Around 20 to 25 feral pigs live on Big Major Cay, an uninhabited speck of beach in the Exuma Cays that has become one of the Caribbean’s most photographed stretches of shoreline. The pigs wade out to greet arriving boats, snouts above the turquoise water, and the scene is so improbable that it draws thousands of visitors each year. This guide covers what you actually need to know — how to get there, what it costs, how to interact responsibly, and the other Exuma stops that make the journey worth it.
The swimming pigs of Exuma are officially recognized by The Islands of The Bahamas as a signature experience — but the real reward is the surrounding chain of cays, caves, and sandbars.
If you’re trying to decide whether to tack this onto a Nassau stay or build a longer Exuma trip around it, the short answer is: it works either way, but the experience changes dramatically depending on your departure point and timing.
A day trip from Nassau by plane gets you there comfortably and bundles in Thunderball Grotto and the nurse sharks — but if you can spare a night on Staniel Cay or Great Exuma, you’ll trade boat rush hour for a quieter, more personal encounter with the pigs and the cays.
| Tour Type | Departs From | Duration | Price Range (per person) | Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-day speedboat | Great Exuma (George Town) | 4–5 hours | $190–$250 | Pig Beach, Allen’s Cay iguanas, snorkeling, beach stop |
| Full-day powerboat | Nassau | Full day (~2.5 hrs each way by boat) | $400–$500 | Pig Beach, Compass Cay nurse sharks, Thunderball Grotto, lunch |
| Fly & boat combo | Nassau | Full day (~45 min flight) | $650–$750 | Flight to Staniel Cay, local boat tour, lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club |
| Private charter | Great Exuma or Staniel Cay | Customizable | $1,500–$3,500 (per boat) | Custom itinerary, multi-cay stops, flexible timing |
Prices shift with season and operator, and most tours exclude park fees and the 10% Bahamian VAT unless confirmed in writing. Always check what’s included before you book.
Big Major Cay — Where the Swimming Pigs Actually Live
Big Major Cay sits in the northern Exuma chain, about 1.5 miles from Staniel Cay. Locals call it Pig Beach, and it’s uninhabited except for the colony of pigs that has lived here since at least the early 1990s. The most plausible origin story points to farmers from nearby Staniel Cay who brought pigs to the island as a natural pen — the pigs had freshwater springs and could forage, and the arrangement kept them away from the main settlement. Over time, the pigs learned to swim out to passing boats looking for food, and the rest is tourism history.
Today the population hovers around 15 to 25 adult pigs plus piglets, though numbers fluctuate. The oldest and largest pig, known locally as Big Momma, has been a fixture for years. The island has no shops, no restrooms, no shade structures — it’s a raw, feral beach where the pigs roam freely.
Getting to Pig Beach — Your Route Options
Every route to Big Major Cay involves a boat. The question is how you reach that boat and how much time you’re willing to spend on the water.
From Nassau
Most first-time visitors depart from Nassau. You have two main choices. A full-day powerboat tour runs about 2.5 hours each way across open ocean — it’s a long ride and seasickness is a real risk, but these tours typically bundle four to six stops including Pig Beach, Thunderball Grotto, Compass Cay, and sandbars. Prices range from roughly $400 to $500 per person, and lunch is usually included. The faster alternative is a 30- to 40-minute flight from Nassau to Staniel Cay on Flamingo Air or Titan Air, then a short boat ride to the pigs. Fly-and-boat combos run $650 to $750 per person but cut hours off your travel day and avoid rough seas.
From Great Exuma (George Town)
If you’re already staying on Great Exuma, local operators at the George Town harbor run half-day speedboat tours that reach Pig Beach in about 45 to 90 minutes. These are significantly cheaper — typically $190 to $250 per person — and because you’re closer, you get more time on the island and a smaller group experience. The trade-off is that Great Exuma has fewer direct international flights than Nassau, so you’ll need to factor in a connecting flight from Nassau or Miami.
From Staniel Cay
Staniel Cay is the closest inhabited island to Big Major Cay — about 10 minutes by boat. A handful of local captains and the Staniel Cay Yacht Club offer quick trips. This is the best option if your priority is maximum pig time with minimal transit. Accommodation on Staniel Cay is limited (the Yacht Club and Embrace Resort are the main options), so book well ahead.
From Florida
No direct flights from Florida to Exuma exist — you fly into Nassau first, then connect. Booker’s Bahamas (formerly Makers Air) and Staniel Air run direct flights from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport to Staniel Cay in about 1.5 hours, which cuts out the Nassau stop. Round-trip airfare from Florida runs roughly $350 to $500 per person. Budget around $700 to $1,000+ total per person for a day trip from Florida including the tour.
Meeting the Pigs — Etiquette, Safety, and Photo Tips
The pigs are friendly and food-motivated, but they’re feral animals with strong jaws and no sense of personal space when snacks are involved. A few rules keep both you and the pigs safe.
Only feed what your guide provides — typically carrots, apples, or other fruits and vegetables. Never bring your own food. In 2017, several pigs died after tourists fed them alcohol and processed snacks, and sand-covered food caused internal injuries. Bread, chips, and sugary fruit are dangerous for their digestive systems. Hold food above the water so pigs stand on their hind legs for photos, but keep your fingers clear — their eyesight is poor and accidental nips happen when guests squat or tease.
Don’t get between a sow and her piglets — mothers are protective and will charge. Never chase or attempt to pick up piglets. If a pig becomes pushy, show empty hands and back away slowly. Supervise small children closely at all times.
For photos, a waterproof phone case or action camera is essential — salt water is brutal on electronics. Wade into knee-deep water without food and let the pigs swim past you for the classic shot. Morning light is softer and the water clearer before tour boats stir up the sand. Skip jewelry — saltwater corrodes it and curious pigs investigate shiny things.
