Exuma Pigs Tour – Best Tours
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Swimming pigs on a white sandy beach in the Bahamas? You betcha! Who would’ve thunk it? Looking for the best Exuma Pigs Tour? Well, we put together the top tours to see these sunbathing swine and much much more!
What Are These Pigs All About?
The Exuma swimming pigs are a famous attraction on Big Majors Cay in the Exumas. They are always eager to see people and often approach boats, hoping for food or attention. Swimming and taking photos with these pigs has become a popular adventure for travelers, offering a unique farmyard animal encounter against the backdrop of Exuma’s gorgeous beaches and waters. Get this perfect beach read Pig in Paradise to prepare you for the wonders of this experience.
Let’s face it, it’s not all about the Pigs. These Exuma Pigs tours are highly rated because they offer the opportunity to experience the wonders of a few other cays along the journey as well.
We’ve sailed to the Exumas three seasons now and seen Pig Beach and many of the other attractions offered in these tours. When we visit Pig Beach, we take our dinghy on a quick ride and the boys absolutely love it….well one does (see smile above). They are mostly friendly and will swim to your boat, hoping for a handout.
It’s important to note that some of these pigs can be a bit aggressive, so it’s a good idea to be prepared if you or your child gets spooked easily. We learned from a local that if you want to signal that you have no food, simply raise your empty hands in the air palms down. We did this on our last visit and it worked like a charm.
You’ll encounter adorable piglets you can pick up or larger, friendly mamas you can pet. These pigs are well-cared for by the locals, ensuring they have food, shelter, and access to water. What takes us weeks and sometimes months to get to, you’ll get to do in a day and we can imagine how exciting that would be so we’ve put together a list of the top exuma pigs tours into a few categories to help you book your next visit.
Top Exuma Pigs Tours From Nassau
The Exuma pigs tours listed below consistently receive high ratings from guests who want to experience swimming with the pigs. Most of these tours hit the same attractions so I would focus on the departure point, price, and reviews when choosing. If your starting point is Nassau expect a fast, fun, and furious boat ride through the shallow blues of the Exumas Cays. These tours do sell out so if you don’t have much flexibility in your time, we recommend booking early.
Shore Thing Escapes – What an action-packed day! Explore seven beautiful cays where you can feed iguanas, snorkel around Pablo Escobar’s plane and the aquarium, take a dip with the pigs and nurse sharks, enjoy a buffet lunch at Black Point, and visit your very own private sandbar. Incredible!
📍Rated 5 stars on Viator with over 800 reviews!
Pieces of 8 – 5 Cays, one thrilling day! Upon arrival, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with the globally renowned swimming pigs, feed ancient Rock Iguanas, swim alongside gentle Nurse Sharks, savor an authentic Bahamian buffet lunch, and be captivated by the unspoiled beauty of an Exuma beach or sandbar. Wow!
📍This crew is rated 5 stars on Trip Advisor with over 600 reviews!
Born Free Charters – Guests loved this Exuma Pigs tour for the fabulous crew and memorable experience. Begin your journey with a stop at Allens Cay to engage with rock iguanas, then head to Compass Cay for a thrilling shark swim. Afterward, make your way to Big Majors Cay for a memorable encounter with swimming pigs.
Continue your adventure at Normans Cay, where you can snorkel around Pablo Escobar’s plane wreckage. To cap off the day, discover a tranquil and secluded sandbar where you can unwind and take a refreshing swim.
📍5 Star rating on Viator with over 180 reviews!
Exuma Escapes – Guests raved about the crew, swimming with the nurse sharks, and the buffet lunch. Embark on a coastal cruise from Nassau, exploring multiple islands in one day on this Bahamas power boat tour. Ideal for first-time visitors and nature enthusiasts, you’ll encounter Bahamian rock iguanas, swim with the renowned pigs, and have the opportunity to swim with sharks.
Then, enjoy a water sightseeing tour of the Exumas, a captivating archipelago with 365 tiny islands and cays. Your adventure includes lunch and round-trip transportation from Nassau Paradise Island.
📍4.5 stars on Viator with over 430 reviews!
Tour Daddy – Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Bahamas as you set sail on a full-day boat tour departing from Nassau. This Exuma pigs tour whisks you to Crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches, and invigorating sea breezes. You’ll have the unique opportunity to interact with the local rock iguanas and the renowned swimming pigs of Pig Beach.
Afterward, witness nurse sharks in their natural habitat before savoring a delicious buffet lunch. Following your meal, enjoy plenty of leisure time for swimming and relaxation.
📍4.5 stars on Viator with over 170 reviews!
Best Small Group Pig Tours From Nassau
If you want a small group and you don’t want to travel to the Exuma Cays to see pigs, consider these small group tours on Rose Island. Just a short 30-minute boat ride from Nassau.
Da’Pig Beach– This 3-hour small group tour departs from Nassau and hits the pigs on Rose Island. Limited to 10 people this may be a good choice for those who want a less demanding tour while still visiting swimming pigs and enjoying a day on the beach.
📍4.5 Stars, over 480 reviews on Viator!
*Note – These pigs are on Rose Island, not Big Majors Cay.
Ultimate SeaXscape – Join this half-day excursion starting from Nassau, where you’ll explore a snorkeling site at Pearl Cay, venture to Gilligans Island, have an encounter with sea turtles at Green Cay, interact with swimming pigs, witness an exciting conch show, and savor a delicious lunch. A cool thing about this tour is a portion of all proceeds goes back into helping coastal communities and keeping the ocean clean. This tour is also capped at 10 people to keep it more intimate.
