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How to visit the swimming pigs of Exuma
Where the swimming pigs are, how to reach Big Major Cay from Great Exuma, Staniel Cay or Nassau, what a day trip includes, and how to behave around the animals.
Exuma tours: boat days, swimming pigs, snorkelling and sandbars
Almost everything worth doing in the Exumas happens on the water, and most of it happens on a boat tour. From Great Exuma you can reach the famous cays in about an hour; from Staniel Cay they are on your doorstep. Here are the tours that define an Exuma visit and how to choose between them.
The cays by boat
The signature Exuma tour is a full day in the northern cays: the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, the iguanas of Bitter Guana Cay, Thunderball Grotto's cavern snorkel, the nurse sharks at Compass Cay and a sandbar that appears at low tide. Shared boats leave from the north of Great Exuma; private charters do the same route with your own captain. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a no-take marine reserve since 1986, lies just north of the usual route and is included by some longer charters.
Closer to George Town
Across Elizabeth Harbour from George Town, Stocking Island has long beaches, a beach bar culture and a short water taxi ride. Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, between Great and Little Exuma, protects sandbars, mangroves and bird life and is visited by small boat and kayak. Tropic of Cancer Beach on Little Exuma is reached by road. Snorkel trips, sunset cruises and kayak tours run from George Town and the resorts along the Queen's Highway.
Fishing
The flats around Great Exuma and the southern cays are classic bonefishing water, with guides poling skiffs from George Town, Barraterre and Little Exuma. Offshore, the drop-off east of the island gives up mahi, tuna and wahoo on half-day and full-day charters.
What we can arrange
Swimming pigs and cays full day
The must-do: pigs, iguanas, grotto, sharks and a sandbar in one day.
About this placePrivate captained charter
A boat and captain for the day, with the route shaped around your group.
Stocking Island beach day
Water taxi across Elizabeth Harbour to long beaches and a beach bar lunch.
Bonefishing with a guide
Half or full days on the flats with a local guide and skiff.
Sunset or snorkel cruise
Shorter trips from George Town and the Emerald Bay area.
Ready to plan it?
Send your dates, group and what you have in mind. We check availability with verified local operators and reply with real options, free of charge.
Common questions
How long is the boat ride to the swimming pigs from Great Exuma?
About an hour each way from the departure docks at the north of the island.
Do Exuma tours run in summer?
Yes, year round. Summer brings the calmest water; a few operators pause briefly in September or October.
Can I do the cays tour from Nassau instead?
Yes, as a long day trip by powerboat or a fly-and-boat package, but the time with the cays is much shorter than from Great Exuma.
Guides
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Chartering a boat in The Bahamas: crewed, bareboat or a day with a captain
How boat charters work in The Bahamas: crewed yachts, bareboat sailing and captained day boats, where each works best, what is included and what operators ask.
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Snorkelling and diving in The Bahamas: where to go and what to expect
Where to snorkel and dive in The Bahamas: the Andros wall, Exuma's marine park, Bimini's hammerheads and Grand Bahama's shark dives, plus seasons and rules.