The main attraction for me when I went to the Bahamas was the opportunity to swim with pigs. I didn’t do much research before my trip – I didn’t know where the pigs lived (did you know that the Bahamas consist of 700 islands and 2,400 coral reefs, but only 30 of them are inhabited?). I also didn’t know how to get from Nassau (the capital of the Bahamas) International Airport to the island where the pigs are located.
When I delved deeper into the topic of swimming with pigs in the Bahamas, I learned that they inhabit a small island called Big Major Cay, which has no human residents except for a few dozen pigs. In this article, I’ll share all the information you need to know before visiting Pig Beach in the Bahamas – everything I wish I had known before my visit and some interesting facts I discovered while I was there. If you have any questions that you can’t find answers to here, feel free to reach out to me through the comment section below.
Before You Visit Pig Beach in the Bahamas: What You Need to Know
Location of Pig Beach in the Bahamas:
Pig Beach is nestled within the Bahamas and is part of the Exuma Cays. The Exuma Cays consist of 365 coral reefs and islands, located approximately 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Nassau. While Nassau is the favored destination for most tourists, the Exuma Cays offer a range of resorts, hotels, and vacation homes spread across the islands.
The island where the endearing pigs reside is called Big Major Cay, and it’s devoid of human inhabitants except for the charming porkers. The nearest inhabited island to Big Major Cay is Staniel Cay, a small island with a population of around 110 people, blessed with an airport. If you aspire to visit the delightful swimming pigs, you have two options: you can establish your base on Staniel Cay (a mere ten-minute boat ride away from the pigs!), or you can embark on a day trip from Nassau. Irrespective of your starting point, whether it’s Nassau, Staniel Cay, or any other island in the Exuma Cays, the sole mode of transportation to reach Pig Beach is by boat.
Tip: When arranging your excursion to Pig Beach, be sure to verify if the itinerary includes a visit to Big Major Cay. There are other “pig beaches” in the Bahamas, but the original one is situated in the Exuma Cays.
The Arrival of the Pigs at Pig Beach:
The origin stories of how these adorable pigs ended up on Big Major Cay are diverse and intriguing. Tales include shipwrecks where the pigs swam ashore, sailors abandoning them, and pigs being moved from the nearby Staniel Island due to intolerable living conditions. The most frequently cited authentic story of their arrival revolves around two farmers who brought the pigs to Big Major Cay in the late 1990s, preparing for the anticipated Y2K computer glitch, which was expected to cause supply chain disruptions and potentially food shortages. The Y2K crisis never transpired, but the pigs remained on Big Major Cay and, lo and behold, they multiplied.
Ideal Times to Experience Pig Beach:
Pig Beach is accessible all year round, but it’s essential to consider the high tourist season and the prospect of inclement weather during hurricane season.
The off-peak season falls between September and mid-November, offering an opportunity to share Pig Beach with fewer fellow visitors.
The peak season is from December to January, with Pig Beach becoming particularly crowded during this period, especially around the Christmas holidays. The peak season continues until April.
The off-peak season returns from June to September. However, while you’ll encounter fewer tourists during the summer, you may also face the risk of hurricanes or severe tropical storms, along with rainy and overcast weather.
Morning vs. Afternoon Visits: The pigs are typically livelier and more eager to interact with visitors in the morning. In the afternoon, they tend to be more sluggish, and convincing them to join you for a swim can be challenging. Mornings are also busier, as nearly all tour operators make stops at Pig Beach during that time. When I visited in the late afternoon, our group was the sole boat anchored on the beach, granting us exclusive access to the pigs.
However, regardless of the time you choose for your visit, you’re bound to have a delightful time with the pigs.
Tip: If you charter your own boat or embark on a self-guided tour, you can plan your Pig Beach visit during times when tour boats are not present. Early mornings from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and certain afternoon hours allow you to enjoy the company of the pigs without the crowds.
