Private Eleuthera Island: Swim With Pigs, Turtles & Stingrays

Pig Beach is only the beginning. Delfin Charters’ private day from Nassau packs pigs, turtles, stingrays, coral reefs, a famous pink beach, and a Royal Island sandbar into about eight hours. I like the private boat and the freedom to set the day’s pace, and I like that snorkeling gear, drinks, snacks, and a restroom are included. The catch is the $8,500 group price, which makes the tour sensible for a large party but steep for a couple or small family.

This is a full water day, not a quick beach transfer. You spend about an hour reaching Eleuthera, then move between Pig Beach, Spanish Wells, Harbour Island, Pink Sands Beach, and Royal Island before returning to Nassau. The boat ride is part of the experience, but the schedule can feel packed, and the exact route deserves confirmation because one described outing visited Rose Island for pigs rather than following every listed stop.

The strongest praise centers on the crew’s warm service and easygoing spirit. Past outings included a 32-foot Grady-White with twin engines, plenty of laughter, cold drinks, and even a stop at Footprints for food and karaoke. Those details suggest a fun charter atmosphere, but food at a shore stop is not listed as included, so plan on the supplied snacks and onboard drinks unless you confirm otherwise.

Key points to know before booking

• A private group of up to 15: You share the boat only with your own party, a major advantage for families and friend groups.
• About one hour each way from Nassau: Two hours of the day can go to boat travel, with open-water views and time to relax between stops.
• Five major activity areas: Pig Beach, Spanish Wells, Pink Sands Beach, Royal Island, and the surrounding snorkeling waters create a varied itinerary.
• Pink Sands Beach includes a golf-cart ride: After docking near Harbour Island, you cross the island streets by golf cart rather than simply walking from the boat.
• Snorkel gear and refreshments are included: You receive snorkeling equipment, bottled water, soda, snacks, and alcoholic drinks for adults.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can cancel the trip, with a new date or full refund offered.

Leaving Nassau for Eleuthera by boat

The day opens with a roughly one-hour boat ride from Nassau to Eleuthera. The trip crosses clear Bahamian water and gives you a useful transition from city harbor to quieter islands. I would treat this ride as both transportation and part of the outing, though it also means you should be comfortable spending a good share of the day on a boat.

A private charter changes the feel of the trip. You are not following a large coach group or waiting for strangers to finish at a beach. Your own party can enjoy the ride together, ask questions, and spend more time at the places that matter most to you, within the captain’s plan and the day’s conditions.

The boat has a restroom, which is a practical detail on a long water excursion. Snacks, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic drinks are also available onboard. Alcohol is not served to minors, and you should keep drinking moderate because the day includes swimming and snorkeling.

Past outings have included a 32 Grady White with twin engines. That gives you a useful picture of the kind of fast private-charter setup that may be used, but I would not assume the exact boat for every booking. Ask Delfin Charters about the vessel, shade, seating, and boarding point before you pay.

Meeting the swimming pigs at Pig Beach

Pig Beach is the tour’s most playful stop. The pigs live freely on a secluded beach and are known for entering the water around visitors. You can expect the encounter to be active rather than a quiet wildlife sighting, especially when the animals swim out for food and attention.

The best approach is to keep your expectations sensible. These are well-fed animals that have become a major attraction, so the setting may feel more social than wild. You should follow the crew’s instructions around feeding and swimming, keep your hands clear of mouths, and give the pigs space when they come close.

The pig stop is scheduled for about an hour. That is enough time for photos, a swim, and a laugh without letting one activity take over the whole day. One past trip combined pig feeding with beers near Rose Island, while the planned route described here places Pig Beach near Eleuthera. Since those locations do not match perfectly, confirm the day’s exact route before booking.

That route question is not a minor detail. The scenery, boat time, and total rhythm of the day can change depending on whether the captain visits Eleuthera, Rose Island, or another nearby pig beach. Ask for the current stop list and the likely time at each location.

Spanish Wells and the turtle snorkeling stop

The Spanish Wells portion is listed at about an hour and a half. It is the main point for seeing sea turtles and exploring the water with snorkeling equipment supplied by the charter. The area is described as home to green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles, though wildlife is never a guaranteed performance.

You may see turtles moving through the water or resting near the bottom. The value of a private boat is that the experience can feel less hurried than a large group excursion. You can ask the crew where to look, take a break when needed, and keep the pace comfortable for children or less confident swimmers.

The wider tour description also includes stingrays and coral reefs. That adds another appealing wildlife element, but the detailed stop list does not assign a separate stingray location or exact viewing time. I would ask how the turtle, stingray, and reef portions fit together so you know how much snorkeling to expect.

Snorkeling skill levels may vary within your party. Most participants can take part, but this is still a water-based activity, not a sightseeing cruise with optional water time. If someone in your group is not a strong swimmer, ask about flotation support and how closely the crew stays with snorkelers.

Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island

Pink Sands Beach is the prettiest and most relaxed part of the day. After docking at a marina, you ride a golf cart through Harbour Island’s streets to reach the beach. The change from boat to small island vehicle gives you a quick look at the local setting before you settle onto the sand.

