Hidden gems uncovered

When you’re surrounded on an island with such beautiful outdoor spaces, it’s hard to resist sharing those hidden gems with others. For Ashley Focke, who started her career as an educator, that allure was far too tempting.

So, in 2013, she left a secure teaching job and launched Hidden Gems eco-tours with the hope that others would be as keen to discover all those magical places that make Bermuda such a special place.

“I taught for nearly 10 years, but felt stifled by the indoor classroom and wanted to expand my teaching opportunities into the great outdoors,” she explains. “I went out on a whim to see if there could be success in showcasing lesser known ‘Bermudaful’ locations.”

Regularly spending time in nature continues to connect Mrs. Focke with her childhood memories of being raised by her horticulturalist father, and the early interest in nature and Bermuda’s flora and fauna that her upbringing created.

On her tours she introduces excursionists to Bermuda’s vast wonders, whether on land or by sea, as well as introducing many different plants and the benefits of living a holistic life.

“I always joke that I would be the best partner if anyone ever wanted to pair up with me for the television show Naked and Afraid,” she says.

Her eco-tours business has expanded to include dozens of tours, growth in staff and a fleet of buses. And while hundreds of visitors have explored Bermuda’s cave systems or have dived into the Blue Lagoon in Tom Moore’s Jungle, she treats each group as family, and continues to relish spending time outdoors.

“A perfect day on the job really starts with the energy of our guests and how well everyone on tour vibes with each other, and myself as the tour guide,” she explains. “I aim for each group of perfect strangers to feel like a family within moments of meeting one another. We have fun, we joke and our guests are learning about the many different facets of our Island through it all.”

Even as she has capitalised on her love of the outdoors and spends hours giving guests an incredible and unique experience through the expertise she’s gained over the years, she still continues to find herself drawn to the outdoors even during her downtime.

She takes to the ocean, discovering its hidden depths and the beauty it has to offer.

“I absolutely love the coral reef and observing sea creatures that make it their home,” she says. “I find every opportunity to spend my downtime in nature and take time to appreciate all the beauty that surrounds us.”