Exuma Island Hopping Swimming Pigs Tour with Lunch from Nassau

The swimming pigs may be Exuma’s headline act, but this full-day powerboat trip gives you much more: rare rock iguanas, friendly nurse sharks, a Bahamian lunch, a sunken plane wreck, and time on a sandbar. I like the mix of wildlife and water stops, and I like that the crew keeps drinks, snacks, music, and snorkeling gear moving all day. The catch is simple: Exuma is far from Nassau, so expect roughly four hours aboard the boat.

I also like the small-group feel, with no more than 25 people, and the way the crew helps passengers on and off the boat. Bring a light jacket, towel, sunscreen, and a dry cover-up. The boat moves fast, and wind can make the ride chilly even under a warm Bahamian sun.

Six things to know before you book

• The boat ride is part of the adventure: You cover a lot of water quickly between Nassau and the Exuma Cays.
• Six stops pack a lot into one day: Iguanas, nurse sharks, lunch, pigs, a plane wreck, and beach time all fit into about eight hours.
• The swimming pigs are not the only star: Compass Cay’s nurse sharks and the final sandbar are major highlights.
• The crew sets the tone: Crews have included Winston, Alex, TJ, Keith, Joey, Jasmine, and Chris, with a strong focus on safety and service.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect lunch at a local restaurant, light snacks, bottled water, soda, and local beer for passengers age 18 and older.
• Weather can change the day: Boat time and stop lengths depend on sea conditions, and the tour may be rescheduled or refunded if poor weather forces cancellation.

Why this Exuma day trip packs in so much

At $438.90 per person, this is not a casual harbor cruise. You are paying for a full day of transport between islands, a fast boat, a guided route, lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, landing fees, and several famous Exuma sights.

The value depends on how you like to travel. If you want to visit one beach and relax for the day, this is too busy and too expensive. If you want to see several hard-to-reach places without arranging separate boats, it makes more sense. The route covers a lot of ground in a single outing, and the transport alone would be difficult to organize independently from Nassau.

The experience is also social and active. You will get in and out of the water several times, walk on small islands, climb aboard the boat, and spend long stretches sitting during the crossings. A moderate level of fitness is recommended. The trip is not permitted for pregnant passengers and is not recommended for cruise ship passengers because of the early start, length, and fixed schedule.

The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. at Carnivale Bahamas in Sterling Marina at Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island. You make your own way to the marina, check in, and board the powerboat. The day ends back at the same meeting point.

The fast ride from Paradise Island to Exuma

The powerboat is sleek, quick, and central to the whole plan. Exuma is not close to Nassau, and the boat allows you to visit several cays in one day rather than spending the entire outing at one location.

The ride can be smooth, but speed brings wind. Several practical tips come up again and again for good reason: pack a light jacket or hoodie, bring a towel, and carry something dry to put on after swimming. A bathrobe may be more than you need, but a warm cover-up is sensible. The sun is strong, and you may feel cool after getting wet and then sitting in the wind.

You will spend substantial time seated on the boat. One estimate puts the total boat time at about four hours, though the exact amount depends on conditions and the route that day. The crew breaks up the ride with stops, music, drinks, and snacks. If you enjoy looking across clear water and passing small islands, the crossings can be relaxing. If you need constant activity, the long stretches may test your patience.

The boat carries a maximum of 25 people. That is large enough for a lively group but small enough that crew members can offer a hand when you board, leave the boat, or enter the water. Several crew combinations have received special praise, including Winston with Alex and TJ, and Keith with Jasmine and TJ. You cannot count on requesting a particular team, but the company has a reputation for friendly, attentive crews.

Allen Cay and the rare Bahamian rock iguanas

The first stop is Allen Cay, where you see Bahamian rock iguanas. This species lives only on three small islands in Exuma, so this is more than a quick animal photo opportunity. It gives the day a strong start by showing you a creature tied closely to this small island chain.

The stop lasts about 20 minutes. That is enough time to see the iguanas and take photographs, but not enough for a slow nature walk. Follow the crew’s instructions around the animals. The crew explains where to stand and how to behave, which matters when you are close to wildlife in a confined setting.