The beach stop lasts about two hours, longer than the pig encounter and Royal Island visit. That is enough time to sunbathe, walk along the shore, swim, and take photos without watching the clock every few minutes. The pink tone comes from tiny marine particles mixed into the sand, though the intensity of the color can vary with light and location.

I like this pause because it breaks up the animal encounters. A day of swimming, snorkeling, and climbing on and off a boat can become tiring. Two hours on Pink Sands Beach gives you time to slow down and enjoy the setting rather than treating every stop as another photo opportunity.

The golf-cart transfer is also worth noting for anyone expecting a direct beach landing. The tour is not simply boat, sand, boat. You will dock, transfer to a golf cart, ride through Harbour Island, and then return through the same general process. That extra movement adds character, but it also takes time.

Royal Island’s sandbar and wooden swings

The Royal Island stop lasts about an hour and focuses on a sandbar with clear water, pale sand, and wooden swings. This is the tour’s easygoing finale before the return to Nassau. You can wade, take pictures, sit on the swings, or simply enjoy the contrast between shallow water and open sea.

Sandbars depend on tides and conditions, so the appearance and available space can change. The wooden swings give the stop a memorable visual touch, but do not expect a developed beach facility. This is a short scenic stop, not a place with a long menu of services.

The sandbar works well for mixed groups. Children can enjoy shallow water, while adults can take photos or sit with a drink. Still, keep an eye on the time. An hour passes quickly, especially if your captain is balancing several other stops and the return ride to Nassau.

What the $8,500 private price really buys

At $8,500 per group for up to 15 people, the price is easiest to understand when you divide it among a full party. Fifteen people would bring the cost to about $567 per person. Ten people would pay about $850 each, and a private group of four would effectively pay $2,125 per person.

That is a serious price, but it covers exclusivity rather than just admission to a beach. Your party gets the boat, crew, transportation between islands, snorkel equipment, onboard restroom, snacks, water, soda, and adult alcoholic drinks. You also avoid sharing the day with an unrelated group.

I see the best value for a family reunion, wedding group, birthday party, or large circle of friends. The cost becomes harder to justify for two people or a small family unless complete privacy and a flexible charter matter more than keeping the budget low.

Food needs a close look. Snacks are included, and one past outing stopped at Footprints for good food and karaoke, but that shore meal is not listed as part of the package. If you want lunch beyond snacks, ask if the stop is available on your route and how payment works.

Crew service and the feel onboard

The crew receives the clearest praise for kindness, entertainment, and a relaxed approach. That matters on a private charter because the crew shapes the whole day. A friendly captain can make a long boat ride feel like part of the fun instead of dead time between stops.

The karaoke detail from one outing gives the charter a more social tone than a quiet nature trip. If your group likes music, drinks, jokes, and a loose holiday mood, this could be a strong match. If you want a silent, highly structured wildlife program, ask about the onboard atmosphere first.

The positive service reports should not make you assume every day runs identically. Boat tours depend on wind, sea conditions, wildlife, docking, and timing. The provider can offer a different date or full refund if poor weather cancels the experience, but conditions can still affect what you see and how long you stay at each stop.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this tour for people who want several Bahamian experiences in one private outing. Families can mix animal encounters with beach time, couples can enjoy the privacy, and friend groups can make the boat ride part of the celebration.

It suits you especially well if you value:

• A private group setting
• Swimming and snorkeling
• Wildlife encounters with pigs, turtles, and possibly stingrays
• A famous beach plus smaller sandbar stops
• Onboard drinks and a restroom
• A full eight-hour day rather than a short excursion

You may want another option if you dislike long boat rides, need a low-cost activity, or prefer a single beach with plenty of unplanned time. The itinerary is active and ambitious. You move through several locations, and each transfer takes time.

Most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. The experience is near public transportation, but that does not replace confirming the exact meeting location and boarding instructions. Mobile tickets make the booking simple, but the important questions are the boat, route, lunch plan, and snorkeling support.

Cancellation, weather, and planning details

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that window, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted.

Weather is especially important for this outing because nearly every major element takes place on or around the water. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. I would avoid scheduling this on the final possible day of your holiday, since a weather change could remove your only chance to take the trip.

Bring a swimsuit, sun protection, and a change of clothes, even though those items are not listed among the inclusions. Confirm what is supplied for towels and flotation before departure rather than assuming they are onboard.

Should you book Delfin Charters?

Book it if your group can share the high private rate and wants a big, varied day rather than a single beach visit. The combination of pigs, turtle snorkeling, possible stingrays, Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island golf carts, and a Royal Island sandbar gives you plenty of variety, while the private format keeps the day personal.

I would pause if you have fewer than five or six people, or if you want firm guarantees about every animal encounter. Confirm the exact route, boat, lunch arrangements, and snorkeling plan first. For a full group that values privacy, friendly service, and a festive boat day, this can be a memorable use of a day in the Bahamas.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The experience is based on New Providence Island, with the boat ride departing from Nassau.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, including the boat ride to the islands and the return to Nassau.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private group can include up to 15 people.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Are food and drinks included?

Snacks, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages are included onboard. Alcoholic beverages are not served to minors.

Is there a restroom on the boat?

Yes. A restroom is available onboard.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose a different date or receive a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled.