7.2kMeet the swimming pigs of Rose Island on a short 30-minute boat ride from Nassau. More than 3,000 travelers have waded into the shallows, fed the pigs, and stretched out on beach chairs and hammocks at a private beach club. Pick the tour that fits your port day and book before winter dates fill up.
pigs paddle out when the boat engines start
The choice comes down to pace. Some boats run straight to Rose Island so you get a long, unhurried stretch at a private beach club, while multi-stop tours pack snorkeling, turtles and the pigs into one run. If you want the whole day in one place, pick the direct route; if you want three or four stops, pick the island-hopper.
You want three islands, a reef and turtles in one tripNassau: 3 Islands Tour, Snorkel, Pig Beach, Turtles & LunchA four-hour run that snorkels a reef, stops at the Green Cay turtles, swims with the pigs and finishes with lunch and rum punch.From $115 
You want a quiet private beach club away from the crowdsNassau: Pigs, Snorkel, Turtles, Lunch, Private Beach ClubIts beach club sits on the far east side of Rose Island, closed to the public, with hammocks, lunch and an observation deck included.From $125 
You want the longest day and lunch on the boatNassau: Snorkeling, Pig Beach, Swim with Turtles, and LunchA 5.5-hour catamaran that visits Pearl, Athol and Rose, serves a fresh lunch with vegan options and pours unlimited mixed drinks.From $141 
You want to cruise between stops with several departuresNassau: Half-Day Swimming Pigs, Reef Snorkel & Beach ClubA relaxed half-day by powerboat with multiple daily departure times, reef snorkeling, turtle watching and loungers at a beach club.From $198 calmer water on boats before 10 am
Answer a few quick questions and the trips that match your day rise to the top.
Your best matchPopular with families
Hits Athol Island, Rose Island and Green Cay in four hours, lunch and punch included.
Your best matchPopular with families
A 3-island speedboat run with unlimited drinks and snacks on board.
Your best matchPopular with families, friends and couples. 97% of families, 100% of friends and 98% of couples gave it 4 or 5 stars.
A roomy catamaran with lunch and vegan options, but pig feeding costs extra.
Your best matchPopular with families
An isolated private beach club with hammocks and a rooftop observation deck.
Your best matchPopular with families
The simplest trip over: a ferry ride to Rose Island with entry fee included.
Your best matchFamilies with kids or teens book this speedboat tour most often. 94% of them gave it 4 or 5 stars.
Drinks and snacks included, plus a full hour snorkeling with turtles in calm shallows.
Your best matchA private group charter to four islands with two reef stops and a beach bar.
Your best matchPigs, reef snorkeling and turtles with an open bar and a relaxed pace.
Your best matchPopular with families with kids or teens. 93% of them gave it 4 or 5 stars.
Nassau: 3 Islands Tour, Snorkel, Pig Beach, Turtles & LunchFrom $115 /personNassau: Rose 3-Island Tour with Snorkeling and LunchFrom $175 /personNassau: Snorkeling, Pig Beach, Swim with Turtles, and LunchFrom $141 /personNassau: Pigs, Snorkel, Turtles, Lunch, Private Beach ClubFrom $125 /personNassau: Swimming Pigs of Rose Island Water TaxiFrom $89 /personNassau: Swimming Pigs And Snorkel With TurtlesFrom $150 /personNassau: 4-Island Boat Trip with Swimming Pigs & Sea TurtlesFrom $1,450 /groupNassau: Half-Day Swimming Pigs, Reef Snorkel & Beach ClubFrom $198 /personNassau: Swimming Pigs and Private Beach Club Trip with LunchFrom $139 /personIf any of that applies to your group, pick one of the calmer water taxi or catamaran departures instead of a speedboat tour, and read the eligibility notes on the tour card before you book.
morning boats meet the hungriest pigs
Over 3,600 travelers have rated this 4-hour, three-island trip with pigs, snorkeling, turtles and lunch 4.3 out of 5.
Rated 4.7 by 79 guests, this 4-hour escape adds a Bahamian lunch on the sand, beach chairs, restrooms and paddleboards on a private club beach.
This 4-hour speedboat trip holds a 4.6 rating across three islands, with a full hour snorkeling among turtles in calm, shallow water.
pigs come out in 15 to 30 minute sessions
The day starts on the water. From the ferry dock on Paradise Island, a powerboat runs east past Athol Island, and the first stop is a reef between Pearl Island and Rose Island where you snorkel among hundreds of species of fish.
