Private Eleuthera Island: Swim With Pigs, Turtles & Stingrays

The pigs are only the beginning. This private full-day outing from Nassau brings together a scenic boat trip, swimming pigs, turtle and stingray snorkeling, Harbour Island’s famous Pink Sands Beach, and a Royal Island sandbar. I like the private format, which lets your group set the mood and pace, and I like the broad mix of water activities and beach time. The main drawback is the $8,500 group price, which only makes strong financial sense if you are filling most of the 15 available places.

You should also prepare for a long day on the water. The trip lasts about eight hours, with roughly an hour each way between Nassau and Eleuthera. That travel time is part of the appeal, thanks to the open-water scenery, but the distance and weather can affect the schedule.

Key details at a glance

• A full private boat for up to 15 people: Your group does not share the activity with strangers, and the large group limit can make the cost easier to divide.
• Three famous Bahamian wildlife encounters: The day includes swimming pigs, sea turtles, and stingrays, with snorkeling equipment provided.
• Harbour Island’s Pink Sands Beach: A golf cart ride takes you from the marina through Harbour Island before beach time.
• Royal Island includes a sandbar and wooden swings: This is the quiet, photo-friendly stop in a day otherwise centered on animals and activity.
• Food and drinks are supplied onboard: Snacks, soft drinks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages are included, though alcohol is not served to minors.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, and cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.

What the Nassau to Eleuthera boat ride is like

The day begins with a boat trip from Nassau toward Eleuthera. The crossing takes about an hour each way, so the boat ride is not a minor transfer. It is a substantial part of the experience and gives you time to watch Nassau recede and the open Bahamian water take over.

The route is described as scenic, with clear water and views across the island setting. I would treat this as a pleasure cruise with a purpose rather than a quick shuttle. If you enjoy being on the water, the crossing helps the outing feel like a proper island adventure. If you mainly want beach time, the travel period may feel long.

Snacks, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic drinks are available onboard. A restroom is also provided, which matters on a day with several hours at sea. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you do not need to arrange a separate rental.

Because the tour depends on good weather, bring a flexible attitude. The operator can offer another date or a full refund if poor conditions force cancellation, but rough weather can still affect comfort and timing even when the trip goes ahead.

Swimming with Eleuthera’s famous pigs

Pig Beach is the first major wildlife stop. The pigs live freely on a secluded beach and have become one of the best-known attractions in the Bahamas. You can expect a playful encounter in shallow water, with the animals coming out to swim and interact with the group.

This is a lighthearted stop, but it is worth keeping your expectations sensible. The pigs are accustomed to visitors, yet they are still animals, not trained performers. Their behavior can change from one visit to the next. Some may paddle right up to the boat or swimmers, while others may be more interested in food and the shoreline.

One particularly useful detail comes from the experience of a group aboard a 32-foot Grady-White with twin engines. The party described the pigs as well-fed and especially entertaining when they came out to swim. That detail hints at what makes the stop fun: it is less about a carefully staged show and more about waiting for the animals to decide how much attention they want to give you.

You should also think about comfort and personal space. Swimming around animals can be thrilling for children and animal lovers, but some people may prefer to watch from the boat or beach. Since this is a private trip, your group can enjoy the encounter without needing to match the pace of a large mixed crowd.

Spanish Wells, turtles, stingrays, and snorkel time

The Spanish Wells portion adds a different kind of wildlife encounter. The area is associated with several sea turtle species, including green turtles, loggerheads, and hawksbill turtles. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, allowing you to enter the water and look for marine life in its natural setting.

The advertised experience also includes swimming with stingrays. That pairing gives the day more variety than a simple pig excursion. Pigs are noisy and comic; turtles and stingrays offer a calmer look at Bahamian sea life.

The scheduled time here is about an hour and a half. That gives you more room to enjoy the water than a brief photo stop, though actual sightings can never be guaranteed. Marine animals move freely, and water conditions affect visibility. You might see several species, or you might spend part of the stop enjoying the reef and clear water even when wildlife keeps its distance.

This is where the private setup has real value. Your group can decide how much time to spend snorkeling, swimming, or staying aboard. Families with mixed interests can split up more easily, with some people enjoying the water while others take a break.

If you have never snorkeled before, the supplied equipment removes one practical hurdle, but the tour information does not specify formal instruction or flotation support. You should be comfortable in the water or ask the operator in advance about the equipment and support available.

Harbour Island and two hours at Pink Sands Beach

After the water activities, the tour shifts to Harbour Island. You dock at a marina, then ride a golf cart through the island streets toward Pink Sands Beach. That short land transfer is part of the charm. It gives you a quick look at the local setting instead of dropping you straight from boat to beach.

Pink Sands Beach is the most scenic stop of the day. The unusual color comes from tiny marine organisms mixed with the sand, giving the shoreline a soft pink tone. The tour provides about two hours here, enough time to relax, swim, take photographs, or simply enjoy the beach without rushing through it.

I like this pause in the schedule because the day could otherwise become a series of fast wildlife stops. After pigs and snorkeling, a long beach break gives you time to slow down. Couples may appreciate the quieter pace, while families can use it as a chance to rest.

The tradeoff is that the beach visit is not a private beach experience. The tour is private for your boat group, but Pink Sands Beach itself is a well-known public attraction. You should expect the setting to be popular rather than empty.

The golf cart portion also means the tour is not limited to the boat. You get a small taste of Harbour Island’s streets and local character, though the supplied details do not promise a formal walking tour or historical commentary. Think of it as a pleasant transfer with sightseeing value, not a detailed cultural visit.