Pigs are most active during early-morning departures (7–9 a.m.) when they’re hungriest. By midday, several tour boats are anchored simultaneously and the pigs become more food-focused and less energetic. A sunrise visit from Staniel Cay offers the closest thing to a private pig beach experience.
Beyond the Pigs — Thunderball Grotto, Nurse Sharks, Iguanas and Sandbars
Most full-day tours stack three or four marquee stops beyond Pig Beach, and these are honestly the part that makes the trip feel complete.
Some tours also stop at the sunken DC-3 cargo plane off Norman’s Cay, a relic from the Medellín-cartel smuggling era of the 1980s, or at Pipe Creek’s dazzling white sandbars that appear and disappear with the tide. If your itinerary continues north into the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park — the first no-take marine reserve in the Caribbean — expect additional landing fees through the Bahamas National Trust’s ParkPay system.
When to Visit and What to Pack
The sweet spot for weather and crowds runs December through April — calm seas, mild trade winds, temperatures between 76°F and 82°F, and minimal rain. This is peak season, so tours fill early and the beach can feel busy by mid-morning. Book at least a week ahead, preferably more.
Shoulder months (May–June and November) offer good weather and lower prices. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with peak activity August through October — you’ll find discounts and smaller crowds, but cancellations and rough rides are more likely. Travel insurance is worth the cost for summer bookings.
Time of day matters more than season. Early-morning departures (7–9 a.m.) consistently deliver calmer seas, fewer boats, and more active pigs. By early afternoon, the pigs are often napping in the shade and the beach has a carnival atmosphere.
Big Major Cay sits just outside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park boundary, so standard pig tours don’t require a park ticket. If your itinerary includes stops north of the boundary, confirm whether park fees are folded into your tour price or charged separately.
Pack reef-safe sunscreen (regular sunscreen harms coral and pigs), a dry bag for electronics, water shoes (the beach has shell bits and rocks), and small bills for crew tips — $10 to $20 per person is customary. If you’re prone to seasickness, take a non-drowsy motion-sickness tablet the night before and again 30 minutes before boarding, sit toward the back-middle of the boat, and keep your eyes on the horizon.
Comparing Tour Options and Costs
Tour pricing varies more by departure point than by quality. The cheapest option is booking directly with a local boat captain at the George Town harbor on Great Exuma — expect $80 to $150 per person for a half-day trip. Organized day trips from Nassau with flights run $350 to $500 per person. Private charters give you full control over the itinerary but cost $1,500 to $3,500 per boat.
A few practical checks before you hand over money: confirm that lunch, snorkel gear, and any dock fees are included; ask what food the operator provides for the pigs (the right answer is fruits and vegetables, not junk); and read recent reviews for signs of rushed stops or poor animal handling. Cruise-ship excursion desks typically add 20 to 30 percent over the boat’s own published rate, so booking direct with a local operator almost always saves money.
If you’re considering a guided tour that bundles the pigs with Thunderball Grotto and the nurse sharks, this Nassau-based swimming pigs tour on GetYourGuide covers the full circuit with hotel pickup and lunch included.
Before You Go — Exuma Pig Beach FAQ
Can you swim with the pigs on a day trip from Nassau?
Yes — this is the most popular way to do it. You’ll either take a powerboat (roughly 2.5 hours each way) or fly to Staniel Cay (30–40 minutes) and then take a short boat ride. Full-day tours bundle the pigs with snorkeling, nurse sharks, and sandbars.
What’s the cheapest way to visit Pig Beach?
Book a local boat captain at the George Town harbor on Great Exuma. Half-day trips run roughly $80 to $150 per person and include the pigs plus a few other stops. You save because you’re already in the Exumas — no flight or long boat ride from Nassau.
Is it safe for kids to swim with the pigs?
Generally yes, with close supervision. The pigs are food-motivated and can be pushy. Keep small children within arm’s reach, don’t let them crouch down with food, and never let them approach piglets without a guide’s okay. Most injuries are nips from careless feeding, not aggression.
What’s the biggest mistake tourists make?
Feeding the pigs human food — especially bread, alcohol, or processed snacks. This has killed pigs in the past. Only feed what your guide provides, and never toss food onto the sand where pigs ingest debris along with it.
How long do you actually get on Pig Beach?
Group tours typically allow 30 to 45 minutes on the island. Private charters let you stay longer. If you want unhurried time with the pigs, book a local operator from Staniel Cay or Great Exuma rather than a Nassau day trip.
Pig Island Paradise
The swimming pigs of Big Major Cay have become a bucket-list fixture for good reason — there aren’t many places where you can stand in waist-deep, glass-clear water while a pig paddles up beside you. But the real magic of this corner of the Exumas is the chain of cays around it: the light-filled grotto, the glide of a nurse shark past your legs, the iguana that sizes you up from a rock. Building your visit into a longer Exuma stay rather than a same-day dash from Nassau gives you time to slow down and see all of it. And if you’re looking for more ways to explore the Bahamas from the water, our guide to the best snorkeling and diving spots across the islands covers caves, reefs, and wrecks worth the trip on their own.
References
Bahamas National Trust. “Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.” bnt.bs. ↗
The Islands of The Bahamas. “Official Home of the Swimming Pigs.” bahamas.com. ↗
Staniel Cay Yacht Club. “Pig Beach Excursions.” stanielcay.com. ↗
Flamingo Air. “Nassau to Staniel Cay Flights.” flamingoairbah.com. ↗
If you’re planning a Bahamas trip, you might also enjoy our guides to kayaking through mangrove creeks, ethical dolphin encounters in the wild, and tracing the history of Bahamian rum on a boozy island crawl. Each one covers a different slice of what makes these islands worth exploring beyond the resort gates.
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