Exuma Island Hopping Swimming Pigs Tour with Lunch from Nassau

Big Major Cay’s swimming pigs get the headlines, but this is really a full Exuma sampler. In one long day, you can see rare rock iguanas, stand beside nurse sharks, eat lunch on Great Exuma, snorkel at a sunken plane, and finish in clear shallow water. The fast powerboat makes that ambitious route possible.

I like the wide mix of stops and the crew’s steady care, with drinks, snacks, music, and help getting on and off the boat. I also like that the trip includes lunch, snorkeling gear, a restroom, water, soda, and local beer for those 18 and older. The main drawback is simple: you spend a lot of time on the boat, often close to four hours in total, and the ride can be windy and cool.

Key points to know before booking

• Six very different stops: See iguanas, nurse sharks, pigs, a plane wreck, and a sandbar in one day.
• Fast powerboat travel: The speed saves time, but the ride is windy and leaves less room for a quiet, slow cruise.
• Big Major Cay is not the whole show: The sharks and final sandbar are major highlights for many people.
• Bahamian lunch included: You stop on Great Exuma for a buffet meal and a cold drink.
• Small-group format: The boat holds a maximum of 25 people, though space and comfort can still vary by boat.
• Bring a towel and light jacket: You will get wet, and the wind can feel sharp at speed.

What this Exuma day is really like

This is an early start and a full day on the water. You make your own way to Carnivale Bahamas at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole, Paradise Island, for an 8:30 a.m. check-in. From there, Born Free Charters points the boat toward the Exuma Cays.

The appeal is reach. Exuma is not a quick hop from Nassau, so visiting these far-flung spots independently would take much more planning and likely several separate boat trips. Here, the crew handles the route, landing fees, equipment, food, and timing.

The trade-off is pace. You are not settling into one beach for the day. You are moving from one short experience to the next, with long stretches on the boat between them. Some people find those rides relaxing and enjoy the music, open water, and changing views. If you dislike sitting for long periods or want a slow snorkeling day, this may feel too compressed.

The boat’s speed is part of the fun, but it is also why a light jacket earns space in your bag. Several people found the wind surprisingly chilly, even in warm Bahamian weather. Sun protection matters too. The water reflects strong light, and you will be in and out of it all day.

Allen Cay and the rare Bahamian rock iguanas

The first stop is Allen Cay, where you see Bahamian rock iguanas found only on three small islands in Exuma. The stop lasts about 20 minutes, so think of it as a focused wildlife encounter rather than a long walk or nature visit.

This is a good opening stop because it gives the day something beyond the usual beach-and-boat routine. The iguanas are the local specialty, and the crew helps you understand how to approach the area and what to do for safety.

Twenty minutes can pass quickly, especially if you want photos. Keep your camera ready, listen to the crew, and avoid expecting a long wildlife session. The value here is seeing a species with an unusually limited home range before the tour moves on.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

At Compass Cay, you have about 40 minutes around the marina and its nurse sharks. The sharks are accustomed to people and are known for coming close, which makes this one of the day’s most memorable stops.

You can enter the water and swim near them, with the crew giving instructions before you get in. This is not a traditional snorkeling stop focused on coral, colorful fish, or a long underwater swim. The attraction is the unusual chance to be in shallow water beside large nurse sharks.

For many people, this is the emotional high point of the tour. The pigs are famous, but the sharks feel more unexpected. You should still follow every instruction and move calmly around the animals. The crew takes safety seriously, and that matters when you are stepping into open water with wildlife.

Bring a towel that can dry between stops. You will not stay dry for long, and the wind can make wet clothes feel cold once you return to the boat.

Great Exuma lunch, with a taste of the local side

After the morning animal stops, the boat takes you to Great Exuma for about an hour. Lunch is served at a local restaurant as a Bahamian-style buffet, with a cold drink included.

An hour gives you a useful pause from the boat. You can eat, dry off a little, and reset before the afternoon activities. Food is one of the better inclusions here because buying lunch at a separate stop would add both cost and planning to an already expensive day.

Do not expect a long restaurant visit or a leisurely meal with several hours to spare. The point is a satisfying break within a tightly planned route. Onboard, you also receive light snacks, bottled water, soda, and local beer for those 18 and older.

Pig Beach at Big Major Cay

Big Major Cay is the stop most people picture when they book this trip. The island is home to the famous swimming pigs, and you have about 45 minutes to see, feed, and swim with them.

The encounter is active and close-up. You may be standing in the shallows with pigs around you, trying to frame a photo while also keeping an eye on the animals. The setting is far more memorable than a simple photograph from a distance, but the stop is not designed for quiet solitude.

Forty-five minutes is enough for the main experience if the group moves efficiently. It may feel short if you want a long swim, lots of photographs, and time to watch every pig. Conditions can also affect how long you remain in the water. One important practical point: this is an animal interaction, so follow the crew’s feeding and safety directions rather than treating the pigs like props.

The pigs receive most of the publicity, but I would not book the entire tour only for this stop. The route works because the pigs are one part of a larger day that also includes sharks, iguanas, lunch, snorkeling, and a beach or sandbar.

