In recent years, the Swimming Pigs in Bahamas have become an international sensation. Today, travelers visiting Nassau and South Florida hope to have a chance to visit the famous Pig Island. But where do they actually live, and how do you get there?
Officially known as Big Major Cay, the original Pig Beach is easy to visit no matter where you are in the region. Wondering what to know before signing up for a Swimming With Pigs Bahamas tour?
Keep reading to learn all about the Island of Swimming Pigs.
Swimming Pigs in Bahamas: Visit the Island of Swimming Pigs
Swimming Pigs Big Major Cay
As mentioned, the original Swimming Pigs reside on an island called Big Major Cay. Located around 80 miles southeast of the capital, Nassau, Pig Island is in a district of The Bahamas called Exuma.
Since the area is comparatively remote, the 365 islands of Exuma offer a much quieter experience than the hustle and bustle of destinations like Nassau. That makes it easy to enjoy the region’s stunning scenery. Expect to see crystal-clear turquoise water and picturesque white sand beaches everywhere you look.
The Swimming Pigs live on the island of Big Major Cay in Exuma.
Although it has “Big” in its name, Big Major Cay itself isn’t large. In fact, “Cay” is part of a word that means small island. Nevertheless, more travelers visit Pig Beach than the majority of other islands in the archipelago.
History of the Swimming Bahamas Pigs
Several theories seek to explain the origins of the Island of Swimming Pigs, but one story appears the most likely.
Staniel Cay, another small nearby island, began as a farming community that raised pigs. However, nearby residents grew tired of the smells the pigs carried with them. To give everybody’s nose a break, the farmers dropped the pigs off at Big Major Cay. After doing so, they would travel ten minutes by boat to feed the pigs. This led the pigs to gradually associate boats with feeding time.
While that story is the most likely, no one can say with certainty how the Swimming Pigs in Bahamas came to be. This has led to other origin stories gaining popularity.
For example, some people believe the pigs were shipwrecked in the Bahamas Sea and swam to shore to find respite. Another story claims that sailors left the pigs on the island to eat but never returned.
Regardless of which story is closest to the truth, the Swimming Pigs Big Major Cay have resided on their island home for decades.
Pig Island has become a popular travel destination over the years.
Island of Swimming Pigs: How to Visit
Although the original Swimming Pigs in Bahamas aren’t in Nassau, they’re still easy to reach on day trips. While you can find day trip options that travel by powerboat, ferry, and plane, air travel is almost always the best way to go.
In contrast to the multiple-hour journey boat tours embark on, flying from Nassau to Exuma takes just around 30 minutes. If you’re looking to visit the Island of Swimming Pigs from South Florida, the total journey takes around two hours. That includes a stop at Andros Island to clear customs.
Bahamas Air Tours to the Swimming Pigs in Bahamas
Because the Island of Swimming Bahamas Pigs is uninhabited, you’ll first land at Staniel Cay. Called the Gateway to Exuma, the small beautiful island is close to several top attractions, including Big Major Cay Bahamas. And thanks to the speedy nature of air travel, you’ll have time to explore not just Pig Beach, but six additional attractions – something boat tours rarely offer.
After your tour concludes, expect to return to Staniel Cay for lunch in the early afternoon. From there, you’ll board your plane and head back to your original destination.
Big Major Cay Bahamas Scenery
While the Swimming Pigs in Bahamas are a highlight of Big Major Cay, the island itself embodies the beauty of the region and country. When your boat pulls up to the island, you’ll get your first glimpse of the stunning white sand beach. Lined by swaying palms and other pieces of tropical foliage and framed by an expanse of clear turquoise water, Big Major Cay looks like something out of a postcard.
Besides seeing the Swimming Pigs on the island, the nearby waters of Exuma are teeming with marine life. As your boat pulls up to Pig Beach, keep your eyes peeled for aquatic residents, including sea turtles, rays, puffer fish, and different species of reef sharks.
Swimming Bahamas Pigs Etiquette
Given that farmers have visited the Swimming Pigs in Bahamas for years, you can expect the Exuma Pigs to happily greet you and other visitors to their island. As your boat approaches Big Major Cay, you’ll see a couple of pigs swim out to greet you.
Expect the Exuma Pigs to happily greet you!
While on your boat, you’ll have the opportunity to toss the pigs different types of pig-friendly and guide-approved foods, such as bread, fruit, and other natural foods. Tossing them anything else is prohibited.
In addition to feeding them approved food from the boat, other rules include:
- Refrain from feeding the pigs from the beach: The pigs know to swim out to boats to get their food. Feeding them on the beach erodes this instinct, altering the experience.
- Avoid feeding the pigs by hand: Like all pigs, the Swimming Pigs in Bahamas can be clumsy when it comes to taking bites. When you feed them from the boat, make sure to toss the food to avoid getting nipped.
After gobbling up what you feed them, you’ll make your way onto their beach to spend time with the pigs. Altogether, you’ll see around 20-25 pigs on Big Major Cay Bahamas, including several piglets. If you’ve never bottle-fed a piglet, Pig Beach is the perfect place to do so!
As with any popular travel destination, it’s important to listen to instructions provided by your guide. Doing so ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for both you and the Swimming Bahamas Pigs.
Surrounding Attractions
The Pipe Creek sandbars are another attraction you can look forward to seeing.
Although the Swimming Pigs in Bahamas are a highlight of an Exuma day trip, it’s not the only stop. Given how efficient flying to Exuma from Nassau or Miami is, you have time to stop by six incredible destinations, in addition to Big Major Cay. These Staniel Cay Tour highlights include:
- Staniel Cay: The Gateway to Exuma you fly into and lunch at in the afternoon
- Compass Cay: Home to a school of nurse sharks and the swim-with-sharks Bahamas experience
- Bitter Guana Cay: Home to an endangered species of iguana
- Thunderball Grotto: A system of underwater caves that makes for a great snorkeling destination; also a filming location for the James Bond film Thunderball
- Pipe Creek: A group of traversable white sandbars that pop out of the water at low tide
- Staniel Cay Plane Wreck: A drug smuggling vessel great for snorkeling that crashed down into the water decades ago
It’s hard to say whether the Island of Swimming Pigs or a nearby attraction will be your favorite!
Swimming Pigs in Bahamas: The Ultimate Bahamas Day Trip
Whether you’re in the country for two weeks or a day, seeing the Swimming Pigs in Bahamas is the ultimate day trip. From meeting the Exuma Pigs to exploring their island home, the excursion makes for an unforgettable experience.
When you fly to Exuma with Bahamas Air Tours, you don’t just get to see the amazing Swimming Pigs Big Major Cay. You also visit other beautiful destinations home to nurse sharks, iguanas, sandbars, and more.
Contact us and Book a Bahamas day trip with us today!
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