Exuma Day Away – Original Swimming Pigs Excursion

Catch five Bahamian highlights in one long day. This Exuma power-boat excursion links Nassau with Great Guana Cay, Compass Cay, Big Majors Cay, the Exuma Cays, and Norman’s Cay. I like the strong mix of wildlife and scenery, especially the chance to feed rock iguanas and swim with nurse sharks. I also like that lunch, drinks, guides, and island fees are included.

The tradeoff is time on the boat. The trip lasts about 8 hours and 30 minutes, with roughly an hour each way to Exuma and several long rides between stops. Wind, waves, and weather matter, so bring sun protection, a towel, and an outer layer even on a warm Bahamian morning.

Key points to know before booking

• Swimming pigs at Big Majors Cay: The main stop is the original swimming-pig attraction in the Exumas, with about 45 minutes on the beach.
• Nurse sharks at Compass Cay: You can enter shallow or deeper water for a close encounter with these calm sharks.
• Wild rock iguanas: Great Guana Cay offers a short visit to see and feed Bahamian rock iguanas in their natural setting.
• A full day on a fast boat: The ride covers a great deal of ground, but several stretches can be bumpy and windy.
• Bahamian lunch included: A buffet meal at Black Point Yacht Club adds a local food stop to the animal encounters.
• Weather can cancel the outing: Rough ocean conditions may lead to a different date or a full refund.

The big picture: one boat, several Exuma highlights

This is designed for you if you want to see a lot of the Bahamas in one outing. Rather than spending a whole day at one beach, you move among small islands and cays, with wildlife stops, water views, lunch, and a look at the famous Pablo Escobar plane wreck.

The Exumas contain 365 islands and cays, many of them tiny and uninhabited. From the boat, you get the kind of wide-open views that are hard to collect from Nassau alone: pale sand, shallow blue water, low islands, and shifting sandbars. The scenery is a major part of the experience, not just the backdrop between animal stops.

The tour begins at Montagu Beach in Nassau at 8:00 am and returns there at the end of the day. Pickup information is required when you book, so tell the operator where you are staying. Round-trip transportation from Nassau Paradise Island is included.

The price is $438 per person, which is a serious outlay for a day trip. I think the value depends on your priorities. If you want pigs, sharks, iguanas, lunch, drinks, and a broad view of the Exumas without arranging separate boats, this packs a lot into one day. If you mainly want a relaxed beach day, the cost and long rides may feel harder to justify.

What the power boat ride is really like

The boat is the backbone of the tour, and you should decide if you are comfortable with that before booking. The total outing is listed at about 8 hours and 30 minutes, while the operator explains that the ride to Exuma can take around an hour, sometimes closer to an hour and 10 minutes depending on the current. Some of the island-to-island runs can also last an hour or more.

That means a substantial share of your day is spent moving across open water. This is how you reach such distant sights from Nassau, but it also means the trip is not a short transfer followed by hours on land. One practical account described about five and a half hours on the boat, while others considered the long ride worthwhile because it allowed them to see so much in one day.

The ride can be bumpy. Several people enjoyed the speed and the music, while one person described sore backs afterward. If you are prone to seasickness or dislike rough boat rides, this is an important concern. The boat may feel exciting to you, or it may feel like the price of admission for the Exumas.

Wear your swimsuit before boarding because there is no changing room. Bring a towel, which is not supplied, along with sunscreen and an outer layer. Wind can make the ride feel cool, and weather can shift during the day. Bottled water, snacks, and alcoholic drinks are included, and some accounts describe music playing during the ride. The group limit is listed as 36 people, but the amount of personal space can vary. Do not book this expecting a private or highly intimate outing unless you arrange the private option directly.

Great Guana Cay and the Bahamian rock iguanas

The first wildlife stop is Great Guana Cay, where you can see Bahamian rock iguanas in a protected area. The visit lasts about 15 minutes, so this is a quick introduction rather than a long nature walk.

