We bet you have already seen the Bahamas swimming pigs on Instagram or in a Lonely Planet travel guide. These Exuma pigs are the star of the show in the Out Islands of the Bahamas. Visited over 6 million times annually, the pigs in the Bahamas are completely habituated and ready for their photoshoot.
You can take a tour to Pig Island Bahamas with numerous companies that will show you where can you swim with pigs. But before you go, we will let you know what you need to know about the swimming pigs Exuma and the island with pigs for our Pig Island tours.
Pig Island Bahamas is home to 25 Exuma pigs.
What you need to know for your trip to Pig Beach Bahamas
The Bahamas swimming pigs Exuma tours are one of the most popular among Bahamas tourism. Here are some details you will need to know for your trip to the Bahamas to make your stay (if even only for one day) as memorable as possible.
Where is Pig Island?
Swimming pigs island is located just ten minutes from Staniel Cay. You can catch a plane from Nassau to Staniel Cay whereby you can find a local fisherman or water taxi to bring you to Pig Beach. In total, the trip from Nassau will take you less than one hour if you fly via a Bahamas air charter. Click here for a map of where is Pig Island.
How did the Bahamas swimming pigs get to Big Major Cay?
It is still not certain how the Nassau swimming pigs reached Big Major Cay. There are a few widely accepted folktales within the Out Islands, though. The main one being that villagers of Staniel Cay complained about the nearby pig pen which was causing a stench among the village.
The island with pigs is also known as Big Major Cay.
This caused the farmers to relocate the Bahamas pigs to the island next door, Big Major Cay (which later became known as the island with pigs). The farmers would have to ride to the island with the pigs’ daily feed every afternoon.
Soon, the Bahamas swimming pigs caught wind of this routine and began swimming to the boat as it appeared around the corner so they could be the first pigs fed. Thus, the number one attraction in the Bahamas was born.
Why are the Bahamas pigs still on Pig Beach?
According to the official tourism site of the Bahamas, the Bahamas swimming pigs have found refuge on Big Major Cay. They are being treated well and fed well, so why would they leave?
Plus, the local economy is getting a big boost from these Bahamas swimming pigs everyone likes so much. Swimming with the pigs has been a major provider to the economy of the Out Islands which has led to development and the Bahamian culture being shared to people from all over the world.
It has been so successful, there have been several imitation beaches to max out on the profits of this exotic creation which have begun to become popular attractions as well.
Swimming with pigs is one of the most popular attractions of the Exumas.
Other Bahamas Swimming Pigs attractions
Here are some other places to visit on your Bahamas day trips:
- Thunderball Grotto – channel your inner 007 at James Bond Cave at this adrenaline junkie’s paradise
- Compass Cay sharks – take a chance and dive in with the reef and nurse sharks of Compass Cay Marina if you dare
- Bitter Guana Cay iguanas – the Northern Bahamian Rock iguanas are an endangered species only found in this region of the Bahamas
- Pipe Creek Sand Bar – this precious sand bar is hidden at high tide but at low tide it becomes a picturesque island oasis
- Staniel Cay Yacht Club – find yourself in the presence of elegance and history at SCYC, this Gateway to the Exuma.
The Compass Cay sharks are just a boat ride away from the Bahamas swimming pigs.
Visit the Swimming Pigs Bahamas today!
Want to book a Swimming with Pigs tour to Pig Beach in the Exumas? Then be sure to contact one of our Swimming with Pigs Experts via our contact form.
