Swimming with pigs in Exuma: A local guide to Pig Beach 2026
Swimming with the pigs is the photo everyone wants from Exuma, and for good reason. Pigs paddling out through clear turquoise water to meet your boat is one of the most unusual animal encounters in the Caribbean.
Big Major Cay, known as Pig Beach, an uninhabited cay in the Exuma Cays next to Staniel Cay.
How to get there
Only by boat. Staniel Cay and the nearby cays are minutes away, Great Exuma is a full day trip, and Nassau is a long day by speedboat or a short flight plus a boat ride.
Time with the pigs
Usually a short stop, often around half an hour, as part of a longer day of island hopping.
Best time of day
Morning, when the pigs are more active and fewer boats are around.
Know before you book
Some tours visit pigs on other cays. If you want the original colony, confirm that the trip goes to Big Major Cay.
The part that surprises most visitors is the planning. Pig Beach sits far up the Exuma Cays, well away from the airport on Great Exuma where most guests land. We manage and book vacation rentals across Exuma, and this is how we help our own guests plan the day.
Where the swimming pigs live
The original swimming pigs live on Big Major Cay, a small uninhabited island in the Exuma Cays. Nobody calls it that on the water: to locals and captains it’s simply Pig Beach. It lies roughly 80 miles southeast of Nassau, right beside Staniel Cay, and more than 60 miles northwest of George Town.
How the pigs got there is still a mystery. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism shares the two most common stories: sailors who left them planning to come back for a meal, or survivors that swam ashore from a nearby shipwreck.
Today the colony has dedicated custodians. Local volunteers and tour operators bring food and fresh water, and the beach has water tanks, a nursery and separate pens for piglets and sick pigs, which are treated by a veterinarian from Nassau. Signs on the beach explain how to interact with them.
The larger pigs swim out to the boats; piglets usually stay near the shore.
The original pigs vs other “pig beaches”
The success of Big Major Cay inspired other swimming pig spots around the country. Some are closer to where visitors stay, which makes them a practical option, but they are not the same experience.
Where to swim with pigs in The Bahamas
Location
Where it is
Good to know
Big Major Cay (Pig Beach)
Exuma Cays, next to Staniel Cay
The original colony. Reached on full-day trips from Great Exuma or Nassau, or a short ride from the nearby cays
Other Exuma cays
Closer to Great Exuma
Some half-day tours from Great Exuma visit pigs on closer cays, such as White Bay Cay
Rose Island
Near Nassau
About 25 minutes by boat from Nassau, an easy half day if you’re staying on New Providence
None of these is a bad choice. Just make sure you know which one you’re booking, since many tours use “swimming pigs” in the name whichever beach they visit.
Your starting point decides almost everything: how long the day is, how much time you spend in a boat, and which tours make sense.
From Great Exuma
Most guests fly into Exuma International Airport (GGT) and stay on Great Exuma, near George Town. Reaching the original pigs from here is a full day on the water. Full-day tours leave from Barraterre in the north of the island and run about eight hours, stopping at several cays along the way.
If you’d rather stay closer, half-day tours from Great Exuma are shorter and often visit pigs on nearer cays. For a group or family, a private captain is the most comfortable way to do it. In Exuma we recommend Theo’s Water Sports and Tahj’s Island Adventures, both experienced local captains who can tailor the day to your group.
From Staniel Cay and the Exuma Cays
If you’re staying in the Exuma Cays, Pig Beach is a short boat ride away. That’s the big advantage: you can go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when most day-trip boats have left, and spend the rest of the day exploring.
Staniel Cay has its own airstrip, served by small regional airlines and private charters, so you can also reach the cays by air and continue by boat.
From Nassau
From Nassau there are two options. Full-day speedboat tours make the trip down the Exuma Cays and back in one long day. The faster route is to fly to Staniel Cay, roughly 30 minutes, and continue by boat.
For a private flight, we work with Cameron’s Golden Wings Charter, who can help with charter flights to the Bahamas. If time is short, Rose Island is the closer alternative.
Getting to Pig Beach by starting point
Starting point
Typical day
Best for
Great Exuma
Full day (about 8 hours) to Big Major Cay, or half day to closer pig cays
Guests staying near George Town
Staniel Cay and the Exuma Cays
A short ride, any time of day
Flexible timing and quieter visits
Nassau
Full day by speedboat, or a short flight plus boat
Guests based on New Providence
Group tour, private captain or your own boat?
Group tours are the simplest choice. The operator handles the route, the food for the animals and the snorkel gear, and you just show up. The trade-off is a fixed schedule and a busy boat.
A private captain gives you the same stops at your own pace. You decide how long to stay at each spot, when to have lunch and when to head home. For families and groups traveling together, it’s usually the most enjoyable way to see the pigs.
Renting your own boat works well for experienced boaters, but the Exumas deserve respect. One family who stayed with us at Foster Hill saw the pigs on a guided tour on their first trip, then rented their own boat the next time. Their advice: some areas get so shallow with the tide that a boat can’t pass, so you need to know how to read the water and time your outings.
Local tip: If you’re not confident in shallow, tidal water, book a captain for the long run up to Pig Beach and keep your own boat for the beach clubs and sandbars closer to home.
What a day on the water looks like
The pigs are rarely the only stop. Most trips combine them with some of the best spots in the Exuma Cays:
Iguana cays
Islands like Allen’s Cay are home to the endangered Bahamian rock iguana.
