Private Eleuthera Island: Swim With Pigs, Turtles & Stingrays

The star of this private Bahamas boat tour is the mix of encounters: friendly pigs in the water, sea turtles and stingrays near Spanish Wells, and two hours at Harbour Island’s famous Pink Sands Beach. You also get a scenic hour-long ride from Nassau, a golf-cart trip around Harbour Island, and a quiet sandbar stop near Royal Island.

I like two things right away. First, only your group takes part, so your captain can keep the day relaxed rather than moving a large crowd from one stop to the next. Second, the package includes snacks, drinks, snorkeling gear, and a restroom onboard, which matters during an eight-hour outing. The main drawback is the $8,500 group price. It makes sense for a full group of 15, but it is a costly choice for a small party.

Key points to know before booking

• Swimming pigs near Eleuthera: Spend about an hour with the famous pigs, which live freely on a secluded beach and swim out to visitors.
• Three major water stops: Snorkel around Spanish Wells with turtles and stingrays, then enjoy the sandbar by Royal Island.
• Pink Sands Beach included: Allow two hours for Harbour Island’s well-known shore, reached by marina transfer and golf cart.
• Private group format: The boat is reserved for your party, with a capacity of up to 15 people.
• Boat comforts matter: Snacks, soda, bottled water, alcoholic drinks, snorkeling equipment, and a restroom are included.
• Weather controls the day: Poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund, and cancellation is free until 24 hours before departure.

Why this day works best as a private charter

This is not a quick beach transfer with one short photo stop. It is an eight-hour circuit linking several islands and water sites around Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, Harbour Island, and Royal Island.

The private format is the biggest practical advantage. You are not sharing the experience with strangers, and only your own group takes part. That gives families and friends more room to set the mood. You can focus on swimming, snorkeling, relaxing, or taking photographs without trying to keep pace with a large tour party.

The boat trip from Nassau takes about one hour each way. That gives you roughly two hours of travel time, with about five and a half hours allocated to island and water stops. The itinerary adds up to about seven and a half hours, so the advertised duration of approximately eight hours is reasonable.

The price is $8,500 per group of up to 15. At the maximum group size, that works out to about $567 per person. For 10 people, it is $850 each, and for a couple, the price becomes very high. I would consider this primarily for a family reunion, wedding group, birthday party, or group of friends already planning to spend heavily on a private day at sea.

The one-hour ride from Nassau to Eleuthera

The day begins with a boat ride across the clear Bahamian water from Nassau toward Eleuthera. The trip takes about an hour, so you have time to settle in, enjoy the view, and get a sense of the distance covered during the day.

The ride is part of the experience, but it also creates the first tradeoff. You are giving up two hours of the day to reach the islands and return. If you want a short outing with maximum time on a beach, this may feel long. If you like being on the water and want several distinct stops, the crossing helps make the day feel like a proper island excursion.

Delfin Charters provides a captain and crew. The supplied information does not give their names, but the crew is described as kind, entertaining, and attentive. You will have snacks, soda, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks onboard. Alcohol is not served to minors, so families with children should keep that limitation in mind.

An onboard restroom is a useful feature on a long boat day. Snorkeling equipment is also provided, so you do not need to bring your own mask and fins unless you prefer using personal gear.

Meeting the swimming pigs at Pig Beach

The pig stop lasts about one hour. These Eleuthera pigs live freely on a secluded beach and have become one of the island’s best-known attractions. They are accustomed to approaching the water and swimming out, which creates the playful scene most people come to see.

This stop is particularly good for families. The pigs are an unusual subject for photographs, and the encounter feels less predictable than a standard wildlife viewing stop. You may find yourself laughing at the sight of well-fed pigs paddling through the shallows and heading toward the boat or beach.

The animals are the focus here, so keep your expectations sensible. This is not a long beach stay or a full wildlife study. You have about an hour, and the exact feel of the stop will depend on the pigs’ behavior, the water, and the crew’s approach.

One outing associated with this charter included beers and feeding the pigs near Rose Island, while another included a stop at Footprints for food and karaoke. Those details are not listed as standard parts of this package, so do not assume that a restaurant visit, karaoke, or a specific island stop is guaranteed. Ask Delfin Charters before departure if one of those additions matters to your group.

Snorkeling around Spanish Wells

The Spanish Wells stop lasts about 90 minutes and is the main marine-life section of the day. Eleuthera is home to green sea turtles, loggerhead turtles, and hawksbill turtles. You may also encounter stingrays in the area.

The appeal is the setting. Instead of seeing marine animals in an aquarium or controlled attraction, you are entering their natural habitat with snorkeling gear provided by the charter. That makes this a worthwhile stop for anyone who wants more than a beach photograph.

I would plan to use the full 90 minutes here. The water time is limited compared with a dedicated snorkeling trip, and this tour also includes pigs, Pink Sands Beach, and Royal Island. If turtles and stingrays are your top priority, tell the crew early in the day so you can make the most of the available time.

The itinerary describes this as an opportunity to snorkel with graceful turtles and curious stingrays. It does not promise a particular species at a particular moment, so sightings can vary. Marine life is never fully scheduled, even on a private boat. The private format does help because your own group can spend more attention on the water rather than waiting for a large party to finish.

Most travelers can participate, and service animals are allowed. The information does not give detailed mobility guidance for entering the water or moving between boat, marina, and beach, so anyone with specific physical needs should confirm those arrangements before booking.