📍5 Stars, over 115 reviews on Viator!
*Note – These pigs are on Rose Island, not Big Majors Cay.
Exuma Pigs Tours From Georgetown Or Barraterre
Exuma Water Sports – Highly rated tour departing from Great Exuma. Guests highlight the amazing crew and jaw-dropping scenery. Capture moments with the Swimming Pigs, bask in the sun on stunning secluded beaches, encounter sharks and stingrays, offer snacks to the iguanas, or simply relish the feel of sand beneath your feet!
📍5 Stars, over 1520 reviews on Trip Advisor!
*Note – These pigs are on White Bay Cay, not Big Majors Cay.
Four C’s Adventures – Leaves Great Exuma and will pick you up at your hotel. Guests shout out to Captain Smilie and Taj for the unforgettable experience. Explore Starfish Bay, discover private islands, visit a tranquil cave, explore a sunken plane wreck, snorkel at Thunder Ball Grotto, mingle with swimming pigs, relax at a sandbar, and encounter rock iguanas. Lunch and swimming with nurse sharks are optional at an additional charge.
📍4.5 Stars, with over 640 reviews on Trip Advisor!
Roberts Island Adventure – This tour leaves Barraterre on Great Exuma with both half and full-day adventures. Their half-day trips from Rolleville offer a memorable and diverse experience. You’ll have the chance to swim with the famous Swimming Pigs, witness fascinating iguanas in their natural habitat, observe graceful turtles in their element, embark on an underwater adventure with snorkeling at a Blue Hole, and enjoy a tranquil interlude at a scenic sandbar. Along the way, there may be some unexpected surprises, making your excursion even more thrilling and unforgettable.
📍5 Stars on Trip Advisor with over 500 reviews!
Exuma Pigs Tours From Staniel Cay
If you find yourself already on Staniel Cay which is just a short hop skip and a jump to the Pigs, these top-rated tours offer the chance to see the famous swimming pigs and other captivating attractions. What distinguishes these tours is the opportunity to snorkel at Thunderball Grotto, one of our favorites. Additionally, both tours provide the option to include flights to and from Nassau if you are not fond of traveling so far by boat.
Staniel Cay Adventures – 7 stops on this one. Swimming with the pigs on Big Majors Cay, then the sharks at Compass Cay, Iguanas on Great Guana Cay, snorkeling Thunderball Grotto, lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, swimming at a sandbar, and snorkeling Pablo’s plane.
📍5 Stars on Trip Advisor with over 185 reviews!
3 N’s Exuma Vacations – This 4-hour tour starts with pickup at either Staniel Cay Airport or the yacht club. You’ll get the pigs, iguanas, sharks, sandbar, Thunderball Grotto, and photo op at Pablo’s plane.
📍5 Stars on Trip Advisor with over 235 reviews!
Can You Go To Pig Beach Without A Tour?
Yes, we certainly did. If you have your own boat, you can visit Pig Beach at any time for free. There are definitely periods when most tour boats arrive for about 15-30 minutes. So, if you prefer to avoid the crowds, having your own boat enables you to go during off-peak hours.
In the morning (before 10am) or late afternoon (after 3pm) are great times to visit due to fewer crowds. You can also rent a boat on Staniel Cay for the day to enjoy the pigs yourself. Here are a couple of boat rental options:
Cost Of Exuma Pigs Tour
The cost of an Exuma pigs tour can vary depending on various factors, including the tour operator, the duration of the tour, and the specific inclusions. To give you an idea you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $500 or more per person for a standard half-day or full-day tour. Although it may seem pricy guests insist it’s worth every penny.
What To Expect
First off you can expect one of the most unique experiences in the Bahamas that will leave you with lasting memories. Powerboat tours departing from Nassau or Atlantis travel approximately 78 miles down the Exuma chain, and the ride typically spans about 2 hours each way, with several stops along the route.
In addition to the pigs, activities can include feeding iguanas, snorkeling, swimming with nurse sharks, swimming in a blue hole, a secluded sandbar, and a Bahamian lunch. Departing from Nassau, the ride can be a bit bumpy depending on the weather, with wind, and salt spray. This can be quite fun or quite taxing so stay hydrated and shaded.
These tours are professional and take good care of you as a guest. Drinks, snacks, and lunch are usually provided on the full-day tours. Local insights about the cays, a laid-back and enjoyable atmosphere, and the genuine warmth of Bahamian hospitality come together for a wonderful experience.
What To Bring
- Sun hat
- Sun shirt
- Sunscreen – Being in the sun almost every day this is super important for us. These are our go-to sunscreens we use.
- Sunglasses…..sensing a theme here? These have been our go-to sunglasses for nearly 7 years. They are tough, polarized, comfortable, and last for a long time.
- Swimsuit
- Towels – Thin, light, absorb water well, and dry fast. Everything we need in a towel.
- Phone or Camera
- Sandals or water shoes
- Seasickness medication
Conclusion – Exuma Pigs Tour
In conclusion, the Exuma Pigs Tour is a great way to see some of the highlights of the Exuma Cays and the Bahamas. The scenery is second to none and those Bahamas blues are unforgettable. Check out one of the tours above to experience this memory-making adventure.