The swimming pigs of Exuma are the most photographed animals in the Bahamas — and one of the few Caribbean attractions where the reality consistently matches the photograph. The pigs are large, the water is genuinely turquoise, and the experience of standing waist-deep in the Exuma Cays feeding a pig is exactly as strange and wonderful as it looks online.
Here is how to actually do the trip from Nassau in a single day.
The Two Ways to Get There
Seaplane or small aircraft to Staniel Cay: The fastest option — approximately 35 minutes from Nassau Domestic Terminal, followed by a short boat transfer to Big Major Cay. Several Nassau-based operators run structured day tours combining the pigs with Thunderball Grotto and other Exuma highlights. This is the right choice for anyone who wants the full day managed without thinking about logistics.
Fast boat from Nassau: Some operators run boat-based day tours to Exuma. Longer transit — 3 hours each way on a fast boat — but lower cost and more time on the water. Not ideal for anyone prone to seasickness, but the boat journey through the Exuma Cays chain is genuinely beautiful.
What Happens at Big Major Cay
The pigs swim out to meet you when they see a boat. They have been doing this since they were domesticated by someone who, depending on which legend you believe, was either a group of sailors who left them as a future food source, a local farmer, or — least convincingly — pirates. The actual origin is unclear and the pigs do not care about their own mythology.
You stand in knee-to-waist-deep water. The pigs arrive, they smell the food your tour operator has provided (typically grapes or chopped fruit), and they crowd around you with the single-minded focus of animals who have learned that boats mean feeding time. The experience lasts about 30–45 minutes before both the pigs and the visitors have largely exhausted their mutual interest.
Wear water shoes — the beach has rocky patches. Do not feed the pigs alcohol, which has happened enough times to be a genuine concern for their welfare. Do not try to ride them.
Thunderball Grotto — The Other Essential Stop
Most Exuma day tours combine the pigs with Thunderball Grotto — the underwater cave near Staniel Cay used as a filming location in two James Bond films. The entrance requires swimming through an underwater passage into a cave lit by shafts of light from holes in the ceiling above. The fish inside have been hand-fed by visitors for decades and approach swimmers directly. If your tour includes it and you are a comfortable swimmer, do not skip it.
Booking Advice
Book directly with a Nassau-based operator rather than through your cruise line — the pricing is significantly better and the groups are typically smaller. Ask specifically about group size; the experience at Big Major Cay degrades noticeably when multiple boats arrive simultaneously. Tours that cap at 10–15 people are worth the premium over mass-market options.
If using Nassau as a base overnight, Bahama Bay Pool Club near the cruise port makes an excellent morning staging point before heading to the airport — it is two minutes from the terminal and 20 minutes from Nassau Domestic by taxi.
Practical Notes
- Best season: November–April. Summer has more afternoon storms and higher tour volumes.
- What to bring: Reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, underwater camera, cash for any stops at Staniel Cay, motion sickness medication if taking the boat option.
- For cruise guests: The pigs trip requires an overnight stay in Nassau or a same-day early departure and return. It does not fit within a standard cruise port stop — the transit alone exceeds most all-aboard windows.
