Reaching the Exumas isn't as simple as boarding a fast-ferry — there is no scheduled passenger service between Nassau and Exuma, and there hasn't been for years. What you actually have is three quite different options: the working mail boats from Potter's Cay (cheap, slow, authentic), full-day powerboat tours that bounce you between the most photogenic cays and back to Nassau before sunset (the most popular path), and a fly-and-cruise combo that gets you onto Staniel Cay in under an hour. This guide breaks each one down with real 2026 prices, departure points and what you should book first.
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MV Grand Master & Captain C
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Departs: Potter's Cay, Nassau
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Duration: 12-14 hours overnight
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Schedule: Tuesday departures mainly
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Basic bunks (if you're lucky!)
Most Popular!
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High-speed powerboats
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Departs: Nassau/Paradise Island
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Duration: 8-10 hour day trip
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Includes: Swimming pigs visit
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Lunch & drinks included
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Small plane to Staniel Cay
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Departs: Nassau Airport
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Flight: 30-40 minutes
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Includes: Local boat tour
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Best for: Limited time
Full package from
$450-600
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Swimming Pigs
The stars of Big Major Cay! These friendly piggies swim right up to your boat. Pro tip: hold food high or they'll mob you!
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Nurse Sharks
At Compass Cay, swim with gentle nurse sharks. They're like underwater puppies - totally safe and absolutely incredible!
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Iguana Feeding
Allen's Cay is home to endangered rock iguanas. Prehistoric and awesome — but look, don't feed: conservationists now discourage the old grape-feeding ritual because sugary fruit harms the iguanas.
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Pristine Beaches
365 islands means 365 beaches! From secluded sandbars to Instagram-famous spots, each one's more gorgeous than the last.
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Thunderball Grotto
Snorkel where James Bond filmed! This underwater cave system is magical at low tide when sunlight filters through.
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Starfish Point
Crystal-clear shallows filled with massive starfish. Remember: look but don't touch - they need to stay underwater!
Mail boats are cheap but exhausting. Day tours cost more but include everything - lunch, drinks, all stops. Do the math: separate flights + local boat tours often cost MORE than all-inclusive speedboat tours!
November to May is prime time - perfect weather, calm seas. Avoid cruise ship days (Tuesday/Thursday) for less crowded pig beaches. Early morning tours beat the crowds to all the best spots!
Waterproof phone case is ESSENTIAL. Bring reef-safe sunscreen (they check!), underwater camera, dry bag, and cash for tips. Leave the fancy jewelry at home - salt water ruins everything!
Those pigs are FAST swimmers and food-motivated! Hold food high, feed from the boat first, then wade in slowly. They can be pushy - kids should stay close to adults. Best photos: early morning when they're hungry!
Those speedboats FLY over waves! Take Dramamine the night before AND morning of. Sit in the middle-back of boat, eyes on horizon. Skip a heavy breakfast.
Best swimming pig shots: squat low in shallow water. For sharks: underwater camera on video mode. Thunderball Grotto: go at low tide for that magical light. Your guide knows all the best angles!
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Mail Boats Compared
Mail boats are working freight boats, not cruise ships. The crossing takes 12-14 hours overnight, with no restaurant, basic facilities and sleeping on deck if bunks are full. Travellers with limited time often choose the speedboat tours, which cost a similar amount once accommodation and local transport are included.
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Long-running 5-star TripAdvisor history
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Half- and full-day tours, family-run
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Based on Great Exuma (also Nassau pickup tours)
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Pigs, sharks, iguanas, sandbar all on one tour
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Luxury 38' Fountain boats
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Onboard bathrooms
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Premium service
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Paradise Island pickup
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Competitive pricing
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Free hotel pickup
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Small group tours
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All major stops included
If you do the day-tour from Nassau, you don't need an Exuma hotel — you sleep in Nassau the night before and the night of. If you want to stay on the islands, base yourself in George Town or Emerald Bay on Great Exuma, or on Staniel Cay if you want walking-distance access to the swimming pigs.
