Chances are, if you’ve spent any time on social media recently, you’ve seen countless photos of the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas. These charming Caribbean pigs, set against a stunning island backdrop, have quickly become a must-see attraction.
Visiting Pig Beach to swim with and interact with these friendly pigs is a popular day trip for many travelers seeking unique and fun things to do in the Bahamas. If you’re planning a trip to the Great Exumas, this beloved attraction should definitely be on your itinerary.
Looking for a dreamy place to stay that’s close to the Bahamas’ swimming pigs? Check out Staniel Cay villa for the ultimate luxury escape.
To help you prepare for your seaside encounter with the swimming pigs, we’ve gathered everything you need to know for the best experience possible.
About the Famous Swimming Pigs: Bahamas Leading Attraction
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The famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas take up residence around a few islands, including Eleuthera, Rose Island, Abaco, and Ship Channel Cay. However, it’s Pig Beach on Big Major Cay—also known as Pig Island—that offers one of the most popular day trip opportunities to see them.
Big Major Cay is an uninhabited island in the Exumas, Bahamas. In fact, the sole inhabitants of this small island are the few dozen pigs who roam the shores, along with goats, a few stray cats, and a few dogs.
The history of how these swimming pigs came to call the island home is not quite clear. Local folklore suggests that the pigs were brought to the island by sailors sometime in the 20th century.
Other anecdotes say they were merely supposed to be stored there and later intended to be slaughtered for consumption. Some maintain they were abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Another popular theory is that the pigs were survivors of a shipwreck and swam to the islands that they now call home.
Regardless of the exact details of how they arrived, these hearty hogs adapted to island life quite nicely. The island’s ample vegetation and freshwater sources allowed them to thrive in their new home.
Over the years, the cute pigs have grown accustomed to visitors and have become quite friendly towards their human guests.
How to Get to Pig Beach
As is typical for Bahamas islands, Big Major Cay is only accessible by boat or WaveRunner. Here’s how to reach it to meet the famous swimming pigs.
Boat or WaveRunner
Pig Beach is most easily accessed from the nearby island of Staniel Cay. From here, it’s just a 10-minute boat ride to the pigs. Often, visitors fly into Staniel Cay from the capital city of Nassau (a 35-minute flight) and then charter a boat or yacht out to the beach.
A great alternative is to rent a WaveRunner. These personal watercrafts are like small power boats, and they’re perfect for exploring the waters around Staniel Cay. You can rent them by pre-booked reservation from the dock at Lazy Bay.
Swimming Pigs Tours
Several places offer swimming pig tours throughout the Exuma Cays. One local option with pickup available right in Staniel Cay is through Staniel Cay Adventures. This island enterprise offers full-day tours, including a Pig Beach tour and several other area tourist attractions.
Another local tour option is the Exuma Watersports tour. They also offer a full-day excursion to many popular sites throughout the Exumas. This tour, which costs $399 per person (lower rates are available for children and teens), accommodates up to 24 passengers and includes complimentary drinks and lunch.
Pro Tip: Before booking a swimming pigs tour, be sure to confirm that it involves a visit to Big Major Cay. In recent years, many other “pig beaches” have begun to sprout up amongst the islands, but Pig Beach is the original and most authentic experience.
The Best Time to Visit Pig Beach
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Pig Beach is open year-round, and let’s be honest, there is no bad time to visit the Bahamas. However, if you have flexibility around when you can plan a trip, there are a few things you may want to consider.
Low Season
Off-season in the Bahamas typically runs from September to mid-November. This time of year usually sees fewer tourists, meaning less competition for piggy interaction. Alternatively, the area’s peak season is December to January, so expect larger crowds during this time.
High Season
Generally, the months of December through April have heavier crowds. Things start to slow down from June to September, as these months bring more tumultuous weather in the tropics.
Best Time of Day
When it comes to the time of day you visit, keep in mind that the pigs are usually most active in the morning. They tend to be hungry and eagerly await the arrival of the tour boats bearing lots of tasty treats. By afternoon, their bellies are typically full, and you can expect to find them napping in the sun.
Pro Tip: If you’re renting a boat or chartering a private water taxi, plan your visit first thing in the morning. From 7 AM to 9 AM, no tour boats are allowed to dock at the beach, so it will be nice and quiet.
What to Know Before You Go
There are a few things you should keep in mind while planning your visit.
- Duration: This is not usually an all-day excursion. Most boat tours only stop for 15-30 minutes at Pig Beach. There is not really much else to do on this uninhabited island, so tours tend to incorporate visits to other attractions like Compass Cay and Thunderball Grotto.
- Beach-Lounging Pigs: While the pigs are famous for swimming, please note they may not actually get in the water during your visit. Guests often arrive to find them lounging on the beach in the sun.
- Crowds: Expect it to be crowded in the high season. Often, you’ll find a dozen or more boats docked in the area, with plenty of people vying to spend time with these friendly pigs.
What to Pack for Your Visit
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When packing for your seaside swim with these friendly creatures, there are a few things you’ll want to remember to bring. While some seem obvious, it never hurts to double-check before setting off on your trip. You don’t want to realize you’ve left something behind once you hit the open seas!
