Have you heard of the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay?
This is one of those activities that live up to the hype. The pigs swim right out of your boat, and I loved every second of it. Some swimming pig experiences are better than others. The best tips for swimming with pigs are listed here.
Pick a local tour operator.
Most people take a tour from Nassau, Staniel Cay, or elsewhere in the Exumas to get to Big Major Cay. The nurse sharks and sand bar are included in a day tour that also includes other stops.
There are many companies that offer the swimming pig experience, but 3N's Exuma Vacations is the closest populated island to the pigs and gives a nice insight into the history. Dave has been with the pigs ever since they moved to Big Major Cay. You can still go with this operator even if you aren't staying in Staniel Cay.
Their boats are small. You can end up with 20 to 50 people on your boat alone if you take a boat from Nassau. The 3N tours give you more time at each stop and have fewer people on each boat.
How did the pigs get on the beach? The pigs were moved from Staniel Cay because they smelled. It was a good idea to have a pig farm that wasn't sharing space with the islands.
Pirates, sailors, pigs, and even a ship's masts are some of the things that are said to be lore. Dave's account seems to be the most realistic between you and me.
They ended up there, but little did anyone know that the pigs could swim and turn them into one of the biggest attractions in the Bahamas!
The pigs on Big Major Cay are the OGs, and there have been several copycat pig beaches created since.
Get wet.
I was overjoyed when I saw the pigs swimming towards the boat. Captain Dave encouraged me to jump in the water and I didn't need to be told twice. The pigs are cute. They can swim out a lot farther than I thought.
I encourage you to swim with them. Don't wait until you get to the beach to have a conversation. Since they come right up to the boat, this is one of the best places to get a few moments with them all.
The photos turned out great. Captain Dave made sure that he kept giving them treats so that they would stick around and swim for a while, he was great about taking photos for me.
Go when the season is low.
During the rainy season in the Bahamas, I was able to visit Pig Beach without many other tourists. There can be hundreds of people during the high season of July, March, and the week between Christmas and New Year's.
If you have some flexibility, try to go during the off-season. I did experience some rainy days during my trip, but it can happen anywhere in the tropics, regardless of the season.
Stay close to it.
You can still get to Pig Beach on a day trip if you base out of Nassau. If you stay on Staniel Cay, you can get to the pigs earlier in the day, which will allow you to beat the crowds and get a chance to interact with the pigs.
Staniel Cay is a small island with lovely beaches, a laid-back vibe, and a local, female-founded, owned and run resort called EMBRACE. You can get a discount off of your tour if you stay with them, because there aren't many locally-owned and run options in the area.
You can find more information about what to do in and around Staniel Cay here.
Food should not be brought to the beach.
We did all of the feeding from the boat under the supervision of the captain. Oliver is a pig that will stand on his haunches to get treats.
The danger of bringing food on the beach is twofold: the pigs are animals and could nip at you to get the food, and it's not good for them to eat food dropped in the sand. Tourists have been bitten in the past by doing stupid things like holding food behind their backs and not paying attention to the pigs behind them. The smart pigs are still animals. A few of them have figured out that if they nip, people will drop their food, giving them the perfect opportunity to nom.
I preferred swimming in the water with the captain. Oliver was the only pig I fed myself.
If you want, the captain will let you hold the bottle if you want, though you are not supposed to pick up the babies.
Rubs are given.
I don't know if you've ever interacted with pigs, but I've found that they're usually not receptive to pets, especially the young ones. These pigs love belly rubs.
They are like hoofed puppies and some visitors seemed scared of them. Enjoy the experience of swimming with pigs and pet them.
Bringing lots of sunscreen, water, and snacks is one of the tips. Since the sun is strong and most of the boats don't have covers, I was glad to have my wide-brimmed hat.
The pigs are more active in the morning than in the afternoon, and they are also more lazy by the afternoon. If you take your own boat, you can get to the island before the tours start at 8 AM.
If you are taking a tour like the rest of us, you should check out this one departing from Staniel Cay and this one departing from Nassau, including a scenic flight into the Exumas.
Happy swimming with pigs. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I should be pinned for later.
This post was brought to you by Staniel Cay Vacations. I took a tour of the pigs and they were very enthusiastic.
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