Royal Island’s sandbar and wooden swings

Royal Island provides the day’s final major stop before the boat returns to Nassau. The highlight is a sandbar where clear water meets soft sand, along with wooden swings positioned for relaxing and photographs.

This stop has a different mood from Pig Beach and the snorkeling area. You are not there for a scheduled animal encounter. You are there to enjoy the water, stretch your legs, take pictures, and let the day wind down.

Sandbars depend on tides and conditions, so the exact appearance may vary. The clear water and swings make it an appealing final pause, but you should not expect a large developed beach area or extensive facilities. It is a simple natural setting, which is part of its appeal.

For a group, this can be a good shared moment. Some people can sit on the swings or sand while others wade in the water. It also gives anyone who found the earlier snorkeling tiring a lower-key way to enjoy the coast.

The return to Nassau

The final hour-long boat ride takes you back toward Nassau. After a full day outdoors, the return crossing may feel relaxing, especially with snacks and drinks still available.

The ride home is also a useful reason to think carefully about the group’s energy level. Eight hours sounds manageable, but the schedule includes a boat crossing in both directions, water time, a golf cart transfer, beach time, and several stops. Young children, older family members, or anyone prone to seasickness may find the day demanding.

Since the tour is private, your group can make the return more comfortable than a fixed shared excursion might be. Still, the boat must cover the distance back to New Providence, so this is not a day where you can simply leave early from one of the island stops.

What the $8,500 price really means

The price is $8,500 per group, with up to 15 people included. That works out to about $567 per person if you fill all 15 places. For 10 people, it is $850 each. For a couple, the cost becomes extremely high.

This is not a budget day trip. You are paying for a private charter, a full boat crew, transport between islands, drinks and snacks, snorkeling gear, a restroom onboard, and several major stops in one day. The private arrangement is the central value, not simply the number of attractions.

For a large family reunion, wedding party, birthday group, or group of friends, the cost may be easier to justify. You get exclusive use of the activity, no strangers joining your boat, and more freedom to shape the day around your group’s comfort.

For fewer than six people, I would compare the cost with other private charters and shared excursions before booking. The advertised attractions are memorable, but pigs, turtles, stingrays, and Pink Sands Beach do not automatically make a high price good value for a small party.

The included drinks help, but they do not transform the economics. Alcohol is available onboard, while minors are not served. If you are dividing the price among a full group, the combination of transportation, equipment, food, and private service is easier to appreciate.

Crew service and the feel of the outing

The strongest praise centers on the captain and crew. The service has been described as kind, entertaining, and suitable for families and friends. One group rated the experience highly and specifically praised the crew’s personality, while another said the crew made the pig encounter especially enjoyable.

That matters on a private boat day. A good crew affects everything from how comfortable you feel boarding to how smoothly the group moves between snorkeling and beach stops. It also helps when the day includes children, first-time snorkelers, or people who want a more relaxed pace.

The provider is Delfincharters. No individual captain or guide names are supplied, so you should not book expecting a particular named guide. If personal service is important to you, ask who will operate your boat when you confirm the reservation.

One past outing also included a stop at Footprints for food and karaoke. That sounds like a fun addition, but it is not listed as a standard stop in the supplied schedule. Treat it as an example of the sort of extra local stop that may occur, not as something guaranteed with every booking.

Who should book this private Eleuthera tour?

I would consider this tour a strong fit for:

• Large families who want to stay together
• Groups of friends sharing the cost
• Couples willing to pay a premium for privacy
• Visitors who want animals, snorkeling, and beach time in one day
• People who enjoy a full schedule rather than a slow resort afternoon

It may be less suitable for anyone seeking a low-cost excursion, a quiet cultural tour, or a short transfer with minimal time at sea. The trip also asks you to be comfortable with several hours on a boat and with entering the water for snorkeling and animal encounters.

Most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, but the supplied details do not explain the exact meeting point or hotel pickup arrangements. Confirm those details before you pay, especially if you are coordinating a large group.

Booking, cancellation, and practical planning

You receive confirmation at booking, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancel within 24 hours, or make changes during that period, and you should not expect a refund.

Weather is the main exception. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. Since the tour crosses between islands, checking the forecast before departure is wise.

Pack the basics for a full day around water: swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and a dry change of clothes. Those items are not specifically listed as included, so you should bring them rather than count on the boat to supply them.

I would also agree on the group’s priorities before boarding. Do you want more snorkeling, more time on the beach, or a relaxed ride with fewer rushed transitions? A private boat gives you useful flexibility, but the day still has several scheduled stops and a fixed return crossing.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you can fill a good portion of the 15-person capacity and want one private day combining Eleuthera, Harbour Island, marine life, and Pink Sands Beach. The crew’s friendly service, the wide mix of stops, and the freedom of a private charter are the strongest reasons to choose it.

Think twice if you are traveling as a couple, watching your budget, or hoping for a quiet beach day with little boat time. For the right group, Delfincharters offers an ambitious and entertaining Bahamas outing. For a small party, the price may be harder to defend than the experience itself.

FAQ

How long does the private Eleuthera tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private charter?

Up to 15 people can participate in one private group.

Where does the tour begin and end?

The experience begins in Nassau on New Providence Island and returns to Nassau after the island stops.

How long is the boat ride between Nassau and Eleuthera?

The boat ride takes about one hour each way.

Are swimming pigs included?

Yes. The tour includes a stop at Pig Beach, where you can swim with the Eleuthera pigs.

Are snorkeling equipment and drinks provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, snacks, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages are included. Alcohol is not served to minors.

Is Pink Sands Beach included?

Yes. The tour includes about two hours at Pink Sands Beach, reached by golf cart after docking at the marina.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. For personal cancellations, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund.