Swimming Pigs Island, also known as Pig Beach Bahamas, is home to the Exuma Pigs. Given the fantastic pigs that call the island home, six million travelers visit the island each year. It’s no understatement to say that Pig Island Bahamas has become the face of Bahamas tourism.
Because of that, you’ll need to ensure that you make it to Swimming Pigs Island as well.
Swimming Pigs Island and the Exuma Pigs
Pig Beach Bahamas: Where Is It?
You can find Swimming Pigs Island in the Exumas, a district of the Bahamas with 365 islands. While many tourists stick to select places in the archipelago, the Out Islands are where you need to go.
Swimming Pigs Island is in the Exumas, one of the most beautiful areas of the country.
Besides Big Major Cay, some of the other popular islands in the Exumas include:
- Staniel Cay
- Compass Cay
- Great Exuma
- Little Exuma
- Bitter Guana Cay
A day trip to Pig Island Bahamas lets you visit many of these places. If a spot in the Bahamas isn’t included on a standard day trip, you can always look into chartering a plane to help you reach it.
Discover the islands of the Exumas with our Bahamas Islands Guide.
Exuma Pigs: How Did They Get There?
The Exuma Pigs are something of an enigma – no one can say for certain how they arrived at Swimming Pigs Island.
One of the most widely believed stories involves the odor of the pigs. Villagers from nearby Staniel Cay grew tired of the smell, so they relocated the pigs to Pig Beach Bahamas. They would then travel by boat to feed the pigs, causing them to associate boats with feeding time.
The Exuma pigs began to swim out to boats for food, beginning the famous swimming with the pigs experience.
Pig Island Bahamas: How Can You Get There?
As it continues to gain popularity, Swimming Pigs Island has become easy to reach. Today, travelers can get there in one of two ways:
- By boat
- By plane
The best way to reach the Bahamas Pigs is by signing up for day trips. When you travel from Nassau or Miami, we recommend flying by plane. Doing so gets you there in the blink of an eye, lets you travel in comfort, and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area.
It’s hard to beat aerial views of the Exuma Cays on a swimming with the pigs tour.
Once you land in the Exumas, you’ll then switch over to a water taxi to visit Swimming Pigs Island and some other top sites in the nearby area.
Boat travel is also possible from certain destinations like Georgetown. However, if you’re in Nassau, we recommend skipping the boat (the most popular option) and traveling from Nassau to Exuma by plane tour.
Boats take much longer to reach Exuma and can’t match the comfortable experience of a private-class plane.
- Tour by Plane from Nassau
- $800per person
- 30 minute Flight in Comfort
- Stunning Aerial Views
- Visits 7 Exuma Attractions
- Guaranteed Small Group Size
- Weather Cancellation Rare
- Inclusive Pricing: Lunch & Transfers
- Private Upgrades Available
- Minimum 2 Persons
- 5-Star Reviews
- Tour by Powerboat from Nassau
- $550
- 3 hour Boat Ride one way
- No Views from above
- Visits only 4 Exuma Attractions
- Large Groups
- Frequent Cancellations due Weather
- Surcharges & Fees
- No Private Boat Upgrades
- Requires 12 persons to go ahead
- Poor Reviews
Swimming With the Pigs: Is It Worth It?
Swimming with the Pigs at Swimming Pigs Island is a can’t-miss experience. As mentioned, it’s one of the most popular attractions in the country, so no trip to the archipelago is complete without a stop at Pig Beach Bahamas.
The experience itself also doesn’t disappoint. While you might’ve seen pigs on a farm, the Exuma Pigs are completely different.
They’re friendly and sociable, and watching them swim out to you is always a trip highlight.
It’s also fun to watch them waddle around their island home, as well as explore it for yourself. To say that Pig Island Bahamas is great for pictures would be an understatement.
The Exuma Pigs love paddling out to greet visitors.
Exuma Pigs Etiquette
While the Bahamas Pigs are enjoyable to visit, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Doing so will keep you out of trouble and ensure that the pigs stay healthy and safe.
- Don’t taunt or harass the pigs
- Don’t offer food directly from your hands
- If you feed the pigs, only offer approved foods
- Help keep Big Major Cay clean since the pigs can’t
Following those instructions will ensure the experience remains enjoyable for future visitors and the pigs themselves.
What Else Can You See?
As mentioned, once you switch over to a water taxi in the Exumas, Swimming Pigs Island isn’t the only site you visit. You can also look forward to exploring six other incredible locations.
- Staniel Cay: the island you fly into with beautiful beaches and a yacht club
- Compass Cay: an island to go swimming with nurse sharks
- Bitter Guana Cay: home to an endangered species of iguana
- Thunderball Grotto: a system of underwater caves great for snorkeling
- Underwater plane wreck: a crashed drug runners plane and great snorkeling spot
- Pipe Creek, the spot to see picturesque sandbars
The Bahamas Pigs Are Waiting!
Swimming Pigs Island and the Exuma Pigs are easy to reach and worth visiting. And while they’re one of the top attractions in the region and the country, they’re not all you get to see.
Expect to also spend time with sharks and iguanas, at sand bars and underwater caves, and do so much more.
Contact us to get your dream Swimming Pigs Island tour started.
