Private Eleuthera Island: Swim With Pigs, Turtles & Stingrays

Swimming with pigs is only the beginning of this private Bahamas boat tour. From Nassau, you cross to Eleuthera for pig swimming, turtle and stingray snorkeling, Harbour Island’s Pink Sands Beach, and a final stop at a Royal Island sandbar with wooden swings.

I like the freedom of having the boat reserved for your group of up to 15, and I like the mix of wildlife, beach time, and easy sightseeing. The crew is described as kind and entertaining, with one outing even including a stop at Footprints for food and karaoke. The main drawback is the price: at $8,500 per group, this makes sense for a large party more than a couple or small family.

Key Points

• A full private charter from Nassau: You get the boat and crew for your own group, with no unrelated passengers sharing the day.
• Three animal encounters: The schedule includes swimming with pigs, snorkeling near turtles, and time with stingrays in their natural setting.
• Pink Sands Beach by golf cart: After docking, you ride through Harbour Island before spending about two hours at the famous beach.
• A long day on the water: The crossing takes about one hour each way, leaving roughly six hours for stops and activities.
• Drinks and equipment included: Snacks, bottled water, soda, alcoholic drinks, snorkel gear, and an onboard restroom are provided.
• Best value for larger groups: Fifteen people would pay about $567 each before any other costs, but a small group pays much more per person.

Nassau to Eleuthera by Private Boat

The day begins with a roughly one-hour boat ride from Nassau to Eleuthera. That is not a minor transfer. It is one quarter of an eight-hour outing, so you should be comfortable spending meaningful time on the water.

The crossing gives you open views of the clear Bahamian sea and a gradual change from Nassau’s busy harbor setting to smaller island stops. The boat ride also sets the pace for the day. This is not a quick shore excursion with one short animal encounter. You are buying a full day of boating, swimming, snorkeling, and beach time.

Delfin Charters provides the boat, captain, and crew. A past outing used a 32-foot Grady White with twin engines, though you should confirm the exact boat when booking because the supplied details do not promise that model for every departure.

The private format matters here. With a maximum of 15 people, you can spend more time with your own family or friends instead of trying to keep up with a large mixed group. It also makes the day more flexible in feel, though the listed stops and approximate durations still shape the schedule.

Snacks, soda, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks are available onboard. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, and the boat has a restroom. Alcohol is not served to minors. Those details are especially useful on a long day at sea, since you are not expected to bring every basic item yourself.

Meeting the Eleuthera Swimming Pigs

The first major stop is Pig Beach, where pigs live freely along a secluded shore. The Eleuthera pigs have become one of the Bahamas’ best-known animal attractions, and the setup is simple: you reach the beach by boat, enter the water, and watch the pigs come out to swim and approach visitors.

The animal encounter is likely to be the most playful part of the day. One account describes the pigs as very well fed and coming out to swim, which gives you a good idea of the scene. Expect smiles, splashing, and plenty of photographs rather than a quiet wildlife viewing session.

You should keep your expectations sensible. These are living animals, not trained performers, so their interest and activity can vary. The fact that they are friendly does not mean you should crowd them, grab them, or treat the water like a petting zoo. Follow the crew’s instructions and give the pigs room to move.

The hour allotted here is enough for the main encounter without turning the whole day into a pig-only trip. If your group includes children, this stop will probably be a highlight. Adults may enjoy it most when they treat it as a brief, unusual meeting with animals that have made this beach their home.

One past outing combined the pig stop with beers on the boat and plenty of laughter. That gives you a sense of the relaxed tone this charter can offer, though drinks should never replace care around the animals or in the water.

Snorkeling Near Turtles and Stingrays at Spanish Wells

The schedule gives Spanish Wells about 90 minutes. This is the part of the day focused on marine life rather than sand and shore.

Eleuthera is home to several turtle species, including green sea turtles, loggerhead turtles, and hawksbill turtles. The tour description places these animals in their natural habitat, along with curious stingrays and coral reefs. You will use the included snorkeling gear to look beneath the surface rather than viewing wildlife from the boat alone.

The appeal is the variety. Pigs provide a close, comic encounter near shore. Turtles and stingrays offer a calmer look at the sea’s wildlife. The contrast keeps the day from feeling like a series of identical beach stops.

Ninety minutes is a useful amount of time, but it is not unlimited. You may spend part of it getting equipment ready, entering the water, and moving between areas. If snorkeling is your top priority, tell the crew early in the day. Since this is a private charter, your group can communicate its interests more easily than on a large scheduled boat.

The water is described as clear, and the coral areas are intended for exploration. Still, marine sightings are never fully guaranteed. Animals move on their own schedule, and weather or water conditions can affect visibility. The tour requires good weather, and a cancellation caused by poor conditions brings either another date or a full refund.

Wear or bring what helps you feel secure in the water, but remember that the listed inclusions cover the snorkel equipment itself, not every personal item you may want. You should also listen closely to the crew around turtles and stingrays. The aim is to observe them in their home, not chase them.

Harbour Island and Two Hours at Pink Sands Beach

After the water-based stops, you dock at a marina and transfer to a golf cart for the ride through Harbour Island. This adds a small land excursion to a day that otherwise takes place almost entirely on a boat.

The golf cart is a practical way to see the island streets and reach Pink Sands Beach. It also changes the mood. After swimming and snorkeling, you get a chance to sit back, see a bit of island life, and arrive at the beach without walking a long distance from the dock.

Pink Sands Beach receives about two hours, the longest single stop on the schedule. That gives you time to relax, sunbathe, swim, and take photographs without having to rush through the famous shoreline.

The pink color comes from tiny bits of coral and shells mixed into the sand. The effect is subtle rather than neon, and it often looks different depending on the light and wetness of the sand. The main value of this stop is the setting: broad beach, clear water, and a slower stretch of time after the more active animal stops.

The beach is also where the tour’s title promise becomes most literal. You are not simply passing a famous beach from a boat. You have enough time to get out, settle in, and enjoy it.

Do not expect this stop to be a guided history tour of Harbour Island. The information supplied focuses on the golf cart ride and beach visit, not museums, architecture, or a structured walking tour. If your priority is sand, water, and a pleasant break, the two-hour allocation works well. If you want extensive cultural sightseeing, this charter is not designed around that.

Royal Island’s Sandbar and Wooden Swings

Royal Island provides the final major stop before the return to Nassau. You spend about an hour at a sandbar where clear water meets soft sand, with wooden swings set in the shallow-water setting.

This is a classic pause for photographs and quiet time. The swings give the stop a playful feature, while the sandbar offers another chance to wade, sit, and enjoy the water without the busier feel of a main beach.

The timing is well judged as a final stop. After the pigs, snorkeling, and Pink Sands Beach, you may not want another demanding activity. An hour at the sandbar lets you enjoy the scenery at your own pace before boarding for the trip home.

The tradeoff is that sandbars depend heavily on conditions. The supplied information does not provide tide times or guarantee exactly how much sand will be exposed. You should think of this as a scenic stop built around the water and swings, not a place with a long list of facilities or organized entertainment.

The Return to Nassau

The ride back takes about an hour. By then, you will have spent much of the day in the sun, water, and open air, so the return can be a welcome chance to rest.

The total duration is approximately eight hours. The listed stops add up to around six and a half hours when you include both one-hour boat crossings, leaving a little room for boarding, transfers, and changes in timing. That is a full day, not a casual half-day outing.

The crew’s attitude can make a major difference on a long charter. The strongest praise here centers on the captain and crew being kind, entertaining, and easy to enjoy. One outing included karaoke at Footprints after stopping for food, but that appears to have been part of that group’s day rather than a guaranteed feature of this itinerary. Treat it as a possible example of the charter’s relaxed spirit, not a promised activity.