The short stop also shows the basic rhythm of the day. You will not have an hour at every island. Instead, the tour offers several focused encounters, with the crew keeping the schedule moving so you can reach all six locations.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

Compass Cay is often the first major surprise of the trip. Nurse sharks gather around the marina, and they are accustomed to people. You can enter the water and swim near them, with the crew guiding you through the safest way to approach the animals.

The stop is scheduled for about 40 minutes. That gives you time for photographs and a close look in the clear water, though people who want a long swim may wish for more. The nurse sharks are a strong reason to choose this tour even if you are not especially interested in pigs.

You should still treat these as wild animals. Listen closely to the crew, follow the rules at the dock and in the water, and do not assume that a calm shark is the same as a domesticated one. The crew’s safety guidance is especially useful for children and for anyone who has never been in the water with nurse sharks.

This is one of the most memorable parts of the route because it combines an unusual animal encounter with clear, shallow water. It also gives you a chance to get wet early in the day, so keep your towel and dry clothes easy to reach rather than buried in a bag.

Great Exuma lunch at the midpoint

After the first water stops, the boat heads to Great Exuma for lunch at a local restaurant. The meal is described as a Bahamian-style buffet, with a cold drink included. Lunch takes about an hour.

This break matters more than it may seem. By this point, you have been sitting in the wind, climbing in and out of the boat, and spending time in the water. A proper meal and a pause on land give you a chance to warm up, dry off, and reset before the afternoon stops.

The food has earned especially strong praise, which is useful at this price point. Lunch is not an extra cost, and you do not need to plan a separate restaurant stop. The exact menu is not specified, so do not book this expecting a particular dish. Think of it as a local buffet that keeps the long day practical.

The included provisions continue on the boat. You receive bottled water, soda, light snacks, and local beer for those age 18 and older. The crew keeps checking on passengers and offering refreshments, which helps during the long crossings.

Big Major Cay and the swimming pigs

Big Major Cay, often called Pig Beach, is the tour’s most famous stop. You can feed and swim with the pigs in the shallow water, take photographs, and watch them paddle toward the visitors.

The scheduled visit lasts about 45 minutes. That is enough for the main encounter, but it is not a leisurely beach afternoon. The pigs are the reason many people book the outing, so you should be ready to enter the water soon after arriving. Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and keep your towel nearby.

The pigs have become famous through television and social media, but the setting is still striking. You are standing in bright, clear Exuma water beside animals that have made this small cay their home. The scene is playful and unusual, though it can also be busy and active when several people are feeding pigs at once.

Listen to the crew about where to stand, how to feed the animals, and when to give them space. This is a supervised encounter, not a private beach visit. If you want a quiet, untouched island experience, the popularity of Pig Beach may disappoint. If you want the classic Exuma photograph and a memorable animal encounter, this stop delivers the central promise of the day.

Norman’s Cay and the famous plane wreck

At Norman’s Cay, you have about 30 minutes to snorkel around a sunken plane wreck. The wreck is often linked to Pablo Escobar and the drug trade of the late 1970s, though the story is presented as a famous local legend rather than a fully documented attraction in the tour details.

The wreck adds a different texture to the day. Instead of animals or sand, you get an underwater object with a story attached to it. It is also a useful stop for anyone who wants some snorkeling without booking a separate reef tour.

Be clear about the kind of snorkeling involved. This is not a tour focused on traditional reef snorkeling, and the schedule gives you about half an hour at the wreck. The provided equipment is included, so you do not need to bring your own mask and snorkel. You do need to be comfortable in open water and able to get in and out of the boat.

The plane wreck is one of the most distinctive stops because it gives the route a bit of mystery and history without taking over the entire day. Some people may find the nurse sharks or sandbar more memorable, but the wreck is a welcome change of pace.

The final sandbar or beach stop

The last stop is a beach or sandbar in the Exuma area. You get about 35 minutes for swimming, sunbathing, and photographs before the return ride.

This may be the least structured part of the tour, and that is a good thing. After several guided animal stops, you can simply enjoy the water. Sandbars can feel especially beautiful because the water is shallow and clear, and the horizon seems to open around you.

