Exuma Day Away – Original Swimming Pigs Excursion

The big draw here is not just Pig Beach. It is the chance to reach several far-flung Exuma Cays in one long day, with swimming pigs, nurse sharks, and rock iguanas all on the schedule. You also get sandbar scenery, a view of the Pablo Escobar plane wreck, lunch, drinks, and a fast ride across bright Bahamian water.

I like the excellent mix of wildlife and scenery, and I like that lunch at Black Point Yacht Club gives the day a local food stop instead of another quick snack on the boat. The crew, including guides and captains such as Seymour, Joe, Cameo, Andrew, and Calvin, is frequently praised for being friendly and helpful. The catch is the long, bumpy boat ride: about 8 hours 30 minutes total, with much of that time spent in transit.

Key points at a glance

• Swimming pigs at Big Major Cay: This is the main event, at the original Pig Beach in the central Exumas.
• Open-water nurse sharks at Compass Cay: You can enter shallow or deeper water for one of the day’s most memorable animal encounters.
• Rock iguanas on Great Guana Cay: Feed these wild reptiles in a protected setting, though the stop is short.
• A full Exuma circuit from Nassau: Expect long stretches on a powerboat, with the chance to see several cays in one day.
• Lunch at Black Point Yacht Club: A buffet-style Bahamian meal is included, along with bottled water, snacks, and alcoholic drinks.
• Weather matters: Rough seas can force a cancellation, and cooler months can feel chilly on the open boat.

The real price of reaching Pig Beach from Nassau

This tour costs $438 per person, which is a serious charge for a day excursion. You are not paying only for 45 minutes with pigs. You are paying for a powerboat run from New Providence to the Exumas, fuel, crew, landing fees, several island stops, lunch, drinks, and a full day of moving through a wide stretch of Bahamian water.

That helps explain the cost, but it does not make the ride short. The route can cover more than 200 miles, and the boat may spend roughly an hour getting to the Exumas and another hour returning. With five stops along the way, the experience gives you a broad taste of the area rather than a slow, relaxed stay at one beach.

I see the value most clearly for a first visit to the Bahamas when you want to pack in several signature sights without arranging separate excursions. If your priority is simply sitting on a beach or spending hours with the pigs, the price may feel harder to justify. One person summed up the tradeoff neatly: the stops are memorable, but several hours are spent bouncing across the water.

The activity is booked about eight days ahead on average, so I would not leave it until the last minute. It has a 4.5 rating from 463 ratings, which suggests a strong overall experience but also leaves room for the practical complaints about boat time, weather, and crowding.

Leaving Montagu Beach on a fast powerboat

The meeting point is Montagu Beach in Nassau, with departure set for 8:00 a.m. Round-trip transportation from Nassau Paradise Island is included, but you need to tell the operator where you are staying so pickup can be arranged.

Come dressed for the water. Wear your swimsuit before boarding because there is no changing room, and bring a towel, sunscreen, and a light outer layer. The wind can be strong on the open water, and changing weather can make the ride feel much cooler than the beach did that morning.

The powerboat is part of the fun, but it is also the tour’s main physical challenge. Several hours in a fast boat can mean spray, wind, and a hard seat. Some feedback describes the ride as bumpy enough to leave backs sore the next day. I would choose this outing only if you are comfortable with a full day at sea and have a moderate level of physical fitness.

The boat can carry up to 36 people for this activity. That is not a private outing, and the experience may feel tight when the boat is full. If you want more room or a quieter pace, ask about a private option before booking. Do not assume the standard tour will feel like a small-group charter.

Great Guana Cay and its shy rock iguanas

The first scheduled stop is Great Guana Cay, home to a protected wildlife reserve and Bahamian rock iguanas. The animals live among the rocks and may stay hidden, so this is not a guaranteed close-up wildlife show. When they come out, you can feed them as part of the included rock iguana activity.

The stop lasts about 15 minutes, which is enough for a quick look and photographs but not a long walk or nature study. I like this opening stop because it gives the day a more authentic animal encounter than a standard beach break. You are seeing a native reptile in its natural setting rather than visiting a formal zoo.

