Exuma Powerboat Tour from Nassau with Swimming Pigs

The Exumas are worth the fast boat ride. This full-day trip from Nassau packs rock iguanas, nurse sharks, swimming pigs, sandbars, lunch, and the sunken Norman’s Cay plane into roughly eight hours. It is a busy day, but you see far more than you could by visiting one island at a time.

I especially like the small maximum group of 16 and the range of stops. The crew names praised most often include Captain Rico, Captain Ron, Captain Emilio, Captain Milio, Captain Shay, Neal, LJ, Cam, and Guelly. The main caution is simple: much of your day is spent speeding across open water, and the ride can be rough, windy, and chilly.

At $439 per person, this is not a cheap outing. Still, lunch, beer, bottled water, snacks, round-trip boat transportation, and several major Exuma sights are included. If you have only a short stay in the Bahamas and want one big day beyond Nassau, the price can make sense. If you prefer slow beach time, this schedule may feel rushed.

Key points at a glance

• The ride takes you far beyond Nassau: A fast powerboat reaches Allen’s Cay, Compass Cay, Big Major Cay, Staniel Cay, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, and Norman’s Cay in one day.
• Nurse sharks are a major highlight: At Compass Cay, you can see the sharks from the dock and, when conditions allow, get close enough to touch or hold them.
• Pig Beach is not a tame petting zoo: The pigs can be very large, forceful, and nippy, so follow the crew’s instructions and keep a sensible distance.
• The sandbar may be the prettiest stop: The pale sand and bright water offer a classic Exuma scene, though some people wish they had more than an hour there.
• Lunch is served at Staniel Cay Yacht Club: You get a proper restaurant stop, drinks, and time to sit at a table rather than eat on the boat.
• Pack for speed and spray: Bring strong sun protection, a warm layer, and secure belongings because the boat ride is long and often bumpy.

Why this Nassau trip reaches the real Exumas

Nassau and Paradise Island have beautiful water, but the Exumas take the color several steps further. The chain includes hundreds of islands, cays, shallow banks, and small beaches spread across a long stretch of the southern Bahamas. This tour gives you a quick look at several of the area’s best-known sights without arranging separate boats, meals, and transfers.

The powerboat is the key. It lets you cover a lot of water in one day, with about an hour to the first major stop and a similar stretch on the return. You also spend time motoring between the cays. That means the boat is not just transportation between activities. It is one of the main parts of the experience.

The tradeoff is comfort. Several people found the ride choppy or brutal, especially when the sea was unsettled. Even in warm weather, the wind created by the speed can feel cool. I would treat this as an active boat day, not a gentle sightseeing cruise.

The group limit of 16 helps. A smaller group gives the crew more room to help with photos, explain the stops, and keep an eye on people around the animals. Captain Rico and his crews are especially praised for being attentive, funny, and careful about making sure everyone gets a turn.

Allen’s Cay and the Bahamian rock iguanas

The first stop is Allen’s Cay in the Exuma Cays, with about an hour to see the Bahamian rock iguanas. These large reptiles live in their natural habitat, not in a zoo enclosure. That alone makes the stop more interesting than a quick animal photo opportunity.

The iguanas are accustomed to people approaching and feeding them, so you can watch them move across the sand and rocks at close range. They are prehistoric-looking creatures, and this is a good place to slow down after the fast ride from Nassau.

The stop is included in the price, with no separate admission fee. Wear shoes that can handle uneven ground, and keep your phone or camera ready. The visit is short enough that you will want to make the most of your time rather than wander off.

This stop also sets the tone for the day. The tour is not only about Pig Beach. You are collecting a series of unusual Bahamian experiences, each with a different setting and animal.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

At Compass Cay Marina, the focus shifts from land animals to wild nurse sharks. The boat stops near the dock, where the sharks swim around the marina. You have about 30 minutes, which is enough for close photos and, depending on the crew’s instructions and conditions, time in the water with them.

For many people, this is the best stop of the day. The nurse sharks are large but generally slow-moving, and the close encounter feels far more remarkable than simply spotting marine life from a distance. Some participants were able to touch or hold the sharks with help from the crew.

This is also where good guidance matters. Captain Rico, Ron, Emilio, and other crew members are praised for helping people feel safe and making sure the group has time for photos. Listen carefully before entering the water, move calmly, and do not treat the animals like props.

The 30-minute stop may sound brief, but it keeps the day moving. If you are nervous around sharks, you can stay near the dock and watch them from above. If you are eager to get in, have your swimwear on before arriving and avoid wasting time changing.

Big Major Cay and the reality of Pig Beach

Big Major Cay is better known as Pig Beach, the stop that gives this tour its popular name. You can get into the water near the famous swimming pigs, take photos, and possibly hold a piglet.

The setting is charming, but the animals are not all small, soft, and cuddly. Some are very large, and several can be pushy when food is present. A few have been known to nip people, including from behind. Pig waste can also be present on the sand and in the shallow water.

That does not make the stop a bad experience. It simply means you should arrive with realistic expectations. I would keep children close, avoid turning your back on a large pig, and follow the crew’s directions about feeding and touching. You can also enjoy the spectacle from the boat or the edge of the water if the animals feel too aggressive.

The baby pigs are the easy crowd-pleasers. The adults are the reason to stay alert. Pig Beach is a memorable stop because it is odd and photogenic, but it may not be the strongest part of the day for everyone. The nurse sharks and sandbar often leave a bigger impression.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club and a proper lunch break

After the animal stops, the boat heads to Staniel Cay for lunch at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. You get about an hour here, with a restaurant meal rather than a packed lunch eaten on the boat.