The Closest Island to Pig Beach in the Bahamas
Staniel Cay is just a short boat ride away from Pig Beach, situated on Big Major Cay. It takes less than 10 minutes to reach Big Major Cay from Staniel Cay! However, even if you’re not staying on Staniel Cay, you can visit the swimming pigs through various options:
How to Get to Pig Beach
You have different choices to visit Pig Beach in the Bahamas, but all of them involve being part of a guided tour unless you’re traveling by your own boat:
Visiting Pig Beach from Staniel Cay (the island near Big Major Cay, where the pigs reside) – a 10-minute boat ride.
Visiting Pig Beach from Great Exuma – a 2-hour boat ride.
Touring Pig Beach from Nassau – a 35-minute flight to Staniel Cay or a 3-hour speedboat trip.
Pig Beach day trips from Florida (a 1-hour flight to Andros Island, followed by a 45-minute flight to Staniel Cay).
All these options are typically full-day tours that include other stops besides Pig Beach. You can read the detailed itinerary of my Pig Beach tour here. If you’re willing to pay extra for some private time with the pigs, you can opt for a private tour instead of a group tour. If you’re touring Pig Beach from Nassau, you can choose between a speedboat or a plane to get to Staniel Cay.
By Plane from Nassau,By Boat from Nassau
See below for cost details for each option:
Visiting Pig Beach from Nassau by boat: $260 per person.
Visiting Pig Beach from Nassau by plane: $675 per person.
Pig Beach on Staniel Cay: $300 per person.
Private Pig Beach tour on Staniel Cay: Starting at $999 for the smallest boat (up to 4 people).
Pig Beach day trips from Florida: There are three companies offering day trips to Pig Beach from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport: Bahama Air Tours and Makers Air. Prices range from $849 to $900, depending on the time of year and availability. Check for special offers with all companies.
Children under two years old typically don’t need to pay.
Prices may vary slightly depending on the tour company you book with.
Notes on Boat Tours: The most cost-effective way to visit Pig Beach from Nassau is by boat. However, it’s also the least comfortable way to get there since the journey can be quite bumpy, and you’ll spend several hours on the boat. It’s also an open-air boat, which means you’ll be exposed to inclement weather on rainy or windy days. Trips are occasionally canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions. Traveling by plane is more reliable and is seldom canceled.
What to Expect When Visiting Pig Beach
Don’t expect to spend the entire day with the pigs. If you’re taking a boat tour from Nassau, you’ll only have about 15 minutes at Pig Beach. If you’re taking a boat tour from Staniel Cay, you can spend more time with the pigs, but if you want to spend more than half an hour with the little piggies, you’ll need to pay for a private boat tour. (If you think half an hour with the pigs doesn’t sound like a long time, there isn’t much else to do on Pig Beach besides taking photos with the pigs, swimming with them, and oinking at the little piggies.) These tours also include many other stops besides Pig Beach, such as swimming with nurse sharks, sandbars, and sea caves (sites may vary depending on the tour company and weather conditions).
Don’t expect to see the pigs in the water. They do swim, but not always. In the afternoons, most of the pigs are usually lounging on the beach.
Expect to share your experience with other tourists – most of the time, several boats will dock at Pig Beach simultaneously. If you want to have the pigs all to yourself, you’ll need to pay for a private tour.
Expect to spend most of the day in or around the water. If you’re not a swimmer, don’t worry – life jackets are usually available on the boats, so you can wear one for added safety in the water. You’ll need to wade through shallow waters to reach Pig Beach, Compass Cay, and the sandbars, and you’ll also need to swim into Thunderball Grotto. If you’re not comfortable with swimming, you can stay on the boat during beach tours/snorkeling excursions.
Visiting Pig Beach: Is It Ethical?
In the past, some events have raised concerns about whether these pigs are being treated well and whether visiting Pig Beach is ethical.
