Exuma Island Hopping Swimming Pigs Tour with Lunch from Nassau

The Bahamas gets wilder offshore. This Exuma day trip packs rare rock iguanas, friendly nurse sharks, swimming pigs, a plane wreck, lunch, and beach time into one fast-moving day from Paradise Island. I like the sheer variety, and I also like the crew’s repeated attention to drinks, snacks, safety, and helping people in and out of the boat. The main catch is simple: you spend a lot of time on that boat.

At $438.90 per person, this is not a casual budget outing. Still, the price covers an eight-hour trip, return powerboat transport, lunch, drinks, snacks, snorkeling gear, facility fees, and several major Exuma sights. Bring a towel and a light jacket or hoodie. The boat moves quickly, and spray, wind, and wet swimwear can make the ride chilly even under a bright Bahamian sun.

Six things to know before you book

• The powerboat ride is part of the experience: Exuma is a long way from Nassau, with roughly four hours of the day spent on the water.
• You visit six different stops: Allen Cay, Compass Cay, Great Exuma, Big Major’s Cay, Norman’s Cay, and a final beach or sandbar.
• The nurse sharks are the star for many people: At Compass Cay, they gather around the marina and are accustomed to human visitors.
• Pig Beach is fun but brief: You get about 45 minutes to feed and swim with the famous pigs at Big Major’s Cay.
• The crew earns strong marks: Names praised in feedback include Winston, Alex, TJ, Keith, Joey, Jasmine, and Chris.
• Plan for an active day: You will climb in and out of a boat, swim several times, use snorkeling equipment, and spend time in the sun.

Why this Exuma trip costs so much

A day from Nassau to the Exuma Cays is expensive because the distance is significant and the tour uses a speedy powerboat rather than a slower ferry or a single-island transfer. You are paying to reach several remote stops in one day, not simply for access to one beach.

The value depends on how you like to travel. I think the price makes more sense if you want to collect several classic Exuma experiences in one outing: iguanas, nurse sharks, pigs, a wreck, lunch on Great Exuma, and a shallow-water beach stop. Booking separate trips for all of those sights would take more time and may cost more.

The package also includes more than the headline animals. You receive bottled water, soda, light snacks, local beer for those 18 and older, lunch, snorkeling gear, a restroom on board, and landing and facility fees. Those extras matter on a long day at sea, since you are not left to arrange meals or drinks between stops.

Still, I would not call it cheap. If your main goal is only to see the pigs, a shorter excursion may suit you better. This trip works best when you want a full day of moving between cays and do not mind paying for the reach, transport, and variety.

Leaving Paradise Island on a fast boat

Check-in begins early, with an 8:30 a.m. start at Carnivale Bahamas, One Marina Way, at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island. You make your own way to the harbor, and the tour returns to that same meeting point at the end of the day.

The boat is sleek, quick, and central to the mood of the trip. Music plays, drinks and snacks are offered during the day, and the crew helps with boarding. Several people particularly praised how attentive the crew remained, often offering a hand when you stepped on or off the boat.

That speed has a tradeoff. The ride can feel smooth, but it is still a long time sitting on a moving boat. The wind is strong, and the air can feel cool when you are wet. I would pack a light jacket, hoodie, or other cover-up, plus a towel. One piece of feedback even suggested a bathrobe for colder days, which is amusing but not entirely silly if you get chilled easily.

The boat holds a maximum of 25 people. That is not a private charter, but it keeps the group small enough for the crew to provide direct help and keep the day organized. You should still expect a shared outing rather than a quiet, custom-made cruise.

Allen Cay and its rare rock iguanas

The first stop is Allen Cay, where Bahamian rock iguanas live. This species is found only on three small islands in Exuma, so the stop offers something more unusual than the usual beach-and-snorkel routine.

You have about 20 minutes here. That is enough to see the animals and take pictures, but not enough for a long walk or a slow naturalist session. The short visit makes sense as the opening stop in a packed day, though anyone hoping for extended wildlife viewing should adjust expectations.

Follow the crew’s instructions around the iguanas. The point is to observe and interact in a controlled way, not to turn the visit into a free-for-all with food and cameras. The unusual setting, rare species, and short stop give the morning a good start before the tour moves to its most hands-on animal encounter.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

At Compass Cay, you visit a marina known for its nurse sharks. The sharks gather there and are not shy around people, creating one of the most memorable parts of the day for many visitors.

The stop lasts about 40 minutes. You can enter the water and swim near the sharks, with the crew explaining what to do and what to avoid. This is not a traditional snorkeling stop focused on coral or a wide range of fish. It is a close encounter built around the nurse sharks.

That distinction matters. If you picture a long reef session with a mask and fins, this tour may not give you that. The snorkeling equipment is included, but the real attraction is the sharks and the clear water around the marina.

I like this stop because it offers a genuine sense of place. You are not simply looking at an animal behind glass. You are in the water, with the boat and the small marina forming the setting. At the same time, you need a moderate level of fitness and comfort in the water. The tour is not permitted for pregnant people, and the repeated boarding, swimming, and ladder use make it a poor fit for anyone who needs a very gentle day.

Lunch on Great Exuma

After the morning animal stops, the boat heads to Great Exuma for a Bahamian-style buffet lunch and a cold drink. You have about an hour, which gives you a useful break from the boat and enough time to eat before the afternoon stops.

Food can make or break a long excursion, and the lunch receives especially warm praise. It is served at a local restaurant rather than as a packed meal eaten on the boat. That gives the day a more grounded pause and lets you refuel properly.

The menu is described as Bahamian style, but no specific dishes are promised. I would treat this as a welcome local meal included in the day, not as a formal food tour. The cold drink, shaded break, and chance to stretch your legs may be just as valuable as the buffet itself.