Norman’s Cay and the sunken plane

Norman’s Cay brings a different kind of story. You have about 30 minutes to snorkel around a plane wreck just offshore, often called Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane because of its connection to the drug trade in the late 1970s.

The story adds intrigue, but the underwater experience is the real reason to get in. You receive snorkeling equipment, and the wreck gives you a clear target instead of an open-ended swim. The stop can be especially appealing if you enjoy unusual sites more than standard reef snorkeling.

Keep your expectations in check. This tour is not built around a long snorkeling session, and the schedule gives you about half an hour here. The water, boat traffic, and weather can shape the experience. If traditional snorkeling is your main goal, choose a trip designed specifically for reefs and underwater time. If you like a quick, memorable site with a story attached, this stop fits well.

The final sandbar or beach stop

The day finishes with roughly 35 minutes at a beautiful beach or sandbar in Exuma. The exact location can depend on conditions, but the purpose is the same: swim, sunbathe, take photographs, and enjoy a quieter stretch before the ride back.

This stop often surprises people because it offers a change of rhythm. After the animal encounters and the wreck, you get clear, shallow water and room to simply float or stand. It is also a good time to take the photographs that are harder to manage during the busier wildlife stops.

Thirty-five minutes is not enough for a long beach afternoon. It is a final reset before returning to the boat. If you prefer swimming to animal encounters, this may be your favorite stop, so use the time well.

The powerboat ride, comfort, and crew

The powerboat is both the tool that makes this tour work and the part you need to understand before paying for it. The ride is fast, and several stretches between the islands take a substantial amount of the eight-hour day. You should expect plenty of sitting, wind, spray, and sun.

The boat has a restroom, and the crew keeps snacks and drinks moving. Music plays onboard, which gives the long rides a holiday feel rather than making them silent transfers. Crew members also help people step on and off the boat, a small service that matters when the water is moving or you are carrying wet gear.

The crew names associated with this operation include Winston, Alex, TJ, Joey, Jasmine, and Keith. Your specific team may differ, but the service style is clear: expect active help, safety reminders, information about the islands, and an effort to keep the group in good spirits. Winston and his team, including Alex and TJ on some departures, have earned especially warm praise for energy and care. Joey, Jasmine, Keith, and other crew members are also named by people who had strong days on the water.

The maximum group size is 25. That is smaller than a large sightseeing boat, but it is not a private charter. At wildlife stops, you will still share the water and the photo opportunities with other people.

Is $438.90 a fair price?

At $438.90 per person, this is a major excursion expense. I would not call it a casual add-on. The value depends on how many separate Exuma experiences you want to combine.

You are paying for a full day of boat transport from Paradise Island, six stops, lunch, drinks, snacks, snorkeling equipment, a restroom, landing and facility fees, and an organized crew. You also save the work of arranging transport to remote cays, finding a lunch stop, and coordinating several wildlife encounters.

The price makes the most sense if you want variety and have only one day available. Buying separate trips for the sharks, pigs, wreck, and beach would be harder to coordinate and could cost more. The value is weaker if you mainly want Pig Beach or a long reef snorkel. In that case, a more focused trip may suit you better.

I would also factor in the chance of weather changes. The captain may shorten or adjust stops for safety. That is a sensible reason to alter the schedule, but it means you should not treat every advertised stop length as guaranteed in changing conditions.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this for an active group that wants a lot in one day. Families with children can enjoy the variety, and the crew has been especially attentive when helping children on and off the boat. You need a moderate level of fitness, comfort in and around water, and the ability to handle a long day with repeated boat transfers.

It is a good fit for first-time visitors who want a broad taste of Exuma rather than a single beach. It also suits photographers, wildlife fans, and anyone who wants a memorable list of experiences: iguanas, sharks, pigs, a wreck, and a sandbar.

I would skip it if you are pregnant, uncomfortable with fast boat rides, prone to getting cold in wind, or looking for a slow luxury cruise. It is also not recommended for cruise ship passengers, likely because the early start, full duration, and return timing do not fit well with a ship schedule.

Wear swim clothes, pack a towel, and bring a light jacket or hoodie. Keep sunscreen, sunglasses, and a waterproof way to protect your phone close at hand. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. The operator can also cancel for poor weather or insufficient bookings, offering another date or a full refund.

My call: book it for variety, not just pigs

I would book this tour if I had one day in Nassau and wanted to see several of Exuma’s best-known sights without arranging each one separately. The nurse sharks, final sandbar, and fast ride may be just as memorable as Pig Beach, while lunch and onboard drinks remove a few practical hassles.

I would not book it expecting eight hours of swimming. The route includes long boat stretches, and individual stops are deliberately short. Bring a jacket, accept the active pace, and think of the day as a greatest-hits tour of Exuma. With that expectation, the high price can make sense.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It 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 a.m. You should make your own way to the harbor for an early morning check-in.

Where does the tour end?

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

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours.

What animals can I see?

The route includes Bahamian rock iguanas at Allen Cay, nurse sharks at Compass Cay, and the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay.

Is lunch included?

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

Are drinks and snacks included?

Yes. The inclusions list light snacks, bottled water, soda, and local beer for people age 18 and older.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

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

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 25 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded. If poor weather or insufficient bookings causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.