You’re standing knee-deep in turquoise water off Big Major Cay when a pig paddles toward you, snout above the surface, short legs churning. It’s not a hallucination. It’s the swimming pigs of Exuma — around 20 of them on an uninhabited island about 82 miles southeast of Nassau — and they’ve been greeting boatloads of visitors for years. But the pigs are just the opening act.
About 20 pigs roam the beach and swim in the clear waters of Big Major Cay, an uninhabited island roughly 82 miles southeast of Nassau.
This guide covers the full Exuma wildlife circuit: pigs, nurse sharks, rock iguanas, shifting sandbars, and the underwater cave made famous by James Bond. If you’re planning your first Exuma wildlife tour, here’s what each stop actually involves, how to visit responsibly, and where the logistics get tricky.
A full-day boat tour from Nassau or Great Exuma that hits 4–6 stops is the most efficient way to see Exuma’s wildlife. Morning departures mean smaller crowds and more active animals. Book with a licensed operator who follows wildlife guidelines — not every boat on the water meets the same safety standard.
Wildlife Enthusiasts
Adventure Travelers
Families
Most full-day Exuma Cays tours string together four to six stops. The table below gives you a quick snapshot of what you’ll find at each one.
| Stop | Wildlife | Typical Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig Beach (Big Major Cay) | Swimming pigs | 30–45 min | Photo ops, animal interaction |
| Compass Cay | Nurse sharks | 20–30 min | Shallow-water shark encounter |
| Allen’s Cay | Bahamian rock iguanas | 15–20 min | Reptile observation |
| Pipe Creek / Saddleback Cay sandbars | Marine life, stingrays | 20–30 min | Shallow-water walking, photos |
| Thunderball Grotto | Reef fish, coral | 30–40 min | Snorkeling, cave exploration |
Pig Beach, Big Major Cay
Big Major Cay is the reason most people book an Exuma tour. The pigs here have learned that boat engines mean food, so they swim out to meet arrivals within seconds. Water depth at the beach stays knee- to waist-deep, making it easy to stand and let the pigs approach you.
Tour guides hand out carrots, lettuce, or watermelon. Hold the food high and the pigs will rear up on their hind legs — that’s the classic photo moment. Don’t bring your own snacks for them; human food can make them sick, and alcohol is strictly off-limits.
Pig Beach sees the smallest crowds and the most energetic pigs on weekday mornings between 8 and 10 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday are quieter than weekends.
Compass Cay — Nurse Sharks
About 15 minutes by boat from Pig Beach, Compass Cay offers a completely different kind of encounter. Nurse sharks gather in the shallow lagoon here, and visitors can enter the water with them under staff supervision. These are wild animals, not performers, so the rules matter.
Some tour operators let visitors get in the water with sharks without clear safety briefings. Ask your guide ahead of time what the rules are — if they can’t give you a straight answer, reconsider the stop.
The key at Compass Cay is following instructions. Staff know which sharks are in the lagoon and how they’re behaving that day. Keep your hands visible, move slowly, and don’t reach for a shark unless a staff member has confirmed it’s allowed. The water is clear and shallow, so you’ll see them coming.
Allen’s Cay — Rock Iguanas
Allen’s Cay is home to a population of Bahamian rock iguanas, a species listed as endangered. They’ve become accustomed to visitors over time and may approach the shoreline, but they’re still wild reptiles with specific conservation protections.
This stop works best as a quick observation moment. The iguanas are most active in the morning when temperatures are cooler. If your tour includes this cay, you’ll likely have just enough time for photos before moving on to the next spot.
Pipe Creek & Saddleback Cay Sandbars
Between the main cays, shifting sandbars rise and fall with the tide. These are the postcard shots you’ve seen — white sand appearing out of turquoise water, with nothing around but sky and sea. Stingrays sometimes cruise the edges of these sandbars in the shallows.
There’s no set schedule for sandbar stops because the tide dictates everything. Your captain will know which bars are exposed on any given day. Follow their guidance on where to walk and how far from the boat you can go. The sandbars have no shade, so bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen.
Thunderball Grotto
Thunderball Grotto is a limestone cave near Staniel Cay that you enter by swimming or snorkeling. Sunlight filters through openings in the ceiling, lighting the interior and the fish that gather there. The grotto appeared in the James Bond film Thunderball and later in Never Say Never Again.
Current inside the grotto can change quickly as the tide shifts. Enter only when your guide signals it’s safe, and stay with the group — the cave has multiple chambers and the light changes fast.
If you have your own snorkel mask, bring it — the rental gear from some operators is basic. A waterproof camera or phone case is useful here; the light shafts through the cave ceiling make for striking photos. For more underwater photography tips, check out the Bahamas photography hotspots guide.
Booking Your Exuma Wildlife Tour
How you reach these stops depends on where you’re staying and how much travel time you’re willing to accept. The table below compares the main options.
| Departure Point | Travel Time to Pig Beach | Typical Tour Length | Trade-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau (speedboat) | 3–4 hours each way | Full day, 10–12 hours | Long boat ride; covers multiple stops en route |
| Nassau (fly to Staniel Cay) | 30–45 min flight + 15 min boat | Full day with flight transfer | More expensive; less time on the water |
| Great Exuma / George Town | 45–90 min by boat | Half-day or full-day | Shorter travel; more accommodation choices |
| Staniel Cay | 15 min by boat | Half-day or custom | Closest access; limited lodging options |
Group tour prices range from about $439 to $715 per person for 9–12 passengers. Private charters cost more but offer flexibility on timing and stops. Most full-day tours include a Bahamian-style lunch, snacks, water, snorkel gear, and safety equipment.
