The Bahamas has many incredible destinations, but perhaps none are more famous than Pig Island Nassau. With a beautiful beach, crystal-clear water, and of course, the frolicking pigs themselves, a stop at Pig Island Bahamas is a must.
But where exactly is the island, and how can you get there?
Read on to learn all about the swim with pigs Nassau experience.
What to Know About Pig Island Nassau
Nassau to Pig Island
Contrary to what you might have heard, the island with pigs isn’t actually Nassau — it’s Big Major Cay. Located in the Exumas, a picturesque district of the country with 365 islands, Pig Island Bahamas is around 80 miles south of the capital.
Because of its relative isolation, travelers often wonder how to get from Nassau to Pig Island. Luckily, you have a couple of options to choose from.
Pig Island Nassau is a can’t-miss site on your Bahamas vacation.
Speedboat
There’s no shortage of speed boat options, all of which promise to deliver you the ultimate Pig Island Nassau experience. Unfortunately, while convenient, traveling by boat from Nassau also comes with some drawbacks.
For one thing, the trip takes around two to three hours, depending on the weather that day. This makes the experience quite uncomfortable — especially if you’re someone who gets seasick. If the sea is particularly rough, many of the boats end up canceling their trips, denying you your chance to see the famous island with pigs.
Plane
Flying by plane is another way to get to the island. However, Pig Island Nassau is remote, so there isn’t any airport on the cay that you can fly into. Because of that, most plane operators fly travelers to the airport at the nearby island of Staniel Cay, taking visitors to Big Major Cay by boat once they land.
The great thing about flying by plane is that it’s a much more comfortable experience. Travel groups are also much smaller, meaning that you won’t have to share a plane with dozens of other people just to go swimming with the Exuma pigs.
A History of Big Major Cay
What makes the pigs at Pig Island Nassau so special is the fact that they live on an uninhabited island. There are no people living on Big Major Cay — just a couple dozen pigs and a few cats and goats.
So how did they get there?
While some local stories tell a different tale, the most probable version explains that farmers on Staniel Cay grew tired of the smells the pigs were carrying around a few decades ago. To give their noses a break, they dropped them off at nearby Big Major Cay, where they’ve lived ever since.
Knowing that the pigs would need food, the farmers would take speedboats over to the island to feed them. Over time, the Bahamas pigs began to associate the arrival of boats with food, causing them to become the friendly and gregarious animals that they are today.
What to Expect Once You Arrive
Regardless of how you end up getting to Pig Island Nassau, you won’t be disappointed once you arrive. The island (and Exuma in general) look like something out of a travel documentary: water in the brightest and most vivid shades of blue crashes onto sand so white, it looks like snow.
Of course, while the scenery is stunning, it isn’t the highlight of the Big Major Cay — that award goes to the Exuma pigs. And, as soon as the boat you’re on pulls up to the island, the pigs will start hopping in the water to swim out and meet you.
For many travelers, seeing the Bahamas pigs is the highlight of their trip.
Feel free to take pictures with them, pet them, or even jump in the water to paddle alongside them — a Pig Island tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Other Sites to See on a Swim With Pigs Nassau Excursion
While swimming with the pigs may just be the highlight of your Bahamas vacation, it’s not the only thing to do in the area. Here are some other places where Bahamas day trips in the region will take you.
- Sharks at Compass Cay
Compass Cay is world-famous for the schools of nurse sharks that swim around the local marina. A Pig Island Nassau day trip will allow you to see the sharks and even hop in the water to swim alongside them. Don’t worry, it’s safe!
- Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
Bitter Guana Cay is a great place to see Bahamian Rock Iguanas, which are one of the most endangered animals in the world. Stopping at Bitter Guana Cay lets you see the amazing lizards, as well as take in the beauty of the island they inhabit.
- Thunderball Grotto
Thunderball Grotto is a jaw-dropping underwater cave system teeming with marine life. Besides seeing all sorts of fish and coral, you can also enjoy being on the set of a James Bond film!
- The Sandbars at Pipe Creek
Pipe Creek is the perfect place to explore some of the Bahamas’ most beautiful sandbars. A full-day Nassau to Pig Island trip will let you see them.
Travel to Pig Island Nassau in Comfort by Plane
Pig Island Nassau may be outside of the country’s capital, but it’s a site that all travelers to the Bahamas will want to see nonetheless. While you can get there by boat, save yourself the time and travel in comfort by plane.
If you’re interested in seeing the pigs in the Bahamas, learn more about the experience on our guide and get in contact with us today!
