Exuma Island Hopping Swimming Pigs Tour with Lunch from Nassau

Big Major Cay’s swimming pigs get the headlines, but this fast-paced Exuma day gives you far more: rare rock iguanas, calm nurse sharks, a sunken plane, a Bahamian lunch, and a final sandbar swim. You travel from Paradise Island by powerboat, so you can cover a lot of water in one day.

I like the excellent variety and the crew’s friendly, hands-on service. I also like that lunch, drinks, snacks, snorkeling gear, and boat facilities are included. The catch is simple: Exuma is far from Nassau, so you may spend about four hours aboard the boat, often in wind and spray.

• Six very different stops: Meet iguanas, nurse sharks, pigs, a plane wreck, and a sandbar in one long day.
• The powerboat is part of the fun: It covers the distance quickly, but the ride can feel chilly and windy.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 25 people.
• Bahamian lunch included: You stop at a local restaurant on Great Exuma for a buffet-style meal and a cold drink.
• Strong crew service: Crews have included Winston, Alex, TJ, Jasmine, Keith, Joey, and Chris.
• Bring a cover-up: Pack a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, and a light jacket or hoodie.

Six Exuma stops packed into one long day

This is not a slow island cruise. It is a full-day route built around several famous Exuma sights, with short visits at each one and quick boat transfers between them.

You check in at Carnivale Bahamas at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island at 8:30 a.m. From there, a sleek powerboat carries you south toward the Exuma Cays. The boat has a restroom, bottled water, soft drinks, local beer for people age 18 and older, light snacks, and snorkeling equipment.

The crew keeps the day moving. They also help passengers on and off the boat, offer drinks and snacks, explain safety rules, and share stories about islands passed along the way. Several crew members named in passenger feedback include Winston, Alex, TJ, Jasmine, Keith, Joey, and Chris, though your exact crew will depend on the departure.

The group limit of 25 is useful here. You are still taking a popular excursion, but the day should feel more manageable than a large ferry outing. Still, don’t expect a quiet trip. Music plays aboard, the engines are lively, and the pace is active.

Allen Cay and the rare Bahamian rock iguanas

The first stop is Allen Cay, where you meet Bahamian rock iguanas. These reptiles live on only three small islands in Exuma, which gives this short visit more interest than a routine wildlife photo stop.

You get about 20 minutes here. That is enough to see the iguanas and take pictures, but not enough for a long nature walk or a detailed wildlife lesson. Follow the crew’s instructions and give the animals room. The point is a close look at a species found nowhere else in the world, not an extended wildlife program.

This opening stop also helps break up the long ride from Nassau. You are not expected to sit aboard for the entire first stretch. After a fast run across the water, stepping onto a small cay and seeing these unusual reptiles feels like a good first change of scene.

Compass Cay and its calm nurse sharks

At Compass Cay, the focus shifts from land animals to nurse sharks. These sharks gather around the marina and are accustomed to people, allowing you to enter the water near them under the crew’s direction.

You have about 40 minutes here, giving you time to get comfortable in the water, take photos, and watch the sharks glide below. This is one of the tour’s most memorable moments, but it is also the stop where you should listen carefully. Stay within the permitted area, follow instructions, and do not assume that a calm animal has no strength or teeth.

The nurse sharks are a major reason to choose this tour instead of a basic Pig Beach trip. You get a genuine sense of Exuma’s clear water and marine life before the day’s most famous stop. If swimming near sharks is your main goal, this stop may become your personal favorite.

Great Exuma lunch with an hour to reset

After the animal stops, you head to Great Exuma for lunch at a local restaurant. The meal is a Bahamian-style buffet, and a cold drink is included.

An hour here matters. A day of salt water, sun, wind, and boat travel can wear you down, so a proper meal and time on land make the afternoon more comfortable. The lunch also gives you a break from the boat before returning to the water.

I would not book this tour expecting a food-focused excursion. The value is in having lunch built into a demanding schedule, not in treating the meal as a separate culinary event. Still, the food receives strong praise, and it is a practical part of the day rather than a token snack.

Pig Beach on Big Major Cay

Big Major Cay is home to the famous swimming pigs, and this is the stop many people picture when they book. You have about 45 minutes to see, feed, and swim with the pigs.

The scene is lively and photogenic. Pigs move through the shallows, and the crew helps you understand where to stand and how to interact safely. The animals are used to visitors, but you should still handle food carefully and avoid crowding them.

Forty-five minutes gives you enough time for pictures and a swim without making the entire day about one attraction. If you have seen countless Pig Beach photos online, keep your expectations practical. The experience is fun because you are actually near the animals, but it can also be busy and active, especially when several people are trying to take photos at once.

The pigs are the tour’s most famous feature, yet the day works better when you view them as one part of a larger Exuma outing. The iguanas and nurse sharks give you different animal encounters, while the final beach stop lets you slow down.

Norman’s Cay and the sunken plane

Next comes Norman’s Cay, where you can snorkel around a plane wreck often linked to Pablo Escobar. The aircraft crashed near the island in the late 1970s and is widely associated with the drug trade of that period.

You get about 30 minutes at the site. This is a short snorkeling visit, not a full reef expedition. The wreck is the main attraction, and you should expect the crew to keep the group focused on the available time and conditions.

