Exuma Island Hopping Swimming Pigs Tour with Lunch from Nassau

The swimming pigs are only the headline. This 8-hour Exuma powerboat trip packs six very different stops into one long day: rock iguanas, nurse sharks, a Bahamian lunch, Pig Beach, a sunken plane wreck, and a sandbar. I like the variety, and I like that the boat lets you reach far-flung cays without arranging several separate outings.

I also like the attentive crew, with names such as Winston, Alex, TJ, Keith, Jasmine, and Joey praised for helping people on and off the boat, keeping drinks moving, and explaining what to do around the animals. The catch is simple: you spend a lot of time on the boat, often about four hours in total. At $438.90 per person, this is a big-ticket day, so it suits you best if you want many Exuma highlights in one outing rather than long, quiet time at one beach.

Six things to know before you book

• The boat ride is part of the experience: The speedy powerboat makes the distant Exuma Cays possible, but wind, spray, and a chilly ride are part of the deal.
• Big Major Cay is not the whole day: You also visit iguanas, nurse sharks, Great Exuma, Norman’s Cay, and a sandbar or beach.
• Lunch is included: A Bahamian-style buffet and cold drink are served at a local restaurant on Great Exuma.
• Animal encounters are close-up: You can feed the swimming pigs and swim near nurse sharks, with crew guidance for safety.
• Norman’s Cay adds a history-and-mystery stop: Snorkel near the wreck known as Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane.
• Bring warm layers and a towel: The boat moves fast, and you are in and out of the water all day.

What this Nassau to Exuma day actually feels like

You meet at Carnivale Bahamas at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole, Paradise Island, for an 8:30 am start. You make your own way to the harbor, so leave enough time to find the marina and check in without rushing.

The boat is a sleek powerboat, and speed matters here. Exuma is a long way from Nassau, so a fast boat allows the crew to fit several cays into one day. The ride can be smooth and exciting, but it is also windy. A light jacket, hoodie, towel, and spare dry layer are smart choices, even on a sunny Bahamian morning.

The boat carries up to 25 people. That is small enough for the crew to help with boarding, hand out snacks, and keep an eye on people in the water, but it is not a private charter. Expect music, drinks, conversation, and a lively group atmosphere rather than a silent sightseeing trip.

Light snacks, bottled water, soda, and local beer are included. Beer is available only to people aged 18 or older. There is also a restroom on board, snorkeling equipment, and the required landing and facility fees.

Allen Cay and the rare Bahamian rock iguanas

The first stop is Allen Cay, home to Bahamian rock iguanas. These lizards are found nowhere else in the world beyond three small Exuma islands, making this more than a quick photo stop.

You have about 20 minutes here. That is enough for a close look and pictures, but not enough for a slow walk around the island. Follow the crew’s instructions around the animals. The short stop works well as a first break after the boat ride, but it may feel brief if you want a longer wildlife experience.

This is one of the tour’s best features for anyone who wants more than the usual pig beach visit. You get a glimpse of a species tied closely to these small islands, then return to the boat for the next stop.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

Compass Cay is famous for its nurse sharks, which gather around the marina. These sharks are accustomed to people and may come close while you stand or swim in the water.

You get about 40 minutes here. The crew helps you understand where to go and how to behave around the sharks. The experience is very visual, so this is a good place to have your phone or camera ready, provided it is protected from water.

The nurse sharks are a major highlight for many people, sometimes even more memorable than the pigs. You can swim near them and, depending on the conditions and crew instructions, take close-up pictures. This is an animal encounter, not a traditional snorkeling session, so do not expect a reef tour filled with fish.

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended for the excursion. You will climb on and off the boat, enter and leave the water, and spend much of the day moving between stops. Pregnant people are not permitted on the tour.

Great Exuma lunch and a useful pause

After Compass Cay, the boat heads to Great Exuma for lunch. You receive a Bahamian-style buffet and a cold drink at a local restaurant, with about an hour set aside.

This break matters. The boat ride and water stops can be tiring, and a proper meal is more useful than relying on snacks until late afternoon. The included lunch also adds value to the price, since you are not paying separately for food during the main outing.

The meal is not the reason to book the tour, but it gives the day a local touch and breaks up the fast pace. If you have dietary concerns, the supplied details do not specify special menus, so ask the operator before booking rather than assuming options will be available.

Big Major Cay and the famous swimming pigs

The main attraction is Big Major Cay, better known as Pig Beach. The island’s pigs have become one of the Bahamas’ most famous sights, and you get about 45 minutes to see, feed, and swim with them.

The pigs are comfortable around visitors, but you still need to follow the crew’s directions. Keep food under control, listen before approaching the animals, and be ready for muddy or wet conditions. Bring a towel because you will likely be in and out of the water throughout the day.

Forty-five minutes is enough to enjoy the encounter and take pictures without turning the stop into an all-day visit. It can also feel short if the beach is busy or you want unhurried time in the water. The tour’s appeal is its range, so the pig stop is one piece of a full Exuma circuit rather than the entire focus.

If pigs are your only priority, a shorter outing centered on Pig Beach might give you more time there. If you want pigs plus sharks, iguanas, a wreck, lunch, and a sandbar, this wider route makes more sense.

