Where do you swim with pigs in The Bahamas? If you’re planning a vacation to the archipelago, that’s probably something you’re wondering about. While the country has many incredible destinations worth checking out, Pig Beach has captivated travelers for decades.
Below we’ve answered the question of where to find the Swimming Bahamas Pigs. Besides examining their island home and its location, we’ll also look at other nearby attractions and the easiest way to get to all of them.
Keep reading to learn all about the Swimming Bahamas Pigs!
Where Do You Swim With Pigs? Swimming Pigs Tour to Exuma
Swimming Bahamas Pigs: Where Are They?
Where do you swim with pigs in The Bahamas? Many people asking themselves that question hope the answer is, “in Nassau.” As the country’s capital and the home of both an international airport and a massive cruise port, Nassau is one of the most accessible parts of The Bahamas.
Nevertheless, while you can find pigs on beaches in Nassau (more on that below), the original Pig Island is actually in Exuma.
Stretching out south of Nassau, Exuma is a district of The Bahamas containing 365 islands. Renowned for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear and marine life-filled water, and of course, the Exuma Pigs, the region is a must-visit destination.
While the pigs and other Exuma attractions might not be in Nassau, a Swimming Pigs tour makes it easy to see them.
Swim with Pigs Exuma: The Original Pig Island
The famous Big Major Cay island is home to the Bahamas Swimming Pigs
Big Major Cay resembles many of the other islands in the Bahamian archipelago; at first glance, its white sand beaches and subtropical foliage could cause you to mistake it for another destination. However, it contains one very unique element that’s made it famous: a group of pigs that have lived on the island for decades.
As nearby farmers and residents have traveled to Big Major Cay to feed the Swimming Bahamas Pigs for years, the pigs have gotten accustomed to people and have learned to associate new arrivals with food. This has made them friendly and eager to greet whoever arrives at their beautiful island home.
Notably, while the Pigs on the Beach are a popular attraction, some uncertainty remains regarding how they arrived at their island in the first place. Some locals, for example, believe that the pigs were shipwrecked in nearby waters and swam to shore, while others believe farmers intended to eat the pigs but never got around to doing so. Still, others will tell you that none of the origin myths are true and that the pigs are part of nothing less than a sprawling tourism plan.
If that last theory is true, the plan has certainly been successful. The island has become such a hit that imitation Pig Beaches have appeared throughout The Bahamas. Today, you can find pigs on the beach at Rose Island, Freeport, and many other destinations throughout the country.
Regardless of the truth, the answer to the question, “Where do you swim with pigs?” is clear – at Big Major Cay in Exuma.
Attractions Near the Pigs on the Beach
While a popular question often asked is, “Where do you swim with pigs in The Bahamas,” many travelers don’t realize that the Swimming Pigs are one of several incredible attractions worth seeing in the surrounding area of Exuma. A Swimming Pigs tour through the area makes it easy to visit many of these.
For example, Thunderball Grotto is a nearby system of underwater caves. Having served as a filming location for the James Bond film Thunderball, the site has much to offer fans of old Hollywood. Nevertheless, the snorkeling opportunities at Thunderball Grotto will please travelers of all types.
Similarly, Pipe Creek is around the corner and is home to stunning white sand bars. At low tide, these traversable slices of paradise pop out of the surface of the turquoise water, serving as the ideal location to observe the true beauty of The Bahamas.
In total, traveling on a Swim With Pigs Exuma day trip with Bahamas Air Tours from Nassau or Miami lets you see six incredible destinations (seven if you include Big Major Cay).
Swimming Pigs Tour
Pigs on the Beach in Exuma Bahamas
Where do you swim with pigs? As mentioned, a Swimming Pigs tour from Nassau or Miami is the easiest way to answer that question and visit Big Major Cay.
On these tours, travelers depart their original destinations in the morning, sightsee for several hours, and return home later that afternoon. Even if your Bahamas vacation is lengthy, a Swim With Pigs Exuma trip is a great way to make the most of your time. Likewise, it also keeps you from having to coordinate transportation, accommodations, or any other logistical aspects of the trip.
As The Bahamas is an island nation, travelers can get to Big Major Cay via one of two ways: by boat or by plane.
Plane Tours
Thankfully, plane tours to Exuma from Nassau are also an option and avoid many of the drawbacks of boat travel.
For example, a 30-minute plane ride is all it takes to reach Staniel Cay (an island near Pig Island that has an airport). Air travel is so efficient, it even opens the area up to day trips from farther away destinations like Miami.
Once you land, you then switch over to a powerboat, letting you save time but still enjoy the island-hopping experience.
On top of saving time, air travel offers a more comfortable experience. Far from being jostled around a boat as it plunges through rough open waters, you’ll enjoy a smooth and laidback journey. From soaring through the clouds to looking out at the stunning expanse of blues and greens beneath you, the experience of being in a luxurious private-class plane doesn’t disappoint.
While boat trips to Exuma can be a good option for some, air travel offers a better experience, in general.
Boat Tours
Many travelers use boat tours to answer the questions of, “Where do you swim with pigs, and how do you get there?” Nevertheless, despite being a popular travel option, boat trips to Exuma come with a couple of drawbacks.
For one, traveling by powerboat is a much more inefficient option. Instead of enjoying a 30-minute flight from Nassau, you’re stuck on the boat for a couple of hours. Sun, wind, precipitation, and motion, in general, can take a toll on you during that time.
When sea conditions are particularly rough, it’s not uncommon for boat tours to be canceled outright.
The lengthy voyage also translates to less time in Exuma. Instead of visiting seven attractions, most boat tours only have time to stop by a few of the most popular Exuma destinations. This limits the scope of your experience and your impression of The Bahamas, as a whole.
Book a Private Boat tour to the Exuma Pigs from Georgetown Great Exuma.
Where Do You Swim With Pigs? Visit Big Major Cay
One of the most frequently asked questions by visitors to the Bahamas is, “Where can you swim with pigs?” The answer is simple – head to Big Major Cay in Exuma, home of the original Swimming Pigs.
Ready for an unforgettable experience? Book your trip to the Bahamas Swimming Pigs and meet the pigs on the beach today!
