Swimming with Pigs in the Bahamas: What the Day Trip Actually Looks Like

The Pigs Are Real and They Will Climb Into Your Boat

We booked a full-day boat excursion from Nassau to swim with the famous Bahamian pigs, and I want to be honest about what that actually looks like: you ride a speedboat for an hour, jump into chest-deep water near a tiny island, and a dozen pigs paddle straight toward you because they know you have food. It is absurd. It is also one of the most fun days we had on the entire Bahamas trip.

Quick picks: Book Viator tour from Nassau ($189pp in Jan 2024) | Full day with snorkeling + beach lunch included | Morning pickup from Baha Mar | Skip: the half-day versions that rush through everything

January 2024 · 6 min read

How We Booked It

We booked through Viator for $189 per person, which covered the full day: hotel pickup at 9:05am, speedboat to the pigs, a snorkeling stop, beach lunch, drinks, and return to Nassau by late afternoon. The itinerary listed it as “Pigs with pickup and beach,” and that turned out to be an accurate if understated description. You can find cheaper half-day options starting around $140, but they cut the snorkeling and beach time, which are worth keeping.

We were staying at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar on points (25,000 Hyatt points per night, one of the best redemptions in the Caribbean), so the pickup came to the hotel lobby. The trip was on Martin Luther King Day, a Monday, and the boat was maybe two-thirds full. I imagine weekends and peak season are more crowded.

The Morning: Getting There

The ride out takes roughly an hour, depending on conditions. The speedboat moves fast enough that you should secure anything loose (hats, sunglasses, phones). One woman on our boat lost her sunglasses to the wind within the first ten minutes. The captain pointed out islands and landmarks along the way, though the engine noise makes conversation difficult.

The water color changes are the real show. By the time you reach the pig island, the ocean has gone from deep navy to a pale turquoise so clear you can see the sandy bottom from the boat. I have seen plenty of “crystal clear water” marketing photos that were oversaturated garbage. This was not that. The Bahamas water actually looks like the photos.

The Pigs

Here is what nobody tells you: the pigs are not gentle Instagram props. They are hungry, they are strong, and they will absolutely try to climb into the boat to get to the food bucket. When we anchored near the beach and waded in, two pigs immediately swam toward us. Not casually. Purposefully. One of them was large enough that when it stood in the shallows next to me, its head reached my waist.

The guides hand you vegetables to feed them, and the pigs eat from your hands, which feels like petting a dog that happens to weigh 150 pounds and is standing in the Caribbean Sea. They are surprisingly gentle when eating from your palm (no biting), but pushy about getting fed. One pig shoved its snout into my pocket looking for more food. Another one nudged a kid hard enough that the kid sat down in the water.

We spent about 45 minutes with the pigs. Enough time to take photos, feed them, and get over the initial shock of the whole situation. I would not call it a spiritual experience. But standing waist-deep in turquoise water while a pig swims circles around you is the kind of thing that is hard to explain to people back home without sounding unhinged.

The Rest of the Day

After the pigs, the boat took us to a snorkeling spot where the reef was decent but not spectacular (I have been spoiled by Bonaire, which has some of the best shore snorkeling in the Caribbean). The fish were colorful and plentiful. Then we stopped at a beach for lunch: grilled chicken, rice, salad, and unlimited rum punch. The beach had games set up (volleyball, cornhole, giant Connect Four) and kayaks and paddleboards available.

The whole thing wrapped up around 3:30pm, back at Baha Mar by 4pm. Enough time to shower and make our 7:30pm dinner reservation at Filia, one of the resort restaurants. The pacing of the day was good. Not rushed, not dragged out.

Is It Worth $189 Per Person

Yes, with a caveat. If you are the kind of traveler who evaluates everything on a cost-per-hour basis, $189 for a day trip will feel expensive. If you are the kind of traveler who collects experiences that make good stories, swimming with pigs in the Bahamas is genuinely one of the stranger and more memorable things you can do in the Caribbean. We paid $378 for two people and I have no regrets. The snorkeling and beach lunch are bonus content; the pigs are the main event.

The cheaper half-day options cut the extras, but the pig interaction itself is roughly the same. If you are on a tight budget, $140 for the shorter version still gets you to the pigs.

Search swimming with pigs tours on Viator

Swimming with Pigs tours on GetYourGuide

Practical Tips

• Wear a swimsuit under your clothes. You wade in directly from the boat. There are no changing facilities on pig island.
• Waterproof phone case is mandatory. You will be chest-deep and the pigs will bump you. A Ziploc bag is not enough; get a proper waterproof pouch with a lanyard.
• Sunscreen before you board. The speedboat ride offers zero shade and the Bahamas sun in January is still strong enough to burn.
• Bring cash for tips. The guides work hard. $10-20 per person is appropriate.
• Book the full-day tour. The beach lunch and snorkeling make the trip feel like a proper day out instead of a single attraction visit.

This post is part of my Nassau Bahamas trip guide, which covers the full long weekend including Baha Mar, restaurants, and flamingos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly are the swimming pigs in the Bahamas?

The original swimming pigs live on Big Major Cay in the Exuma chain, about 50 miles from Nassau. Most tours from Nassau take about an hour by speedboat. There are also pigs on Rose Island, which is closer to Nassau but a more commercial setup. The Exuma pigs are the ones you have seen on social media.

How much does it cost to swim with the pigs in the Bahamas?

Full-day tours from Nassau run $140-250 per person depending on what is included. We paid $189 each for a tour that included hotel pickup, the pig stop, snorkeling, beach lunch, and drinks. Half-day options start around $140 but skip the extras.

Is swimming with pigs safe?

Generally yes. The pigs are accustomed to tourists and not aggressive. They are, however, large and strong. Keep small children close, do not try to ride the pigs, and follow the guides’ instructions about feeding. The pigs can nip if they think your closed hand has food in it, so feed them with an open palm.

What should I bring on a swimming pigs tour?

Waterproof phone case (essential), reef-safe sunscreen, cash for tips, a change of dry clothes for the ride back, and Dramamine if you are prone to seasickness. The boat ride is fast and can be bumpy. Most tours provide snorkeling gear, drinks, and lunch.

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