Exuma Island Hopping Swimming Pigs Tour with Lunch from Nassau

Blue water is only the beginning. This Exuma island-hopping tour packs rock iguanas, nurse sharks, swimming pigs, a plane wreck, lunch, and beach time into roughly eight hours from Paradise Island. I like the range of stops and the lively Born Free Charters crew, especially guides such as Winston, Alex, TJ, Keith, Joey, and Jasmine. The tradeoff is clear: you may spend close to four hours on a fast boat, so this is an active boat day, not a relaxed beach excursion.

I also like that the tour includes lunch, drinks, snacks, snorkeling gear, and water, which makes the $438.90 price easier to assess. The boat ride itself is part of the fun, but the speed creates wind and chill, even in warm weather. Bring a light jacket, towel, and something dry to wear between swims.

Six things to know before you book

• The boat ride is a major part of the experience: Exuma is far from Nassau, and the fast powerboat can mean about four hours aboard.
• You get six very different stops: Iguanas, nurse sharks, lunch, swimming pigs, a plane wreck, and a sandbar or beach.
• The swimming pigs are not the only highlight: Many people rate the nurse sharks and shallow sandbar as highly as Pig Beach.
• The crew earns strong praise: Expect help getting on and off the boat, frequent drinks and snacks, safety guidance, and music during the ride.
• Pack for sun and wind: A hoodie or light jacket, towel, and sun protection will make the day much more comfortable.
• This is best for a full-day outing: It is not recommended for pregnant travelers, cruise ship passengers, or anyone unable to handle moderate physical activity.

Why this Exuma day trip costs $438.90

At $438.90 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. The value depends on how much you want to see in one day and how you feel about speedboat travel.

You are not paying only for access to Pig Beach. The price covers transport from Paradise Island to the Exuma Cays, a guided route, landing and facility fees, lunch at a local restaurant, light snacks, bottled water, soda, local beer for those 18 and older, snorkeling equipment, and a restroom onboard. You also get several animal and water stops without arranging separate transfers.

That matters because Exuma is spread out. Seeing Allen Cay, Compass Cay, Great Exuma, Big Major Cay, Norman’s Cay, and a final beach or sandbar independently would be difficult in one day. This tour turns a far-flung group of attractions into one long outing.

Still, I would not book it simply because the number of stops looks impressive. The stop times are short by nature. Allen Cay gets about 20 minutes, Compass Cay about 40 minutes, Pig Beach about 45 minutes, Norman’s Cay about 30 minutes, and the final beach or sandbar about 35 minutes. Weather and sea conditions can shorten those visits further.

The tour has a 4.8 rating from 482 ratings, with 94 percent recommending it. That fits the strongest pattern here: people who enjoy it tend to love the crew, the boat, the blue water, the variety, and the feeling of fitting several Bahamian highlights into one day.

Leaving Paradise Island on a fast powerboat

You meet at Carnivale Bahamas at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole, Paradise Island. Check-in is early, with the tour starting at 8:30 a.m., and you return to the same meeting point at the end of the day.

The powerboat is sleek, comfortable, and built for covering distance. That speed is useful because Exuma is a long way from Nassau, but it also shapes the entire day. You will sit aboard for long stretches, with wind rushing past and music helping keep the mood light.

Several people found the ride smoother than expected. Others stressed that the boat travels extremely fast and that you should bring a jacket if you get cold easily. I would also keep your towel and cover-up easy to reach, rather than buried in a bag.

The crew regularly offers drinks and snacks, helps with boarding, and gives instructions at each stop. The group can reach a maximum of 25 people, which is large enough for a social atmosphere but small enough for crew assistance to remain practical.

This is not a traditional snorkeling trip with one long session on a reef. Snorkeling is part of the Norman’s Cay stop, while much of the day focuses on animals, swimming, photographs, and scenic boat travel.

Allen Cay and its rare rock iguanas

The first stop is Allen Cay, home to Bahamian rock iguanas. This species is found only on three small islands in Exuma, so the stop offers more than a quick look at common island wildlife.

You get about 20 minutes here. That is enough for a short encounter and photographs, but not enough for a slow walk or extended exploration. The crew explains how to approach the animals and what to do for safety.

I like this opening stop because it gives the day an unusual start. Most people book this outing for pigs or sharks, yet the iguanas provide the first reminder that the Exuma Cays are not just postcard water. They are also home to species found nowhere else.

Keep your expectations measured. This is a brief wildlife stop, not a nature walk. You should also follow the crew’s instructions about feeding and contact.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

Compass Cay is one of the day’s most memorable stops. The marina is known for nurse sharks that are accustomed to people and often come close to the dock and swimmers.

You get around 40 minutes, enough time to watch the sharks, enter the water if conditions allow, and take photographs. The crew helps explain how to behave around them. The experience is striking because the sharks are large and close, yet nurse sharks are generally known for their calm behavior in this setting.

I would still treat this as a real wildlife encounter, not a petting zoo. Listen carefully, move as directed, and avoid turning your attention entirely toward the camera. The crew’s safety guidance is an important part of making this stop enjoyable.

Some people rate the sharks as the best part of the day, even above the pigs. If you are booking only for Pig Beach, this stop may change your priorities.

Lunch on Great Exuma

After the first water and wildlife stops, the boat heads to Great Exuma for a Bahamian-style buffet lunch and a cold drink. The meal is included, and the lunch stop lasts about an hour.

