Nassau: Rose Island Swimming Pigs & Turtles Snorkeling Tour

Swimming pigs are only the headline here. The real appeal is a compact three-island boat trip that mixes animal encounters, reef snorkeling, quiet beaches, and a stop at Green Cay for turtles. You get plenty packed into three and a half hours without spending the whole day on a boat.

I like the small group limit of 15 and the custom 35-foot Donzi Marine boat, which gives the outing a more personal feel than a large excursion vessel. I also like the crew’s flexible approach. Captain Jay and first mate Jim have been praised for looking after families and adjusting plans when wind, currents, or sea life make a stop less suitable. The main drawback is rough water. One boat ride became uncomfortable when the captain kept the speed high over waves, and turtle sightings and snorkeling can change with conditions.

Key points to know before you book

• Swimming pigs on Rose Island: You can feed the pigs, spend time on the beach, and, on some outings, hold a piglet for photos.
• Green Cay turtle stop: The visit is planned around seeing turtles in their natural setting, but sightings are not guaranteed.
• Three island stops: The trip includes Green Cay, Rose Island, and Sandy Cay, known here as the Gilligan’s Island location.
• Small powerboat setting: The 35-foot Donzi carries no more than 15 people and has a restroom inside the center console.
• Snorkeling equipment included: You can use the supplied mask and snorkel, or bring your own gear.
• Drinks are covered: Water and soft drinks are included, with beer also available. Lunch is not.

Starting at Paradise Island Ferry Terminal

You meet at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, beside the Margaritaville Restaurant on Paradise Island. Look for a guide in a white Secret Cays shirt. Cruise-port pickup can be arranged, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you should confirm the meeting plan before the morning of your tour.

The setting matters because this is not a hotel shuttle excursion. You need to reach the ferry terminal on your own unless you have arranged cruise-port pickup. Build in time to find the terminal and check in without rushing.

The boat is a custom 35-foot Donzi Marine center console. It has a small restroom inside the console, a useful feature on a half-day trip with several stops. This is still an open powerboat, not a covered sightseeing boat, so bring swimwear, a towel, and protection from the sun.

The boat holds up to 15 people. That number is small enough for the crew to pay attention to individual needs, help with snorkeling gear, and keep the day from feeling like a mass excursion. It is not private, though, and the level of comfort will depend on the sea.

Green Cay and the search for turtles

Green Cay is the first main stop, with about 35 minutes set aside for sightseeing and marine-life viewing. The goal is to see turtles in their natural habitat rather than in a tank or a staged enclosure.

That is a worthwhile part of the outing because it adds a wildlife element beyond the more predictable pig encounter. You might see several turtles, or you might see none. Conditions, recent sightings, water movement, and the animals themselves all matter.

One family found a few turtles but had rough water, which made the stop less comfortable. Another outing could not use the turtle area after a recent shark sighting. That does not mean every trip will face the same issue, but it shows why the crew may change the order or shorten a stop for safety.

Keep your expectations sensible. The tour gives you a chance to look for turtles, not a guarantee of a close sighting. If turtles are your main reason for booking, this uncertainty should factor into your decision.

Rose Island: pigs, sand, and swimming time

Rose Island is the heart of the outing. The schedule allows about 50 minutes for swimming and snorkeling, followed by another 30-minute island stop and a further 35 minutes for a guided visit and marine-life viewing. In practice, the exact rhythm can change with the weather, sea conditions, and how the group uses its time.

The swimming pigs are usually the most eagerly anticipated stop. The crew provides food to help bring the pigs toward the water. You can interact with them, take photos, and spend time swimming or relaxing on the beach. On at least one outing, a baby pig was available to hold for pictures.

These animals are not just a quick photo backdrop. The allotted time lets you watch their behavior and enjoy the beach even after the first novelty wears off. Families especially get value from this flexibility. Children can focus on the pigs while adults swim, sit on the sand, or take photos.

Still, pig beaches can become crowded. One outing found the beach busy, and this is the main trade-off of a popular animal stop. You are sharing the shoreline with other people and may not get a quiet, private island scene.

The pigs on this trip have generally been described as easier to handle than animals encountered on another pig excursion. That does not mean you should treat them like pets. Follow the crew’s instructions, keep food under control, and give the animals room when they move around.

Snorkeling the reef near Rose Island

The reef stop gives the day some substance beyond animal photos. You receive snorkeling equipment, and the water can offer colorful coral and plenty of marine life. Several outings found the reef full of sea life, making this one of the stronger reasons to choose this trip over a pig-only boat ride.

The tour allows about 50 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. That is enough time to get comfortable with the gear, look around, and enjoy the water without turning the whole excursion into a technical snorkeling session.

You should know that conditions can change quickly. Strong currents caused one group to skip snorkeling and spend more time on the beach. Another group found the water too choppy for comfortable turtle viewing. The crew can adjust the plan, but no operator can promise calm water or perfect visibility.

If snorkeling is important to you, bring your own mask if you have one you trust. Equipment is provided, so this is not required, but familiar gear can make the water time easier. You should also be comfortable in the water, since the tour is not suited to people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users.

A useful detail is that the crew may make the most of an unexpected change. When turtles were not out, one group found a conch and had it served fresh on the boat. That is not a promised feature of every departure, but it shows the type of local, unscripted moment that can make a small boat outing memorable.

