Nassau: Discover Exuma Island Hopping and Swimming Pigs Tour

The Bahamas, one very full day.

This Exuma boat trip packs five distinct stops into eight hours, from rare iguanas and nurse sharks to the famous pigs of Big Major’s Cay. I like the well-planned variety and the fact that lunch, drinks, snacks, snorkel gear, landing fees, and pig food are included. I also like the chance to reach places far beyond Nassau without arranging several separate excursions.

The tradeoff is the pace. You spend long stretches on a fast powerboat, and most stops last 30 to 40 minutes. The final beach or sandbar stop can also vary, so you should book this for variety and adventure rather than a slow beach day.

Key points at a glance

• Five Exuma stops in one day: You visit Allen’s Cay, Compass Cay, Big Major’s Cay, a local restaurant, a plane wreck, and a final beach or sandbar.
• Rare Bahamian Rock Iguanas: Allen’s Cay is one of only three islands where this species is found.
• A close look at nurse sharks: The sharks gather beneath the docks at Compass Cay Marina and are accustomed to people.
• Pig Beach at Big Major’s Cay: You can feed and swim with the famous pigs, with food supplied as part of the tour.
• Snorkeling with a story: The sunken plane near Norman’s Cay is linked to Pablo Escobar’s former drug-running operation.
• All-inclusive pricing: The $489 price includes buffet lunch, local beer, soft drinks, bottled water, light snacks, snorkel equipment, and landing fees.

Why this Exuma day trip is worth considering

The big appeal is efficiency. Exuma is a chain of islands and cays southeast of Nassau, and seeing several highlights independently would require a great deal of planning, boat coordination, and extra payments. Here, one captain and crew handle the route while you move from one short experience to the next.

I especially like the range of stops. This is not simply a boat ride to Pig Beach and back. You get wildlife, marine life, swimming, snorkeling, local food, and a little Bahamian history tied to the old smuggling route around Norman’s Cay.

The rating is 4.9 from 29 reviews, and 93 percent of ratings give the transportation a perfect score. That fits the nature of the day: the powerboat is not just a way to get around. It is the link that makes this ambitious route possible.

Still, you should understand the physical demands. The boat spends about an hour heading southeast at the beginning, then makes several shorter crossings and a roughly 70-minute return ride. The sea conditions can make a fast boat feel lively, and the tour is not suitable for people with back, heart, or mobility problems, pregnant women, wheelchair users, or children under two.

Leaving Paradise Island on a high-speed boat

The meeting point is the Born Free Charters desk at Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island. Transportation to that point is not included, so you need to arrange your own way there and allow enough time to check in.

Once underway, the boat runs southeast for just over an hour. This opening ride is the longest uninterrupted crossing of the day. You should bring sunscreen and a towel, and keep your belongings secure because this is an active boat trip with repeated boarding, swimming, and shore stops.

The shared boat can carry up to 24 people. That is large enough to create a social atmosphere but small enough for the outing to feel more personal than a large sightseeing vessel. The captain may change the order of stops, depending on conditions and the practical needs of the day.

Allen’s Cay and its rare rock iguanas

The first major stop is Allen’s Cay, where you spend about 25 minutes viewing the Bahamian Rock Iguanas. This is a particularly worthwhile stop because the species is found nowhere else in the world except three small islands in Exuma.

You are not simply looking at a common lizard beside the water. These iguanas are part of the natural identity of the cays, and the stop gives the day a stronger sense of place. It also breaks up the initial boat ride before you continue south through the Exuma Cays.

Twenty-five minutes is enough for a focused wildlife visit, but not enough for a long nature walk or extended exploration. Think of it as a close introduction to one of the region’s most unusual animals.

Meeting the nurse sharks at Compass Cay

The next crossing takes about 45 minutes, followed by roughly 35 minutes at Compass Cay. The nurse sharks gather beneath the docks at Compass Cay Marina, where they have become accustomed to the regular presence of people.

This is one of the day’s most memorable water encounters. The sharks are large, distinctive, and close enough to make the experience feel immediate. The setting beneath the marina docks also gives you a clear point of reference, rather than leaving you searching open water for marine life.

You should be comfortable entering the water and following the crew’s directions. The stop is not designed as a long snorkel session. It is a short marine-life encounter, so the value comes from the unusual access and the chance to see the animals at close range.

Swimming with the pigs at Big Major’s Cay

From Compass Cay, the boat makes a short 10-minute ride to Big Major’s Cay, home of the famous swimming pigs. You get about 40 minutes here for swimming, feeding the pigs, and taking photographs.

This is the stop most people will recognize. The pigs became internationally famous after appearances connected with television and social media, but the setting remains simple: a small island, clear water, and pigs moving along the shore and into the shallows.

Pig food is included, which saves you from having to bring anything or arrange it separately. You can concentrate on the experience and your photographs. The stop is active rather than quiet, so you should expect your attention to move between the animals, the water, and the people around you.

I would not book the tour only for a long swim with the pigs. Forty minutes passes quickly, and the overall day is built around several attractions. If you like collecting unusual experiences and want a photograph that could only come from the Exuma Cays, this stop delivers.

A local lunch and a needed pause

After another short boat ride, you stop for lunch at a local Exuma restaurant. The meal lasts about one hour, making it the longest stationary break of the day.

