Where Is Pig Beach in the Bahamas?

Can you visit Pig Beach from Nassau?

Yes. Full-day boat tours run from Nassau into the Exuma Cays and include Big Major Cay.

Because of the distance, these trips use fast powerboats; a slow sightseeing boat could not do the round trip in a day. A typical Exuma day from Nassau includes several stops besides the pigs: other Exuma islands, a sandbar, a snorkelling site, wildlife and lunch. On Born Free’s island-hopping day, for example, that means the rock iguanas on Allen’s Cay, the nurse sharks at Compass Cay and a sunken plane off Norman’s Cay.

The most important thing is to confirm that Big Major Cay is listed by name. Three tours on this site reach it. A fourth Exuma day trip, from Powerboat Adventures, goes to the operator’s own island at Ship Channel Cay instead, and its title does not make that obvious.

How long does it take to get from Nassau to Pig Beach?

There is no single travel time, because the tours use different boats, routes and stops. As a guide, Big Major Cay is about 89 miles from Nassau, close to two hours each way in a fast boat. Born Free’s itinerary, for one, runs about an hour to Allen’s Cay, another 45 minutes on through the cays and ten more minutes to Pig Beach.

For planning, treat the trip as a full day. Expect a morning departure, a lot of time on the boat, several island stops and a return in the late afternoon.

Is there a ferry from Nassau to Pig Beach?

No public ferry drops you at Big Major Cay for a casual visit to the beach.

Most travellers go on an organised boat trip or a private charter. The Exuma tours from Nassau on this site cost $378 to $515 per person.

What is Big Major Cay like?

Big Major Cay is a small tropical island surrounded by clear water. The pigs are the main attraction, but the setting is a big part of the day. The Big Major Cay visitor guide describes the island in more detail.

Expect a sandy beach, shallow water, pigs walking along the shoreline and swimming out towards arriving boats, and other tour groups coming and going through the day.

Why are there pigs on Big Major Cay?

Nobody knows for certain how the pigs got there.

There are several popular explanations: that sailors left them on the island meaning to come back for them, that they swam ashore from a shipwreck, or that they were put there deliberately to draw visitors. None of them has been confirmed.

Do the pigs really swim?

Yes, many of them do.

The pigs are known for wading and swimming out when boats approach. They are used to visitors, and they often swim towards a boat because they have learned that people arriving by boat tend to carry food.

Can you swim with the pigs?

Usually, yes, although it is less formal than the phrase “swim with pigs” suggests.

You can usually stand in the shallow water near them, watch them swim, take photographs, feed them if the operator allows it, and walk along the beach among them. The water is usually shallow enough to stand in.

Always follow the guide’s instructions. The adult pigs are large, and they push when food is involved.

Big Major Cay vs Rose Island

Big Major Cay

Big Major Cay is the original, world-famous Pig Beach. It is in the Exumas, about 89 miles from Nassau, and usually takes a full day from Nassau, from $378.

Rose Island

Rose Island is much closer to Nassau, twenty to forty minutes by boat. Several Rose Island trips include time with its swimming pigs, which makes them far easier for travellers who do not want the long journey to the Exumas. The Rose Island water taxi is the cheapest way to meet swimming pigs from Nassau, at $67 with three hours on the island.

For the two colonies compared in more detail, see Pig Beach versus Rose Island.

Which one should you choose?

Choose Big Major Cay if visiting the original Pig Beach matters to you, you want a full Exuma day trip, and you enjoy long boat rides.

Choose a Rose Island or Nassau-area pig tour if you want a shorter trip, you are on a cruise, you are travelling with young children, or you want to meet the pigs without travelling deep into the Exumas. Our tour-by-tour picks cover both.

Is Pig Beach a good day trip from Nassau?

Yes, if you are happy to give it a full day.

For many travellers it is worth it because Pig Beach is only part of the day. The Exumas are famous for clear turquoise water, small cays, sandbars, snorkelling, wildlife and empty beaches, and you see a lot of them on the way. Know what you are paying for, though: Born Free’s itinerary allows forty minutes at Pig Beach on an eight-hour trip.

