Bermuda has its own unique culture. An uninhabited island discovered in the early 1500s, Bermuda is a melting pot, with Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, Portuguese, British, and Native American influences. Gombey, a vibrant Bermudian dance tradition dating back to the early 1800s, fuses African, British, Native American, and Caribbean influences. “Gombey,” likely derived from an African word for “rhythm,” underscores the central role of drumming and percussion in these dynamic street performances. Originally, enslaved people danced once a year in masks to protest injustices safely. Bermuda was emancipated from slavery on August 1st, 1834, and today, Gombey troupes—adorned with peacock‐feather headdresses, painted masks, bells, and tassels—perform at holidays and festivals as a proud symbol of island identity. Today, Bermuda’s population is diverse, resourceful, tight-knit, and proud.
The geography and topography of Bermuda are also unique. Millions of years ago, the island formed as part of a volcanic seamount near a section of the Atlantic known as the Sargasso Sea. Bermuda’s rugged coastline is defined by towering aeolian limestone cliffs—so ubiquitous that locals affectionately call the island “de Rock.” Beneath its aquamarine waves lie more than 300 sunken vessels, earning Bermuda the moniker “shipwreck capital of the world.”
Off the South Shore Beaches, Bermuda’s famous “boiler” reefs send surging currents through coral formations, creating a frothy, churning effect that looks as though the sea itself is boiling. Together, these cliffs, caves, shipwrecks, and dynamic reefs form a uniquely dramatic and unforgettable seascape. This isn’t just an island with white sand stretches, though its beaches are also incredible.