Nassau: 3 Islands Boat w/ Swimming Pigs, Snorkeling & Turtle

The main attraction is exactly what you hope it will be: you ride out from Nassau, wade into the sea with friendly pigs, and watch them paddle, snort, and nose around for food. Along the way, you also get a short snorkeling stop at Pearl Island and a boat visit to Green Cay for sea turtles.

I like the three-island format, because you are not spending the whole morning on one crowded animal stop. I also like the easygoing boat atmosphere, with music, rum punch, water, soft drinks, and snacks included. The main drawback is that three hours is tight, and the turtle stop can be brief and quiet compared with the lively pig encounter.

Key points to know

• Swim with pigs near Rose Island: The star of the trip is hands-on, playful, and usually full of laughs.
• Snorkel at Pearl Island: You spend about 45 minutes in roughly 10 feet of water, with fish and coral below.
• Spot turtles from the boat at Green Cay: This is a short wildlife stop, so sightings are not guaranteed.
• Relax at a Rose Island beach bar: You have about an hour for swimming, kayaking, lunch, drinks, and beach time.
• Drinks and gear are included: Bring a towel, sunscreen, and extra money for lunch and beach-bar purchases.
• Pickup is by boat: Nassau visitors meet at Senor Frogs downtown, while Paradise Island and Atlantis visitors meet at Margaritaville.

A Fast Boat Ride Into the Nassau Islands

This is a three-hour speedboat outing priced at $175 per person, with pickup from Nassau or nearby Paradise Island. The price is not bargain-level, but it covers several distinct activities in one short outing: snorkeling equipment, water, soft drinks, snacks, alcohol, the pig swim, and the boat transfers between islands.

I see the value in it if you want a packed half-day without arranging separate trips. You get sea life, a famous Bahamas animal encounter, and beach time in one booking. If you only want a quiet beach morning, though, this is not the right shape of excursion. The boat keeps moving, and the schedule is built around activity rather than lingering.

The pickup is important. If you are staying in Nassau or arriving on a cruise ship, meet at the pier in front of Senor Frogs downtown. If you are staying on Paradise Island or at Atlantis, meet at the dock in front of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Paradise Island. Look for the boat marked Delfincharters on both sides.

The boat ride takes about 15 minutes to the first stop. Later crossings take about 10 minutes, and the final ride back to Nassau lasts about 25 minutes. Those transfers are part of the fun for many people, but speedboat travel can feel bumpy. The tour is not suitable for people with back problems, heart problems, or those who are pregnant.

Pearl Island Snorkeling in Shallow Water

Your first substantial stop is Pearl Island, where you have about 45 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, and marine-life viewing. The snorkeling takes place right off the boat in water described by one participant as about 10 feet deep, a useful detail if you are comfortable in the sea but not a confident snorkeler.

You can expect clear water, fish, coral, and a good look at the ocean floor. The fish count may vary. Some outings produce plenty of sightings, while others may offer only a modest collection of fish. That is normal for a short reef stop, and the quality of the water itself is a large part of the appeal.

The three guides help with safety and instruction, which matters when a group of around 24 people enters the water. You receive a mask and snorkel, and you should bring your own towel and sunscreen. The provided gear keeps you from needing to pack equipment, though anyone particular about mask fit may prefer to bring a personal set if allowed.

I would treat this as a friendly introduction to Bahamian snorkeling rather than a specialist reef tour. You get enough time to see marine life and enjoy the water, but not enough time for a long, unhurried exploration. For families and first-time snorkelers, that shorter format can be just right.

Green Cay and the Quiet Turtle Watch

After Pearl Island, the boat heads to Green Cay for roughly 15 minutes of wildlife viewing. This is the calmest part of the outing. You remain on the boat and watch for sea turtles coming to the surface or moving through the water.

Turtle sightings can be peaceful, but they are not a guaranteed show. A few turtles may surface, or they may stay difficult to spot. That makes this stop less predictable than the pig swim, and the short timing leaves little room to wait if the animals are being shy.

I like that the tour includes turtles in their natural setting rather than turning the whole morning into a series of staged photo stops. Keep your expectations sensible: this is a brief lookout, not a long wildlife study. Bring patience, scan the water, and enjoy the ride even if the turtles appear only for a moment.

You may also see other marine life from the boat. One outing included dolphins, stingrays, and many fish, but those sightings are chance encounters rather than promised parts of the program. The same applies to the turtles. Nature gets a vote.

Rose Island, Pigs, and Plenty of Camera Time

The biggest stop is Rose Island, where you have about an hour for swimming, kayaking, wildlife viewing, beach time, and the pig encounter. The order can vary, but the day is arranged to give the pigs plenty of attention before you return to Nassau.

The pigs are accustomed to people and water. You can enter the sea with them, feed them, and watch their comic paddling up close. They are not performing tricks in a formal show. Their appeal is simpler: they are pigs in the ocean, and that odd sight makes the whole encounter memorable.

Bring your camera, but protect it carefully around water and enthusiastic animals. A pig nosing toward you can make a fine photograph, but you will want both hands free at times. Follow the guides’ instructions when feeding or approaching the animals, particularly if the area becomes crowded.

Crowding is the chief concern here. One outing became chaotic when another group arrived for the same pig swim, and the most popular stop can feel busy when several boats overlap. The company cannot control every group using the area, so the experience may be calmer at one departure time than another. If the pig swim is your main reason for booking, ask about the day’s schedule when you arrive.

Rose Island also gives you a chance to change the pace. After the animal encounter, you can sit on the beach, swim, try kayaking, or settle at the beach bar. The setting is made for a relaxed break, but remember that lunch is not included. Bring extra cash for food and anything else you want to buy there.