The U.S. travel advisory for The Bahamas warns that some boating and water-sport activities are poorly regulated. Before booking, ask about captain credentials, safety equipment, weather policies, passenger limits, and contingency plans if conditions deteriorate. A reputable operator will answer these questions clearly.
Best Time to Visit
December through April offers the most reliable weather: sunny, 75–80°F, low humidity, and calm seas. This is also peak season, so tours fill up faster and prices are higher. Shoulder months — April to May and September to November — bring fewer crowds and lower prices but higher humidity and a greater chance of afternoon storms. Hurricane season peaks from August to October. Mornings are consistently the best time for pig activity and good light for photos.
What to Bring
Pack a swimsuit, towel, hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, and a waterproof phone case or camera. A dry bag keeps valuables safe from spray and splashes. Water shoes help on the sandbars and rocky shore at Thunderball Grotto. Bring cash for tips or small purchases — not every stop has card facilities.
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For capturing the wildlife encounters, a waterproof action camera like the DJI Osmo Action 6 Bundle handles both above- and below-water shots without needing a separate housing. If you prefer a compact point-and-shoot option, the Insta360 X5 360 camera lets you reframe shots later — useful when a pig swims toward you faster than expected.
Safety and Etiquette
The Bahamas is at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution due to crime, though most reported incidents are concentrated in Nassau and Freeport. In Exuma, use normal precautions — secure valuables and use trusted transportation. Treat every animal on this tour as wild. Don’t chase, grab, or ride the pigs. Don’t feed them anything except what the guide provides. Don’t pursue the sharks unless staff say it’s okay. Use reef-safe sunscreen to protect marine life and the pigs’ skin. Check current drone and property restrictions before flying any equipment.
- A full-day Exuma Cays tour from Nassau or Great Exuma covers 4–6 wildlife stops in one day — the most efficient way to see pigs, sharks, iguanas, sandbars, and the grotto.
- Book with a licensed operator who follows wildlife guidelines and can show you their safety credentials. Not every boat on the water is equally regulated.
- Visit on a weekday morning in shoulder season (April–May or September–November) for the best balance of good weather, active animals, and smaller crowds.
Before You Go — Exuma Wildlife Tours
How long does a full-day Exuma tour take?
From Nassau, expect 10–12 hours including boat travel. From Great Exuma, half-day options run 4–6 hours. Full-day tours from Great Exuma typically last 7–9 hours.
Most tours include lunch and multiple stops, so the time passes quickly. Check the exact itinerary before booking to make sure the stops you want are included.
Can I visit Pig Beach without a tour?
No. Big Major Cay is uninhabited and has no public ferry or dock access. You need a boat — either a commercial tour or a private charter. There’s no way to get there independently.
The same applies to Compass Cay, Allen’s Cay, and Thunderball Grotto. All are only reachable by boat, and most require permission or a guide to access safely.
Is it safe to swim with nurse sharks?
Nurse sharks are generally docile, but they’re still wild predators. The risk is low when you follow staff instructions, keep movements slow, and don’t provoke the animals. The real risk is choosing an operator who doesn’t enforce basic safety rules.
Ask your tour company how they manage the shark stop before you go. If they can’t describe their safety protocol, choose a different operator.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
Boat tours in Exuma depend on calm seas and clear conditions. If a tour is cancelled due to weather, reputable operators will reschedule or refund. Check the operator’s weather policy before booking.
Hurricane season (August–October) brings the highest chance of disruptions. Travel insurance that covers weather-related cancellations is worth considering for trips during this window.
Are there closer alternatives to Big Major Cay?
Yes. Rose Island, about three miles east of Paradise Island, offers a half-day pig encounter with a 25-minute boat ride from Nassau. Pearl Island (Sun Cay) is roughly five miles from Nassau’s cruise port. Both are closer but less wild than Big Major Cay.
For a more local experience, Spanish Wells in Eleuthera and No Name Cay in the Abaco Islands also have pig populations. These require more planning to reach but see far fewer visitors.
One Last Thing
The pigs of Big Major Cay get the headlines, and they deserve them — there’s nothing quite like having a pig paddle up to you in crystal-clear water. But the full Exuma circuit shows you something bigger: a stretch of ocean where nurse sharks rest in shallow lagoons, iguanas sun themselves on limestone rocks, and sandbars appear and disappear with the tide. The wildlife here isn’t a show. It lives here. Visiting responsibly — following the rules, choosing a good operator, treating the animals as wild — is what keeps it that way. For more ways to explore the Bahamas’ waters, see the guide to Bahamas water sports for adrenaline junkies.
References
Must See Spots. “Swimming with Pigs in The Bahamas: Ultimate Guide to Pig Beach.” Must See Spots.↗
Don’t Talk Just Travel. “Exuma Travel Guide 2025: Swimming Pigs, Sharks, Sandbars & Island Hopping.” Don’t Talk Just Travel.↗
Real Journey Travels. “How to Swim with Pigs in Bahamas.” Real Journey Travels.↗
Pieces of 8 Tours. “How to Swim with the Pigs in Exuma: A Complete Guide.” Pieces of 8 Tours.↗
If you’re planning a longer Bahamas trip, the guide to secret water caves and underwater wonders near Nassau pairs well with an Exuma wildlife day — different ecosystem, same turquoise water. For a slower pace, the Bahamian cooking class and market tour in Nassau gives you a taste of island life on dry land.
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