The iguanas can be shy. They may remain among the rocks before coming out, and the short timing means you should be ready to watch rather than expect a long photo session. Rock iguanas are one of the more distinctive animals in the Bahamian islands, and seeing them in their own setting gives the day more substance than a series of staged photo stops.

Rock iguana feeding is included. Follow the crew’s instructions and avoid treating the animals like pets. The appeal here is seeing a native species in a natural environment, even if the stop feels brief compared with the headline attractions.

Compass Cay and the nurse shark encounter

For many people, Compass Cay becomes the emotional high point. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and gives you the chance to enter the water with nurse sharks. Shallow-water and deeper-water interactions are available.

Nurse sharks are large, powerful animals, so the close setting can be startling at first. The excursion presents the encounter as an open-water interaction, not an aquarium show. You should listen carefully to the crew and follow their directions around the sharks. The guides’ handling of safety is especially important at this stop.

The reviews supplied for this experience repeatedly give the sharks top billing. One family booked the trip partly for an 18-year-old who dreamed of swimming with them, and another couple rated the sharks above the pigs and iguanas. That tells you something useful: if the shark encounter is your main goal, this tour may deliver the strongest memory of the day.

Thirty minutes is enough to get into the water, see the sharks, and take photographs, but it is not an unlimited swim. A few people wished the stops were longer, though the operator points out that the distance covered makes the schedule possible. You will need to accept a quick, organized visit rather than a leisurely afternoon in one place.

Big Majors Cay and the original swimming pigs

Pig Beach at Big Majors Cay is the main event for many bookings. This is described as the original swimming-pig attraction in the central Exumas, and the stop lasts about 45 minutes.

The pigs come into the shallow water around the beach, creating a playful and unusual encounter. You can expect plenty of splashing, photographs, and close contact. The animals are accustomed to people, but they are still animals. Keep your hands and food under control, listen to the crew, and do not assume that every pig wants the same level of attention.

The stop also includes piglets, which adds to the appeal for families and animal lovers. The bright water and pale sand make this one of the easiest places to understand why Pig Beach became such a famous Bahamian outing.

Still, Pig Beach is not a quiet, private beach break. The visit is shared with the tour group and other boats may be nearby. You will have time to enjoy the scene, but not necessarily enough time to linger, swim at your own pace, or settle into a beach chair. If your dream is a long, peaceful stay on a single cay, this schedule may feel rushed.

Sandbars, Exuma Cays, and the Pablo Escobar plane

The sightseeing portion shows you why the Exumas are more than a pig attraction. The boat passes through and around the Exuma Cays, where shallow water changes color with the depth and sunlight.

At low tide, sandbars appear in different locations. The captain chooses one during the journey, so the exact sandbar varies from day to day. The stop lasts about 20 minutes. This is a good chance to stand in shallow water, take wide photographs, and see how quickly the islands shift from sea to sand.

The tour also passes the famous Pablo Escobar sunken plane wreck just off Norman’s Cay. You view it from the water rather than treating it as a long stop. For some people, this is a fun bit of local lore and an unusual photo subject. For others, it is less important than the animals or the beaches.

That difference matters when considering value. One person specifically wished the boat had skipped the plane and spent more time at a beautiful beach. If your priorities are clear water, sand, and wildlife, you may see the wreck as a pleasant extra rather than a must-see attraction.

Lunch at Black Point Yacht Club

Lunch is served at Black Point Yacht Club, with a buffet of Bahamian food. The meal breaks up the boat time and gives you a chance to eat on land instead of relying only on snacks.

Food quality received strong praise, with several people calling the lunch tasty and describing a good choice of local dishes. A vegetarian option is available, but you need to request it when booking. Bottled water, snacks, and alcoholic beverages are also included.

This stop adds value because the outing is not limited to quick animal encounters. You get a modest taste of local cooking and time to reset before returning to the boat. Do not expect a long restaurant visit, since the day’s schedule is built around several stops, but the meal is a welcome part of the package.