Top Hotel Picks
Closed · Reopening as Beaches Exuma
Beaches Exuma (formerly Sandals Emerald Bay)
Opening targeted for late 2027
Sandals Emerald Bay closed on August 15, 2024 and is being transformed into Beaches Exuma, the first Beaches resort in The Bahamas. Until it reopens, Grand Isle Resort next door is the Emerald Bay stay.
Luxury · Villas
Grand Isle Resort & Residences
From $480 / night
Private villas with kitchens overlooking Emerald Bay. Good for families and small groups who'd rather cook than do an all-inclusive.
Check Availability
Mid-range · Closest to Pig Beach
Staniel Cay Yacht Club
From $330 / night
Iconic pastel cottages on Staniel Cay — the only stay within a short boat ride of Big Major Cay (Pig Beach), Thunderball Grotto and Compass Cay. Books out months ahead.
Check Availability
Mid-range · George Town
Peace & Plenty Hotel
From $190 / night
Long-standing waterfront hotel right on George Town harbour. Walkable to restaurants, shops and the Tuesday mail boat dock — sensible base for Exuma Water Sports tours.
Check Availability
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Is there a passenger ferry from Nassau to Exuma?
No, there is no scheduled passenger fast-ferry between Nassau and Exuma. Your two regular sea options are the Bahamas mail boats from Potter's Cay (overnight, weekly, freight + a few passenger berths) and full-day powerboat day-tours that run between Nassau and the northern Exuma Cays.
How long does the mail boat take from Nassau to Exuma?
Roughly 12–14 hours depending on the vessel, sea state and the number of stops. Departures from Potter's Cay are typically Tuesdays for George Town, but schedules shift — always call the dockmaster at
+1 242 393 1064 before travelling.
How much does a swimming pigs tour from Nassau cost in 2026?
Full-day Exuma powerboat tours from Nassau start around $220 per person (smaller boats, basic catering) and run up to roughly $480 for premium operators with hotel pickup, lunch and drinks included. Booking sites such as Viator and GetYourGuide list current prices and live availability.
Where do the swimming pigs of Exuma actually live?
On Big Major Cay (commonly called Pig Beach), an uninhabited cay near Staniel Cay in the central Exumas. The pigs are feral and reach the water freely; visitors arrive only by boat. They're famously food-motivated, so feed from the boat first and wade in slowly.
Do I need a passport to visit Exuma?
Yes. US citizens travelling to the Bahamas by air require a valid US passport book. On the Baleària Caribbean ferry from Florida there is
no under-16 exception: the operator accepts only a valid US passport book or US passport card, from adults and minors alike, and states in writing that birth certificates, photo ID and naturalization certificates are no longer accepted. General WHTI sea-travel rules are more permissive — which is why many guides say otherwise — but the carrier's condition is the one applied at check-in. See our
Bahamas ferry passport guide. A passport book is recommended for all travel and required if you fly home — including emergency flights.
When is the best time to visit Exuma?
December through May offers the calmest seas and the lowest humidity — that's also when day-tour cancellations are rarest. Hurricane season runs 1 June – 30 November, with peak storm risk in August and September. Tours often still run, but build flexibility into your dates and consider travel insurance.
Is the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line still running?
No. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line ceased operations in 2022. The Palm Beach to Freeport route is now operated by Margaritaville at Sea. There has never been a scheduled passenger ship between Florida and Exuma — Florida → Exuma always involves either a flight or an overnight stop in Nassau.
Bookable Exuma Day Tours
Bookable day tours from Nassau to the Exuma cays (free cancellation up to 2 days before). Note: only the powerboat tour reaches the original Big Major Cay pigs:
Ready to meet the swimming pigs?
Compare 2026 powerboat tours from Nassau and Paradise Island — real-time prices and free cancellation on most options.
Compare Exuma Day Tours
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Or stay on the islands if you'd rather take your time.