Green sea turtles graze the seagrass at Green Cay next, seen from the boat.
Then comes the beach club on the quiet east side of Rose Island. The pigs trot down to the shallows when the boats arrive, and you wade in ankle- to waist-deep water to feed and photograph them.
After the encounter you get about two hours to eat, lounge in a hammock, or take the paddleboard out before the boat runs you back.
pigs hit the shallows 20 min per session
Green marks the lowest price. Each price says whether it is per person or per group.
pigs arrive in timed beach sessions
So much fun! Our whole group would do it again.
One of my best excursions ever! Keenan and his assistant were professional and made it relaxing and fun. Snorkeled with fish and saw turtles.
Best tour I've done! Loved the smaller group and boat, big boats felt chaotic. Snorkeled with turtles and colorful fish.
Brilliant day visiting Rose Island, Green Cay and Pear Island, 10-2 pm with plenty of chill time. Great lunch too - bring dollars for cocktails on the pig island. 9/10 value, would recommend.
Super event! Pleasant ride to Rose Island, guide told us about the villas.
Unbelievable experience! Family of five with three teens who loved every moment. Very hospitable crew, saw turtles and fish, and Pig Island was awesome. Great for families or solo travelers. A+++
Our best holiday experience, we did it twice! Once the pig experience, once the all-inclusive drinks option. Exceptional value with lunch included on a stunning private island.
Most reviewers praise the crew by name, saying the guides kept the boat ride fun and made the whole day easy with kids along.
Many families did not expect to hold the baby piglets at the end and call it the highlight of their trip.
Several reviewers wished they had more time on the island, saying an hour and a half on that beach went by too fast.
morning boats, calmer water and hungry pigs
Choose a date first, then look at the departure times on the listing. Water taxi runs from downtown harbor check in at 9 am and 11 am, while some beach club tours offer multiple daily departures built around cruise schedules. Morning slots sell out first.
Read what changes between options on the same tour, since the difference is real. On one Rose Island trip, the shorter version runs about 2.5 hours at the beach club and the extended version adds more lounging time. Check whether lunch, drinks, snorkel gear and pig feeding are listed as included, because some tours charge for the pig interaction separately.
Confirm how you reach the dock before you pay. Some tours include roundtrip transportation from hotels and the cruise port; others ask you to meet at a downtown waterfront spot a 1- to 5-minute walk from the cruise terminal gates, or at a marina across the harbor that needs a short taxi ride.
Book online and the confirmation arrives by email with your voucher, meeting point and check-in time. Most tours on this page let you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and if bad weather cancels the boat run you get a full refund or a reschedule.
Eat breakfast before some tours start, arrive at check-in with buffer, and bring a towel, sunscreen and swimwear. Bring cash too, because card terminals at island beach bars occasionally go down and gratuities for the crew are often not included.
morning boats beat the crowds
Some tours ask you to sign a liability waiver before boarding. It takes a minute at check-in, and everyone in your group needs to do it.
Inclusions differ by tour. Some cover a full Bahamian lunch, others a light grill menu of burgers and chips with fruit punch or soft drinks, and the water taxi covers no food at all. Extra drinks come from the island beach bar, so scan each tour's list before you choose.
Morning departures win twice: the water is calmest and clearest between 8:30 am and 10 am, and the pigs are still hungry and eager to swim out. Peak crowding runs from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, when excursion boats overlap at the beach clubs.
Crew members help take photos during the pig session and often share them by AirDrop, WhatsApp or email, so bring a waterproof pouch for your own shots. Tips are not usually included in the fare; around 10 to 15 percent of the tour cost in cash is standard for the captain and crew.
High wind can shorten or cancel the crossing, more often in winter when cold fronts pass through. If your tour is canceled for weather or sea conditions, you get a full refund or the option to reschedule. Operators watch the forecast and cruise schedules, so you are not left guessing.
Every tour on this page lets you cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Book early anyway: from December through April, Rose Island departures typically sell out 2 to 4 weeks ahead, and spring break dates fill 4 to 6 weeks out.
Nearly every operator excludes pregnant travelers, and several tours rule out people with back, heart or respiratory problems, epilepsy or limited mobility. Some set a minimum age of 3 or 5 years. Electric wheelchairs cannot board the boats. If any of this touches you, confirm the rule before you book.
