Things to Do in Exuma: Swimming Pigs & Complete 2026 Guide

Home to the famous swimming pigs, nurse sharks, and 365 stunning cays - the most unique Bahamas experience

365 Cays to Explore
#1 Bucket List Destination
30+ Swimming Pigs

Quick Answer: Best Things to Do in Exuma

  • Swimming Pigs: Big Major Cay (Pig Beach) - THE reason to visit Exuma! Tours from $350+
  • Nurse Sharks: Compass Cay Marina - swim with gentle sharks, $15 entry
  • Thunderball Grotto: James Bond cave snorkeling - free but must time low tide
  • Swimming Iguanas: Bitter Guana Cay - endangered rock iguanas, included in tours
  • Sandbar: Pipe Cay sandbar - instagram-famous turquoise shallows

Iconic Exuma Experiences

🐷 World Famous!

Swimming Pigs at Big Major Cay

📍 Pig Beach 💰 Tours $350-500

THE bucket list experience! About 25 feral pigs live on Big Major Cay and swim out to greet visiting boats, hoping for snacks. Watching these pigs paddle through crystal-clear turquoise water is surreal and unforgettable. They'll swim right up to your boat!

Insider Tip: Visit in the morning when pigs are hungriest and most active. DON'T feed them anything besides approved pig food (boats provide this). Afternoon pigs are often full and lazy. Get there early to avoid crowds from Nassau day trips.
🦈 Must-Do!

Nurse Shark Swim at Compass Cay

💰 Marina entry $15 🕐 30-45 min

At Compass Cay Marina, gentle nurse sharks congregate in the shallow water waiting for food. These docile creatures have been swimming with humans here for decades and are completely safe. An incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience that's perfect even for cautious swimmers.

Insider Tip: Don't grab their tails or corner them - just wade in and let them swim around you. The marina has a small bar and sells snacks. Great photo opportunity - bring an underwater camera!
🕳 James Bond!

Thunderball Grotto

📍 Near Staniel Cay 💰 Free

This stunning underwater cave was featured in TWO James Bond films (Thunderball and Never Say Never Again). At low tide, swim through the entrance into a cathedral-like cavern with sunbeams streaming through holes in the ceiling. Tropical fish swarm around you as you snorkel inside.

Insider Tip: ONLY accessible at low tide - check tide charts! At high tide the entrance is underwater. Bring your own snorkel gear. Early morning has the best light beams. Not suitable for non-swimmers or claustrophobic visitors.
🦎

Swimming Iguanas

📍 Bitter Guana Cay 🕐 20-30 min

The endangered Exuma rock iguanas on Bitter Guana Cay have learned to wade into the water when boats arrive. These prehistoric-looking creatures (up to 4 feet long!) are surprisingly comfortable in shallow water and will eat grapes right from your hand.

Insider Tip: Bring grapes - it's their favorite food! Don't get too close; they can bite. These iguanas are endangered, so observe respectfully. Most day tours include this stop.

Pristine Beaches & Nature

🌊 Instagram Famous

Pipe Cay Sandbar

📍 Exuma Cays 🕐 30-60 min

This iconic sandbar rises from impossibly blue water, creating one of the most photographed spots in the Bahamas. At low tide, you can walk on the sandbar in ankle-deep turquoise water that looks straight out of a screensaver. The colors are almost unreal.

Insider Tip: Best at low tide when the sandbar is fully exposed. Bring a drone if you have one - aerial shots are spectacular. No shade here, so bring sunscreen and a hat.
🏝

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

💰 Free entry 🕐 Half-day

The world's first marine reserve (established 1958) protects 176 square miles of pristine ocean and cays. No fishing or anchoring is allowed, so marine life here is incredibly abundant. Some of the clearest water and healthiest reefs in the Caribbean.

Insider Tip: Warderick Wells is the park headquarters with stunning hiking trails. Shroud Cay has a "river" you can swim through mangroves. Multi-day trips can explore more of this protected paradise.
🏖 Free

Tropic of Cancer Beach

📍 Little Exuma 🕐 2-4 hours

Often ranked among the top beaches in the world! This pristine stretch sits exactly on the Tropic of Cancer line (there's a marker). Powdery white sand, crystal-clear calm water, and usually very few people. Perfect for a peaceful beach day.