Sandy Cay and the Gilligan’s Island connection

Sandy Cay is included as the island associated with the trailer for Gilligan’s Island. The stop gives you a chance to walk around, see the scenery, and enjoy a sandy beach rather than spending every minute in the water.

The Gilligan’s Island connection is a fun bit of screen history, but do not expect a formal film exhibit or a large attraction. The pleasure is in standing on a small Bahamian island that was used in a familiar television setting, then having room to relax and take pictures.

This is also the part of the trip that can feel less commercial. You are not being moved from one built attraction to another. You get a beach, a boat, and a few islands, with the guide providing context along the way.

Because the complete tour lasts 210 minutes, each island stop is fairly short. You have enough time to enjoy the setting, but not enough for a long beach day at every location. If your priority is lounging for hours on one empty island, a full-day charter would suit you better.

The crew and the small-group feel

The crew is one of the most important parts of this outing. Captain Jay is named in several strong accounts, and Captain Jay and Jim have been singled out for friendly service and careful attention. The crew has also helped families with young children and watched over a passenger recovering from hip surgery.

That kind of personal care is easier on a boat capped at 15 people. You can ask for help with snorkeling equipment, explain a concern, or tell the crew if the ride is becoming uncomfortable. English is the tour language.

The small company format also helps the trip feel less scripted. The crew can spend more time with the pigs, shift attention toward the beach, or change a stop when conditions require it. That flexibility is a real benefit in the Bahamas, where wind and current can shape the day.

There is one important caution. One group found the boat ride too rough because the captain maintained speed over waves. Two people lost their glasses and several passengers felt bruised afterward. If you are prone to motion sickness, have back or neck concerns, or simply dislike fast rides in open water, ask about the sea conditions and request a slower pace when needed.

What the $127 price includes

At $127 per person, the price is reasonable if you want several activities in one half-day outing. You are paying for the powerboat ride, captain and guide, snorkeling equipment, reef time, three island visits, the turtle stop, the pig encounter, and drinks.

Water, soft drinks, and beer are available. That saves you from carrying a full supply for a 210-minute trip, though you should still bring your own towel and swimwear.

Lunch is not included. Eat before you meet the boat or plan food for afterward. The short duration makes this manageable, but do not assume the drinks count as a meal.

The value is strongest for people who want variety. A separate pig encounter might give you more time with pigs, while a dedicated snorkeling trip might give you more time in the water. This excursion combines both with beaches and island scenery, so you trade depth in one activity for a broader day.

The price also includes the convenience of a small group and a restroom on board. Those details are easy to overlook, but they matter when you are spending several hours in the sun and moving between islands.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would choose this tour for families, couples, cruise passengers, and first-time visitors who want a lively half-day on the water. It works especially well if your group has different interests. One person can focus on pigs, another on snorkeling, and someone else can simply enjoy the beaches and boat ride.

Children under two are not accepted. The information also lists pregnant people, wheelchair users, and people with mobility impairments as unsuitable for the activity. A family with children aged two and five did take part successfully, with the crew providing extra help, but every child must still be comfortable around water, animals, and a moving boat.

You should also be happy with a flexible schedule. The crew may alter the plan because of wind, currents, a recent shark sighting, or poor turtle activity. That is a practical safety measure, not a failure of the tour, but it means you should not treat every stop as guaranteed.

The tour may not suit you if you want a calm, slow cruise, a private beach, or a guaranteed turtle sighting. It is also not the right pick if you dislike open boats or need a fully accessible vessel.

Timing, weather, and what to bring

The total duration is 210 minutes, or three and a half hours. The listed times give you a useful guide: about 35 minutes at Green Cay, 50 minutes for Rose Island swimming and snorkeling, 30 minutes for another Rose Island stop, and 35 minutes for the guided marine-life visit.

Weather matters more here than it does on a land tour. If poor weather cancels the trip, you can move to another date or receive a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Bring:

• Swimwear
• A towel
• Any snorkeling mask you prefer to use
• Sun protection, though the supplied information specifically requires swimwear and a towel

Drinks are included, but lunch is not. Cruise passengers should request port pickup in advance by calling 1-242-825-5799 or 1-242-535-8241. The meeting point remains the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal unless another arrangement is confirmed.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start time before booking, since departure times vary.

Should you book the Rose Island pig and turtle tour?

Book it if you want one energetic half-day that covers pigs, turtles, reefs, beaches, and three islands. The small boat, helpful crew, included gear, and drinks make $127 a fair price for the range of activities.

Go in with realistic expectations. The sea may be choppy, pigs may share a crowded beach, and turtles may stay out of sight. If you can accept those limits and enjoy a flexible day shaped by the weather, Secret Cays offers a friendly and varied way to get beyond Nassau’s main waterfront.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

All participants check in at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, where the Margaritaville Restaurant is located on Paradise Island.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts 210 minutes, or three and a half hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $127 per person.

What islands does the tour visit?

The outing visits Green Cay, Rose Island, and Sandy Cay.

Will I definitely see turtles?

No. The tour takes you to Green Cay to look for turtles, but sightings depend on the animals and sea conditions.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a reef snorkeling experience are included. You may also use your own equipment.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water and soft drinks are included, and beer is available. Lunch is not included.

Can children join the tour?

Children under two are not suitable for this activity. The tour information does not list a maximum child age, and children aged two and five have taken part with crew assistance.

Is cruise-port pickup available?

Yes. Pickup at the cruise port is available upon request. You can call 1-242-825-5799 or 1-242-535-8241 to arrange it.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

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