Keep your expectations sensible. Fifteen minutes passes quickly, and the iguanas can be shy. If you are especially interested in reptiles, you may wish this stop were longer. For most people, it works as a short, unusual introduction to the Exumas before the more famous animal encounters begin.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

At Compass Cay, the tour shifts from watching wildlife to entering the water with sharks. The stop lasts around 30 minutes, and both shallow-water and deeper-water interactions are available.

These are nurse sharks, and the experience takes place in open water. That makes it exciting, but it also means you should listen closely to the crew and follow their directions. The shallow option may suit you if you want to stay closer to the bottom or are uneasy around sharks. The deeper option offers a stronger sense of adventure for confident swimmers.

This is the stop I would plan around. Several people rate the nurse sharks as the high point of the day, even above the pigs. The clear, shallow Bahamian water lets you see the animals well, and the setting feels far removed from an aquarium encounter.

Bring a secure way to manage your phone. A phone was once left at the shark stop and had to be recovered, a useful reminder that wet hands, excitement, and small devices make a bad combination. If you take your phone into the water, use a proper waterproof case or leave it safely secured.

Pig Beach at Big Major Cay

At Big Major Cay, you reach the stop that gives the excursion its name. This is the original swimming pigs attraction in the Exumas, and you get about 45 minutes with the animals.

The pigs may come into the water, gather near shore, or move around the beach looking for food. You can expect a lively, messy encounter rather than a perfectly staged photo session. Their size and enthusiasm can surprise you, so follow the crew’s instructions and give the animals room.

A useful tip is to speak firmly and calmly around the pigs. They are accustomed to people, but they are still animals, not props. Keep your hands and belongings under control, and do not let the excitement make you careless.

Pig Beach is a strong choice for families and animal lovers, but it is not the only reason to book this trip. The stop is under an hour, and the long ride from Nassau means you should think of the pigs as one chapter in a much larger day. If pigs are your only goal, a shorter or more direct option might suit you better, if available.

The tour includes swimming with pigs at Big Major Cay, along with landing and facility fees. The schedule can feel brisk because the boat has several more sights to cover. You will have time to get in the water, take pictures, and enjoy the moment, but not an entire afternoon.

Sandbars, blue water, and the Exuma Cays

During the route through the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the captain selects a sandbar that is available at low tide. The exact sandbar changes from trip to trip, since tides and conditions determine which ones can be reached.

This 20-minute stop is about scenery and water rather than a major animal encounter. The Exumas are made up of 365 small islands and cays, and the shifting sandbars show why this area is so prized. A strip of pale sand can appear in the middle of shallow water, giving you a chance to wade, take photographs, and enjoy the view from a very different setting.

The short timing is the limitation. One person particularly wished for more time at a beautiful beach stop. I understand that feeling. The water and sandbars invite you to slow down, but the tour must keep moving to fit in the other stops and the return journey.

The Pablo Escobar plane wreck from the water

The boat also passes the famous Pablo Escobar sunken plane wreck near Norman’s Cay. This is a sightseeing pass rather than a long shore visit, so you should expect to view the wreck from the water.

It is an unusual extra that adds a bit of history and mystery to the route. Still, it is also the easiest feature to skip if you would rather spend more time swimming or on a beach. One person felt the plane was less important than extending time at Cove Beach, and that is a fair preference.

The appeal depends on your interests. If you enjoy unusual landmarks and stories connected to the islands, keep your camera ready. If your perfect day means more time in the water, this brief sight may feel like a detour.

Lunch, drinks, and the local pause at Black Point

Lunch is served at Black Point Yacht Club, and the meal is buffet-style with Bahamian food. This is one of the tour’s practical strengths. After a morning of saltwater, wind, and animal stops, you get a proper meal on land instead of trying to eat from a box on a moving boat.

The food receives especially warm praise, with several people calling out the quality and variety of the buffet. A vegetarian option is available, but you need to request it at booking. Bottled water is included, and the package also lists alcoholic beverages. The minimum drinking age is 18.

You should still bring sunscreen and water-safe personal items. Drinks are supplied, but sun exposure lasts all day, and the boat ride can leave you thirsty. Snacks are also available according to the experience details and feedback, which helps during the long stretches between stops.