Insider Tip: Located on Little Exuma, accessible by car if staying in George Town. Bring everything you need - no facilities. The beach is public but feels completely private. Parking is right off the road.
🤿

Snorkeling the Exuma Cays

💰 Included in tours 🕐 Multiple stops

The Exuma Cays have some of the clearest water in the world - visibility often exceeds 100 feet! Healthy coral reefs, colorful fish, sea turtles, and rays are everywhere. Besides Thunderball Grotto, there are dozens of incredible snorkeling spots throughout the cays.

Insider Tip: Request reef stops on your boat tour - some captains skip them for animal encounters. Bring your own high-quality mask for the best experience. Sea turtles are commonly spotted near grass beds.

Getting to Exuma & the Swimming Pigs

From Florida or Nassau

Day Trips from Nassau ($350-500): Most popular option! Includes round-trip flight to Staniel Cay (30 min), boat tour to pigs, sharks, iguanas, and Thunderball Grotto. Full day, 6-8 hours total. Book with operators like Staniel Cay Adventures or Exuma Water Tours.

Fly to Staniel Cay: Direct charter flights from Fort Lauderdale ($400-600 round trip). Then hire a local boat ($150-250) for a 3-4 hour tour of the cays. Best for multi-day visits.

Fly to Great Exuma (Georgetown): Commercial flights from Nassau, Miami, or Fort Lauderdale. Rent a car to explore Great and Little Exuma, but the swimming pigs are 1+ hour boat ride away. Better for beach relaxation.

Private Yacht Charter: Multi-day yacht charters can explore all 365 cays at your own pace. Expensive ($2,000-10,000+/day) but the ultimate Exuma experience.

Typical Exuma Day Trip Itinerary

Most day trips from Nassau follow a similar pattern, hitting all the highlights in one action-packed day:

6:30 AM

Depart Nassau

Early morning flight from Nassau to Staniel Cay (30 minutes). Small planes, incredible aerial views of the cays!

8:00 AM

Swimming Pigs at Pig Beach

First stop - the stars of the show! Pigs are hungriest in the morning. Spend 45-60 minutes feeding and swimming with them.

9:15 AM

Thunderball Grotto

Snorkel inside the James Bond cave (low tide required). Magical experience with sunbeams and tropical fish.

10:30 AM

Nurse Sharks at Compass Cay

Wade in with gentle nurse sharks. Incredible photo opportunities. Light snacks and drinks available at the marina.

11:30 AM

Swimming Iguanas

Meet the endangered rock iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay. Feed them grapes and watch them wade into the water.

12:30 PM

Lunch & Beach Time

Lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club or on a sandbar. Some time to relax, swim, and enjoy the incredible water.

3:00 PM

Flight Back to Nassau

Return flight with memories (and photos) for a lifetime. Arrive Nassau around 3:30-4:00 PM.

Frequently Asked Questions

The famous swimming pigs live at Big Major Cay (also called Pig Beach) in the Exuma Cays. You can visit on a day trip from Nassau, by boat charter from Staniel Cay, or by flying directly to Staniel Cay. Day trips from Nassau typically cost $350-500 per person and include flights and boat tours.

From Nassau: fly to Staniel Cay (30 min) or Great Exuma (45 min), then take a boat to Pig Beach. Day trip packages from Nassau include round-trip flights. From Florida: fly direct to Great Exuma or connect through Nassau. The swimming pigs are about 25 minutes by boat from Staniel Cay.

Yes! Nurse sharks are very gentle and have never harmed visitors at Compass Cay. They're docile bottom-dwellers that have been hand-fed by humans for years. Just don't corner them or grab their tails. Swimming alongside them is completely safe and an amazing experience.

Thunderball Grotto is a stunning underwater cave near Staniel Cay that was featured in two James Bond films (Thunderball and Never Say Never Again). At low tide, you can swim into the cavern and snorkel in a cathedral-like space filled with tropical fish. It's one of the most unique snorkeling experiences in the world.

December through April offers the best weather (70-85°F) with calm seas. Visit the pigs in the morning when they're most active. Low tide is essential for Thunderball Grotto. The annual Exuma Regatta in April is spectacular but means crowded accommodations.

Day trips from Nassau cost $350-500 per person, including round-trip flights, boat tour, and usually lunch. Private charters from Staniel Cay cost $150-300 for the boat (not per person). Flying directly to Staniel Cay can save money if you have a group, as you can split boat costs.

Ready to Swim with Pigs?

Experience the world-famous swimming pigs and the incredible Exuma Cays!

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