Crew, group size, and the feel of the day

The crew is one of the tour’s strongest features. Captain Seymour, Captain Joe, Cameo, Andrew, and Calvin are among the names praised for friendly service, clear help, and good energy. Accounts also describe captains who kept safety in mind while maintaining a lively atmosphere.

That matters on a long boat day. A friendly crew can make the ride feel social and fun instead of merely tiring. Music is part of the atmosphere, and the crew may allow you to connect a playlist by Bluetooth, according to one account. The exact setup may vary, so do not treat that as a guarantee.

The group experience deserves a realistic note. The maximum is listed as 36 people, but the boat may feel full, and a group of 20 did not feel small to one person. Seating comfort can matter a great deal during eight hours on the water. If you want more room and a quieter pace, ask about the private option before you book.

Children from age 3 can join, and children must be accompanied by an adult. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. You should be able to board the boat, move around at the stops, and get in and out of shallow water if you choose to participate in the animal encounters.

How to prepare for a better day

A few simple choices can make this outing much easier:

• Wear your swimsuit from the start. There is no changing room.
• Pack a towel and sunscreen. Towels are not included, and the sun exposure lasts all day.
• Bring a light outer layer. Wind and changing weather can make the boat ride cool.
• Expect a bumpy ride. A fast boat is useful for covering distance, but comfort depends on sea conditions.
• Protect your phone. You will be around water, pigs, sharks, and wet boarding areas.
• Mention dietary needs early. Vegetarian meals are available when requested at booking.
• Plan around the weather. The excursion requires good conditions, and poor weather can cancel the trip.

The tour is booked about eight days ahead on average, so last-minute availability may be limited. The operator can cancel when ocean conditions are unsafe or when the minimum number of people is not met. In either case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who should book this Exuma day trip?

I would choose this for a first visit to the Bahamas if I wanted a packed introduction to the Exumas. It suits animal lovers, active families, couples celebrating a special occasion, and anyone who wants the pigs and sharks in the same day.

It also works well for people who value variety. You get wildlife, sandbars, island scenery, lunch, drinks, and a boat tour rather than a single-purpose excursion. The power boat makes distant stops possible without arranging several separate outings.

I would hesitate if you want a slow pace, lots of time on land, or a quiet private boat. The ride is long, the stops are carefully timed, and the boat can feel crowded. December and January may also be less appealing if the weather is cold or windy, as one account found.

Should you book the Original Swimming Pigs Excursion?

Book it if you see the nurse sharks, swimming pigs, and Exuma scenery as a once-in-a-lifetime combination. The included lunch, drinks, guide, transportation, and fees help explain the high price, especially when you consider how far the boat travels.

Skip it if five or more hours on a bouncing boat sounds miserable. You could finish the day pleased by the animals and views but still feel the schedule gave you too little time at each stop.

My practical call: this is a strong choice for an active first-time visitor who wants maximum variety in one day. Go prepared for wind, limited stop times, and a full boat, and the $438 price is easier to defend.

FAQ

Where does the Exuma day trip start?

The tour starts at Montagu Beach in Nassau, The Bahamas, at 8:00 am. Round-trip transportation from Nassau Paradise Island is included, and you should provide your lodging location for pickup information.

How long does the excursion last?

The experience lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes, ending back at the meeting point.

What is the price?

The listed price is $438 per person.

What is included in the tour?

The package includes a local guide, bottled water, lunch at Black Point Yacht Club, landing and facility fees, rock iguana feeding, sightseeing through the Exuma Cays, swimming with pigs at Big Majors Cay, swimming with sharks at Compass Cay, and alcoholic beverages.

Are towels provided?

No. You should bring your own towel, along with sunscreen.

What animals will I see?

The itinerary includes Bahamian rock iguanas at Great Guana Cay, nurse sharks at Compass Cay, and swimming pigs at Big Majors Cay.

Can children join the excursion?

Yes. The minimum age is 3, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Is a vegetarian meal available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you should advise the operator when booking.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. Free cancellation is also available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.