Cooper's Island Nature Reserve Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Cooper's Island Nature Reserve. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Bermudaful Island Beach Hop

• Sightseeing Shopping and Beach Tour

• Bermuda Beach Hop Experience

There’s no fee to enter Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve, so the main cost is transportation or booking a tour. Prices for local buses vary between US$3.50 and US$5.50, depending on the zones that you’re traveling through; bring cash for your fare, if you haven’t bought a ticket booklet. Bermuda tours that include the nature reserve start at around US$120.

Yes, it’s worth it. This nature reserve is one of Bermuda’s most skipped-over sites, owing to its tricky location on the eastern side of St. David’s Island. Its “hidden gem” status reveals itself to those who make the effort to get there, rewarding visitors with secluded beaches, nature trails, wildlife, and military history.

Yes, you can swim and snorkel at the reserve. Just note that the nearest parking is a 15-minute walk from the beaches and there are no facilities, so come with your bathing suit on and pack light. Swimmers should head to Long Bay Beach for calm waters, while snorkelers will find more fish around Well Bay Beach and Turtle Bay.

Birds, turtles, and whales are the big three, and the park’s observation tower offers a great vantage point for spotting them. Look out for humpback whales during their migration season (March to April), try to spot the elusive cahow (aka Bermuda’s national bird), and scout out sea turtles year-round.

Clearwater Beach marks the entrance to Cooper’s Island, and if you want a beach with facilities, this is a good pick. Continue east to St. David’s Head, and stop at Great Head Park for a picnic. Or, visit nearby St. George’s Island for lunch and a peek at the Unfinished Church.