The plane gives the afternoon a different feel. Instead of another beach and another swim, you get an unusual piece of modern history beneath the water. Bring or use the supplied snorkeling equipment, but remember that this tour is not built around traditional reef snorkeling. If extensive coral viewing is your priority, choose an excursion designed specifically for that.

A sandbar finish in shallow, bright water

The final stop is a beach or sandbar in the Exuma area. You may swim, sunbathe, take pictures, or simply enjoy being off the boat before the return run to Paradise Island.

This stop lasts about 35 minutes. It can be the quietest part of the day, especially after the pigs, sharks, and plane wreck. The clear, shallow water makes it a good place to cool off and take the classic Exuma photos.

The exact location can vary. That flexibility is useful because the captain can choose a suitable beach or sandbar based on conditions. It also means you should not expect one fixed postcard location every time.

The powerboat ride is both feature and warning

The boat is one of the tour’s pleasures. It moves quickly, the ride can feel exciting, and the open water gives you wide views of the Exuma Cays. Music, drinks, and snacks help make the transfers part of the day instead of dead time.

But the distance is real. Exuma is a long way from Nassau, and the total day includes roughly four hours on the boat. Several stops break up the journey, but you still need to be comfortable sitting for long stretches.

The boat’s speed also creates wind. Even on a warm Bahamian day, you might feel cold when the boat is moving, especially after getting wet. Pack a light jacket, hoodie, or other cover-up. A towel is essential, and a bathrobe would not be unreasonable if you get cold easily.

Sun protection matters just as much. The sun can feel strong on the water, and you move between wet and dry activities throughout the day. Bring sunscreen and keep it available rather than leaving it buried in a bag.

What the $438.90 price includes

At $438.90 per person, this is a costly excursion. I would not call it a bargain in the narrow sense. The value comes from combining several expensive-to-arrange experiences into one day: transport from Paradise Island to Exuma, six stops, lunch, drinks, snacks, snorkeling gear, facility fees, and a crewed powerboat.

You also avoid arranging separate transfers to Allen Cay, Compass Cay, Great Exuma, Big Major Cay, and Norman’s Cay. Trying to organize all of that independently would be difficult, and separate boat trips would take time and money.

The strongest value is for someone with only a few days in Nassau who wants a broad taste of the Exuma Cays. You see animals, beaches, a wreck, and a sandbar in one outing. The weaker value is for anyone who wants long, unhurried time at one beach or a full snorkeling session.

The stop lengths are planned tightly. Most people will find them sufficient for photos and a swim, but weather or sea conditions can shorten time at a location. That is worth keeping in mind before paying the full price. You are buying a broad day of access, not a private charter with complete control over the schedule.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would choose this tour if you want maximum variety and do not mind a long day. Families, couples, solo visitors, and groups can all find something to enjoy, and the crew’s help can make getting in and out of the boat easier.

It suits you especially well if you want:

• A single day covering several Exuma highlights
• A fast boat instead of a slower ferry
• Swimming near nurse sharks
• A chance to feed and swim with pigs
• A Bahamian lunch included in the price
• A flexible beach or sandbar stop
• A small group capped at 25 people

I would think twice if you get seasick, dislike speed, need long periods on land, or want serious reef snorkeling. The boat is fast, the day is active, and the schedule leaves little room to linger.

Pregnant people are not permitted on the activity, and a moderate level of physical fitness is required. The tour is also not recommended for cruise ship passengers, likely because the full-day timing does not suit a ship’s departure schedule.

Practical details before you reserve

The activity begins and ends at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole. You make your own way to the harbor, and the boat returns there at the end.

The tour lasts about eight hours. The stated start time is 8:30 a.m., so plan for an early morning and a full afternoon before you return to Nassau.

Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel, sunscreen, and a light jacket or hoodie. You will be in and out of the water, and the fast ride can be windy. Bottled water, soda, local beer for adults age 18 and older, snacks, lunch, and snorkeling equipment are included.

The mobile ticket is convenient, and confirmation is provided when you book. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Weather can cancel the trip, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund. A minimum number of participants is also required, with the same choice of another date, another experience, or a refund if the trip does not operate.

Should you book the Exuma island-hopping tour?

I would book it if you want a big, active day and you care more about variety than lingering. The combination of rock iguanas, nurse sharks, swimming pigs, a plane wreck, lunch, and a sandbar is hard to match in a single Nassau excursion.

I would skip it if the price feels too high for a day with several hours of boat travel, or if you want a relaxed beach outing. The best way to judge it is to picture the trade-off clearly: you get a fast, well-filled route across Exuma, but each stop has a time limit.

Bring warm layers for the ride, keep your expectations realistic about stop lengths, and treat Pig Beach as one highlight among several. If that sounds like your kind of day, Born Free Charters offers a strong way to see much more of the Bahamas than Nassau alone.

FAQ

Where does the Exuma island-hopping tour start and finish?

The tour starts and ends at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 8:30 a.m. The full experience lasts about eight hours.

What stops are included?

The route includes Allen Cay, Compass Cay, Great Exuma, Big Major Cay Pig Beach, Norman’s Cay, and a final beach or sandbar stop in Exuma.

Is lunch included?

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

What equipment and refreshments are provided?

The tour includes snorkeling equipment, bottled water, soda, light snacks, local beer for people age 18 and older, and restroom access aboard the boat.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Weather or minimum-participant cancellations offer a different date or a full refund.