Visiting the famous Pig Beach, home to the Bahamas Swimming Pigs, should be done with flights to Big Major Cay in Exuma. Big Major Cay is a small island in the Bahamas Exuma Cays, one of around three hundred and sixty five islands. Whilst accessible by boat and plane, flights to Big Major Cay are really the easiest and most comfortable way to visit Pig Island.
As there is no airport on Big Major Cay, the nearest airport is on Staniel Cay. Taking a Nassau to Staniel Cay flights is therefore the only way to “fly” to Pig Beach. It’s only a short 40 minute flight from Nassau to Exuma.
Stunning Scenery seen on the Flights to Big Major Cay (Pig Island)
The majority of visitors will go visit the Swimming Pigs on an organized Day Trips from Nassau to Exuma – these include flights to Big Major Cay and then a guided boat tour which typically visits the Swimming Pigs at Pig Beach and then onto the other Exuma Attractions, like the swimming with Sharks, iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay, the Exuma Sand Bar and Sunken Plane Wreck.
Take a Day Trip to the Exumas from Nassau or Miami Florida for the best Day excursions with flights to Big Major Cay.
Flights to Big Major Cay (Pig Island)
Flights to Big Major Cay can be taken from Nassau or Miami Florida. Because of the short length on runways at airstrips in the Exuma Cays, only piston or turboprop aircraft can operate here (planes with propellers).
Journey time for flights to Big Major Cay
Nassau to Big Major Cay: 40 minutes
Miami to Big Major Cay: 1 hour 30 Minutes
As mentioned previously, it’s not possible to “land” at Big Major Cay. All flights to Big Major Cay land at Staniel Cay airport which is the neighbouring island to Big Major Cay / Pig Island.
The propeller planes that operate in and around the Exumaas, are generally small in size and hold between 7 and 19 persons. The largest plane that can land at Staniel Cay airport is a twin engine Twin Otter aircraft that can hold upto 19 persons.
Swimming with Pigs at Big Major Cay (Pig Beach)
Nassau to Staniel Cay Flights
The busiest route to Big Major Cay is between Nassau and Staniel Cay. These Nassau to Staniel Cay flights operate daily and are the main source of traffic for visitors going to Pig Beach.
The Nassau to Staniel Cay flights time is approximately 40 minutes. There are a mixture of flights services available; scheduled local airline flights, private Bahamas Air Charter flights and Nassau to Exuma Day Trips.
Day Trips from Nassau to Exuma
For visitors looking to get to Big Major Cay and Pig Beach, without a doubt the easiest and most convenient option is to book a Nassau to Exuma Day Trip. A day trip package includes both the flights to Big Major Cay but also the boat excursion that takes guest by water to visit Pig Beach (Swimming with Pigs) and the many other Exuma attractions and sights.
A typical Day Tour to Pig Beach looks like this:
8:00 AM: Flight Departs to Staniel Cay
9:00 AM: Arrival at Staniel Cay & Transfer to Boat Tour.
Boat Tour approximately 4 hours to visit the Exuma Attractions:
Big Major Cay / Swimming with Pigs at Pig Beach
Swimming with Sharks at Compass Cay
Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
Sand Bar at Pipe Creek
Underwater Plane Wreck at Staniel Cay
James Bond Thunderball Grotto
1:00 PM: Lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club (Timing varies according to progress of the tour).
Free time to visit the marina, beach or village in Staniel Cay.
5:00 PM: Flight Departs Staniel Cay.
5:45 PM: Flight arrives at Nassau
Book your Flights to Big Major Cay and enjoy an epic adventure in the Exuma Cays!
Be sure to contact one of our Swimming with Pigs Experts via our contact form if you have any questions about the Exuma pigs tour you chose.
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