Is Pig Beach good for cruise passengers?

It can be, but cruise passengers need to be careful with timing.

A full day from Nassau to Big Major Cay leaves little margin for delays before all-aboard. Two of the four Exuma operators on this site, Born Free and Powerboat Adventures, do not accept cruise passengers at all.

If your ship leaves early, a swimming-pig trip closer to Nassau is safer and more practical. The cruise-port page lists which tours take cruise guests.

How much does it cost to visit Pig Beach from Nassau?

Prices vary a lot. A Big Major Cay tour from Nassau costs more than a short local pig tour because of the distance, the faster boats, the full day and the extra stops. On this site the three tours that reach Big Major Cay cost $378 to $515 per person, against $67 to $220 for the Nassau-area tours.

Private charters cost more again. What it costs to swim with pigs in Nassau covers each price band and the add-ons.

What else do Exuma Pig Beach tours include?

Stops can include sandbars, snorkelling, wildlife encounters such as the Allen’s Cay iguanas and the Compass Cay nurse sharks, other islands, and lunch.

Read the whole itinerary before comparing prices; the words “Pig Beach” in a title tell you little. One detail worth checking: Born Free includes the pigs’ food and all landing fees in the ticket. Our Exuma page sets the four Exuma day trips side by side.

What should you bring to Pig Beach?

Useful things to pack:

• swimsuit
• towel (none of the tours on this site includes one)
• sunscreen
• hat
• sunglasses
• waterproof phone pouch
• dry bag
• change of clothes
• seasickness tablets if you need them

Is the boat ride from Nassau to Exuma rough?

It can be. The route crosses open water, and conditions change from day to day.

If you dislike long speedboat rides, you may prefer a Nassau-area pig tour. Several Exuma operators also exclude people with back or heart problems.

Best time to visit Pig Beach

A calm, clear day usually means a smoother crossing, better swimming, clearer water and better photographs. The month-by-month guide covers the dry season and hurricane season.

If Pig Beach is a priority, book the tour early in your stay rather than on your last day, so you have another chance if the weather cancels it.

Is Pig Beach crowded?

It can be. Big Major Cay is one of the most famous attractions in the Bahamas, and several boats can arrive at the same time.

Is Big Major Cay the only place with swimming pigs?

No. There are several other swimming-pig colonies in the Bahamas, including three close to Nassau, on Rose, Pearl and Athol islands.

That is why the phrase “swimming pigs tour” can be misleading. If you specifically want Big Major Cay, look for the words Big Major Cay or Pig Beach, Exuma in the itinerary. For every place you can meet pigs from Nassau, see swimming pigs in the Bahamas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What island is Pig Beach on?

Pig Beach is on Big Major Cay in the Exuma Cays, about 89 miles southeast of Nassau.

Is Big Major Cay the same as Pig Beach?

Yes. Pig Beach, Pig Island and Exuma Pig Beach are all names for Big Major Cay.

Is Pig Beach near Nassau?

Not particularly. It is about 89 miles away, close to two hours each way by fast boat, so trips from Nassau are full-day tours.

Can you visit Pig Beach on a day trip from Nassau?

Yes. Three tours on this site reach Big Major Cay from Nassau in a day, from $378 per person.

Are there swimming pigs closer to Nassau?

Yes. Rose Island, Pearl Island and Athol Island have swimming-pig colonies twenty to forty minutes from Nassau, with tours from $67.

Which Pig Beach is the famous one?

The famous original Pig Beach is on Big Major Cay in the Exumas.

Bottom line

The famous Pig Beach in the Bahamas is on Big Major Cay in the Exumas, not in Nassau.

You can visit it from Nassau, but expect a full day on a speedboat.

If the original Pig Beach matters to you, make sure your tour lists Big Major Cay by name.

If convenience matters more than the exact island, a swimming-pig tour closer to Nassau gives you a similar experience with far less time on the boat.