Do not count on a specific beach or sandbar. The captain chooses the location, and conditions can affect the plan. That flexibility is sensible on the water, but it means the final stop may vary. Bring sunscreen and a cover-up, since shade is not guaranteed by the details provided.

For some people, this quiet swim becomes the best part of the day. It gives you time to enjoy the setting without feeding animals, following a guide, or racing to the next stop.

What the crew does well, and where the day can fall short

The crew’s service is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Crew members help passengers get on and off the boat, explain safety rules around animals, keep drinks and snacks available, and add music to the ride. Names such as Winston, Alex, TJ, Keith, Joey, Jasmine, and Chris have been singled out by name, though your crew will depend on the date.

The staff also helps make the trip workable for families. One account describes a parent feeling comfortable with a child aboard, and the crew’s hands-on help is useful for anyone who needs a little extra support around the boat.

The main drawback is the time ratio. You may spend close to half the day riding between locations, while many stops last 20 to 45 minutes. Most people appreciate the variety, but anyone expecting long, unhurried time at each cay should adjust their expectations.

Weather can also change the schedule. One outing had shorter stops because the captain was concerned about conditions. That decision may be frustrating, especially at this price, but boat safety has to come first. The tour requires good weather and may be canceled if conditions are poor. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who will get the most from this $438.90 tour

I would choose this for a first or only trip to Nassau when you want to see several Exuma highlights in one day. It suits active couples, families with older children, solo visitors, and anyone who values variety over long stretches on one beach.

It is also a good match if you want the convenience of one organized route. Lunch, drinks, snacks, landing fees, snorkeling equipment, and transport are included, so you do not have to arrange each piece yourself.

I would think twice if you dislike fast boat rides, get cold easily, want a quiet day, or prefer deep snorkeling over animal encounters. Pregnant passengers cannot join, and the moderate physical fitness requirement matters because you will repeatedly board the boat and enter the water.

The price is high, but the route is ambitious. You are not paying only for a pig encounter. You are paying to connect several distant locations in one day, with a crew, food, equipment, and transport included. For someone who would otherwise book several separate outings, the cost can be reasonable. For someone who wants only Pig Beach, it is harder to justify.

Practical details to settle before departure

Confirmation arrives when you book, and the ticket is mobile. You need to make your own way to Carnivale Bahamas at 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, for the 8:30 a.m. start.

Pack a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a light jacket or hoodie, and dry clothes. Keep your phone protected from spray and easy to reach for photographs. Bring enough personal medication and any item you need for a full day away from your hotel.

A restroom is available on board. The boat also carries bottled water, soda, snacks, and local beer for passengers at least 18 years old. The tour ends back at the starting marina after about eight hours.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded, and the company may require a minimum number of participants to run the trip.

Should you book the Exuma Island Hopping tour?

Book it if you want a big day with several memorable stops and you are comfortable trading relaxed beach time for speed and variety. The nurse sharks, swimming pigs, and clear-water sandbar give the trip strong highlights, while the iguanas, lunch, and plane wreck keep the route from feeling like a single-attraction outing.

Skip it if you want a slow island day or if four hours on a fast boat sounds tiring. At $438.90, this is a major holiday expense, so make sure you value the full combination of animals, boat travel, food, and multiple islands.

For the right person, Born Free Charters offers an efficient way to see why Exuma is so famous. Bring a warm layer, protect your camera, listen to the crew, and expect a busy day that finishes with a lot of good photographs.

FAQ

Where does the Exuma Island Hopping tour start?

The tour starts at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole. You make your own way to the meeting point.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:30 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about eight hours and ends back at the starting marina.

What stops are included?

The route includes Allen Cay, Compass Cay, Great Exuma, Big Major Cay, Norman’s Cay, and a final beach or sandbar stop.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served at a local restaurant on Great Exuma and is described as a Bahamian-style buffet. A cold drink is included.

Are drinks and snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. The tour includes bottled water, soda, light snacks, local beer for passengers age 18 and older, and snorkeling equipment. A restroom is also available on board.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient number of participants cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.