Compass Cay
Known for the nurse sharks that gather around the marina. A small landing fee usually applies.
Thunderball Grotto
A cave you can snorkel into, famous as a filming location for the James Bond film Thunderball (1965).
Sandbars
Long white sandbars that appear at low tide, ideal for a swim and a break.
At Pig Beach, the boat anchors in shallow water close to the beach and the pigs swim out to meet it. Your captain will hand out food and explain how to feed them. The larger pigs come straight to the boat, while the piglets tend to stay closer to shore.
Swimming pig rules (and why they matter)
In early 2017, at least seven of the pigs were found dead. A preliminary examination pointed to the pigs swallowing too much sand while eating food tossed on the beach, with a drought affecting their water supply as a possible factor. Since then, feeding has been taken much more seriously.
Follow these simple rules and you help keep the colony healthy:
Feed only what your captain provides. Never give the pigs your own snacks, and never alcohol.
Feed them in the water or from your hand, never on the sand.
Let the pigs come to you. Don’t chase them, corner them or block their way back to the beach.
Leave the piglets alone. Don’t pick them up, and keep a respectful distance from mothers.
Don’t stand directly behind a pig, and keep your hands flat when feeding to avoid nips.
Take everything back with you. There is no waste collection on the island.
Is it safe for kids?
Yes, with supervision. The pigs are used to people, but they’re feral animals and can get pushy when they smell food. Larger pigs may nudge or nip, so keep small children close and let an adult handle the feeding.
Cover any cuts or scrapes before you go in, since the shallow water around the beach is shared with the animals. And remember that the long boat rides can be the hardest part for young children: shorter trips from a home in the Exuma Cays are much easier on little ones. Our guide to family-friendly vacation rentals has more ideas.
Best time to visit
The drier months, roughly December through April, usually bring the calmest seas and the best conditions for a long boat day. Summer is warm and quieter, but it falls within hurricane season (June 1 through November 30), so keep your plans flexible and leave a spare day in case inclement weather moves your trip.
Time of day matters too. Mornings are when the pigs are most active and when you’re most likely to have the beach to yourselves, before the day-trip boats arrive.
Sandbars in the Exuma Cays, a common stop on pig beach tours.
What to bring
Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
A waterproof phone case or underwater camera
A towel and a rash guard or light cover-up for the boat
Water shoes or sandals that stay on in the water
Cash for landing fees and tips
Where to stay for a swimming pigs trip
Where you stay decides whether the pigs are a short morning outing or the whole day.
In the Exuma Cays
Staying near Staniel Cay puts Pig Beach within easy reach. Little Majors Spot is a 100-acre private island in the Exuma Cays with two docks, a four-bedroom beach house for up to eight guests, and Thunderball Grotto and Compass Cay a short boat ride away. Luxumas is an eco-luxury private island retreat with a dock, a pool, and a captain, cook and housekeeping on site. Browse all our Exuma Cays vacation rentals.
On Great Exuma
Most guests stay here for the easy airport access, the beach clubs on Stocking Island and the choice of homes. Foster Hill brings together several high-end homes with a marina, and our rentals with a boat or private dock make it easy to plan days on the water. Set aside one full day for the pigs and enjoy the rest of the week closer to home.
If you want resort-style convenience without giving up the privacy of a villa, our concierge team can arrange tours and excursions, grocery delivery, airport pickup and private chef services, and help connect you with trusted local captains. For more ideas around the island, see our guide to the best things to do in Exuma.
Many of our guests fall for the Exumas and start asking about a place of their own. If that’s you, our sister company can help you explore property for sale in the Bahamas.
Peter grew up in The Bahamas and has spent more than 10 years helping The Good Life Bahamas guests plan their trips, from boat days in the Exuma Cays to choosing the right villa.
For most visitors, yes, especially when it’s part of a full day exploring the Exuma Cays. The time with the pigs is short, so the best experiences combine Pig Beach with iguanas, Thunderball Grotto and the sandbars. Go in with realistic expectations: the pigs are wild animals, not a show.
Is Pig Beach ethical?
The colony is cared for by local custodians who provide fresh water, shelter for piglets and veterinary care, and visitor rules were tightened after the 2017 deaths. You can help by choosing operators who follow the feeding guidelines, feeding only approved food in the water, and never chasing or picking up the pigs.
Can you visit Pig Beach without a tour?
Yes. Big Major Cay is reached only by boat, but that can be your own rental or a private charter. Rentals are best for experienced boaters, because the water in the Exumas can be very shallow and tidal. Everyone else is better off with a local captain.
How much time do you get with the pigs?
Usually a short stop, often around 30 minutes, as part of a longer itinerary. If you want more time or quieter visits, stay in the Exuma Cays or book a private captain who can adjust the schedule.
Can you swim with pigs near Nassau?
Yes. Rose Island, about 25 minutes by boat from Nassau, has its own swimming pigs and makes an easy half-day trip. The original colony on Big Major Cay is a full day from Nassau by speedboat, or a short flight to Staniel Cay plus a boat ride.
Do the swimming pigs bite?
They can nip, mostly when they smell food. Feed with a flat hand, don’t stand directly behind them, keep children close and follow your captain’s instructions. Serious problems are rare when visitors follow the rules.
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