This pause matters. A day of salt water, sun, wind, and boat travel can leave you hungry, and sitting down for a proper meal breaks up the long ride. The food has drawn particularly strong praise, with several people calling lunch delicious or one of the best parts of the outing.

The information provided does not specify the exact restaurant menu, so you should think of this as a local-style buffet rather than a carefully selected culinary tour. Still, it gives the day a useful taste of Bahamian food and a chance to dry off before the next stops.

Drinks and snacks are also available onboard. Local beer is included for those who are at least 18, along with soda and bottled water.

Big Major Cay and the famous swimming pigs

Big Major Cay, better known as Pig Beach, is the headline stop. The island’s pigs have become famous through television and social media, and you get about 45 minutes to feed and swim with them.

The water is shallow near the beach, and the pigs may walk or swim toward you. This is a playful, unusual encounter, but it is still important to follow instructions about feeding and handling food. Keep your belongings secure and pay attention to where you step.

The time can feel short if you want endless photographs, especially when the beach is busy. On the other hand, the schedule prevents the pig stop from swallowing the whole day. You still have five other experiences ahead or behind you.

I would not choose this tour if you want a quiet beach visit. Pig Beach is an animal interaction with plenty of activity around it. If you enjoy unusual photographs and do not mind getting wet, it can be a terrific part of the day.

Norman’s Cay and the sunken plane

At Norman’s Cay, you can snorkel around a wreck known as Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane. The aircraft went down near the island in the late 1970s and is associated with the area’s drug-smuggling history.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes. It is a short snorkeling session, so you will not spend the afternoon exploring underwater. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, and the crew provides direction before you enter the water.

The plane wreck gives this stop a different character from the animal encounters. You are looking at a physical remnant with a dramatic story, though the exact details surrounding the aircraft are presented as local lore. I would enjoy it as an unusual underwater sight rather than treat every part of the story as proven fact.

If snorkeling is your main goal, this tour may not give you enough time. If you want a varied day and like the idea of seeing a wreck between the pigs and the beach, it works well.

The final sandbar or beach stop

The last stop is a sandbar or beach in the Exuma area, chosen by the captain. You get roughly 35 minutes for swimming, sunbathing, and photographs before the return ride.

This may sound less famous than the pigs or sharks, but it is one of the smartest parts of the schedule. After several short, active stops, you get open water, shallow swimming, and time to relax without a particular animal or attraction demanding your attention.

Conditions determine exactly what this stop looks like. A sandbar can offer very shallow, clear water and excellent photographs. A beach provides a little more room to sit and dry off. Either way, this is your chance to enjoy the setting rather than rush toward the next activity.

Bring a towel and a dry layer. You will be in and out of the water all day, and the fast ride back can feel surprisingly chilly when you are wet.

What the crew adds to the day

The crew is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour. Guides are repeatedly praised for friendly service, safety instructions, help boarding and leaving the boat, and steady attention to drinks and snacks.

Specific crew combinations mentioned include Winston, Alex, TJ, Keith, Joey, and Jasmine. You cannot assume you will receive a particular team, but these names give you an idea of the personal service people associate with Born Free Charters.

The boat also has music, which helps turn the long transfers into part of the entertainment. The crew points out islands along the route, including places connected with celebrities or film productions, according to the information provided.

Weather can affect the experience. One group had stops shortened because the captain was concerned about conditions. That is frustrating when you have paid a high price, but safety must guide the schedule on open water. This is another reason to avoid planning a tightly timed evening activity after the tour.

Who should book this outing?

I would recommend it to you if you want to collect several major Exuma experiences in one day and enjoy boat travel. It suits couples, families with older children, solo visitors, and active adults who like swimming, wildlife, photographs, and a busy schedule.

It is also a good choice if you have limited time in Nassau but still want to see beyond New Providence. The variety keeps the day moving, and no single stop has to carry the whole experience.

I would hesitate if you dislike speedboats, get cold easily, need long periods on land, or want serious snorkeling. The ride can take about four hours in total, and the stops are designed as short highlights rather than extended visits.

The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness. It is not permitted for pregnant travelers and is not recommended for cruise ship passengers. Since it begins and ends at Paradise Island and lasts about eight hours, you should have a flexible full day available.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Should you book the Exuma island-hopping tour?

Book it if you want maximum variety in one long day and accept that the boat ride is half the adventure. The pigs are memorable, but the nurse sharks, rare iguanas, clear sandbar, helpful crew, and Bahamian lunch give the day its real value.

Skip it if your ideal Bahamas outing means one quiet beach, a slow lunch, or a long reef snorkeling session. At $438.90, the tour demands a clear match with your interests.

For the right person, this is a strong way to see several far-flung Exuma highlights without arranging separate transport. Pack a towel, hoodie, sunscreen, and patience for the boat time, then let the crew handle the complicated geography.

FAQ

Where does the Exuma island-hopping tour start?

It starts at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole. The start time is 8:30 a.m., and the tour ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours. The schedule includes several stops, with a significant portion of the day spent traveling by powerboat between Nassau and the Exuma Cays.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served at a local restaurant on Great Exuma and includes a Bahamian-style buffet and a cold drink.

Are drinks and snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. The tour includes bottled water, soda, light snacks, local beer for people 18 and older, and snorkeling equipment. A restroom is also available onboard.

Can I swim with the pigs and nurse sharks?

The tour includes time to feed and swim with the pigs at Big Major Cay. At Compass Cay, you can swim among nurse sharks under the crew’s direction.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum number of participants may result in a different date or a full refund.