Big Major’s Cay and the swimming pigs

The headline stop is Big Major’s Cay, better known as Pig Beach. You have around 45 minutes to see, feed, and swim with the pigs that made this small island famous around the world.

The pigs are the reason many people first search for this tour, and the encounter delivers the kind of pictures you cannot easily recreate elsewhere. The setting is simple: sand, shallow water, pigs, and a crowd of cameras. It is playful, odd, and very Bahamian in its own modern way.

Keep your expectations realistic. Forty-five minutes passes quickly, especially once you account for getting into the water, taking photos, and listening to safety directions. This is an interactive stop, not a long beach afternoon. You may spend more time watching and photographing the pigs than swimming beside them.

I also think the order works well. By this point, you have already seen iguanas and nurse sharks and had lunch. The pigs become the big afternoon feature rather than the only reason for the whole trip.

Norman’s Cay and the sunken plane

Norman’s Cay brings a different kind of story. You can snorkel around a plane wreck that is widely associated with Pablo Escobar and the late 1970s. The plane is rumored to have been carrying cocaine when it crashed, adding a bit of mystery to the underwater stop.

You have about 30 minutes here. The time is enough for a look and some snorkeling, but it is not a long wreck exploration. The tour description does not promise extensive underwater viewing conditions, and visibility can depend on the weather and sea state.

This stop also helps explain why the tour feels varied. The day is not just a parade of animal encounters. You move from a rare lizard species to nurse sharks, then pigs, then an unusual piece of local lore beneath the water. The plane wreck may be the highlight if you enjoy snorkeling and stories with a darker edge.

One important note: this is not a tour focused on traditional snorkeling. The equipment is provided, but snorkeling is one part of a much broader day. Choose this outing for variety, not for hours spent exploring reefs.

A final beach or sandbar in Exuma

The last stop is a beach or sandbar near Exuma, chosen for swimming, sunbathing, and photos. You get about 35 minutes to slow down before the ride back to Paradise Island.

For me, this is an important finish. After a full day of animals, stairs, boat movement, and cameras, a calm patch of shallow water gives you room to enjoy the setting without a scheduled animal encounter. Some people find the sandbar to be an unexpected favorite, especially because the water can be crystal clear and not deep.

The stop can vary because the captain may choose a sandbar or beach. That means you should not expect one fixed shoreline every time. The reward is the chance to swim and relax in the kind of pale water that makes Exuma famous.

Do not skip sunscreen. Feedback repeatedly points to strong sunshine, while the boat ride brings wind that can disguise how much sun you are getting. A towel, dry clothes, and a cover-up will make the final ride far more comfortable.

The crew, pacing, and time on the water

The crew is one of the strongest parts of this experience. Names praised in feedback include Winston, Alex, TJ, Keith, Joey, Jasmine, and Chris. Specific combinations vary, but the pattern is clear: the crew keeps drinks and snacks moving, explains safety rules, helps with boarding, and works to keep the mood lively.

Music on the boat adds to the holiday feeling. Crew members may point out islands linked with celebrities or films as you pass, giving the long rides a bit more interest. That does not replace a full guided history lesson, but it helps you notice what would otherwise be open water and distant islands.

The timing is carefully packed. The listed stops total three hours and 50 minutes, leaving roughly four hours for transport, boarding, and transitions. Some people find that boat time relaxing, while others feel the stops are too short for the cost.

Weather can change the rhythm. One account describes visits being shortened because the captain was concerned about conditions. That is frustrating when you have paid a high price, but safety has to come before preserving every minute of a planned stop. I would book with the understanding that the sea, not the printed schedule, has the final say.

Who will enjoy this and who should skip it

I recommend this for you if you want a big, active day and prefer seeing many highlights in one trip. Families with older children, couples, solo visitors, photographers, and first-time Nassau visitors who want to reach Exuma can all find a lot to like here.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy a social boat atmosphere. Music, snacks, fast rides, shared excitement, and frequent water stops create an energetic day rather than a quiet escape.

I would skip it if you dislike long boat rides, get cold easily, want a slow beach day, or are mainly interested in serious reef snorkeling. The tour requires moderate physical fitness, is not recommended for cruise ship passengers, and is not permitted for pregnant people.

It is also not a sensible choice if you are staying only briefly and cannot risk a weather-related change. The tour needs good weather and a minimum number of participants. If it is canceled for either reason, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Is the Exuma Island Hopping Tour worth booking?

I think you should book this if the price fits your budget and you want the broadest possible Exuma sampler from Nassau. The day gives you six distinct settings, excellent crew support, lunch, drinks, and a chance to meet the pigs, sharks, and iguanas in one run.

I would not book it just because Pig Beach appears on your wish list. The pigs are only one stop, and the long powerboat journey is a major part of the day. Pack a towel, light warm layer, sunscreen, and patience for sitting.

For the right person, this is a memorable, well-organized splurge. The nurse sharks, the clear sandbar water, and the boat ride itself may end up competing with the pigs for top billing.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending back at the Paradise Island meeting point.

Where does the tour start?

You meet at Carnivale Bahamas, One Marina Way, Sterling Marina, Hurricane Hole, Paradise Island.

What stops are included?

The tour visits Allen Cay, Compass Cay, Great Exuma, Big Major’s Cay, Norman’s Cay, and a beach or sandbar stop in Exuma.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served at a local restaurant on Great Exuma and is described as a Bahamian-style buffet.

Are drinks and snacks included?

Yes. Bottled water, soda, light snacks, and local beer are included. Alcoholic drinks are available only to people 18 and older.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, including for the stop at the plane wreck near Norman’s Cay.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted. Weather or minimum-participant cancellations offer a different date or experience, or a full refund.