Miami to Bahamas Day Trip

Discover the beauty of the Exuma Cays on this Miami to Bahamas Day Trip to the famous Swimming Pigs at Staniel Cay

Day Tour highlights:

Welcome to one of the most beautiful places on Earth: Staniel Cay and the Exuma Cays

This is the world’s first Miami to Bahamas Day Trip, by plane, from Southern Florida to Bahamas. There is no other way to visit the Bahamas Out Islands on a day trip from Florida. Currently, visiting Staniel Cay and the swimming pigs is one of the most sought after excursions in the world.

Flights to Bahamas from Southern Florida

You will fly on the Staniel Cay Tour from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) in a private charter aircraft. You will need to arrive at the airport for check-in at 6:45am. FXE Airport within the Miami Metropolitan area, is to the North of Miami and is approximately a 1 hour drive from South Beach or Downtown Miami. The flights depart promptly at 7:30am. The flight from Florida to the Bahamas is approximately 1 hour. We have a short stop at the International Airport on Andros Island in the Bahamas for all customers to clear immigration and customs before we set-off on a 45 minute flight to our destination Staniel Cay in the Exumas.

Staniel Cay Tour by Boat

On arrival at Staniel Cay Airport, you will be transferred to the dock. You expert local tour guide will take you on a guided tour of Staniel Cay and the Exuma Cays. This is a private boat excursion just for our customers with a maximum group size of 9. Our boat tour lasts approximately 5 hours. Because of the time  spent outdoors in the sun and on the water we advise all customers to wear appropriate clothing and bring sun protection.

The Famous Bahamas Swimming Pigs at Pig Beach

Pigs can Swim? Welcome to Pig Beach on Big Major Cay, home to the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas. You’ll have the opportunity to go swimming with the pigs! We provide food for feeding these Exuma Pigs, but follow directions from you Guide. Pigs can bite!

There are a number of interesting stories of how these pigs got here at Pig Beach. Some say they were shipwrecked and swam ashore or that sailors brought them here then left and never returned for them. But the real reason is that the villagers of Staniel Cay put them there to avoid smelling out the village. Unlike some operators, we ensure that the welfare of the pigs are looked after by our local partners. For example ensuring they have a supply of fresh water.

Snorkelling into the James Bond Thunderball Grotto

Welcome to the exotic world of James Bond. You can snorkel into the Thunderball Grotto, a cave, made famous as a filming location in the James Bond film Thunderball. We provide all snorkel equipment including vests. Its a short swim (approximately 50m) to reach inside the Thunderball Grotto. You will need to be proficient at swimming and snorkelling to take part in this activity. Very restrictive tide levels and weather conditions can affect this activity so you may be given another snorkelling activity as a substitute.

Exotic Wildlife: Bahamas Rock Iguanas

We visit Bitter Guana Cay, home to the endangered species of Bahamas Rock Iguanas. When you first step foot on the beach during your Bahamas Day Trip, you will feel as if you’ve travelled back in time to the prehistoric era. Dozens of large Bahamian Rock Iguanas emerge from the vegetation at the top of the beach. The early inhabitants of the Bahamas saw the Iguanas as a source of food, and almost hunted them to extinction. Fortunately, they are now protected by the Wild Animals (Protection) Act, allowing them to thrive in this marvellous habitat.

Swim with Sharks at Compass Cay

We take you to Compass Cay, the most northerly point on our boat excursion. At Compass Cay you have the opportunity to swim with Sharks. The type of shark here is the nurse shark, which are for the most part harmless to humans.

Sunken Plane Wreck*

The plane was used in drug trafficking and ditched here in the 1970’s. Local legend has it the plane ditched here during a practice run when the traffickers were practising with bags of flour. The Sunken Plane Wreck is a time permitting activity and upon request from the Guests. It is not a guaranteed stop for either Sightseeing or Snorkelling.

Exuma Cays Sand Bars

These stunning sand bars with very shallow waters are a unique feature of the Exuma Cays. Enjoy time exploring this paradise of white sand bars and turquoise blue water around the Pike Cay Sand Bars located close to Compass Cay. (see Staniel Cay Tour Map below)

Staniel Cay Tour

You will visit the beaches around Staniel Cay and visit the Staniel Cay Yacht Club or Local Fish-fry Restaurant for lunch (to see the Lunch menu at the *Yacht Club click here), set alongside the Staniel Cay Marina which is home to luxury super yachts. The Yacht club has a lively bar and full service restaurant. Be sure to visit the Staniel Cay Yacht Club gift shop!

Flights from the Bahamas back to Florida

At the end of the Boat Excursion, in the late afternoon, you will be transferred back to Staniel Cay Airport. From here we will fly back to United States and land back at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport FXE (or another International Airport on the east coast of Florida if you are on a private charter), where you will go through the US Customs and Immigration process required for entry back into the United States.

Bahamas Day Trip: Tour Map of Exuma

How to Book this Miami to Bahamas Day Tour
Please make an enquiry using our booking form in the sidebar or contact us here.

*Pricing and Availability
Price Per Person is:
Low Season Price 1-Aug to 14-Dec: is $875pp plus $229.45pp Tax & Fees (**see below)
High Season Price 15-Dec to 31-Jul: is $949pp plus $229.45pp Tax & Fees (**see below)
Prices are Per Person, fully inclusive of flights, entrance fees, boat excursion, transfers in the Bahamas. See list below for what’s not included.
Payments by card have an additional 3.5% Card Processing Fee.
Private Day Trips: For private group charters contact us for group pricing and availability. If you do not see the date you would like to book then please contact us.

Tax & Fees**
$229.45 Tax & Fees per person. These taxes and fees per person are as follows:
Federal International Air Tax: $42.20
Bahamas Exit Tax: $29
Fuel Surcharge Fee: $40
Service Fee: $56
Security Scan Fee: $9
Bahamas VAT: $0.90
Entrance Fee: $15
Payment Card Processing Fee (3.5%): $37.25

Solo Bookings
This tour only operates if there are at least 2 customers booked on. In the case that we don’t reach 2 customers and you are traveling alone as a Solo traveler, an additional Solo Supplement applies.

Do I need a Passport to fly to Bahamas from Florida?
Yes! Passports are a requirement for all guests. US ID Cards or Birth Certificates are not an adequate substitute for a passport because these are international flights requiring entry to both the Bahamas and re-entry into the United States.

Bahamas Day Tour Departure Location
The tour departs from Hangar 11 at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Street Address: 2201 NW 55^th Ct., Hangar 11, Fort Lauderdale FL 33309. Free Car parking available. The airport is approximately a 1 hour drive from South Beach or Downtown Miami.

Day Trip Itinerary Timings
6:45 AM:  Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport check-in (at Hangar 11).
NOTE: Please check your Email Itinerary Confirmation for check-in Time & Location.
7:30 AM: Flight Departs to Staniel Cay
NOTE: You may be booked on a flight departing at 6:45am which requires check-in at 6:00am. Please check your Email Itinerary Confirmation.
8:30 AM: Arrival at Bahamas Immigration and Customs on Andros Island
9:45 AM: Arrival at Staniel Cay
10:00 AM: Boat Tour (Boat Tour map here)
1:00 PM: Break for Lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club (SCYC Lunch menu here)
4:30 PM: Flight Departs Staniel Cay back to Florida
NOTE: You may be booked on a returning flight departing at 3:15pm. Please check your Email Itinerary Confirmation.
6:45 PM: Arrival back in Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport

What to Bring
You are allowed to bring a small day bag per person, weighing upto 10lbs. What to pack:

• Passports & Travel Documentation (Entry Visas,  etc)
• Money for tips ($US accepted in the Bahamas), the Yacht Club accepts credit cards for Lunch
• Cameras
• Battery pack phone charger if you take photos on your phone, you will take alot!
• Sun protection; shirt, hat and sun cream
• Swim shorts
• Towels
• A change of dry clothes
• A warm layer if you don’t like air-conditioned aircraft!
• Snacks, if you have any specific dietary needs

Important Notes
We can’t guarantee all stops along the tour due to weather, sea conditions and progress of the group along the tour itinerary.
Children under 3 years of age can only be accepted on a private tour.
Expectant mothers will require a Doctor’s clearance to fly letter.
Confirmation of your booking and place on the tour is only made after both payment and issue of the confirmation email with flight tickets. Submitting the booking request form on this website does not confirm your booking. We encourage customers to book as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment, especially for Spring Break or Summer Months, as we have exceptional demand for Tours in 2023/24 season.

Bad Weather Policy
Tours operate Rain or Shine. We may have to cancel tours ahead of time during adverse weather events. Weather cancellation is rare. Weather in the Bahamas is generally scattered clouds with isolated but fast moving thunderstorms. It is likely you may encounter a rain shower during your tour.
If you decide to cancel your reservation or curtail your tour, because you decide not to travel due to weather, you would be subject to our restrictive cancellation policy and may not receive any refund.
If We/Operator cancel your tour in its entirety, prior to departure, due to weather you will be entitled to a reschedule (subject to availability), a credit or a refund.
The tour Operator may have to curtail or terminate the tour early due to weather or sea conditions, therefore we can’t guarantee all stops along the tour itinerary. Please refer to Section 6 “Force Majeure” in the Booking Terms and Conditions. Read more about our Bad Weather Policy in our FAQ here.

Booking Terms and Cancellation Policy
Reservations are strictly non-refundable and non-changeable. There is strictly no refund if you no-show. For a full list of booking terms see our Booking Terms here. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE THAT INCLUDES COVERAGE AGAINST IRRECOVERABLE CANCELLATION COSTS.

Day Trip to Staniel Cay from Nassau
We also have the same itinerary Day Trip available which departs from Nassau within the Bahamas.

Learn More
Discover more about Staniel Cay and the Exumas in our informative destination guides or Download our FREE Bahamas Guidebook!