Nassau: Discover Exuma Island Hopping and Swimming Pigs Tour

The big draw here is the sheer variety packed into one day. From Paradise Island, you race across the sea to five Exuma stops, where rare iguanas, nurse sharks, famous swimming pigs, a plane wreck, and a bright beach or sandbar each get their turn.

I like the well-planned pace, which keeps the day moving instead of leaving you parked at one place for hours. I also like the practical all-inclusive setup: lunch, drinks, snacks, snorkel gear, landing fees, and pig food are covered. The tradeoff is the price, $489 per person, plus a long day on a speedboat with limited time at each stop.

Key details at a glance

• Five very different stops: You get wildlife, swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and beach time in one full day.
• Rare iguanas at Allen’s Cay: The Bahamian rock iguanas live on only three small Exuma islands.
• Close nurse shark encounter: Compass Cay’s sharks gather around the marina docks and are accustomed to people.
• Big Major’s Cay pigs: You can feed and swim with the animals made famous by television and social media.
• A story-filled snorkel stop: The wreck near Norman’s Cay is linked to Pablo Escobar’s former drug-running base.
• Shared group of up to 24: The boat is not a private charter, so expect a social, active outing.

Why this Exuma day trip packs so much in

This is not a slow cruise with long stretches of empty time. The schedule uses a fast power boat to cover a wide section of the Exuma Cays, then stops for short bursts of activity. You spend about an hour reaching the first area, then move through wildlife viewing, shark swimming, Pig Beach, lunch, snorkeling, and a final beach or sandbar stop before the roughly 70-minute ride back.

That format works well if you want a first taste of Exuma and do not have several days to explore independently. You will see more than you could by choosing only one boat excursion, but you also need to accept that the day is tightly timed. A 40-minute pig stop and a 30-minute snorkeling stop do not leave room for a leisurely pace.

The tour begins at the Born Free Charters desk at Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island. Transportation to the check-in point is not included, so you need to arrange your own way there. The tour is conducted in English, and the shared boat can carry up to 24 people.

The fast ride to Allen’s Cay

The first boat ride lasts about an hour. That sounds long on paper, but it is the price of reaching the outer Exuma Cays from Nassau in a single day. A high-speed power boat gets you there far faster than a slower sightseeing vessel, though the ride can feel active and exposed compared with a large ferry.

Your first stop is Allen’s Cay, where you will see Bahamian rock iguanas. These are not ordinary lizards found across the islands. This species lives on only three small islands in Exuma, making the stop one of the more unusual wildlife encounters on the route.

You have about 25 minutes for wildlife viewing. That is enough to see the animals and take pictures, but not enough for a long naturalist walk. I would treat this as a quick introduction to a very local species, not a full wildlife tour.

The stop also gives you a useful change of pace after the open-water ride. You get off the boat, look around, and start the day with something more distinctive than a standard beach visit.

Swimming near the nurse sharks at Compass Cay

The boat then heads south for about 45 minutes to Compass Cay. Here, nurse sharks gather beneath the docks at Compass Cay Marina. The sharks are known for being comfortable around the marina and the steady stream of people who come to see them.

You get about 35 minutes for marine life viewing. The main appeal is proximity. This is not simply a distant shark sighting from the boat. The activity is set around the docks, where you can see the animals in the water and, as part of the stop, swim near them.

That close setting may be thrilling, but it is also a point to consider if you are uneasy around large marine animals. The tour is not suited to people with heart problems, and the physical nature of the stop is one reason the activity is not recommended for people with back problems, mobility impairments, or wheelchair users.

I like that the shark stop comes early enough to give the day a strong sense of adventure. You are not waiting until the final hour for the headline activity. At the same time, 35 minutes passes quickly, especially if the group needs time to get in and out of the water.

Meeting the famous pigs at Big Major’s Cay

Next comes Big Major’s Cay, home of the swimming pigs. You will have around 40 minutes to feed and swim with them, with food for the pigs included in the tour price.

This is the stop most people will recognize from photographs. The pigs became famous through television appearances, including The Bachelor, and through social media. The setting is memorable because the animals come into the water and interact with people at the beach.

The experience is more than a photo stop, but the photographs are clearly part of the fun. Bring a waterproof phone case if you have one, since the best pictures may happen close to the water. The supplied information specifically asks you to bring a towel and sunscreen, and both are essential for this part of the day.

Keep your expectations sensible. Big Major’s Cay is a popular place, and this is a shared tour with up to 24 people. Your time with the pigs is limited, and the animals do not follow a script. Some may come close, while others may be more interested in the food or the water.

The included pig food is a useful detail. You do not have to search for something suitable to feed them, and the crew can keep the stop moving. If you want a relaxed beach afternoon with animals as a side attraction, this is not that. It is a lively, short wildlife encounter built into a much larger day.

Lunch at a local Exuma restaurant

After the pig stop, the boat makes a short ride to lunch. You get about an hour at a local Exuma restaurant, with buffet food and a cold drink included.

This break matters because the day is physically active. You will have spent time on a moving boat, around docks, and in the water before sitting down to eat. The buffet format also avoids the need to choose and pay for a separate meal while you are on a timed excursion.

Included drinks cover local beer, sodas, and bottled water. Light snacks are included as well, which helps fill the gaps between the main meal and the next activity.

The lunch stop is not the tour’s main cultural focus, so I would not book this expecting a long food tour or a cooking lesson. Its value is simple and practical: you get a proper meal, a drink, and a pause before the afternoon stops.

