The Exuma Bahamas Pigs are one of the highlights of the entire country. Over six million tourists visit the island to get up close and personal with the pigs each year. That said, not everyone gets to see them.
The pigs reside in Exuma, a region to the south of Nassau that’s a bit more remote than some of the other parts of the country. This leads some visitors to the Bahamas to believe that the area is difficult to reach or that the pigs aren’t worth visiting, in general.
In this article, we’re going to list five reasons why visiting Exuma Pig Island is a must. We’ll also highlight how a Pig Beach excursion from Nassau makes the pigs easily accessible.
Keep reading to learn more!
Pig Beach Bahamas is home to some of the friendliest animals in the world.
Exuma Bahamas Pigs: 5 Reasons to Visit Them
1. They’re a World-Famous Attraction
While not every popular attraction is worth a visit, the Exuma Bahamas Pigs are. As mentioned, millions of travelers make their way to the Bahamas each year to see them.
What makes the pigs so unique is the fact that they live all alone on an island, Pig Island (Big Major Cay) and have become conditioned to their island life. Instead of laying around in a standard pigpen, you’ll see the Exuma Pigs laying around on the beach, waddling around their island, and even hopping in the water to go for a swim.
The Exuma Bahamas Pigs love being in and swimming around the water.
Seeing all of that makes the experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, and because of that, you’ll want to ensure that you make time to visit the island.
2. Big Major Cay Is Easy to Get to
Many people who visit the Bahamas have heard about the swimming with pigs experience but don’t know exactly where they are. Unfortunately, this has led to the rise of “knock-off pigs,” pigs that tour companies have brought to beaches in an effort to replicate the original swimming pigs.
However, the Exuma Bahamas Pigs aren’t found in Nassau, Bimini, or any other tourist hub. As mentioned, they live in Exuma, a region of 365 islands that stretches from the south of Nassau farther down into the Caribbean. Besides offering a comparatively quiet experience, the region is famous for its bright-blue water and unique local attractions, including the Exuma Pigs.
While many tourists might wonder how to get there, a Pig Beach excursion from Nassau makes it easy – especially when you travel by plane. Flying to the Exumas from Nassau has you there in around 30 minutes, ensuring that you have plenty of time to enjoy the pigs and the other sites in the area. Once you’ve visited some of the local highlights (more on those below), you’ll then fly back to Nassau that evening, getting you back to the capital in time for dinner.
A Pig Beach excursion from Nassau by plane lets you enjoy views such as these.
As traveling with Bahamas Air Tours makes visiting Exuma Pig Beach a breeze, there’s no reason not to see the pigs while on your vacation.
3. Pig Beach Bahamas Has an Interesting History
Exuma Pig Island might attract travelers from across the world, but not everyone knows the history of the island, or specifically, how the Exuma Bahamas Pigs arrived there. Interestingly, there are several theories floating around as to how the modern-day attraction came to be.
Big Major Cay is home to pigs of all shapes and sizes.
One theory holds that farmers from a nearby island grew tired of the smells that the pigs were causing. To provide their noses with some relief, they decided to bring the pigs to a nearby abandoned island: Big Major Cay. However, they knew that the pigs would need food, so they began boating over to the island to feed them, conditioning the pigs into the friendly animals that they are today.
Another origin tale holds that the pigs were shipwrecked in nearby waters, swam to the island, and have lived there ever since. Regardless of whether you choose to believe one of those tales or another (there are quite a few legends), the island lore is part of what makes the experience such a fun one today.
4. Swimming With Pigs Is a Must-try Experience
If you close your eyes and think of a pig, you probably won’t imagine a pig on a beach, and you almost certainly won’t imagine a pig swimming around in the clear, turquoise waters of the Caribbean. But that’s exactly what the Exuma Bahamas pigs do, and it’s one of the many aspects that makes them so special.
When you pull up to Big Major Cay, you’ll see the Exuma Pigs hop in the water and swim out to greet you. That’s because since residents of nearby islands have arrived at Pig Beach to feed them for years, the pigs have become conditioned to associate the arrival of boats with feeding time.
The Bahamas Swimming Pigs love greeting visitors to their island.
Once you reach the island, you can then hang out with them on the beach, explore their island, and even swim in the water alongside them. You can’t enjoy any of those activities with your standard pig on a farm, which makes the swimming with pigs experience so enjoyable.
5. Bahamas Swimming Pigs Are One of Many Sites in the Region
The Bahamas swimming pigs are certainly a highlight in the Exumas, which is why they attract so many visitors each year. However, one thing that many tourists don’t realize is that there are a plethora of other amazing sites located nearby. When you sign up for a Pig Beach excursion from Nassau, you’ll get to see many of these.
Exuma Pig Island is one of the many stunning locations in the region.
Here are three additional attractions that you can look forward to seeing on a Staniel Cay day tour.
Nurse Sharks
Located just around the corner from Big Major Cay, Compass Cay is another island in the area that’s home to a group of very special residents: nurse sharks. These beautiful creatures inhabit the waters surrounding the marina, making it the perfect place to observe them up close.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even choose to hop in the water with the school of nurse sharks!
Sand Bars
It’s one thing to visit a beautiful beach, and it’s another thing to sink your toes into sand that’s surrounded by turquoise water everywhere you look. On an Exuma Bahamas Pigs tour, you’ll get to visit a sand bar at Pipe Creek to do the latter.
As you gaze around at your beautiful surroundings and dip your toes into the warm water, you’ll thank yourself for signing up for a Pig Beach Bahamas excursion.
Underwater Caves
Thunderball Grotto is another famous attraction in the area. It features underwater caves that teem with wildlife, making it the perfect spot for swimming and snorkeling.
The site was even one of the filming locations for the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball!
Exuma Pig Beach: Make Time to Visit It
The Exuma Bahamas Pigs are one of the best attractions in the country, and because of that, you want to ensure that you make time to visit them. Luckily, getting to their home of Pig Beach Bahamas isn’t as difficult as you might think.
When you travel with Bahamas Air Tours, you won’t have to worry about transportation or the sites to see once you arrive. You get to fly out on a private-class plane, then have guides take you to all of the top sites in the area (including Big Major Cay!).
Sign up for a tour today to make your dream Bahamas vacation become a reality.
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