The included buffet lunch is an important part of the package. You also receive a cold drink, with local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks included during the day. At $489 per person, those inclusions matter because the tour does not leave you paying separately for each drink, meal, or island landing.

Lunch also gives you a break from the boat and water. After several short activities, you may appreciate sitting down more than you expect. The provided information does not specify the exact menu, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish. The practical value is a prepared meal in the middle of a long day.

Snorkeling at the sunken plane near Norman’s Cay

After lunch, the boat travels for about 35 minutes to the wreck site, where you spend roughly 30 minutes snorkeling. The plane is widely linked to Pablo Escobar and the cocaine-running operation that used Norman’s Cay in the late 1970s.

The story gives this stop a sharper edge than a typical wreck snorkel. Norman’s Cay was used as a base and refueling point for flights moving cocaine from Mexico toward the United States, and the aircraft crashed near the island. You are seeing a physical reminder of that unusual chapter in Bahamian and Caribbean history.

The activity itself is snorkeling, not a lengthy wreck exploration. Half an hour allows you to see the plane from the water and take in the site, but it is only one part of the day. Bring your own sense of curiosity, since the historical story is a major reason the stop feels different from the other water activities.

Snorkel equipment is supplied, which is useful if you do not want to pack your own mask and fins. You should still bring sunscreen and a towel, since the tour repeatedly moves between water and boat.

The final Exuma beach or sandbar stop

The last stop is a beach or sandbar in Exuma, with about 30 minutes for swimming, sunbathing, and photographs. The exact location is left to the captain, and that flexibility is worth noting.

This stop gives you the classic Bahamian scenery that may be missing from the more activity-focused visits. After the iguanas, sharks, pigs, lunch, and plane wreck, a short stretch of pale sand and shallow water provides a calmer finish.

It is also the least predictable part of the day. One recent assessment of the trip specifically wished for a better beach stop, such as a more isolated sandbar. That is useful advice. If your dream is a long, empty beach afternoon, this tour may leave you wanting more. If you see the beach as a final photo and swimming stop, 30 minutes should fit the plan.

The long ride back to Nassau

The return crossing takes about 70 minutes. By then, you will have been in and out of the water, walking on shore, eating, and sitting on a fast boat for most of the day.

That final ride is part of the cost of reaching the Exuma Cays from Nassau. The tour cannot offer this many locations without substantial time spent in transit. You may find the ride relaxing after the busy schedule, though it can feel long if the sea is rough or you are tired.

This is why I would choose a seat and personal routine that help you stay comfortable. Keep water available, use sunscreen again, and do not expect the day to finish with a quick arrival. You return to Carnivale Bahamas after the full circuit.

What the $489 price really includes

At $489 per person, this is an expensive day trip. Its value depends on how many parts of the package you would otherwise pay for separately.

The price includes:

• Buffet lunch at a restaurant
• Local beer
• Sodas
• Bottled water
• Light snacks
• Snorkel gear
• Landing fees
• Food for the pigs

You also receive transportation between Nassau and the Exuma stops, a live English-speaking guide, and access to five separate activity locations. The high-speed boat is the key expense and the key advantage. It allows you to cover a wide stretch of the cays in one day.

The price makes the most sense if you want variety and convenience. It makes less sense if you mainly want a quiet beach, a long snorkel, or a single focused wildlife outing. In that case, you may spend much of the day moving between activities you only sample briefly.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend this outing to an active adult who wants a packed day and enjoys changing scenes. It suits you if you are excited by unusual animals, short swims, boat travel, and stories connected with the Bahamas’ past.

It is also a strong choice if you have limited time in Nassau but want to see more than the city and nearby beaches. The route gives you a broad taste of Exuma without requiring several independent bookings.

I would be more cautious if you dislike fast boats or need generous time at each stop. The schedule is carefully packed, but it leaves little room for lingering. It is also not suitable for children under two, pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or cruise ship guests.

The tour is shared, with up to 24 people, so you should expect a group setting rather than a private charter. Crew gratuity is not included and is left to your discretion.

Should you book the Exuma island hopping tour?

Book it if you want the widest possible sample of Exuma in one day. The rare iguanas, nurse sharks, swimming pigs, plane wreck, lunch, and final beach stop create a memorable mix, and the all-inclusive setup removes many small costs.

Skip it if your ideal Bahamas day means staying in one place. This is a long, active outing with extensive boat time and brief stops. For the right person, that pace is the point. For someone seeking a quiet sandbar and an unhurried swim, it is likely too busy.

The strongest reason to choose it is simple: you get a lot of Exuma in eight hours, with the captain handling the difficult logistics. Just arrive prepared for sun, water, speed, and a full schedule.

FAQ

Where does the Exuma tour begin?

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 tour last?

The experience lasts eight hours, including the boat rides, island stops, lunch, snorkeling, and return to Paradise Island.

How many people can join the shared boat?

The shared tour can have up to 24 guests.

What animals will I see?

You can see Bahamian Rock Iguanas at Allen’s Cay, nurse sharks at Compass Cay Marina, and the swimming pigs at Big Major’s Cay.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch at a local Exuma restaurant is included, along with local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks.

Is snorkel equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkel gear is included, including for the stop at the sunken plane near Norman’s Cay.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel and sunscreen. Food for the pigs is supplied, and snorkel gear is provided.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option allows you to book without paying immediately.