The inclusion of lunch adds real value to a long excursion. You can sit at a table, take a break from the sun and wind, and order from the menu. The package also includes beer, bottled water, and snacks throughout the day.

Food opinions can vary. Many people found the meal very good or excellent, while one person felt the food itself was less impressive than the setting and the convenience. Shellfish limitations are noted because of allergies, so check with the crew if that matters to you.

This stop is also useful as a reset. By this point, you have already spent hours on the water and visited two animal sites. A restaurant lunch gives you a chance to eat properly before the final stops.

The Exuma sandbar is the quiet star

The visit to a sandbar in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is the most relaxed part of the itinerary. You get about an hour to walk through shallow water, look for shells and sand dollars, and enjoy the open view.

The Exuma water is the reason many people come here, and the sandbar shows it off better than any crowded beach. The water shifts through pale blue, turquoise, and green depending on depth and light. You are surrounded by low islands, open sky, and clean stretches of white sand.

Several people wished they had more time here. That complaint makes sense because an hour can pass quickly when you are walking, taking photos, and enjoying the water. Still, the stop gives the day some breathing room after the more organized animal encounters.

Bring reef-safe sun protection, a hat that will stay on, and footwear you can remove easily. The sandbar is a place for simple pleasures, not a long list of activities. If you prefer quiet scenery to staged attractions, this may be your favorite stop.

Norman’s Cay and the sunken plane

The final listed sight is the sunken plane near Norman’s Cay. The aircraft is linked in popular accounts with Pablo Escobar, and the wreck has become one of the Exumas’ unusual landmarks.

You view it from the boat, with about 15 minutes allocated for the stop. The tour does not include snorkeling here, and you should not expect to get out and explore the wreck underwater. Instead, the boat gets close enough for you to see and photograph it from above.

That brief stop works because it adds a completely different story to the day. After iguanas, sharks, pigs, lunch, and sand, the abandoned aircraft feels unexpected. It is not a full wreck tour, but it is an interesting sight for anyone who enjoys strange pieces of local lore.

What the $439 price really covers

At $439 per person, this is best judged as an all-in-one day rather than a simple boat transfer. You are paying for a full itinerary, a fast private-style powerboat experience, lunch, beer, water, snacks, and access to multiple well-known Exuma locations.

The value is strongest if you want variety. Booking separate trips to reach the iguanas, nurse sharks, Pig Beach, Staniel Cay, a sandbar, and Norman’s Cay would take more planning and could cost more once meals and transportation are added.

The value is weaker if you mainly want to sit on a beach. You will spend a large portion of the eight-hour day on the boat, and some stops may feel short. The tour gives you breadth rather than long stays.

A maximum of 16 people is another important part of the calculation. It is not a private charter, but it is much more manageable than a large party boat. The crew can keep the day organized and help with animal encounters and photographs.

Boat comfort, weather, and what to pack

The boat has a sunshade and a bathroom, and drinks and snacks are offered during the day. Even so, you should pack as if you will be exposed to the elements for hours.

Use plenty of sunscreen and bring a warm layer, even if Nassau feels hot at departure. The wind can make the ride surprisingly cool. Secure hats, phones, and loose bags, particularly when the boat is moving quickly.

The crossing can be rough. People who get seasick or dislike bouncing over waves should think carefully before booking. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended, and pregnant people are not permitted on the tour.

Weather is a serious factor in the Exumas. The operator has canceled trips in poor conditions and offered a new date or a full refund. That is frustrating when you have been looking forward to the outing, but it is the correct call for an open-water trip.

The meeting point is the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal on Paradise Beach Drive. The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the site is near public transportation.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this to you if you want to see a lot in one day and do not mind a fast pace. It works particularly well for a short Nassau stay, a family wanting several memorable stops, or anyone who puts nurse sharks and the Exuma water near the top of a wish list.

It also suits people who enjoy guides with personality. The crew members are frequently praised for humor, music, safety, and attention. Captain Rico and his colleagues have a reputation for making solo participants and families feel comfortable.

I would hesitate to recommend it if you want long swims, snorkeling, or a slow beach day. There is no snorkeling included, the Norman’s Cay plane is viewed from the boat, and the sandbar visit can feel too short.

You should also be realistic about the pigs. If you expect gentle animals that behave like trained pets, Pig Beach may disappoint or make you nervous. If you see it as a wild-animal encounter with a famous photo opportunity, you will have a better time.

Should you book this Exuma powerboat tour?

Book it if you want the biggest possible sample of the Exumas in one day. The nurse sharks, brilliant water, sandbar, and range of stops make the $439 cost easier to justify, especially with lunch, drinks, snacks, and transport included.

Skip it if rough seas, long boat rides, or rushed stops would spoil your day. Pack sunscreen and a warm layer, listen closely around the pigs and sharks, and keep your expectations practical. For an active, high-value sightseeing day beyond Nassau, this is one of the stronger ways to reach the Exumas.

FAQ

How long is the Exuma powerboat tour?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and returning to the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins and ends at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal on Paradise Beach Drive in the Bahamas.

What is included in the $439 price?

Lunch, beer, bottled water, snacks, round-trip powerboat transportation, and admission for the listed included stops are provided.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

Yes. Beer is included, along with bottled water and snacks.

Can pregnant people join the tour?

No. Pregnant travelers are not permitted on this activity.

Is snorkeling included?

No. Snorkeling is not included. The sunken plane near Norman’s Cay is viewed from the boat.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.