How the schedule feels over 8 hours 30 minutes

The advertised duration is about 8 hours 30 minutes, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending back at the meeting point. The day is packed, but not rushed in every sense. The individual stops are short, while the travel between them is substantial.

A rough way to picture the rhythm is:

• Morning departure from Montagu Beach
• About an hour or slightly longer to reach the Exumas
• Wildlife and water stops at Great Guana Cay and Compass Cay
• Pig Beach at Big Major Cay
• Sandbar and sightseeing stops through the cays
• Lunch at Black Point Yacht Club
• A long ride back to Nassau

The exact order can change with conditions and the captain’s decisions. Sandbar selection is especially dependent on the tide, and the boat may adjust the route for safety.

I would not book this excursion on a day when you need to be back at a fixed time for another important activity. Weather can change quickly offshore, and the operator may cancel if conditions are unsafe. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is sensible, but it also means you should leave a little flexibility in your Nassau plans.

What the crew adds to the day

The crew is a major part of the experience. Captains and guides named in feedback include Captain Seymour, Captain Joe, Cameo, Andrew, and Calvin. Their role is not just to drive the boat. They organize boarding, explain the animal stops, help with the water activities, serve food and drinks, and keep the mood lively.

Music is part of the boat ride, and the crew may allow you to connect your own playlist by Bluetooth. That can help during the long crossings, though you should not count on a quiet, private trip.

The strongest praise centers on friendly service, helpfulness, and attention to safety. That matters most at Compass Cay and Pig Beach, where clear instructions make the animal encounters more comfortable. A good crew can also make a crowded boat easier to manage.

Who should book this Exuma day trip

I would recommend it to you if you want a big sightseeing day and do not mind trading comfort for access. It suits first-time visitors who want to see several famous Bahamian sights without arranging separate transport to the Exumas.

It is also a good fit for:

• Families with children age 3 and older, provided children are accompanied by an adult
• Couples looking for an unusual honeymoon or celebration outing
• Animal lovers interested in iguanas, pigs, and nurse sharks
• Confident swimmers who want an open-water encounter
• People who enjoy speedboats, music, and an active schedule

I would hesitate if you dislike rough water, need generous legroom, or want long, quiet stretches on the beach. The tour requires moderate physical fitness, and the boat can be uncomfortable after many hours. December and January may feel cold on the water, especially with wind, so pack a light outer layer even if Nassau feels warm.

Practical value, timing, and cancellation terms

The price includes local guiding, lunch, drinks, bottled water, landing and facility fees, the iguana feeding, the pig encounter, the shark swim, and sightseeing through the Exuma Cays. Towels are not included.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded. The operator may also cancel for poor weather or if the minimum number of participants is not reached, with a choice of another date, another experience, or a full refund.

The mobile ticket is convenient, and confirmation arrives at booking. Public transportation is nearby, but the operator also needs your accommodation details for pickup arrangements.

Should you book the Original Swimming Pigs Excursion?

Book it if you want the widest possible Exuma sampler from Nassau: pigs, nurse sharks, iguanas, sandbars, a plane wreck, local lunch, and a high-speed ride in one day. The unusual mix is the real value, and the animal encounters are hard to match in a single outing.

Skip it if you want a relaxed beach day or if five hours of boat travel sounds miserable. At $438, comfort and timing matter. My advice is to choose this trip for the variety, not for any single 30 or 45-minute stop. Wear your swimsuit, pack a towel and sunscreen, add a warm layer, protect your phone, and leave the rest of the day open.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Montagu Beach in Nassau, The Bahamas.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 a.m.

How long does the excursion last?

The excursion lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes.

Is transportation from Nassau Paradise Island included?

Yes. Round-trip transportation from Nassau Paradise Island is included. You should provide your accommodation details for pickup arrangements.

What animals will I see?

The tour includes Bahamian rock iguanas, swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, and nurse sharks at Compass Cay.

Can I swim with the sharks?

Yes. The Compass Cay stop includes open-water shark interactions, with shallow-water and deeper-water options.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served at Black Point Yacht Club, and a vegetarian option is available if requested when booking.

Are drinks included?

Bottled water and alcoholic beverages are included. The minimum drinking age is 18.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel and sunscreen. You should also wear your swimsuit before joining because there is no changing room, and an outer layer is useful for wind and changing weather.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.