Soft Adventure
CRYSTAL CAVE ©BIANCA BUJAN
Cave, Cycle, and Catamaran:
Explore
BERMUDA
CRYSTAL CAVE
From a jaunt through a jaw-dropping cave, to an end-to-end island bike tour, to whale-watching by catamaran, Bermuda is full of beyond-the-beach bucket list adventures. By Bianca Bujan Stunned by the sparkling stalactites that dangle above my head like dripping icicles, I stop to take in my surroundings. I’m in Bermuda’s Crystal Cave, standing on a floating pontoon pathway that stretches deep into the underground cavern. I grasp the railing with my hand and look below into the cyan-coloured, crystal-clear water that flows beneath my feet. Beyond my reflection, I see sharp stalagmites stretching up toward my face. They look close enough to touch, but are still more than 50 feet below the surface, the clarity of the water playing tricks on my eyes. I had been in caves before, but this time, no headlamp was required, and I didn’t have to creep through dark, tight spaces to reach the stunning large opening found deep within the cave. Instead, I was engaging in spelunking for the soft 34 • Vacations ® • Fall 2019
adventurer, strolling along wide, well-lit pathways, deep into the underbelly of Bermuda. Mark Twain (one of the first tourists to ever visit Crystal Cave) once said, of the awe-inspiring natural attraction, that it was “the most beautiful cave in the world,” and he was absolutely accurate. Of all the caves that I’ve visited throughout my travels, this one is the most breathtaking. While the island’s dazzling underworld is enough to entice a visit, Bermuda is brimming with above-ground adventures as well, like the island’s end-to-end cycling path, known as the Railway Trail. Beckon a bike (many properties offer rentals), and take a two-wheel tour of the British Isle – the Railway Trail covers 28 kilometres of the 35-kilometre-long island.