Harbour Island and two hours at Pink Sands Beach

After docking at the marina, you take a golf cart through Harbour Island’s streets. This transfer adds a local touch and separates the beach visit from a simple boat landing. Harbour Island is known for its Pink Sands Beach, where pale sand takes on a pink hue from tiny marine particles mixed into the shore.

You have about two hours here, the longest single stop of the day. That is enough time to slow down after the water activities, sit on the beach, swim, and take photographs without rushing straight back to the boat.

The beach is the visual centerpiece of the outing. The pigs provide the fun, the turtles and stingrays provide the wildlife, and Pink Sands Beach supplies the classic Bahamian scenery. Combining them in one day gives your group variety, though it also means you spend less time at each individual activity than you would on a single-purpose beach or snorkeling tour.

The marina and golf-cart transfer add a few moving parts. You will leave the boat, ride through Harbour Island, and then reach the beach, so keep your personal belongings easy to carry. The package lists admission to Pink Sands Beach as included, but it does not list lunch. Snacks are provided onboard, and food at a restaurant should not be assumed unless you confirm it in advance.

Royal Island’s quiet sandbar stop

The final island stop before returning to Nassau is a sandbar near Royal Island. The water is clear, the sand is soft, and wooden swings provide a simple place to sit and take photographs.

This is the most relaxed stop on the route. After the pigs, snorkeling, and Harbour Island, the sandbar gives you an hour to slow down. You can wade, sit on the swings, take pictures, or simply enjoy the open water around you.

The sandbar is also a good example of why this works better for a private group than a crowded excursion. Your party can use the hour in its own way. Some people will want another swim, while others may prefer a drink and a quiet view.

As with all shallow-water stops, conditions can affect how the sandbar looks and how comfortable it is to use. The experience requires good weather, and a rough or rainy day may change the schedule.

Drinks, equipment, and what the $8,500 covers

The inclusions are practical rather than luxurious. You get snacks, soda, bottled water, alcoholic beverages for eligible adults, snorkeling equipment, and a restroom onboard. Those basics reduce the need to organize supplies for a full day at sea.

Food is the main limitation. Snacks are included, but a complete lunch is not listed. If your group needs a substantial midday meal, ask about bringing food or arranging a stop before departure. A Footprints food stop has been part of at least one outing, but it should be treated as a possible arrangement rather than a guaranteed feature.

The group limit is generous. A full party of 15 can spread the cost across a large group, bringing the effective price down to about $567 per person. At that rate, you are paying for privacy, boat time, crew service, several island stops, and the freedom to share the day only with people you know.

For a small group, the calculation changes sharply. Two people would effectively pay $4,250 each, and four people would pay $2,125 each. I would compare this carefully with smaller shared tours unless privacy and flexibility are more important to you than price.

Who should book this Eleuthera day

I would recommend this for groups that want several signature Bahamas experiences in one outing. Families can divide the day between animals, snorkeling, beach time, and a sandbar. Couples may appreciate the private boat and the chance to set their own pace, though the group price is hard to justify for two people alone.

It also suits friends who want a social day. The boat has drinks onboard, and one past outing included karaoke at Footprints, though that is not a standard promise. The captain and crew are described as entertaining, which matters when you are spending two hours in transit.

This is less suitable if you dislike boat travel, want a guaranteed animal encounter, or have only a short window in Nassau. The day begins and ends with an hour on the water, and the wildlife stops depend on natural conditions.

The tour is open to most participants, and service animals are allowed. Alcohol is not available to minors. Since accessibility information is limited, contact the provider before booking if your group needs help with boarding, the golf-cart transfer, or water access.

Weather, cancellations, and planning advice

Good weather is required. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that 24-hour window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. I would avoid booking this on a tight schedule if your group has limited flexibility.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a secure way to carry personal items between the boat, golf cart, and beach. The charter supplies snorkeling equipment, but you may still want personal water shoes or a familiar mask if you already own them. Those items are not listed as included, so pack them only as personal extras.

Should you book Delfin Charters?

Book this tour if your group can fill much of the 15-person capacity and wants a private day combining swimming pigs, turtles, stingrays, Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island, and Royal Island. The strongest points are the variety, the private setting, the onboard restroom, and the practical supply of drinks and snorkeling equipment.

Think twice if you are a small party or mainly want one activity. At $8,500, the value improves dramatically with a large group. For a full family or friend group, this can be a memorable all-day charter. For two or three people, a less expensive shared option may leave more money for meals and additional island time.

FAQ

How long does the private Eleuthera tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private charter is for up to 15 people, and only your group participates.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $8,500 per group of up to 15 people.

Where does the boat leave from?

The tour operates from New Providence Island, with a boat ride from Nassau to Eleuthera.

How long is the boat ride from Nassau to Eleuthera?

The trip to Eleuthera takes about one hour, followed by another hour-long boat ride back to Nassau.

Are swimming pigs included?

Yes. The itinerary includes about one hour at Pig Beach, where the Eleuthera pigs live freely and swim in the water.

Can I snorkel with turtles and stingrays?

Yes. The Spanish Wells stop lasts about 90 minutes and includes snorkeling opportunities with sea turtles and stingrays.

Is Pink Sands Beach included?

Yes. The tour includes about two hours at Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island, along with a golf-cart ride from the marina.

Are food and drinks provided?

Snacks, soda, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages are provided onboard. A full lunch is not listed as included, and alcoholic beverages are not served to minors.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a full refund or choose a different date. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.