Snorkeling the alleged Pablo Escobar plane wreck

After lunch, the boat travels for about 35 minutes toward Norman’s Cay. You will snorkel at a plane wreck that is popularly linked to Pablo Escobar and the cocaine trade of the late 1970s.

The story gives the stop extra interest. During that period, Escobar reportedly controlled Norman’s Cay and used its small runway as a base and refueling point for planes moving cocaine from Mexico toward the United States. The wreck sits just offshore, where you can view it from the water with the provided snorkel gear.

You get roughly 30 minutes to snorkel. That is enough for a look at the wreck and its underwater setting, but not an extended reef session. The appeal here is the combination of history and underwater sightseeing. You are not simply looking at a random sunken aircraft. You are seeing a physical remnant connected to one of the Exuma Cays’ most famous modern stories.

The wording around the wreck is worth noting. It is known as Pablo Escobar’s plane, and the account connects it to that era, but the tour details do not establish every part of the story as proven fact. I would enjoy the setting and the tale without treating the nickname as a complete historical record.

Snorkel gear is included, which makes this stop easier for people who do not want to pack equipment. You should still bring your own towel and sunscreen, since the boat and island stops offer little relief from the sun.

Ending at a beach or sandbar

The final stop is a beautiful beach or sandbar for about 30 minutes of swimming, sunbathing, and photographs. The exact location depends on the captain and the conditions of the day.

This is the calmest part of the itinerary, but it is also the stop most affected by expectations. A half hour gives you time for a swim and a few pictures. It does not provide a full afternoon of quiet beach time.

The captain chooses the final location, so you may get a sandbar or a beach rather than a fixed destination. That flexibility can help the crew respond to the day’s conditions, but it means you cannot plan around one particular island.

If beach time is your main priority, this tour may feel rushed. The active stops are the real reason to book it. If you see the final stop as a pleasant finish after the iguanas, sharks, pigs, and wreck, the short visit makes more sense.

Is $489 a fair price?

At $489 per person, this is an expensive day trip. The price becomes easier to justify if you add up what is included: high-speed boat transport between Nassau and the Exuma Cays, five island-area stops, lunch, local beer, sodas, bottled water, snacks, snorkel equipment, landing fees, and food for the pigs.

You are also paying for access to locations that are far from Nassau. Reaching Allen’s Cay, Compass Cay, Big Major’s Cay, Norman’s Cay, and a final beach or sandbar on your own would require considerable planning, transport, and separate costs.

Still, value depends on what you want from a day on the water. If you prefer one quiet beach, the price is hard to defend. If you want a broad sample of Exuma highlights in eight hours, the bundled format is more reasonable.

The strongest value comes from the variety. You do not need to book separate wildlife, snorkeling, lunch, and beach activities. The drawback is that the schedule leaves little room to linger, and the long rides are part of the deal.

Who will enjoy this day most?

I would recommend this tour to an active adult or older child who wants to see many famous Exuma sights in one outing. It suits people who like a full schedule, short water activities, wildlife encounters, and plenty of photo opportunities.

It is less suitable if you want a private, quiet boat day. The group can reach 24 people, and the shared format means you will follow the captain’s timing rather than set your own.

The activity is not suitable for children under two, pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or cruise ship guests. Baby strollers, baby carriages, and electric wheelchairs are not allowed.

Cruise ship passengers should pay close attention to that restriction. The experience begins and ends at Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island, and cruise ship guests are specifically listed as unsuitable for this tour.

What to bring and how to prepare

Pack a towel and sunscreen. You will use both repeatedly, and the day includes several water stops followed by open-boat travel.

Wear practical swim clothing and bring only what you can manage safely on a shared speedboat. Your most useful extras are likely to be a waterproof phone case and a small bag for dry items, though the confirmed requirements are the towel and sunscreen.

The tour includes bottled water, but you should still take the heat seriously. The day runs for eight hours, and the return boat ride alone takes about 70 minutes. The boat schedule can change because the captain has control of the order of stops.

Born Free Charters has a strong transport score, with 93 percent of ratings giving the transport a perfect score. The overall rating is 4.9 from 29 ratings, and the most consistent praise centers on the well-planned activity sequence and the chance to see a lot in a short time. One useful criticism is that the beach stop could be more isolated, such as a quiet sandbar, so do not book this expecting guaranteed solitude.

Should you book the Exuma island-hopping tour?

Book it if you want the biggest possible sampler of Exuma in one day and you are comfortable paying for convenience, speed, and variety. The rare iguanas, nurse sharks, swimming pigs, plane wreck, lunch, and final swim give you a strong range of experiences.

Skip it if your idea of a perfect day is staying on one beach, avoiding long boat rides, or setting your own schedule. The $489 price is substantial, and the itinerary moves quickly.

For the right person, this is a memorable, action-packed introduction to the Exuma Cays. Go for the unusual mix of wildlife and water stops, not for a leisurely beach day. The tour’s best quality is that it keeps giving you a new reason to get off the boat.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is at Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island, at the Born Free Charters desk. Transportation to the check-in location is not included.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts eight hours. The schedule includes about 70 minutes for the return speedboat ride and several shorter boat transfers between stops.

How many people can join the boat?

This is a shared tour with up to 24 guests.

What is included in the price?

The price includes buffet lunch, local beer, sodas, bottled water, light snacks, snorkel gear, landing fees, and food for the pigs.

Can I swim with the nurse sharks?

The Compass Cay stop includes marine life viewing around the marina, where nurse sharks gather beneath the docks. The stop lasts about 35 minutes.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkel gear is included for the plane wreck stop near Norman’s Cay.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel and sunscreen. The tour includes several swimming and snorkeling stops.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you book without paying at the time of reservation.