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Waterproof camera or GoPro
- Waterproof case for your phone
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Goggles/snorkeling gear
- Water shoes
- Comfortable swimwear
- Towels
- Plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Hand sanitizer
- Piggie snacks (carrots are highly recommended)
- Human snacks
Pro Tip: Always check with your tour operators before departing. Often, many of these items are included in the tour, especially snacks for the pigs!
Proper Piggie Etiquette
Ensuring the well-being of the swimming pigs and the safety of visitors is a top priority on Pig Beach.
The pigs are wild animals, and while they may seem friendly and accustomed to humans, visitors should remember that they can bite or become aggressive if they feel threatened or are mishandled.
Feed the Pigs from the Water
The pigs are always on the lookout for snacks and are accustomed to being fed. You are welcome to feed them from the water, and your tour guide will likely provide fresh produce such as watermelons, carrots, and apples for this purpose.
Do not feed the pigs any processed food or items that haven’t been approved. It’s important not to bring any food onto the shores, as this can cause the pigs to dig and ingest sand. When feeding the pigs, keep your fingers flat to avoid accidental bites.
It’s essential to listen closely to your guide, as they will provide clear instructions on how to safely and respectfully interact with these animals.
Give Them Space
Of course, those baby piglets are adorable! However, you must refrain from picking them up for your safety. In fact, do not attempt to handle any of the pigs.
Be Respectful of their Homes
Just like a hiking trail, here you want to leave no trace. Be sure to clean up after yourself and dispose of any trash. This island belongs to the pigs, but it shouldn’t look like a pigsty!
Where to Stay when Visiting Pig Beach
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Since Pig Beach is only inhabited by its piggy natives, there are no places to stay on Pig Beach. As mentioned earlier, the closest island to Big Major Cay is Staniel Cay.
Staniel Cay
It’s an easy trip to Pig Beach from Staniel Cay, and you’ll find plenty to do at this small island oasis. Book your island retreat with a Staniel Cay expert at Staniel Rentals. We offer several properties, from spacious, luxury villas to private, lagoon-side villas that can accommodate a boat.
Getting Around
We can hook you up with a power boat rental, meaning you can skip the condensed, day-trip tour and travel the Cays by island-hopping at your leisure. You’ll find plenty of other spots to visit that offer different types of Bahamian animal encounters.
After a day on the boat, you can head back to the island and indulge in a delicious dinner at one of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club restaurants. Look out for celebratory feasts on special occasions such as New Year’s Eve.
Other Places in the Exumas to Interact with Animals
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Big Major Cay is far from the only place in the Exumas where you can interact with wildlife. This chain of islands offers several opportunities for up-close encounters with a wide range of creatures.
Nurse Sharks at Compass Cay
Just a few islands north of Big Major Cay, you’ll find Compass Cay. Here, you can swim with laid-back nurse sharks who frequent the warm, shallow waters in the area. Despite their intimidating presence, these nurse sharks are used to friendly visitors, providing a unique opportunity to experience these marine animals up close and personal.
Bahamian Rock Iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay
If prehistoric predators are more your thing, you’ll want to pay a visit to Bitter Guana Cay to roam the beaches with the Bahamian Rock Iguanas that call this island home. These endangered reptiles have roamed the shores of this small island for thousands of years. Visitors enjoy walking along the sandy beaches and hiking along the rocks in search of them.
Sea Turtles at Farmer’s Cay
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The areas surrounding Farmers Cay are known to be home to majestic sea turtles and plentiful conch. You’ll find tours that allow you to swim among these marine turtles and later dine on a decadent conch salad, locally prepared just for you.
Coco Plum Beach’s Sand Dollars
If you’re searching for sand dollars, you’ll find the shores of Coco Plum Beach ripe with them. The warm, shallow waters attract these sea urchins, along with starfish and beautiful conch. During low tide, you can walk for miles along the sandbar, collecting treasures on your travels.
Snorkeling the Reefs with Tropical Fish
There are many places in the Exumas to snorkel and view sea life. Perhaps the most popular is Thunderball Grotto, which is just off the coast of Staniel Cay. Thunderball Grotto is a system of underwater caves where you can explore the turquoise waters just like James Bond in the 1963 film “Thunderball”.
You’ll also get to experience diverse marine life as it thrives in its natural habitat. From colorful tropical fish to gentle giants like stingrays and sea turtles, you’ll come up close with all sorts of incredible sea creatures here.
Stay in Staniel Cay and Swim with the Pigs
Pig Beach on Big Major Cay is truly a one-of-a-kind destination, offering visitors the chance to meet the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas in their natural paradise. With its breathtaking white sand, sparkling turquoise waters, and friendly pigs, a visit to the swimming pigs is the ultimate way to experience the magic of the Exuma Cays.
Whether you’re seeking a fun family adventure, a memorable day trip, or simply a chance to relax on a beautiful beach, Pig Beach delivers an enjoyable experience for all. Thanks to ongoing conservation and safety efforts, visitors can interact with the pigs responsibly while helping protect this unique island and its beloved residents.
Pack your bags, book your stay with Lazy Bay Villas, and get ready to discover the paradise island of Big Major Cay and its precious pigs.