Exuma Bahamas Swimming with the Pigs Experience in 2022
Swimming with the Pigs was the highlight of our trip to the Bahamas! If you are headed out there, you NEED to take a day
How to Visit The Famous Swimming Pigs of the Bahamas
From the second I booked our family trip to the Bahamas, I knew I wanted to go see the famous swimming pigs of Exuma!
I’ve seen so many pictures of people swimming with these adorable pigs in crystal clear water, I knew it would be an experience we would never forget. Much like the time we held sloths in Honduras!
The famous swimming pigs are located on the island of Exuma, one of the
We stayed in Nassau (where Atlantis is located) and I was really worried there
Despite the price tag, swimming with the pigs with Shore Things Escapes was the highlight of our 8-day trip to the Bahamas, for both me and my daughter. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.
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Where Can You Go Swimming with the P igs in the Bahamas?
As I mentioned before, the swimming pigs are located off the island of Exuma. You won’t be able to reach the secluded “Pig Beach” without a tour company.
If you are staying in Nassau, I HIGHLY recommend Shore Thing Escapes. There are several tour companies that will take you to swim with the pigs, but I really think Shore Thing is the BEST. They completely made our vacation amazing.
It’s an
They picked us up from our hotel, gave us breakfast with coffee and juice, and even gave us a ride back to our hotel at the end of the day.
You can Book The “Exuma Full-Day Experience” HERE!
Starting our Exuma Experience Day
Shore Thing Escapes picked us up right from our hotel lobby and brought us to their office to sign paperwork and get us going. The whole process was quick and the kids enjoyed bagels and donuts before we set out.
We also got some really cool reusable water bottles to take on the boat and they supplied enough fresh water to last throughout the day.
I also want to mention, one reason we booked with this tour company is
Our Exuma
- Feed Iguanas at Allen Cay
- Swim with sharks at Compass Cay
- Big Major Cay to swim with the Pigs
- Lunch at Black Point
- Normans Cay to Snorkel a Plane Crash
- Sandbar and hidden beach
The boat ride to the first island took about an hour (we traveled 80 miles to get there). It can be a bit chilly in the morning air, so bringing a light waterproof jacket is a great idea. But I only had my towel and was just fine.
Stop 1 – Feed Iguanas at Allen Cay
The first stop on our tour! Our boat pulled right up to the beach and we all jumped out to feed some iguanas.
We pulled right up to a small private island and
We only had about 15-20 minutes on this beach, but that was plenty of time. We each got some sticks and some bread to feed the iguanas and they were not shy! My daughter actually lost 2 sticks feeding them because they grabbed the bread so hard, that they took the stick with them!
Make sure you use the sticks and
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Stop 2 – Swim with Sharks at Compass Cay
My daughter was a bit nervous about this stop but ended up really loving it! We swam with nurse sharks, which are
We not only swan with these amazing little sharks, but we also fed them squid, held them, petted them… and never got so much as a nip.
Our guides were really great and helpful. They helped us hold the sharks and even took a bunch of photos for us. And occasionally threw some squid in front of us without us noticing… causing the sharks to swarm us and make us scream (all in fun though!)
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Stop 3 – Big Major Cay to Swim with the Pigs
Finally! The best part of the entire stop and the main reason everyone books this excursion.
The famous swimming pigs of Exuma!
If you are wondering if these really swim… the answer is YES! They swim so well, that they started swimming out to our boat before we were anywhere near land. And they circled us for several minutes waiting for food.
How did the swimming pigs get to this island?
No one actually knows the real answer. I’ve heard several different stories and the one I think makes the most sense is that they were brought there a long long time ago and were left behind. But the pigs endured the elements and have made quite a life for
Most of the pigs are really sweet. It’s almost like they are trained animals. One big spotted pig even sat for us as he waited for his treats. But some pigs were not as kind! And they were even a little ruthless when trying to get their food from us!
My daughter actually got but on her hand because I think a pig thought her finger was a carrot. It hurt a lot but she was fine! The crew of Shore Thing Escapes was amazing and cleaned up her little bite right away. Then they spent some time with her personally and helped her hold a baby pig and feed some pigs by the boat.
Stop 4 – Lunch at Black Point
After having time with all those animals, we were starving!
We pulled up to a dock and had lunch on a balcony overlooking the water at the cutest small restaurant.
We were actually getting sick of resort food and were
We had an assortment of food and every piece was delicious. Even the kids enjoyed it (and they are normally picky eaters)!
Our lunch menu consisted of:
- Bakes Macaroni and Cheese
- Fried Cod (this was unbelievably delicious)
- Corn on the Cobb
- Ribs
- Rice and Peas
- Grilled Chicken
- Salad
- Drinks (soda and water)
After lunch, we put the old wives’ tale to rest by jumping in the water and not waiting 30 minutes after we ate! And guess what… we actually survived.
