One of the island’s treasured tourist sites has been highlighted by a global publication for its ease of access.

Travel + Leisure, a magazine headquartered in New York, hailed Tobacco Bay “a realistic long weekend option”.

The St George’s beach came second in TripAdvisor.com’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for the Caribbean, topped only by Eagle Beach, Aruba, and was ranked 13th worldwide.

Travel + Leisure pointed out that Bermuda is a two-hour flight from US East Coast cities such as New York City and Boston.

It said since the beach was a ten-minute drive from the airport and with a walk of about 15 minutes to the centre of the Olde Towne, travellers could easily mix beach time with sightseeing.

“What sets Tobacco Bay Beach apart isn’t long stretches of sand, but rather the natural formation of the cove itself,” the publication said.

“Framed by limestone rock formations that help shelter the water from strong currents, the beach has calm, shallow conditions that are especially ideal for beginner snorkellers,” it added.

The magazine said that the beach’s marine life was easy to spot without venturing far from shore with schools of colourful fish — such as blue parrotfish, grouper and blue angelfish — moving through the protected waters.

“The sandy area itself is relatively small and narrow but that is part of the draw, keeping everything close and easy to navigate,” the publication said.

It said the cove’s “compact set-up” made it easy for travellers to enjoy a full day.

In addition, it said items such as snorkelling gear, beach chairs, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks were available on site while most amenities were within a “short walk” from the beach.

Dennie O’Connor, the owner of the Tobacco Bay Beach Club, said earlier that the recent ranking by Tripadvisor showed that the hard work put into making the beach a destination was paying off.

He added that more work was still to come and he hoped to introduce rooftop seating for 2027.