Swimming Pigs at Pig Island

Fall in love with the World Famous Bahamas Swimming Pigs on your next adventure to the Bahamas. These amazing pigs which swim in the sea at Pig Beach are one of the Bahamas top attractions. But there are many interesting stories and legends of how these pigs ended up on a beach in the Bahamas!

Bahamas Swimming Pigs at Pig Beach

The lovable Bahamas swimming pigs of Big Major Cay’s Pig Beach are leading the country’s tourism industry. Millions of people are flocking to the Bahamas to see the island with pigs — 6.62 million visitors in 2018, to be exact. Everyone wants to go swimming with pigs in the tropical turquoise sea of the Caribbean.

Where is Pig Island Bahamas

Pig Beach is located on Big Major Cay, just north of Staniel Cay in the Exumas of southern Bahamas. It is close enough to reach from Nassau by plane in under thirty minutes and a boat trip from Staniel Cay is no more than ten minutes until you reach the pigs.

The Exumas are a collection of 365 islands in the Bahamas known for being extravagantly beautiful and remote. Pig Island is one of the busier islands in the region due to the star power of its celebrity residents (the Exuma pigs).

About the Bahamas Swimming Pigs

It is estimated there are 20-25 pigs on the island ranging in size from small piglets to the biggest and oldest pig of the bunch, Big Momma. They are almost 100% habituated and see thousands of visitors per day.

You can discover more about the Exuma Pigs on the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Website Swimming Pigs homepage.

History of Pig Island Bahamas (Big Major Cay)

No one knows entirely sure how the pigs in the Bahamas got there. Look to the official Bahamas tourism website and even they will admit the mystery is unclear. However, as with all island cultures, folklore runs rampant and there are a few likely scenarios that landed the pigs on Big Major Cay decades ago.

The most widely accepted reasoning is being brought to Big Major Cay by the nearby farmers of Staniel Cay. Legend says the villagers on Staniel Cay complained of the pigs’ odor and forced the farmers to find a solution.

Their solution became relocating them just ten minutes away on Big Major Cay (which eventually became known as Pig Island). Here, the pigs stench could not drift all the way to the village and the pigs were still close enough to tend to.

Soon, the pigs picked up on the fact that the farmer’s boat was full of their daily feed and everyday, when they saw the boat, they began swimming to the farmer to be the first fed. Thus, we have the Bahamas swimming pigs.

What to do at Pig Island Bahamas

As there are no inhabitants on Pig Island Bahamas with the exception to the celebrity pigs, there isn’t a wide selection of things to do. Those who come to the island with pigs tend to spend most of their time relaxing in the sunshine or feeding/ petting the pigs.

The Exuma pigs are excellent at taking photos — they take millions of photos with their fans year-round. It would be the perfect photo op.

Useful Information about Pig Island Bahamas

There is a short list of simple rules and etiquette for people visiting Pig Island Bahamas and it goes as follows:

1. Only feed pigs approved foods — usually consisting of natural foods like fruits, vegetables, and breads. Ask your tour guide if you have a question of what is allowed.
2. Do not feed pigs directly from your hands. Pigs do not have a graceful amount of coordination and depth perception. Your fingers could become their food in an instant. Instead, toss the food in the water right next to them.
3. Do not feed pigs on the beach of Pig Island Bahamas. Instead, only feed while in the water to preserve their natural survival instincts for forging for their daily feed.
4. Respect the animals. They are not dangerous unless provoked, but remember: They are still wild animals! Don’t take advantage of the pigs or put them in harm’s way.

Attractions around Pig Island Bahamas

There is more to the Exuma Cays than swimming with pigs. Surrounding the island with pigs is a dozen or more attractions you can see within your day trip. Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Exuma:

• • • Swimming with Sharks at Compass Cay
    • Spotting Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
    • Exploring the Beautiful Thunderball Grotto
    • Snorkeling above a Sunken Plane Wreck
    • Having a Drink at Staniel Cay Yacht Club
    • Go Sand Bar Hopping
    • Take a Deep Sea Fishing Excursion with an Expert
    • Tour around Staniel Cay Village

There are plenty more things to see around Pig Island Bahamas but this list should be more than enough to fill your day tour itinerary.

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