to pay the bus fare. These can be purchased at visitor centers or transportation hubs in Hamilton, St. George, and the Dockyards.
When you get out at Grotto Bay Beach Resort, walk for a few minutes towards the road that connects to St. George. You will pass a gas station on your left. About where the road to St. George starts you will see another road to Blue Hole on the right. Follow this towards the start of the trail.
If you want to take a taxi, you can ask to be dropped off at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort or the entrance to Blue Hole Park.
There is also a small car park near the trailhead.
Trail Guide
When you get to the car park you will enter the reserve through an opening in the fence. At first, I thought the fence was blocking off the park, but it is just to keep cars from driving into the park.
You can continue along the main paved trail to explore the park. There are also many smaller trails that lead off the main path. You will need to take one of these to reach the main Blue Hole. As you walk along the main path you will pass a beautiful beach on your left. Stop for pictures and then keep going. When the trail forks, take the left. Soon you will reach a grassy patch with a picnic table. Look for the wooden stairs down to a small viewing platform. This overlooks the Blue Hole. You made it!
What You Need to Know
- There are not a lot of sidewalks in Bermuda. Don’t be surprised when you get out of the bus if you have to directly walk on the side of the road.
- You won’t find a visitor’s center, snack booth, or toilets in the park.
What Can You Do at Blue Hole Park Bermuda?
Blue Hole Park Bermuda is the perfect spot for outdoor adventures! I choose to hike and swim, but you can also snorkel and cliff jump here.
Swim
Swimming in Blue Hole Park was my stand-out HIGHLIGHT from my trip to Bermuda. Honestly, I can’t stress this enough. I loved swimming at Blue Hole!
The water is crystal clear and you can see colorful fish swimming below you. There are interesting mangroves around you and even a cave for some added atmosphere.
If you want to swim, pack a bathing suit and towel. You won’t find a changing station but it was pretty empty when I arrived so I managed to change quickly near the swimming hole. I left my backpack and clothes on the wooden platform. I could see them the whole time from the swimming hole and really I didn’t need to be worried about leaving my stuff anyways.
To get in the water you can cliff jump or ease in from the rocky paths beside the wooden platform. Just be careful because the rocks are a bit rough so it is easy to scrape your feet.
Cliff Jump
This is a popular place for cliff jumping. There are a few different spots around the Blue Hole where you can easily jump into the deep clear water. Keep going on the trail to find these spots.
Snorkel
If you have snorkel gear, bring it along. This is a great spot to see some colorful fish. I could already see the fish without any gear since the water is so clear. But the other people at Blue Hole who had snorkel gear were able to do even more exploring. They mentioned that they saw a few parrotfish as they were snorkeling.
Hike
What if you don’t want to get in the water? That’s fine too! With 12-acres, there is plenty of space to hike and explore in Blue Hole Park without getting wet. I highly recommend visiting Blue Hole Park either way. You will get to see some incredible caves, swimming holes, and beaches as you walk along the trails.
Nearby Attractions
Looking for more? There are a few Bermuda must-do’s around the Blue Hole Park area.
Crystal & Fantasy Caves
Tour the Crystal and/or Fantasy Caves to see beautiful geological formations that have been created over millions of years. These caves are one of the top attractions in Bermuda so you will probably hear about them as you plan your trip. I was a little skeptical since the admission price is a bit high ($24 for adults for one cave or $35 combo ticket), but my tour was fantastic. I choose to only visit the Crystal Cave and I was blown away by the experience. The guide allowed us to spend 45 minutes exploring and photographing the incredible area.
Swizzle Inn
The Swizzle Inn is an iconic eatery in Bermuda that claims to have invented the Rum Swizzle (Bermuda’s national drink) way back in 1932. Stop by to enjoy some delicious local food like Bermudan fish chowder and wahoo sandwiches. Oh, and while you are here, you might as well try an authentic rum swizzle, right?
Bailey’s Ice Cream Parlor
If you want a sweet treat, visit Bailey’s Ice Cream Parlor. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t my favorite ice cream. But it did hit the spot. Plus, they serve a flavor inspired by the Dark & Stormy (Bermuda’s other national drink) and where else are you going to find that? Bailey’s is cash only and closed on Fridays.
Essentials
Ok, before heading to Blue Hole Park, here is the last bit of information you need.
Be Prepared
As I mentioned earlier, you won’t find a bathroom or snack stand in the park. Luckily, there is a gas station near the entrance that can fill both of these needs. You might want to grab a bottle of water here too.
Full disclosure, we did find one port-a-potty in the park. But let’s just say it wasn’t something I wanted to use.
What to Bring
You really don’t need to bring that much to enjoy yourself at Blue Hole Park. I arrived in sandals and a sundress and had no issues hiking. The path is very flat and paved in most areas.
If you plan to swim, bring a bathing suit and a towel. If you have snorkel gear, grab that too.
Blue Hole Park Bermuda Basic Packing List:
- bathing suit
- towel
- sunscreen
- water
- snorkel gear
- hat
- sunglasses
- change of clothes
- snacks
I hope this guide helps as you plan your trip to Blue Hole Park Bermuda! Like I mentioned, this was the highlight of my trip so you don’t want to miss this experience.
Oh, and one last thing. Don’t let the weather report freak you out. When I checked the weather for my trip a week out, it said it would rain and thunderstorm every day. Over my 3-day trip I only experienced a few hours of rain. The rest of the days were sunny and beautiful. In fact, the day I went to Blue Hole was supposed to be the rainiest of my trip. But it ended up being a gorgeous day!
Have you been to Bermuda? Would you cliff jump in Blue Hole?
Looking for more? Check Out these Bermuda Guides:
Best of Bermuda: 18 Can’t Miss Experiences
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