A swimming pigs tour can be the treat of your Bahamas trip. With the cute, fluffy pink pigs floating by your side, it will be impossible to have a bad Pig Island tour. As your boat pulls to shore through crystal clear turquoise water, the pigs will immediately begin to paddle out to you. What a greeting committee. As you throw them food, they will stick around you like glue. You will be amazed at how much these guys will eat! A Bahamas pigs tour is one of the most popular attractions and the pigs get fed many times a day. As you stick your feet in the white sand of your Pig Beach tour, your newest pig friends will follow you and plant themselves right by your side.
Pig Island, also known as Big Major Cay, is a cay in the region of the Bahamas known as the Exumas. The Exumas are a collection of 365 islands and cays (of the Bahamas 700+) which are known for being relatively secluded and extra spectacular with its eye-popping nature landscapes. The island with pigs is one of the most popular islands in the Exumas and around the whole country. Visitors frequent the island to go swimming with pigs and stick around the area for the abundance of things to do in addition to the Exuma pig tour from Nassau.
However, there are some things you should know such as etiquette and some history of the island before you leave on your Pig Beach excursion from Nassau which will make your experience more meaningful and safe. We will even get into details about how you can make the trip cheaper, more relaxing, and less stressful so you have the best swimming pigs tour you can imagine.
Go swimming with pigs in the Bahamas!
Know Before the Swimming Pigs Tour
Here are a few things you need to know before you go on your Bahamas pigs tour:
History of Pig Island
Before your Pig Island tour, you may want to know a little about the history of this unique island. Although there are many folk tales surrounding how these pigs got here, it is generally an accepted truth that farmers on nearby Staniel Cay were ordered to bring their pigs to Big Major Cay because of complaints of their stench from residents in Staniel Cay Village.
Another story you might hear making its rounds around the island (though we can’t promise the validity) is that sailors arrived on Big Major Cay with a group of pigs as livestock. After staying a few days, a surprise storm forced the sailors to evacuate the island in a hurry, leaving their livestock behind.
Though, like we said, it was probably the farmers from Staniel Cay.
Best way to get to Pig Island
The best way to get to Pig Island is via a Pig Beach tour. However, if you are traveling on your own, it is also possible. Simply find your way to Staniel Cay which is convenient to get to from Nassau or Miami/ Fort Lauderdale.
From Staniel Cay, make your way to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club and ask around for rides to Pig Island. From there, it is easy to hire a boat, catch a ride from a fisherman, or hitch a ride with a water taxi for the ten minute ride to Big Major Cay (Pig Island).
An Ethical Approach to Pig Beach
When touring the swimming pigs, it is best for you (and the pigs) to abide by a few rules which are set in place for the island.
First and foremost, always treat the pigs with caution. After all, they are part wild animals and though they have been habituated for the most part, they can still inflict harm if probed.
This means don’t provoke the pigs, don’t taunt the pigs, don’t threaten the pigs, and most of all, don’t do anything to harm the pigs.
Secondly, do not feed the pigs from the beach. This causes the pigs to build lazy habits and makes them lose their intuition for survival. Make sure when you feed the pigs, you are feeding the pigs from the water so they are forced to work for their food like they would in a natural habitat.
Third, don’t feed the pigs from your hand. This is more of a precaution for you than it is for them. Pigs don’t have the most graceful coordination and your hand can become their food in a hurry. Gently lay or toss the food in the water next to them. Don’t hit them with it and don’t let them eat directly from your hand.
Finally, only feed the pigs approved foods for their diet. This means only feed pigs fruit, vegetables, and bread. Anything else is a serious risk for the pigs and shouldn’t be shown to the pigs. Most tour guides will supply you with food which is sensible for the pigs to eat.
Take a swimming pigs tour to Pig Beach on your Bahamas vacation.
Reasons to avoid the ferry Exuma pig tour from Nassau
Among the many reasons to avoid large tour companies offering their services to Pig Beach are:
- Crowded ferries, uncomfortable seating
- Seasickness like you have never experienced before
- Contributing to overtourism of one of Bahamas most precious beaches
- Many cancellations and delays due to rough sea conditions
- Time of travel far greater than other modes of transport
- Long queues and security checks
- Crowded beach as soon as you get there
- Less time with the pigs
As you can see, these are just a few of the reasons we are against taking the ferry through large touring companies to see the pigs in the Bahamas. Your experience won’t be nearly as personal and you will probably not get a chance to see the island for what it is really worth.
Pig Beach excursion from Nassau you didn’t know you needed
The best way to reach Pig Beach is a Nassau to Pig Island flight which you can read more about here. There are also flights from Florida to Pig Island. This guide will highlight all the reasons why flying is far better than taking the ferry to get from Nassau to Pig Island on a swimming pigs tour.
What else is around your swimming pigs tour?
When you are on Pig Island, you are also surrounded by many of the Exumas top destinations. Double or triple up on the opportunity to explore Exumas out islands by reading what else there is to do in the region.
Don’t let the Exuma pigs scare you, they’re almost always harmless.
Take a Miami to Bahamas Day Trip to the Exuma Pigs
Now that you know what you need to before your swimming pigs tour to the pigs in the Bahamas, it is time to book one of our Staniel Cay day trips to see what Pig Island is all about!
Take a Bahamas day trips by plane aboard Bahamas Air Tours’ private Cessna Grand Caravan Bahamas air charter with the largest viewing windows in the world! Our luxury flights to Bahamas are sure to take your day trip to Bahamas to a whole new level of enjoyment.
Have a look at our Florida to Bahamas vacation packages to see which swimming pigs tours to Pig Beach fit your schedule.Many of our Exuma day trips are a one day cruise to Bahamas so that everyone can find time to go swimming with pigs Bahamas style!
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