Nassau: Discover Exuma Island Hopping and Swimming Pigs Tour

The headline act is a full day of Exuma island hopping, packed with wildlife, clear-water stops, and the famous pigs of Big Major’s Cay. You’ll also snorkel around the wreck known as Pablo Escobar’s plane, then finish with time on a beach or sandbar.

I like the smart range of stops: Allen’s Cay’s rare iguanas give you a wildlife encounter before the boat heads to nurse sharks, pigs, and snorkeling. I also like the all-inclusive setup, with lunch, drinks, snacks, snorkel gear, landing fees, and pig food covered. The tradeoff is a long, fast day on an open power boat, with up to 24 people and plenty of time spent moving between islands.

Key points to know before you book

• Five distinct Exuma stops: You see iguanas, nurse sharks, pigs, a plane wreck, and a beach or sandbar in one day.
• About two hours each way by boat: The ride from Paradise Island is part of the experience, but it can feel demanding if you dislike speed or choppy water.
• The famous pigs are only one stop: You get around 40 minutes at Big Major’s Cay, so this is an active sightseeing day rather than a long beach outing.
• Lunch and drinks are included: A buffet meal, local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks help keep the day simple.
• A small-group feel, but not a private charter: The boat can carry up to 24 people, and the captain decides the order of stops.
• Not suitable for cruise ship guests: Transportation to the meeting point is not included, and the tour is not designed for wheelchair users or people with major mobility, back, heart, or pregnancy concerns.

Why this Exuma day trip packs so much into eight hours

This is not a slow, stay-put beach excursion. It is a fast-moving tour through the Exuma Cays, a chain of islands southeast of Nassau known for bright water, small beaches, and unusual wildlife encounters.

You leave from Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island and spend just over an hour heading toward Allen’s Cay. The total outing lasts about eight hours, including the return ride. That means you should think of the boat as your main base for the day. You will be on and off it often, so bring a towel, sunscreen, and a willingness to climb in and out of the water.

I like this format for a first taste of Exuma. Instead of choosing one attraction, you get several very different ones. The day moves from land wildlife to marine life, then to pigs, lunch, snorkeling, and beach time. The pace keeps things interesting, but it also means no single stop lasts long enough to feel leisurely.

The tour costs $489 per person. That is a serious price, yet the value depends on how you use the day. A private boat, fuel, landing charges, food for the pigs, snorkel equipment, lunch, drinks, and access to multiple islands would add up quickly if arranged separately. If you mainly want a quiet beach and a long swim, the price is harder to justify. If you want the major Exuma sights in one organized day, the package is easier to defend.

Allen’s Cay and the rare Bahamian rock iguanas

The first wildlife stop is Allen’s Cay, reached after roughly one hour by speedboat. Here you can see Bahamian rock iguanas, a species found only on three small islands in Exuma.

This is a useful opening stop because it gets you onto land and introduces one of the area’s more unusual animals. The iguanas are not a common zoo-style attraction. They are part of the local island ecosystem, and seeing them gives the day a stronger sense of place than a simple string of photo stops.

You will have about 25 minutes for wildlife viewing. That is enough to look around and take pictures, but not enough for an extended walk. Wear shoes that can handle a boat landing and sandy ground, and keep your sunscreen handy. The island is exposed, with little reason to expect shade.

The first boat ride also sets expectations for the rest of the day. A high-speed power boat covers distance efficiently, but the ride can be lively. If you have back problems, heart problems, or trouble with boat motion, this is an important consideration. The tour specifically excludes people with those concerns, as well as pregnant women and people with mobility impairments.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks under the marina docks

After Allen’s Cay, the boat continues south for about 45 minutes to Compass Cay. The stop lasts around 35 minutes and centers on nurse sharks that gather under the docks of Compass Cay Marina.

This is a very different encounter from the iguanas. The sharks are marine animals in their own setting, and you can get into the water near them. The supplied details describe them as accustomed to welcoming visitors, but you should still listen closely to the crew and follow all instructions around the animals.

For many people, this will be the day’s most exciting stop. The combination of clear water, a marina, and nurse sharks creates a memorable setting without requiring advanced snorkeling skills. Still, you should be comfortable entering the water and sharing the area with other members of the group.

You get less than an hour here, so the stop is about making the most of a special encounter rather than studying the animals at length. Keep your camera ready, but do not let photos distract you from where you are stepping or swimming.

Big Major’s Cay and the swimming pigs

Next comes Big Major’s Cay, home of the famous swimming pigs. The boat ride from Compass Cay takes about 10 minutes, and you have around 40 minutes for swimming and wildlife viewing.

The pigs became internationally famous through television appearances and social media. That fame means this is not an obscure local secret, but it remains a distinctly Bahamian experience. You can feed the pigs with food provided as part of the tour and enter the water with them.

This stop is built for photos. Bring a waterproof phone case if you have one, and keep your camera secure while moving through shallow water. Pigs are lively animals, so listen to the crew before feeding them and avoid treating the encounter like a petting zoo.

The short time limit matters. You will have enough time to see the pigs, take pictures, feed them, and swim, but this is not a full afternoon at Pig Beach. The boat must keep moving to fit the other stops into the day. If the pigs are your main reason for booking, understand that you are buying a multi-stop tour, not a dedicated pig excursion.

Lunch at a local Exuma restaurant

After Big Major’s Cay, a quick 10-minute boat ride brings you to lunch. You get about one hour at a local Exuma restaurant, with a buffet meal and a cold drink.

This pause is more important than it may sound. The first half of the day includes a long boat ride, walking around Allen’s Cay, a shark stop, and time in the water with the pigs. A proper meal gives you a chance to dry off, eat, and reset before the afternoon activities.

