The Bahamas is host to a number of fun and interesting destinations, one of them is a place nicknamed “Pig Beach.” If you ever wanted to experience an awesome combination between a petting zoo and a tropical island getaway, swimming with the pigs in the Bahama’s is for you.
To swim with the pigs, you will have to book a short boat ride to “Pig Beach.” When swimming with the pigs, it is important to always listen to your tour guide and to always treat the pigs with respect. It is safe to feed and pet the pigs. But, even though the pigs are friendly, they are still wild animals and should be treated cautiously.
Visitors can get to pig island through a number of ways and locations. All of them involve a short boat ride. While you will be able to visit the pigs from any of these locations, each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Read on to learn where the best place to stay for you is.
What Caribbean Island Has Swimming Pigs?
The famous pigs are located on a tiny island called Big Major Cay. Aside from the pigs, the island itself is entirely uninhabited. So, you won’t be able to rent a hotel room there. Big Major Cay is located in a district of the Bahamas known as Exuma.
There are over 365 different islands located within Exuma. While you won’t be able to stay on Big Major Cay, there are multiple islands, or Cays, which provide hotels and Bungalows for visitors to stay in. Cays near Pig Beach will offer boat services and guides to Big Major Cay.
How Much Does It Cost to Swim with the Pigs in the Bahamas?
Well, it depends on a lot of different things. A trip to the Pig Island is a tour with a lot of different options. The first thing to consider is which tour company you’re going to choose. After that, you must consider when you would like to leave, what you would like to see if you would like an included meal, and how long you would like to be there.
On top of this, the price of the tour is going to go up or down, depending on how far away you are from Big Major Cay. According to the trip advisor, you can book a trip to Pig Island from Nassau for a little under $400. The $400 powerboat tour includes:
- A boat tour of Exuma
- A stop to see Bahamian Rock Iguanas on Great Guana Cay
- A 45-minute stop at Pig Island
- Lunch
- A stop at Compass Cay where you can swim with sharks
For $550, you can take a plane to Exuma instead of a boat. After the plane ride there, you still have the chance to tour around Exuma in a bot. This tour includes all of the things included in the previous one, but it has two main advantages. You get to Exuma faster, and you can stay at locations longer.
With the $550 “Fly to Pigs” tour, you can hang out on Pig Beach for an hour. As opposed to the $400 powerboat trip, which only lets you visit the pigs for 45-minutes.
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It’s important to check exactly where tours will take you before booking them. When booking, make sure Big Major Cay is on the list. If it is not, then you probably won’t get to swim with the pigs.
Are the Pigs in the Bahamas OK?
Let’s hope so. It’s hard to imagine anything happening to those adorable little swimmers. At the time of this article’s writing, the Pig Island Pigs are completely safe. While there have been a couple of incidents in the past that have caused people to worry about the pigs, they are safe and sound right now.
One reason for concern about the pigs was due to Hurricane Dorian. This hurricane passed through the Bahamas in late 2019. While large parts of northern Bahamas were torn up, the storm seemed to have missed pig island.
According to National Geographic, in 2017, several of the iconic pigs were found dead on the beach. Early on, it was speculated that some misbehaving tourists gave the pigs alcohol, which leads to them receiving alcohol poisoning and death. This was later debunked; the true cause of death was revealed to be too much sand in their system.
Since the incident, the deceased pigs have been replaced. Guides and Veterinarians also advise visitors not to throw food in the sand. When food is thrown in the sand, the pigs will end up eating the sand that is covering it. Instead, it is recommended to only feed the pigs when they are in the water. Here are a couple of other tips for when you feed the pigs:
- Only feed the pigs the food the tour guide gave you
- Feed the pigs fresh water
- The Pigs love fruits and vegetables
- Do not keep food in your pockets. The pigs may chase you
Aside from those two incidents, the pigs are OK. Although they are not native to the island, they seem to have a fine time living there. They do depend on tourists to keep them fed, though. Without tourists, the pigs may not be able to live there on their own.
Be Friendly to Those Amazing Piggies while Swimming
It’s important to treat those piggies with respect. You are a visitor in their home, after all. Make sure to feed them and scratch them a couple of times on the head while you’re there. Don’t be rude and leave trash all over the beach. And lastly, don’t be rude to the pigs, they are intelligent creatures, and they have been known to bite when angered.
Where do I Stay if I Want to Swim with the Pigs in the Bahamas?
No matter which place you pick, you’re going to have to take a trip over to Pig Island. There are no resorts on Big Island, so in a way, it doesn’t matter where you stay. There are ways, many different ways, to get to Pig Island, and you could start your trip anywhere from Florida to George Town.
Of course, there’s a lot more to see in the Bahamas than just the pigs. You should decide where you want to stay based on more than just proximity to pig island.
Staniel Cay
This small island is very close to Cay. Staniel Cay has an airport, so if you were to do a fly-in trip to see the pigs, you would end up here anyway. Here are a couple of places to stay in Staniel Cay:
Staniel Cray has a bunch of great rental houses and Bungalows. But they are not cheap. It will usually be cheaper to just book a trip to see pig beach from another location. But, if you want a relaxed, lowkey place to spend your time in the Bahamas, Staniel Cay is the place to be.
George Town
Georgetown is also a part of Exuma. In fact, Georgetown is the largest city and capital of Exuma. It’s in close proximity to Pig island, so it should be easy enough to book a trip from there. There are also a number of other things you can do in Georgetown, including visiting:
- The Straw Market
- The Three Sisters Beach
- The Jolly Hall Beach
Here are some places you can stay at Georgetown:
- Cottage Cut Villas
- Augusta Bay Bahamas
- EMBRACE Resort
- Green Turtle House
- Island Time Villas
Where Should I fly into If I Want to Swim with the Pigs?
If you want to see the famous Big Major Cay pigs, there are two places you can fly into. The first one and closest one being Staniel Cay. Tour wise, flying into Staniel Cay will be a bit more expensive than the alternative, which is taking a boat to Staniel Cay.
If you’re willing to pay the extra money, flying to Staniel Cay is the way to go. The flight will get you to Pig island quicker and guarantee a longer stay with the pigs.
If you don’t want to fly into Staniel Cay, the other place you can fly to is Nassau. Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas, and odds are, if your flying to Staniel Cay, you probably had to make a stop here. Major flight companies fly to Nassau, so it should be easy enough to get a ticket to Nassau from most major cities.
So, if you want to know where to fly in to so you can see the pigs, the answer is Nassau and Staniel Cay. You have to fly to Nassau. From there, you can decide if you want to take a boat or a plane to Staniel Cay. Either way, you’ll be on your way to see the Pigs on Pig Island.
(No matter where you choose to fly, make sure you are researching the best days to buy plane tickets)
Conclusion
Swimming with the pigs is a must-do thing when you’re in the Bahamas. Just check out any influencer’s Instagram feed. Not only is it a cool experience for you, but it also helps keep the pigs feed and happy. When feeding the pigs, make sure to only feed them in them straight out of your hand or when they’re in the water.
Listen to your tour guide and make sure to respect the pigs while you’re there. Do not leave trash on the island or abuse the pigs.
There are several great islands to stay at if you want to visit the pigs. Each location has a handful of great hotels, resorts, and rental bungalows for you to stay at. Don’t forget to check out all the other cool stuff the Bahama’s has to offer while you’re there.
(Looking for your next amazing vacation near or in the water? Check out these places to dive in Mexico!)