Drinks, Snacks, and the Boat Atmosphere

The onboard extras help explain the price. Water, soft drinks, snacks, and alcohol are included, and the boat has a festive feel with music and rum punch. One outing featured dancing on the boat, while another praised the quality and steady supply of drinks.

This is not a silent nature cruise. You should expect an upbeat social mood, friendly guides, and a group setting. That works well for couples, families with older children, and anyone who likes a little music with their sea time. It may be less appealing if you want a private charter or a hushed morning focused only on wildlife.

The guides handle safety and instructions at each stage. That is especially useful during snorkeling and the pig swim, where people have different comfort levels in the water. English, French, and Spanish are available, and an English audio guide is included.

Alcohol is part of the package, but pace yourself. You still need to swim, board a speedboat, and manage sun and heat. Water is available, and you should use it throughout the trip. Sunscreen is essential, as much of the day takes place in open sun with little shade.

How the Three Hours Actually Feel

The published timing adds up quickly:

• About 15 minutes by speedboat from Nassau to Pearl Island
• About 45 minutes snorkeling and swimming at Pearl Island
• About 10 minutes to Green Cay
• About 15 minutes watching for turtles
• About 10 minutes to Rose Island
• About one hour at Rose Island
• About 25 minutes back to Nassau

That leaves little spare time. Boarding, safety instructions, moving between activities, and getting people in and out of the water all happen within the three-hour window. I would think of this as a lively sampler of the Nassau islands, not a slow island day.

The tight schedule is also its strength. You can fit three kinds of sea experience into one morning without giving up an entire day. Families often appreciate the constant change, since snorkeling gives way to turtles, then pigs, then beach time before anyone has a chance to get bored.

The tradeoff is that no single stop receives a long visit. If you want an hour and a half of snorkeling, a full turtle watch, or an entire afternoon at Rose Island, choose a longer outing. This one is built for variety.

Who Will Get the Most From This Tour

I would recommend it most to people who want a first taste of several Bahamas highlights in one booking. The pig swim is a strong draw for families, and children can enjoy the variety of boat rides, fish, turtles, pigs, beach time, and drinks.

Couples can also make good use of it. The beach-bar stop gives you a little time to sit together, and the boat ride offers plenty of open-water scenery. The social mood suits people who enjoy meeting others rather than staying in a private group.

You should be comfortable around boats and open water. The tour includes snorkeling and swimming, though the guides provide help and instruction. If you are worried about water, the beach stop still gives you a chance to relax, but the trip is not designed as a land-based sightseeing tour.

People with back, heart, or pregnancy-related concerns should not book this activity. The speedboat transfers and water activities are central to the experience. Check the physical requirements honestly before paying.

Is $175 a Fair Price?

At $175, this is a mid-to-high priced short excursion. The cost makes more sense when you count the included equipment, boat transport, guides, snacks, water, soft drinks, alcohol, and the pig swim. You are also paying for the convenience of combining three islands and several activities without coordinating separate operators.

Lunch is extra, and Rose Island’s beach bar is where you will want additional money. The price also does not include gratuity. Budget for both if you feel the guides provided good care and instruction.

I would not choose this tour solely because it is the cheapest way to see pigs. A lower price may come with a less polished schedule or fewer inclusions, though no two operators can be compared fairly without matching what each one provides. Here, the strongest value is the range: snorkeling, turtle spotting, pigs, beach time, refreshments, and return transport in three hours.

The value is weaker if you dislike group outings or already have a full beach day planned. In that case, you may spend much of the morning moving between stops when you would rather stay put.

Practical Tips Before You Go

Meet at the correct dock, not simply at the restaurant entrance. Nassau and cruise-ship visitors use Senor Frogs downtown, while Paradise Island and Atlantis visitors use Margaritaville Paradise Island. The Delfincharters name is displayed on both sides of the boat.

Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring a towel. Apply sunscreen before boarding, then reapply during the beach stop. A waterproof pouch can help protect your phone, but use caution around the pigs and while boarding.

Bring cash or another accepted payment method for lunch and drinks at the Rose Island beach bar. Lunch is not included, and the hour there is long enough that you may want food even if you have snacks on the boat.

If you are sensitive to motion, consider where you sit and pay attention to the conditions on the day. The speedboat rides are short, but the final 25-minute return can feel longer in rough water. Keep drinking water even if you are enjoying the rum punch.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms are useful if your Nassau plans may shift, especially around cruise schedules.

Should You Book It?

Book this Delfincharters trip if you want the famous swimming pigs but also want more than a single animal stop. The combination of Pearl Island snorkeling, Green Cay turtles, Rose Island beach time, and onboard drinks gives you a full, lively morning for the price.

I would be cautious if your priority is quiet wildlife watching or a long, uncrowded beach visit. The turtle sighting may be brief, and the pig area can become busy when groups overlap.

For most visitors with three hours to spare, the tour offers a practical mix of classic Bahamas fun and easy logistics. Go for the pigs, enjoy the fish and beach as valuable extras, and treat the turtles as a lucky bonus rather than the main event.

FAQ

How long is the boat tour?

The experience lasts three hours, including the boat rides between Nassau, Pearl Island, Green Cay, Rose Island, and Nassau.

Where is pickup in Nassau?

Nassau visitors and cruise-ship visitors meet at the pier in front of Senor Frogs downtown. The Delfincharters boat is marked on both sides.

Where do Paradise Island and Atlantis visitors meet?

They meet at the dock in front of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Paradise Island. Pickup is by boat, and the boat is marked Delfincharters on both sides.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. A snorkel and mask are included, along with swimming and marine-life viewing at Pearl Island.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so bring extra money for the beach bar at Rose Island.

Are drinks and snacks included?

Yes. Water, soft drinks, snacks, and alcohol are included on the boat.

Who should not take this tour?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back or heart problems.