Norman’s Cay and the sunken plane wreck

At Norman’s Cay, you can snorkel around a plane wreck known locally as Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane. The wreck is linked to a late-1970s crash and stories about cocaine smuggling, though the tour presents the story as a widely repeated claim.

You have about 30 minutes at this stop. The wreck gives the day a different mood, mixing snorkeling with a bit of modern island folklore. It is also a good reason to bring a waterproof camera if you have one.

Do not book this as a dedicated wreck-snorkeling trip. The available information describes a chance to snorkel at the wreck, not a long technical snorkeling session. The tour is built around several short activities, with the powerboat ride connecting them.

A final sandbar or beach stop

The last stop is a beach or sandbar in the Exuma area, with about 35 minutes for swimming, sunbathing, and pictures. The exact location depends on the day and conditions.

This may sound less dramatic than swimming with sharks or pigs, but it gives you the most relaxed water time of the schedule. The clear, shallow water is ideal for cooling off and taking the classic Bahamian photos.

It also acts as a quiet finish before the trip back to Paradise Island. You may prefer more time here, especially if you enjoy swimming more than animal encounters, but the stop is designed as a final taste rather than a full beach afternoon.

The powerboat ride is both strength and drawback

The biggest practical question is how you feel about sitting on a fast boat for long stretches. The route covers a lot of distance, and several hours of the eight-hour day are spent traveling.

I like that the ride makes a broad Exuma sampler possible in one day. You pass small islands, see the changing shades of the water, and get a sense of how spread out the cays are. The crew may point out islands linked to celebrities or film locations, adding interest between stops.

Still, this is not the right choice if you dislike speed, wind, or repeated boarding. The boat can feel chilly even in warm weather, especially when moving quickly. Bring a hoodie or light jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a towel. A waterproof bag for phones and dry clothing is also sensible, though the supplied details do not state that one is provided.

Weather can change the rhythm of the day. One scheduled outing had stops shortened because the captain was concerned about conditions. That is frustrating when you have paid a high price, but safety has to come first on an open-water trip. The operator can cancel for poor weather and offer another date or a full refund.

Is $438.90 a fair price?

At $438.90 per person, this is expensive. The value comes from combining transport, several island landings, animal encounters, lunch, drinks, snorkeling equipment, a restroom, and crew support in one day.

Booking separate trips for the iguanas, sharks, pigs, wreck, and beach would be difficult and could cost more once you add boat transfers and meals. The powerboat also saves you from spending multiple days arranging transport around Exuma.

The trade-off is time. You pay for access to many places, but each individual stop is short. About four hours may be spent riding between the cays, so the price will feel worthwhile if you see the boat journey as part of the adventure. It will feel steep if you want long hours at the beach or a slow snorkeling session.

The strongest value is for a first visit to Nassau when Exuma is high on your list and you have only one free day. Repeat visitors who already know the pigs or prefer a single focused activity may want to compare other options.

Crew service and the group experience

The crew has a large effect on this tour. Names praised in the available feedback include Winston, Alex, TJ, Keith, Jasmine, and Joey. You may not have those exact crew members, but the service style described is clear: helping people step on and off the boat, offering snacks and drinks, explaining animal safety, and keeping the mood upbeat with music.

That support is useful because the day has many transitions. You are not simply sitting on a boat. You are getting into shallow water, climbing back aboard, carrying snorkeling gear, and moving through busy animal stops.

The maximum group size is 25 people. That keeps the excursion from becoming a huge boat outing, though it cannot guarantee private attention at every stop. If you need extra support, mention it before booking. One parent felt especially comfortable with the crew’s help while traveling with a child, but the tour still requires a moderate fitness level.

Who should book this Exuma tour?

I would choose this trip if you want to pack a full day with variety. It suits couples, families with active older children, solo visitors, and first-time Nassau visitors who want to see several famous Exuma sights without spending multiple days on logistics.

It is a good match if you enjoy:

• Fast boat rides and open-water scenery
• Short, active stops rather than one long beach visit
• Close encounters with pigs, iguanas, and nurse sharks
• A Bahamian lunch included in the day
• Snorkeling at a plane wreck
• A lively crew and music on board

I would think twice if you are pregnant, dislike boats, get cold easily, need long rest periods, or want a quiet luxury outing. Cruise ship passengers are specifically not recommended for this experience, likely because the long schedule may not fit safely with ship departure times.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can lead to a rescheduled trip or full refund.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want the broadest possible Exuma sampler from Nassau in one day. The pigs are memorable, but the nurse sharks, rare iguanas, plane wreck, lunch, and final sandbar make the day feel much more complete.

Skip it if you want relaxed beach time, long snorkeling sessions, or a low-cost excursion. The boat ride is long, the price is high, and weather can shorten stops. For an active day that covers several Bahamian icons with food, drinks, equipment, and an attentive crew included, Born Free Charters offers a practical one-day route through Exuma’s biggest attractions.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole, The Bahamas.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 8:30 am, with an early morning check-in at the harbor.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point on Paradise Island.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served at a local restaurant on Great Exuma and includes a Bahamian-style buffet and a cold drink.

Are drinks and snacks included?

Yes. The tour includes light snacks, bottled water, soda, and local beer for people aged 18 or older.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, including for the stop near the plane wreck at Norman’s Cay.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 25 people.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. A different date, another experience, or a full refund may also be offered if the minimum number of people is not reached.