What $8,500 Buys Your Group

The price is $8,500 per group, with up to 15 people. The arithmetic matters. At the maximum group size, the base cost works out to about $567 per person. For 10 people, it is $850 each. For two people, it is $4,250 each.

That makes this a luxury private charter, not a budget excursion. You are paying for exclusivity, a private crew, a full boat day, transportation between several islands, included drinks and snacks, snorkel equipment, and the ability to share the day only with your chosen group.

The value improves sharply when a family reunion, wedding party, or large circle of friends fills most of the 15 available places. It is harder to justify for a couple unless privacy, a dedicated boat, and the specific combination of pigs, turtles, stingrays, Pink Sands Beach, and Royal Island matter more to you than keeping costs low.

There are also practical savings built into the package. You do not need to arrange separate boat transport, snorkeling equipment, or drinks for the day. The onboard restroom is another small but meaningful benefit on a long crossing.

Still, the inclusions do not cover every possible expense. The supplied details do not state that meals beyond snacks are included, and a past group stopped at Footprints for food. Ask about meal plans and any extra costs before you pay if a full lunch matters to your group.

Who Will Enjoy This Charter Most

I would recommend this tour to families and friend groups that want a private day with several distinct activities. Children may especially like the swimming pigs, while adults can appreciate the snorkeling, beach time, and drinks onboard.

It also suits groups that dislike rigid large-boat excursions. A private booking gives you a more personal setting and lets you communicate directly with the crew about the day. The maximum of 15 is large enough for a group celebration but small enough to keep the outing private.

You should be comfortable with a long boat ride and several hours outdoors. The day includes one hour on the water at the start and another at the end, plus movement between island stops. Anyone hoping for a short transfer and a single beach should choose something simpler.

Most travelers can participate, and service animals are allowed. The details also note access to public transportation. That information helps, but it does not explain every physical feature of the boat, docks, golf carts, or beaches. If anyone in your group has specific mobility needs, ask Delfin Charters for current details before booking.

Weather, Timing, and Cancellation

Good weather is required. If poor weather forces the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made inside 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time in the Bahamas.

That policy is worth noting because this is an open-water day with several stops. A flexible date gives you a better chance of enjoying the crossings, snorkeling, sandbar, and beach in proper conditions. If your schedule allows, avoid placing this outing on the final possible day of your trip.

Should You Book the Eleuthera Pig and Pink Sand Beach Tour?

Book it if you have a large group, want a private boat, and value variety over a low per-person price. The strongest case is a full group of up to 15 people who can divide the $8,500 cost and make use of the entire eight-hour day.

The combination is unusually broad: pigs at Pig Beach, turtles and stingrays near Spanish Wells, golf-cart sightseeing on Harbour Island, two hours at Pink Sands Beach, and a Royal Island sandbar. The friendly captain and crew are another reason this can feel like a special day rather than a simple transfer.

Skip it if you are traveling as a couple or small party and mainly want inexpensive beach time. The crossing is long, the schedule is active, and the cost per person rises fast when fewer people share the boat.

For the right group, this is a memorable Bahamas day with real variety and plenty of room to relax. Just confirm the exact boat, meal arrangements, and day’s details before paying, then choose a weather-friendly date and let the crew handle the route.

FAQ

How long does the private Eleuthera tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, including about one hour by boat from Nassau to Eleuthera and one hour back.

How many people can join the private charter?

The private tour accommodates up to 15 people in your group. No unrelated participants join your activity.

Are swimming pigs included?

Yes. The itinerary includes about one hour at Pig Beach, where the Eleuthera pigs live freely and swim near the shore.

Are snorkeling equipment and drinks provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, snacks, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages are included. Alcoholic drinks are not served to minors.

Is there a restroom on the boat?

Yes. The boat has an onboard restroom.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can select another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.