In fact, these pigs are carefully cared for by a caretaker committee. These caretakers are responsible for maintaining the pigs’ enclosures, providing fresh water, feeding them, and addressing any potential issues. They have even built a conservation area for the baby pigs to protect them from the elements. A veterinarian also regularly checks on the pigs’ well-being. The pigs are tagged and registered.
The pigs are not disturbed by visitors unless the visitors behave poorly. (See below for considerations when visiting Pig Beach). When boats arrive, the pigs get excited because it usually means “feeding time”! They also recognize the boatmen who bring visitors every day, and our boatman was immediately swarmed by the pigs when he jumped into the water – they were thrilled to play with him. Our boatman seemed to genuinely enjoy swimming with the pigs and showed a lot of respect for them. However, it cannot be said for all visitors, which is why I added the following section below.
Things to Keep in Mind When Visiting Pig Beach
Unfortunately, not all tourists exercise common sense when visiting Pig Beach, and there have been incidents in the past where both pigs and tourists were injured. I hope that tour companies can issue guidelines on “Pig Beach etiquette” and emphasize certain rules, especially for larger groups.
Respect the pigs when interacting with them. They don’t like to be picked up, and don’t force them to feel uncomfortable just for a cute photo, and definitely do not attempt to ride them.
Let the pigs come to you; don’t chase them onto the beach. Remember that these are living creatures, not props for photography.
If you’re feeding the pigs, don’t give them processed food. They can eat vegetables, fruits (like apples and watermelons), and bread. Be cautious when feeding them – they might nibble your whole hand! Placing food on the ground for them is a safer approach. If you have food on you, they might attempt to snatch it, so be careful with your belongings when getting off the boat.
Leave no trash behind when you depart from Pig Beach.
What to Bring to Pig Beach
Most of these items are self-explanatory, but I recommend taking the following items with you to Pig Beach:
Swimsuit/bikini.
Beach towel/sarong (great for covering up when you’re not in the water, but a beach cover-up will work too).
Camera or smartphone (fully charged or with a portable charger).
Waterproof case or bag for your smartphone: While you can walk through shallow water to reach Pig Beach, you can’t get into Thunderball Grotto without getting your phone wet. While most modern iPhones are waterproof, remember that it’s still not advisable to expose your phone’s charging port to saltwater, which is highly corrosive and can damage your phone.
If you want to take underwater photos, a GoPro or underwater camera.
Sunscreen and a sun hat (especially if you’re taking a long boat ride from Nassau – the sun is relentless, and there’s very little shade on the boats).
Sunglasses.
If you plan to snorkel or take underwater photos or videos with the pigs and sharks, wear goggles. Your tour operator is likely to provide them, but check when booking your tour.
Insect repellent (mosquitoes can be quite aggressive!) – you can find travel-sized bottles on Amazon.
Water and snacks (most boat operators will have water and snacks on board, but if you drink more water than the average person and consider yourself a big snacker, I’d recommend bringing extra water and snacks).
A sweater or lightweight jacket – it can get breezy on the boats, especially when riding a speedboat. We also encountered a heavy rain shower, and I wished I had a long-sleeved shirt or a lightweight rain jacket.
If you plan to buy things on one of the inhabited islands you’ll stop at and tip your guide, bring cash or a credit card. Our tour included lunch on Staniel Cay, but not alcoholic beverages. There are no ATMs on any of the islands you’ll stop at, but some places do accept credit cards.
Additional Considerations When Booking Your Pig Beach Tour
Pack everything you need to make the all-day journey comfortable.
Keep in mind that these are full-day tours, and most of your day will be spent on the boat. Ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable experience. Some people might want to listen to audiobooks/podcasts during the flight/boat ride to Great Exuma, so consider adding headphones to your list.
Weather
Be sure to check the weather before booking your trip to Pig Beach – trips can be canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions, especially for boat tours departing from Nassau, which involve several hours on a speedboat (even if the trip isn’t canceled, spending several hours on a boat in the rain isn’t pleasant). Book your trip on sunny days to avoid cancellations and disappointments.
