Experience The Exumas and the World Famous Swimming Pigs

The star of this full-day outing is the Exumas boat ride, which carries you about 78 miles from New Providence to a chain of striking cays. You will meet the famous swimming pigs, visit nurse sharks at Compass Cay, snorkel a sunken plane near Norman’s Cay, and spend time around exceptionally clear water.

I like two things right away: the tour packs several very different experiences into one day, and the price includes a Bahamian buffet at Lorraine’s Cafe, fruit or chips, water, towels, beer, and mojitos. Captain T and Keyshawn also receive specific praise for keeping the day moving and helping people feel comfortable.

The main drawback is the journey itself. A fast boat is needed to cover the distance and reach the cays on schedule, but the ride can be rough and bumpy, especially when the sea is unsettled. Weather can also force a cancellation, so this is not the best choice if your schedule has no flexibility.

Key points to know before you book

• 78 miles to the Exumas: Much of the day is spent traveling by speed boat, but that distance is what makes the far-flung cays possible as a day trip from Nassau.
• Three headline wildlife stops: Pig Beach, Compass Cay’s nurse sharks, and the Rock Iguanas offer very different encounters.
• Norman’s Cay plane wreck: You get about 30 minutes to snorkel around a shallow, sunken aircraft linked to a 1970s smuggling operation.
• Lunch and drinks are included: The Bahamian buffet is served at Lorraine’s Cafe in Black Point, Exuma, with beer and mojitos included.
• Small maximum group: The boat carries no more than 22 people, a useful limit for a long day with several water stops.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can cancel the outing, and the operator offers another date or a full refund in that case.

Why this Exumas day trip covers so much ground

This is not a short Nassau harbor cruise. It is a long, ambitious run to the Exuma Cays, built around wildlife, shallow-water scenery, swimming, snorkeling, and a Bahamian meal.

You meet at 1 Cove Blvd on Paradise Island at 7:30 a.m. and return to the same point after roughly eight and a half hours. That early start matters. The boat has a great distance to cover, and the schedule needs enough daylight for the wildlife stops, lunch, and time on the water.

I see the appeal in the format. Instead of choosing between pigs, sharks, iguanas, a wreck, and a beach, you get several in one day. The tradeoff is that none of the listed stops is an all-day stay. You should think of this as a fast-moving sampler of the Exumas rather than a slow beach escape.

The boat holds a maximum of 22 people. That is not a private charter, but it is a manageable group size for boarding, getting instructions, and moving between stops. The crew has to keep a firm pace to fit the route into one day, so you should expect an active schedule rather than much unplanned free time.

Pig Beach and the famous swimming pigs

Pig Beach is the most recognizable stop, and it is easy to understand why. You have about 45 minutes to see and interact with the pigs in their natural setting.

This is a hands-on wildlife encounter, but you should still follow the crew’s instructions closely. The pigs are the reason many people choose this trip, so the stop can feel like the main event. At the same time, 45 minutes passes quickly once the boat arrives, everyone gets into position, and the group has time in the water.

I like that the experience does not stop at a quick photo opportunity. The format gives you time to see the animals up close and take in the setting around them. The surrounding water is part of the attraction, with the Exuma scenery providing a much more memorable backdrop than a staged animal exhibit.

You will want to keep your belongings organized and be ready to move when the crew signals. The schedule includes several stops, so delays at Pig Beach can shorten time elsewhere. If the pigs are your top priority, pay attention from the moment you arrive rather than waiting until the final minutes.

Compass Cay and the nurse sharks

At Compass Cay, you spend about 45 minutes learning about and interacting with nurse sharks in their natural environment. This stop has a different feel from Pig Beach. The pigs are lively and familiar from photographs, while the nurse sharks make the water experience feel more unusual.

The shark encounter is also one of the best reasons to choose this tour over a basic Exumas sightseeing cruise. You are not only looking at the animals from the boat. You have a chance to enter their environment and see them at close range, with the crew explaining how to behave around them.

I would pay close attention to the briefing here. Even gentle nurse sharks are wild animals, and the quality of the experience depends on calm, sensible behavior. Keep your movements controlled and follow the crew’s directions about where to stand, swim, and touch, if touching is permitted.

One particularly useful point from the feedback is that the nurse sharks were a favorite stop even when the weather was rough. That tells me this part of the route can remain memorable despite less-than-perfect conditions, although water and boat comfort still depend on the day.

Norman’s Cay and the sunken plane

The Norman’s Cay stop gives the day a bit of historical mystery. You get about 30 minutes to snorkel around a WWII-era plane wreck resting beneath shallow, clear water. The aircraft was later connected with a major smuggling operation in the 1970s, adding an unusual story to what might otherwise be a simple snorkeling stop.

You do not need to be a serious snorkeler to appreciate why this works. The plane is shallow enough to make the site accessible as a short water stop, and the wreck gives you something specific to look for beneath the surface.

Thirty minutes is enough for a taste, not an extended snorkel session. If you want a long period in the water, this itinerary may feel rushed. If you like variety, the shorter stop is useful because it leaves room for wildlife, lunch, and beach time.

The clear water is a major part of the experience. Several stops depend on being able to see below the surface, and the Exumas are known on this trip for bright, transparent water around the cays. Bring patience if the boat is busy with people getting in and out, since the group needs to share the time.

Rock Iguanas, beach time, and the extra stops

The full route includes encounters with ancient Rock Iguanas and time on a pristine Exuma beach or sand bar. These stops add welcome variety after the boat ride and animal encounters.

