Exuma Day Away – Original Swimming Pigs Excursion

The headline here is not just the swimming pigs. This is a full Exuma sampler, with nurse sharks at Compass Cay, wild rock iguanas on Great Guana Cay, a sandbar stop, lunch at Black Point, and a fast ride through some of the Bahamas’ clearest water. You cover a lot of ground in one day.

I like the easy variety. You get animal encounters, island scenery, a local meal, and plenty of time on the water without arranging several separate trips. I also like the lively crew, with captains and guides such as Seymour, Joe, Cameo, Calvin, and Andrew praised for keeping the day friendly and organized.

The catch is simple: this is a long boat journey, not eight hours of island time. The power boat may be bumpy, seats can feel tight when the boat is full, and several people found the ride tiring. Bring a towel, strong sun protection, and a layer for wind.

Key points before you book

• Big Major Cay is the main animal stop: You get about 45 minutes with the original Exuma swimming pigs.
• Compass Cay brings the biggest thrill: You can enter shallow or deeper water near the nurse sharks.
• Expect roughly five hours on the boat: The ride to and between the cays is part of the experience, not dead time.
• Lunch is included at Black Point Yacht Club: You get a buffet-style Bahamian meal, with a vegetarian option available if requested ahead.
• The boat can carry up to 36 people: Group size may feel comfortable or crowded depending on the departure.
• Weather matters: Rough ocean conditions can cancel the trip, with a new date or full refund offered.

A big Exuma day from Montagu Beach

The day begins at 8:00 a.m. at Montagu Beach on New Providence Island. Pickup details depend on where you are staying, so give the operator your accommodation information when booking. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

From there, you set off by power boat toward the Exumas. The ride to the islands takes about an hour, sometimes a little longer depending on the current. The full outing lasts about 8 hours and 30 minutes, and the boat may travel more than 200 miles during the day.

That distance explains both the appeal and the main drawback. You can see several far-flung cays in one outing, but you will spend long stretches seated on the boat. Some rides last an hour to an hour and a half. If you want a relaxed beach day with hours on one island, this is the wrong shape of excursion.

If you enjoy the ride itself, the journey is more rewarding. You get water views, changing weather, music, and a sense of how scattered the Exuma Cays really are. The crew may allow you to connect music by Bluetooth, and drinks, snacks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages are included. The trip has a social, upbeat feel rather than a quiet nature cruise.

Great Guana Cay and its shy rock iguanas

The first listed stop is Great Guana Cay, where you feed Bahamian rock iguanas in a protected wildlife area. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, so think of it as a quick introduction rather than a long walk or wildlife expedition.

The iguanas live among the rocks and may stay tucked away at first. When they come out, you get a close look at one of the Bahamas’ unusual native animals in its natural setting. The feeding element makes the stop engaging, especially for families and anyone who enjoys wildlife photography.

The short timing is the limitation. You may have just enough time to see the animals, feed them, and take photographs before returning to the boat. Keep your expectations focused on a brief encounter, not a full nature tour.

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the minimum age is 3. The tour calls for moderate physical fitness, which is worth taking seriously when you add boat boarding, wet stops, and a full day in the sun.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

Compass Cay is the most adventurous part of the route for many people. The stop lasts around 30 minutes, and you can enter the water for a nurse shark encounter in shallow or deeper water.

This is not a distant wildlife sighting. You are in open water near the sharks, which makes the experience exciting and slightly nerve-racking. Nurse sharks are the focus here, and the clear water lets you see them well. The crew directs the interaction and helps keep the group moving through the stop.

If sharks are your main reason for booking, this may be the strongest part of the day. Several people considered it the high point, even above the pigs. If you are uneasy around large animals in the water, the stop may feel more intense than the rest of the itinerary.

You will want your phone or camera secured before entering the water. One person accidentally left a phone at the shark stop and had to arrange its return. That is a small but useful warning: use a waterproof pouch or leave valuable items safely on the boat.

Big Major Cay and the original Pig Beach

At Big Major Cay, you reach the trip’s signature stop. This is the original swimming pigs attraction in the central Exumas, and you have about 45 minutes with the pigs.

The pigs move through the shallow water and along the beach, often coming close to people. You may also see piglets. The attraction works because it is playful and unusual, but it is still a busy animal encounter. Follow the crew’s instructions, keep your belongings secure, and give the pigs room to move.

This stop is especially good for photographs, but do not expect a private beach scene. The timing must work for the whole boat, so 45 minutes passes quickly once you get into the water, meet the pigs, and take pictures.

The crew’s manner matters here. The best part of the experience is not just seeing the animals, but having staff explain how to approach them and keep the group organized. A friendly, confident tone helps first-time visitors relax without turning the encounter into a circus.

Sandbars, the Exuma Cays, and Pablo’s plane

Between the animal stops, the boat carries you through the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. This is where the water views do much of the work. The cays are small, scattered islands, and the bright shallows change as the boat passes from one stretch of water to another.

The captain chooses a sandbar based on the tide and conditions. The exact sandbar varies from trip to trip, and the stop lasts about 20 minutes. At low tide, these pale strips of sand appear in the middle of the water, making a simple but memorable place to walk, swim, and take photos.