For the next 15-20 minutes, everyone took turns jumping off the dock and just having fun. The crew is really great and took pictures of everyone.
Stop 5 – Normans Cay to Snorkel a Plane Crash
Another 30-minute boat ride (it goes super fast!) and we arrived at Normans Cay to snorkel an old plane crash.
Not just any plane… a plane once owned by Pablo Escobar.
The plane was stashed full of drugs and was attempting a quick takeoff to escape the police, but didn’t make it too far and ended up crashing a short way off the shore. Both pilots on board died.
The plane is still fully intact (although heavily rusted) and you can snorkel all around it. There were also tons of colorful fish and coral which made the snorkeling that much better. Shore Thing Escapes included all our snorkel masks for us! And even lifevests for the kids.
Stop 6 – Sandbar and Hidden Beach
The last stop on our excursion was the longest sandbar I had ever seen with a hidden beach. This sandbar was actually in the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean, where they exchange Davy’s Jones heart.
Literally, you could walk and walk and walk and never get that deep. The sandbar was endless.
We got VERY lucky and were the first boat to arrive at the sandbar and got to take some incredible photos. But other boats soon showed up and it got really crowded.
Why I LOVED Shore Thing Escapes
I know you can book with several other tour companies to go see the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas, but there are several reasons why I would highly recommend Shore Thing Escapes for this trip.
They provide transportation. Which makes getting there and back super easy and efficient. One less thing to worry about!
They include a light breakfast, snacks, and plenty of drinks. They have soda and water for kids… and no limits on the Alcoholic drinks for the adults.
The boat has Wi-Fi on board! And it actually worked better than the Wi-Fi we had at our hotel.
The boat was comfortable. They had padded seats and even a bathroom on board. It also was not very crowded and everyone had room to really stretch out.
They give you a complimentary water bottle to use. And supply you with enough fresh drinking water for the entire trip.
They are environmentally friendly and conscious. A portion of all proceeds go back into helping the environment and getting plastics out of the ocean
The Staff was AMAZING! I seriously cannot say enough great things about them. They were kind, friendly, and helpful. When my
They take your photos for you and they give you fun facts about where you are going and what you are seeing. The staff laughs and jokes and even has amazing dance moves we got to see on the boat!
They pointed out fun landmarks along the way… like Johnny Depp’s private island and other famous celebrities’ private islands… even where the Fyre Festival was supposed to be held.
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If you do anything in the Bahamas…
Take the trip to see the swimming pigs! The pigs were so fun to see and experience but all the other stops really made this whole day unforgettable.
This one day was the best day of our entire trip, according to both the kids and the adults.
Swimming with the famous pigs of the Bahamas is just something you cannot miss.
Click here to get the best deal for this full-day excursion!
You Might Also Be Interested In:
- Discover Roatan! Hold a Sloth on Your Caribbean Cruise
- Visiting Grand Cayman Island and Stingray City
- What to Do At Mahogany Beach in Roatan, Honduras
- What To Expect On A Caribbean Cruise
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Hi! Any recommendations for hotel stays?
We stayed at the Atlantis and Baha Mar. Baha Mar is a bit pricey but WORTH IT!
Great article. I was curious to know if you recall the time frame to get to each part and then the time it took to return to port? Thank you
Yes! The initial boat ride was almost an hour to the first island and then an hour from the last island home again. But each island was only about a 10-20 minute boat ride from one to the next. We got on the boat around 8 am (check-in at 7:30 am) and returned at approximately 5 pm.
Which package did you chose? Thanks!
This one! https://shorethingescapes.com/tours/swimming-with-pigs-tour-exumas/
Thanks! I’ve determined it’s time to go to the Bahamas!!
Thank you so much for writing this article! I was so confused with what adventure or company to use. We are staying at the Bahamas at the end of March, 2022. I will be booking this trip! Thanks Again!
The company we booked with is called “shore thing” excursions. I HIGHLY recommend them!
Do you suggest this trip for a 6 and 7 yr old?
Absolutely! There was a 4-year-old on our boat and he had a great time.
Were you staying at the Atlantis when you booked this excursion?
No, we were staying at Baha Mar but I booked this excursion several weeks before traveling. They will pick you up from any resort!
Thank you for this! been searching for a write up like this for our trip next week to Baha Mar. my kids are very excited for the water slides there now and the Shore things seems like an amazing experience.
You guys will LOVE shore things! I want to go back to Nassau just to do that excursion again!
Your review on Atlantis was AMAZING. Thank you so much. Any other hotel recs? Baha Mar sold out 🙁
Here are some great alternatives!
https://seemamatravel.com/affordable-places-to-stay-in-nassau-bahamas/