The iguanas give you another chance to see local wildlife without spending the whole day in the water. The beach or sand bar, meanwhile, is where you can slow down, take photographs, swim, and appreciate the open setting around the cays.

The exact order and length of these portions can depend on the day’s conditions and the captain’s plan. One account describes six stops in total, while the core schedule identifies Pig Beach, Compass Cay, and Norman’s Cay. I would therefore expect a multi-stop day, but I would not book this assuming every stop will have the same amount of time.

This is also where the tour’s pacing becomes important. The crew is trying to reach distant sites and return to Paradise Island on time. You may feel that the boat moves on just as you are getting comfortable, but that pace is part of how the tour fits so much into eight and a half hours.

A Bahamian lunch at Lorraine’s Cafe

Lunch is served as a Bahamian buffet at Lorraine’s Cafe in Black Point, Exuma. That is a valuable inclusion on a day far from your starting point, since you do not have to arrange a separate meal or carry enough food for the entire outing.

The meal also gives the schedule a proper break. After the morning’s boat travel and water activities, sitting down for local food is more satisfying than grabbing a packaged snack between stops.

The included refreshments go beyond lunch. You receive bottled water, fruit and/or chips, complimentary towels, unlimited beer, and mojitos. Alcohol is optional, of course, and you should consider how it fits with swimming, sun exposure, and a long ride back.

The food and drinks help explain part of the $439 price. You are paying for a long boat transfer, crew, several activities, a meal, and refreshments in one package. It is still a serious expense, especially for a family, but the value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for transport, lunch, drinks, and wildlife visits.

The speed boat ride is both the strength and the warning

The boat is the practical heart of this excursion. Covering roughly 78 miles from New Providence to the Exumas requires speed, and the captain has to keep moving to make the stops possible.

That speed is also the clearest drawback. A prior outing was described as bumpy, with the sensible observation that slowing down would make it difficult to reach the pigs and sharks on time. You should not expect a calm, floating transfer like a short harbor cruise.

If you are prone to motion sickness, this is the part to consider most carefully. The supplied information does not specify what medication or onboard facilities are available, so bring only what you know works for you and ask the operator any health questions before booking.

The physical demand is listed as moderate. You will board a boat, get in and out of the water, snorkel, and move through a full day with multiple stops. The outing is not recommended for people over 275 pounds, so check that restriction before paying.

Weather, communication, and cancellation risk

This tour requires good weather, and the operator may cancel because of wind and wave conditions. If that happens, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same options apply if the minimum number of people is not reached.

The practical concern is communication. Some cancellations have caused problems when messages were missed or sent late, and one booking issue involved an overbooking caused by a calendar-sync problem. The operator apologized and offered an alternative or refund, but the incidents show why you should keep your phone available and check messages before leaving for the meeting point.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, except when the operator cancels under the stated weather or minimum-group conditions.

I would avoid placing this tour on the final day of a tightly scheduled trip. A weather cancellation is outside your control, and you will benefit from having another morning available in case the outing needs to move.

Who will get the most from the $439 price

I would choose this experience if you want a single, high-energy day that covers the best-known Exuma highlights. It suits you if pigs and nurse sharks are priorities, if you like being on the water, and if you prefer a planned route over arranging several separate activities.

The price makes the most sense when you count the full package: the long speed boat transfer, multiple cays, wildlife encounters, snorkeling, beach or sand bar time, lunch, snacks, water, towels, beer, and mojitos. You also avoid the hassle of piecing together transport between distant locations.

I would hesitate if your idea of a perfect island day is quiet and unhurried. The boat ride is long, the pace is firm, and the water can be rough. You should also think twice if you dislike animal encounters, do not want to swim or snorkel, or need a highly predictable schedule.

The 94 percent recommendation rate and 4.8 rating from 168 ratings indicate strong overall satisfaction, but the low scores are useful warnings rather than something to ignore. The biggest problems were cancellations and communication, not the core Exuma stops. Book with a little schedule space, confirm the departure details, and keep an eye on the weather.

Is this the right Exumas trip for you?

I would book this tour if you want maximum variety in one day and accept the speed, cost, and weather risk that come with reaching the outer cays from Nassau. The pigs, nurse sharks, iguanas, plane wreck, beach, and Bahamian lunch create a full program with little wasted time.

I would skip it in favor of a shorter or slower outing if the boat ride sounds unpleasant or if you need certainty that every part of the day will run exactly as planned. For the right person, this is a memorable way to see far more than Nassau in a single day. Just treat the bumpy crossing and changing weather as part of the deal, not a surprise.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at 1 Cove Blvd on Paradise Island, Bahamas, at 7:30 a.m. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and 30 minutes.

How far does the boat travel?

The speed boats travel about 78 miles to the Exuma Cays from New Providence Island.

What animals can I see?

The experience includes the swimming pigs at Pig Beach, nurse sharks at Compass Cay, and Rock Iguanas. The tour also includes time at an Exuma beach or sand bar.

Is snorkeling included?

Yes. You can snorkel at the Norman’s Cay plane wreck, which rests beneath shallow water. That stop lasts about 30 minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Bahamian buffet lunch at Lorraine’s Cafe in Black Point, Exuma, is included.

Are drinks and towels included?

Bottled water, snacks such as fruit and/or chips, complimentary towels, unlimited beer, and mojitos are included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather cancels the experience, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The tour may also be canceled if the minimum number of people is not met, with the same type of alternative or refund offered.