You also pass the sunken plane wreck near Norman’s Cay, commonly linked to Pablo Escobar. It is a sightseeing stop from the water rather than a long visit, and some people may find it less interesting than extra time at a beach or sandbar. If you are more interested in swimming than unusual history, this is one part of the route you may consider less essential.

The water sightseeing is valuable because it ties the stops together. You are not simply being shuttled between attractions. You see why the Exumas are famous, with tiny cays, sandbars, and broad views from the boat.

Lunch at Black Point Yacht Club

Lunch at Black Point Yacht Club gives the day a welcome break from the boat. The meal is buffet style and features Bahamian food. It is included in the price, along with snacks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages.

The meal helps justify the structure of the excursion. You are not expected to pack a full day of food, and you get a chance to sit down on land during a day otherwise built around movement and water. A vegetarian option is available, but you should request it when booking.

Food quality can vary from day to day, but the meal is repeatedly described as a strong part of the experience. I would treat it as a useful local touch rather than a restaurant-focused tour. The main reason to book is the Exuma route, with lunch adding comfort and a taste of Bahamian cooking.

The boat ride is half the experience

You should book this tour only if you can accept substantial time on a power boat. Depending on currents and the day’s route, the ride to the first islands and the return can each take about an hour. Transfers between cays add more time, so roughly five hours of the 8.5-hour outing may be spent aboard.

The boat ride can be bumpy, especially in changing weather. Some people found it fun and fast, while others had sore backs the next day. Seats may feel close together if the vessel is full, and the standard capacity is up to 36 people.

The weather also affects comfort. December and January can be cool on the water, and wind feels stronger on a fast-moving boat. Wear your swimsuit before arriving because there is no changing room, then bring an outer layer for the ride back. Pack a towel, sunscreen, and sun protection. Towels are not supplied.

This is not a quiet luxury cruise. It is a practical, energetic way to reach several remote stops in one day. The crew’s attitude makes a real difference, and names connected with especially well-liked departures include Captain Seymour, Captain Joe, Captain Cameo, Calvin, Andrew, and other crew members. Staff may vary, but expect a social guide-led experience rather than an independent boat rental.

Is the $438 price fair?

At $438 per person, this is an expensive day. The price includes the boat, local guide, landing and facility fees, lunch, bottled water, snacks, alcoholic beverages, iguana feeding, the shark encounter, the pig visit, and sightseeing through the Exuma Cays.

That package is useful if you want to combine several activities. Booking separate transport to the Exumas, a pig beach visit, shark encounter, meals, and island transfers could become complicated and costly. Here, one operator handles the route and timing.

Still, value depends on your tolerance for boat time. If you care most about the pigs and would prefer to spend hours at one beach, the price may feel high for the amount of time at each stop. One stop lasts only 15 minutes, another 20 minutes, and the main animal encounters last 30 to 45 minutes.

I see the value in this as a once-in-a-trip sampler. You pay for access to faraway cays and several headline experiences in one day. You do not pay for long, slow time at each place.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to the Exumas without planning several separate outings. Families with older children can get a memorable mix of wildlife and water time, provided everyone is comfortable with the boat ride and children are supervised.

It also suits animal lovers, photographers, couples celebrating a special occasion, and active adults who want a full day with several highlights. The shark stop is especially appealing if you want more than a standard sightseeing cruise.

I would be cautious if you get seasick, have trouble sitting for long periods, dislike crowded boats, or want a calm beach escape. The group size can vary, and a boat holding up to 36 people will not feel intimate on every departure.

The experience requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If rough conditions cancel the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but late cancellations and changes are not accepted.

Should you book the Exuma swimming pigs excursion?

Book it if you want the widest possible sample of the Exumas in one day. The combination of pigs, nurse sharks, iguanas, sandbars, a Bahamian lunch, and water sightseeing is hard to match in a single outing.

Skip it if your ideal day means staying on one beach, avoiding a bumpy ride, or keeping the price down. The tour gives you breadth, not long stays. For the right person, that tradeoff is worthwhile: you return with several distinct memories rather than one extended beach visit.

FAQ

Where does the Exuma Day Away tour start?

The tour starts at Montagu Beach in Nassau, Bahamas, at 8:00 a.m. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the excursion last?

The experience lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes.

What islands and cays does the tour visit?

The route includes Great Guana Cay, Compass Cay, Big Major Cay, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, and a view of the sunken plane near Norman’s Cay.

Can I swim with sharks on this tour?

Yes. At Compass Cay, you can take part in a nurse shark encounter in shallow or deeper water. The stop lasts about 30 minutes.

How much time do I get with the swimming pigs?

The Pig Beach stop at Big Major Cay lasts about 45 minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at Black Point Yacht Club is included, along with bottled water, snacks, and alcoholic beverages.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, sunscreen, and an outer layer for wind or changing weather. There is no changing room, so wearing your swimsuit before the tour is practical.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The minimum age is 3, and children must be accompanied by an adult. The activity requires a moderate level of physical fitness.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. The same options apply if the minimum number of participants is not reached.