Included drinks are local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks. That reduces the need to pack a full day of food, though you may still want extra water if you are sensitive to sun and heat. The exact buffet choices are not specified, so you should not book expecting a particular menu.

The restaurant stop also gives the day a local connection. You are not eating everything on the boat or rushing through a packed lunch between activities. One hour is long enough for a real break, though the overall schedule remains tight.

Snorkeling at Pablo Escobar’s plane wreck

After lunch, you take a 35-minute boat ride to the plane wreck near Norman’s Cay. The wreck is commonly linked to Pablo Escobar and the late-1970s cocaine trade.

The story is part of the attraction. During that period, Escobar reportedly controlled Norman’s Cay and used its runway as a base and refueling point for planes carrying cocaine from Mexico toward the United States. The aircraft now rests in shallow water, where you can snorkel around it for about 30 minutes.

The wreck combines a dramatic setting with a piece of modern Bahamian history. You are not just looking at fish or coral. You are seeing a physical remnant connected to Norman’s Cay’s role in the drug trade.

Snorkel gear is included, which makes this stop easy for beginners who do not own equipment. Still, you should be comfortable in the water and able to manage basic swimming conditions. The tour does not promise a particular amount of marine life or underwater visibility, since those conditions can vary.

The timing is again practical rather than generous. Thirty minutes gives you a good look, but it is not a long independent snorkeling session. Pay attention to the crew’s instructions and stay aware of other swimmers around the wreck.

The final beach or sandbar stop

The last stop is selected by the captain and may be a beautiful beach or sandbar. After another 25-minute boat ride from the plane wreck, you get around 30 minutes for swimming, sunbathing, and pictures.

This is the most flexible part of the day, but it is also the least specific. You are not guaranteed one named island or one particular sandbar. The captain chooses the location, and the order of the itinerary can change based on conditions and practical needs.

I would treat this stop as a pleasant finish, not the main reason to book. Thirty minutes is enough to cool off, take photos, or enjoy a final swim. It is not enough for a long walk, a quiet afternoon under an umbrella, or a serious beach picnic.

If you want more isolated beach time, this is the point to manage your expectations. The tour’s strength is variety. Its weakness is that every activity, including the final beach stop, must fit into a busy schedule.

The boat ride is part of the day, for better and worse

The journey back to Carnivale Bahamas takes about 70 minutes. Added to the first hour, the transfers account for more than two hours of the day, with additional short rides between stops.

That travel time is necessary because the Exuma Cays are spread out. A high-speed boat lets you reach several places in one day, and the open-water views are part of the appeal. You get a strong sense of how scattered and remote these islands can feel.

The downside is comfort. This is a shared powerboat, not a private yacht with room to stretch out. Up to 24 people can be aboard, and the boat may feel busy during boarding, transfers, and water activities. Anyone with back, mobility, or motion concerns should take the restrictions seriously.

The captain controls the order of the stops. That is sensible because weather, sea conditions, and local access can affect the day, but it means you should not plan around a guaranteed sequence. Keep your schedule free after the tour in case you return close to the stated eight-hour duration.

What is included, and what should you bring?

The package covers the main extras that can make an island day expensive:

• Buffet lunch at a local restaurant
• Local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks
• Snorkel gear
• Landing fees
• Food for the pigs

You need to bring a towel and sunscreen. I would also use a waterproof bag for your phone and spare dry clothes, though only the towel and sunscreen are specifically required. Keep personal items compact because the boat is shared.

Crew gratuity is not included. You decide whether and how much to tip at the end, based on the service you receive.

The meeting point is the Born Free Charters desk at Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island. Transportation to that location is not included, so allow time to reach Paradise Island on your own. Cruise ship guests should not book this activity, since the tour is specifically not suitable for them.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this day if you want maximum variety and do not mind a firm schedule. It suits active adults, couples, families with older children who can handle boat travel, and anyone visiting Nassau who wants to see more than the immediate resort area.

The tour is not suitable for children under two. It is also not suitable for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, pregnant women, or people with back or heart problems.

You should be happy with swimming, boat transfers, animal encounters, and changing locations. If you prefer one calm beach, shade, and plenty of unstructured time, choose a shorter or more focused outing instead.

Should you book this Exuma island-hopping day?

Book it if the idea of seeing iguanas, nurse sharks, swimming pigs, and a plane wreck in one day sounds worth the price and the long boat ride. The range of stops is its greatest strength, and the included lunch, drinks, gear, landing fees, and pig food make the $489 cost easier to understand.

Skip it if you want a slow beach day, dislike fast boats, or need a fully accessible activity. The itinerary is tightly packed, the final beach stop is not guaranteed to be a particular sandbar, and each attraction receives limited time.

For the right person, this is an efficient and memorable introduction to the Exuma Cays. Go prepared for sun, spray, stairs or uneven landings, and a busy schedule. You will see a lot in eight hours, but you will earn it with boat time.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is the Born Free Charters desk at Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island. Transportation to the check-in location is not included.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours, including the boat rides between Paradise Island and the Exuma Cays.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $489 per person.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch at a local restaurant is included, along with local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks.

Is snorkel equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkel gear is included in the tour price.

Can I swim with the pigs?

Yes. At Big Major’s Cay, you can feed and swim with the famous swimming pigs. Food for the pigs is included.

Is the plane wreck associated with Pablo Escobar included?

Yes. The itinerary includes about 30 minutes of snorkeling at the sunken plane near Norman’s Cay, commonly known as Pablo Escobar’s plane.

How many people can join the boat trip?

This is a shared tour with up to 24 people.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.