Of all the glorious sights and exciting adventures on offer in the Exumas, the swimming pigs Bahamas are undoubtedly the most popular. These remarkable creatures have paddled their way right into the hearts of people from around the world, making Pig Beach Bahamas one of the Caribbean’s top destinations.
A trip to see the swimming pigs Bahamas will grant you a great deal more than just this experience though. You’ll find that there are a plethora of new and exciting adventures just waiting to be discovered in the Exumas.
The Exumas are made up of 3 parts. Little Exuma can be found at the very southern tip of the Exumas and is home to gorgeous tropical landscapes and a particularly interesting beach. Great Exuma is next on the list, and can be found just north of Little Exuma. This is where many tours of the Exumas generally begin. Set up with fantastic infrastructure for touring the beautiful islands ahead, Great Exuma serves as an excellent start to your tour. The next, and most beautiful section of the Exumas is known as the Exuma Cays.
The Exuma Cays
The Exuma Cays are a long line of 365 absolutely exquisite islands. Each island is unique, providing a wealth of things to do and see. With everything from the world’s first Land and Sea Park, to stunning vistas of unparalleled beauty, the Exuma Cays has it all.
In fact, the Exuma Cays are so paradisiac, that a number of A-list celebrities even have private islands of their own in this truly magnificent archipelago. When people like Johnny Depp decide to make a particular destination a permanent getaway for themselves, you can be sure that there is almost nowhere else on earth quite like it. Even without all the beauty, and endless experiences to be had, the Exuma Cays are home to the swimming pigs Bahamas, which has become the most sought after trip in the world, and within minutes of your visit, you’ll be sure to understand why.
The Exumas are the crown of the Bahamas. Though there is plenty to see and do elsewhere in the country, some of the most incredible experiences are waiting for you here. No matter which part of the Exumas you decide to visit, you’ll be sure to go home with some exciting stories to tell. A trip to the Bahamas without visiting the swimming pigs Bahamas and the rest of the Exumas is simply not complete.
Big Major Cay (Pig Beach)
Of course, the swimming pigs Bahamas are not dotted around the Exuma Cays, they can instead be found on one particular island, Big Major Cay. This island is located a little over halfway up the Exuma Cays, which means that if you’re travelling from Nassau or even Great Exuma, you can expect the trip to take some time. Fortunately you have other islands on which to stay, the best of which is undoubtedly Staniel Cay, which will grant you almost direct access to the swimming pigs Bahamas.
The Swimming Pigs are also known as the “Exuma Pigs”
Big Major Cay is truly pristine, with little more than a simple shelter built for the pigs who call it home. If you beat the crowds, which generally swarm in between 11am to 2pm, you will find the atmosphere of peace and tranquility to be almost unmatched. This is, of course, second to the delight of seeing the Exuma Bahamas pigs for yourself. If you make the trip from Staniel Cay, you can arrive as early as 9am, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the island, which you’ll likely have all to yourself. This means you can get some ideal shots of the pigs in their ‘natural habitat’. Nothing says unique vacation like a string of pictures in tropical paradise in amongst a small herd of pigs.
With a magnificent strip of sand bordered by some mesmerising turquoise water and a verdant background of coastal bushes, Big Major Cay is sure to delight all visitors. Once you arrive, there really will be no question as to why Exuma Pig Beach Bahamas is one of the world’s top destinations.
How to visit the Exuma Bahamas Pigs
Though many people really do love the swimming pigs Bahamas for what they are, without needing more context, it can only enhance your experience here. These pigs are more than just an interesting attraction, they truly are charming creatures. Right from the moment your boat pulls into the bay at Exuma Pig Beach, you will be welcomed by a number of puffing snouts. That’s right, you won’t even be on dry land before you’re greeted by the swimming pigs Bahamas. These tenacious porcines will paddle their way out to your boat in the hopes that they will be the first to grab a tasty morsel from you and your group.
Pig Beach on Pig Island can be visited on a Staniel Cay Day Trip
While feeding the pigs is encouraged, it’s important to bear in mind that these are indeed wild animals, and should be treated with a certain level of caution. There is no need to fear them, but be sure to get a guide who can explain the proper way to deal with them. For example, you’d better not feed them directly from your hand, as they may mistake your fingers for more of the food that you’re handing them. With that in mind, the residents of Pig Island Bahamas are very used to humans, and will be thrilled with your company because of the treats that come along with it.
You’ll find that the bigger, older pigs tend to stay near the shore. Their mass makes swimming a little more difficult, and they are experienced enough to know that they’ll get food and attention when all the boats arrive. The younger ones, on the other hand, are a little more tenacious. Some piglets have been known to swim out as far as a mile in the hopes to be fed by passing boats. Swimming alongside these creatures is a truly unique experience, and is something that you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else on earth. The swimming pigs Bahamas are an absolute delight to visit, and a trip should be near the top of your list of things to do on your vacation.
Where did the Bahamas Pigs come from?
You may be wondering how these unlikely creatures ended up here. While the locals have some colorful and entertaining stories about shipwrecks, or soldiers dropping them off to come and collect later, only to forget them here, the real story is a little more simple. A nearby settlement took the pigs off their island because of the smell. No one could have guessed how this seemingly trivial act could have turned out. Sure enough, when the pigs began to adapt to their new environment, and tours started using them as an attraction, their popularity skyrocketed. Attempts have been made since to make more islands into a swimming pigs Bahamas attraction, but none can compare to this original group.
Swimming Pigs Bahamas at Staniel Cay
How to visit Pig Island Bahamas
As we mentioned before, the swimming pigs Bahamas are found quite a distance from both Nassau and Great Exuma. What this means is that if you book a tour from Nassau, you’re looking at a bumpy 3 hour boat ride. There are a number of ways to avoid this, and you may find that these will make your entire vacation more enjoyable.
Booking a day trip with Bahamas Air Tours is one of your best options. This will cut out Nassau altogether, giving you the very best of the Bahamas without the hassle. You will be transported to Staniel Cay, from where a boat will take you to Big Major Cay and you can spend time with the famous swimming pigs Bahamas. Not only will you be able to beat the crowds on this tour, but you will also have a chance to visit some of the other nearby attractions, which will prove to be just as exciting as the pigs.
The famous Bahamas Swimming Pigs at Big Major Cay
Your next option is to simply stay on Staniel Cay. If the Exuma Cays are the crown of the Bahamas, then Staniel Cay is undoubtedly the jewel in that crown. This unforgettable destination serves as a hub for a number of the world’s best tours, all of which are very nearby. Staying at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club will allow you to visit the swimming pigs Bahamas at the drop of a hat. Even if you do decide to stay on Staniel Cay, you can still arrange your entire trip with Bahamas Air Tours and enjoy the Bahamas in a new and exciting way: from above.
Visit the Swimming Pigs on a Bahamas Day Tour
Bahamas Air Tours offers a range of packages through which you can visit these delightful creatures. If you’re pressed for time, then a Bahamas day trip is your very best option. Just think, you can set out from Florida and explore some of the very best attractions that the Bahamas has to offer and not even need to give up an entire weekend.
If you’d prefer to stay on Staniel Cay and spend a little more time in paradise, then you can select an overnight package and explore the Bahamas to your heart’s content. Whatever option works best for you, Bahamas Air Tours is sure to give you a Bahamian vacation that you will certainly never forget.
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