Nassau Pirates & Queens Staircase Tour: Fort Charlotte

Two 18th-century forts, a moat and dungeons, and a period costume re-enactment with a noon cannon fire

A scooter tour of Nassau visiting Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle, and the Queen's Staircase with a live English-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. On Wednesday and Friday mornings, the tour features a living historical scene at 11:30am where costumed actors demonstrate basketweaving and 18th-century kitchen techniques before firing a cannon at noon. The forts (built to defend the Bahamas in the 1700s) still hold moats, dungeons, underground passageways, and 42 cannons never fired in combat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore historic forts and reenactment

• Visit Fort Charlotte
• Tour Fort Fincastle
• See Fort Montagu
• Watch historical reenactment (Wed/Fri)
• Observe period costumes and crafts
• Experience cannon firing at noon

What’s included

• Mystery gift.
• bottled water.
• live guide in English.
• hotel pickup.

Times

• Every day No fixed time

Information

Scooter tour of Fort Charlotte and Fort Fincastle in Nassau with live guide, hotel pickup, and a cannon-firing historical re-enactment on Wednesday and Friday at noon.

Group Up to 24

Live guide English

Audio guide English

Meeting point and pickup You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 3 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 5 minutes before departure. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Ages Adult (18 to 73 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Not recommended with back problems

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 3 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

Fort Charlotte dominates the western harbor on a hill overlooking Paradise Island and Nassau. The largest of the three forts at roughly 100 acres, it was built during the 18th century as a military stronghold and still contains its original moat, dungeons, and underground passageways. The 42 cannons mounted on the walls have never been fired in an act of aggression, and on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 11:30am, costumed interpreters bring the fort's daily life to vivid detail. Basketweaving, kitchen utensils from over 250 years ago, and fruits sold at the market stalls. The scene culminates at noon with the firing of the cannon, a moment that anchors the historical re-enactment.

You travel by scooter to Fort Fincastle and the Queen's Staircase, each stop adding a layer to Nassau's pirate-era past. The tour runs daily, though the living history performance only happens Wednesday and Friday mornings. A live guide in English leads the route, and hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange your own transport. The tour lasts two and a half hours and ends with a mystery gift and bottled water.

Top questions

Can I be picked up at my hotel?

You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 3 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 5 minutes before departure.

What exactly is Fort Charlotte and why was it built?

Fort Charlotte is the largest of Nassau's three 18th-century military forts, built on a hill overlooking the western harbor to defend the Bahamas from enemies and threats. It spans roughly 100 acres and still contains its original moat, dungeons, underground passageways, and 42 cannons that have never been fired in combat.

When does the historical re-enactment happen and what do the actors actually do?

The living historical scene runs Wednesday and Friday mornings starting at 11:30am. Costumed interpreters demonstrate basketweaving techniques, display kitchen utensils used over 250 years ago, and show fruits sold at 18th-century markets. The re-enactment ends with a cannon firing at noon.

What does the tour include and how long does it take?

The tour lasts two and a half hours and includes a live English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, bottled water, and a mystery gift. You visit Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle, and the Queen's Staircase by scooter.

Is this tour available every day?

Yes, the scooter tour runs daily. The historical re-enactment with costumed actors and the cannon firing only happens on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 11:30am.

Operated by Bahamas Epic Sensational Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago