Where do you swim with pigs in the Bahamas? That’s a question that many visitors to the country want to know. Many people have seen pictures of happy pigs frolicking around in the water and want to see them for themselves.
Luckily, the Bahamas swimming pigs aren’t difficult to find — they’re in the Exumas! While different tour companies may advertise other spots where you can swim with pigs, the Exuma pigs are the original ones. Because of that, they’re the ones that you should visit.
In this article, we’re going to examine how to get to the Exumas to see Swimming Pigs Beach. Keep reading to learn more!
Where can you swim with pigs in the Bahamas? There’s really only one answer to that question, and that’s Exuma!
Where Do You Swim With Pigs in the Bahamas?
The Exumas and Big Major Cay
The Exumas are a chain of 365 islands to the south of Nassau. While the country’s capital has an international airport and a large port that can accommodate cruise ships, the Exumas are more remote. The only ways to get there are by plane or ferry.
That said, while they’re hard to get to, the Exumas are also world-famous. They feature incredible beaches, warm, clear water, and of course, the Bahamas swimming pigs.
If you’re wondering exactly where do you swim with pigs in the Bahamas, the answer is Big Major Cay. Also known as Pig Island, this is the spot that popularized the image of pigs in water years ago.
Swimming Pigs Beach: One of the most well-known attractions in the world.
Although different origin stories tell different tales, most people believe that farmers from nearby islands brought the pigs to the uninhabited island of Big Major Cay a few decades ago. They’ve remained there to this day and have gotten used to travelers visiting them, turning them into the popular attraction they are today.
How to Get There
As mentioned, you can’t reach the Exumas on giant international flights or cruise ships — you need to rely on local transportation to get there. That’s led to the rise in popularity of Exuma day trips.
Today, most people looking to get to Swimming Pigs Exuma get there by one of two ways: by ferry or by plane.
By Ferry
Reaching Pig Island Bahamas by ferry from Nassau is the most popular option. However, while it may seem like a straightforward transportation option, it comes with some downsides that many people are unaware of.
For one thing, it’s crowded. The ferry can accommodate hundreds of people, which makes the experience feel impersonal and touristy. On top of that, it’s uncomfortable in a literal sense as well. The boat crosses over rough, open waters, causing many passengers to get seasick.
But perhaps most importantly, the boat also takes a couple of hours to reach the Exumas from Nassau. When you factor in check-in time, you’ll spend around half your day traveling. That means less time with the Bahamas swimming pigs, and less time in the Exumas, in general.
By Plane
The Nassau to Exuma ferry might be a lackluster experience, but luckily, traveling by plane sidesteps all of the problems mentioned.
You get to enjoy a much more comfortable experience, both because you avoid the crowds but also because a private-class plane is much more luxurious. Plus, the views from the air are hard to beat!
The colors of the Exumas are so vivid that astronauts can see them from space.
Flying by plane to Swimming Pigs Beach also helps you save time. Travel time takes around 30 minutes, ensuring that you have plenty of time to see swimming pigs Exuma, as well as other popular sites in the region.
What to Expect Once You Arrive
When you embark on Exuma day trips by plane with Bahamas Air Tours, the first stop on your trip isn’t Big Major Cay. The island doesn’t have an airport, but as the nearby island of Staniel Cay does, that’s where you fly into.
Bahamas swimming pigs tours by plane land on Staniel Cay, another island in the Exumas.
From there, you’ll hop on a boat and start to explore the region! You won’t have to wonder ‘where do you swim with pigs’ for long, as Pig Island is one of the first stops on the day trip.
When your boat pulls up to Big Major Cay, you’ll see the pigs hop in the water and paddle out to greet you. That’s because despite living on an uninhabited island, local farmers have traveled to the island by boat to feed them. Over the years, that’s conditioned them into associating the arrival of boats with people!
You’ll have plenty of time at Pig Island Bahamas to swim alongside the pigs and hang out with them on the beach. Like all the islands in the Exuma, Big Major Cay is beautiful, so you’ll probably want to snap just as many photos of the scenery around you as you will the pigs.
Other Sites in the Area
‘Where can you swim with pigs?’ might be one of the most common questions visitors to the Bahamas have. However, when you sign up for Exuma day trips with Bahamas Air Tours, the famous pigs aren’t the only site that you get to see.
Staniel Cay
Staniel Cay might be where your boat tour officially begins, but it’s also a great attraction in its own right. Besides housing a small airport, it also has a small, charming town with just 118 full-time residents.
You’ll have time to explore the town on your day trip and will even stop at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club for lunch in the afternoon. As you eat your food, sip your ice-cold drink, and watch boats cruise by, you’ll be happy that you figured out the answer to the question of ‘where do you swim with pigs in the Bahamas?’.
Nurse Sharks at Compass Cay
Another highlight on Staniel Cay day trips is Compass Cay. Besides being another stunning island in the Bahamas, the waters around the island are also home to a very special animal: nurse sharks.
The owner of the island marina is a shark fan and managed to “tame” several nurse sharks a while back. They’ve bred over the years, and now the waters by the marina are full of several dozen sharks.
When you stop at Compass Cay, you’ll get to see these massive and amazing creatures up close. If you’re feeling brave, you can even choose to jump in the water alongside them. While that might sound scary, nurse sharks are almost always harmless. But the experience remains exhilarating nonetheless!
Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
If you thought pigs and sharks were the only animals you got to see on Exuma day trips, you’re in for a treat: you also get to see the endangered Bahamian rock iguana!
These beautiful lizards inhabit Bitter Guana Cay, another island close by Staniel Cay. You’ll get to see them up close on their island home, as well as appreciate the beauty of your surroundings. Bitter Guana Cay is one of the most beautiful islands in the Exumas.
Much of the time you spend on Exuma day trips is out on the bright blue water.
Where Do You Swim With Pigs in the Bahamas? In the Exumas
Where do you swim with pigs in the Bahamas? While tour companies may tell you that there are a few answers to that question, the only real answer is in the Exumas. There, you can find the original swimming pigs, as well as a plethora of other amazing sites worth visiting.
By traveling by plane with Bahamas Air Tours on a day trip from Nassau, you get to save time and travel in comfort. Sign up for a day trip today to enjoy the pigs and the other amazing attractions that the Exumas have to offer!
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