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Nassau & Paradise Island
Go Beyond the Beach in Nassau & Paradise Island
By Lisa Kadane
White sand is abundant in the Bahamas, but after a few days of beach bliss in Nassau and neighbouring Paradise Island, it’s time to turn inland and explore the country’s rich history and food culture. Luckily, there are tours for that.
Dig up Delicious Cuisine Secrets
In this island nation, not only should conch fritters be prepared to perfection to wow the palate, a well-seasoned chicken should be cooked with spices including thyme, garlic and tomatoes. These are just two food tips shared on a restaurant tour around Nassau with Tru Bahamian Food Tours.
At downtown eateries a local guide explains the history of dishes like peas and rice, and drinks like switcha, a Bahamian twist on lemonade. In between stops, they share the island’s history as you walk past heritage buildings painted “conch pink,” a colour historically made from ground-up shells of this edible sea snail.
Distill the Truth About Pirates on a Rum Tour
During the Golden Age of Piracy, from 1690 to 1720, Nassau was a haven for buccaneers, whose preferred loot was rum. Though the island no longer supports pillaging, you can still sample rum—and rum-infused foods on the Rum Runner’s Passage tour with Islandz Tours.
Over at Luna Rum Distillery, you’ll enjoy a selection of flavoured rums such as banana, and learn how to use them in cocktails. John Watling’s Distillery, on the historic 1789 Buena Vista Estate, offers traditional rums, including a pale rum, an amber rum and a single barrel rum. Fun fact: John Watling was a 17th-century “gentleman pirate” who abstained from pillaging on Sundays.
“Fort”-ify your Historical Knowledge
Nassau is home to three forts built to protect the island. Visit Fort Fincastle on the Discover Nassau Land & Sea Tour, which delves into the island’s colonial and pirate past. Cruise around the Paradise Island Harbour on a catamaran to see famous sights from the sea, including Hog Island Lighthouse and Fort Montagu.
Satiated, hydrated and well-educated, you can end your vacation back where it started—on a beautiful Bahamian beach.
How to Get to Nassau & Paradise Island
Air Canada now offers increased service from Toronto (YYZ) to Nassau (NAS), operating 12 flights per week, up from seven earlier this year. The airline continues to fly four times weekly from Montréal (YUL) to Nassau, and has introduced new direct flights from Ottawa (YOW) and Halifax (YHZ).
WestJet continues to operate daily service from Toronto and has added a second flight on both Saturday and Sunday. The Calgary–Nassau route has also expanded to two flights per week.
Porter Airlines has launched new seasonal service to Nassau, with daily flights from Toronto and additional routes operating three times per week from Montréal and once per week from Ottawa. (aircanada.com; westjet.com; flyporter.com)
Travel Planner
To help plan your trip to the Bahamas, including where to stay, eat and what to do, visit nassauparadiseisland.com