The pigs live in paddocks on the island and come to the beach when tour boats arrive, in timed sessions of roughly 15 to 30 minutes. Expect about 20 to 30 minutes in the water with them, then the rest of the stay for the beach club. You stand in waist-deep water, so non-swimmers join in with a life jacket.
Only food the crew hands out goes to the pigs, usually apple slices or hot dogs on skewers. Handlers watch how you hold the skewer so nobody gets nipped. Leave your own snacks in your bag, and show open hands when you walk near the animals.
Boats do not supply towels, so pack one along with your swimsuit, water shoes and reef-safe sunscreen. In winter a light layer helps against the boat breeze. A waterproof phone pouch earns its place, and some beach club card terminals drop out, so carry cash as backup.
Most Rose Island boats leave from downtown docks a short walk from the cruise port gates, and a few tours offer hotel and port pickup. Check-in usually opens about half an hour before departure, so arrive with time to spare. Walking to the pier takes minutes; being late costs you the boat.
A half-day Rose Island trip fits comfortably inside a standard 7-to-9-hour port stay, and crews track ship arrivals and will hold departure if your ship runs late. Keep a buffer of 45 minutes to an hour before all-aboard when you book a late departure.
staff net the droppings fast, still bring water shoes
A Rose Island pig trip takes half a day, not the eight hours Exuma demands, and the boat ride runs about 25 minutes each way. What you book, when you go, and what you pack decide whether the pigs or the beach become the memory.
Pick a morning boat: pigs between 8:00 and 9:30 am are hungry and the water is calmest before 10 am.
Pig time is a timed session of 20 to 30 minutes; the rest of the 4 hours is beach, lunch and snorkeling.
Bring a towel, water shoes and cash, because tour boats supply none of the towels and island card terminals fail.
The pigs paddle out the moment the engines slow, snouts high in the shallow water. That image is what sells the trip, and it is real. What the picture leaves out is the arithmetic around it.
Handlers bring the pigs to the beach in timed sessions of 20 to 30 minutes when boats arrive, so that is the pig time you get on a four-hour Rose Island trip.
On multi-stop tours the same session can shrink to 15 to 30 minutes, because part of the window goes to snorkeling and turtle stops.
People who love the day came for the whole package: a sheltered crossing, powder-soft sand, a beach bar. People who book it only for the pigs sometimes leave feeling the session was short.
For a cruise stop, the numbers work. The crossing takes 20 to 30 minutes each way, and against a port call of 7 to 9 hours a half-day tour leaves hours of buffer before the all-aboard call.
Keep a further 45 minutes to an hour of slack between returning to the harbor and your ship's deadline.
One caveat: if you have only three or four hours ashore and would rather see forts and eat your way down Bay Street, skip the boat. The trip needs the time to breathe.
The crossing runs east out of Nassau Harbor, past Pearl Island and Green Cay, over water that stays calm under small waves on roughly nine days in ten. Twenty to thirty minutes later the hull touches sand on an island with no roads and no infrastructure, only beach clubs and bush.
The pigs arrive on a schedule. They are released onto the beach when boats come in, and the session in the water lasts 20 to 30 minutes, wading in ankle- to knee-deep water while handlers set out feed. Guides will often take photos with your own phone while luring the pigs around you.
After the session, the day opens up: two and a half hours of loungers, hammocks, a beach bar, paddleboards, and snorkeling off the shore reef if the boat's earlier reef stop felt too quick.
Attendants work the shallows with nets, scooping pig droppings as they appear. The sand is as soft as powder; keep your feet shod near the waterline where it gets rough.
Pigs cannot sweat, so on hot days they wallow in the sea to cool down, heads high, nostrils clear of the salt. That is why they swim so readily, and it is the honest magic of the encounter. Know what you are meeting, though.
The Rose Island pigs are domesticated animals brought for tourism in the late 2010s. They live in shaded inland paddocks, depend entirely on caretakers for food and fresh water, come to the beach in timed sessions of 15 to 30 minutes when boats arrive, and get structured diets and regular vet checks.
The feral herd that roams free lives on Big Major Cay in Exuma, a different operation entirely.
None of this spoils the day. A managed session means handlers in the water, predictable feeding, and animals accustomed to people. Arrive knowing the setting and the whole thing makes sense the moment you step off the boat.
They are domesticated farm animals brought for tourism in the late 2010s, fed and checked by licensed vets
They are released onto the beach in timed 15 to 30 minute sessions when tour boats arrive
The feral, free-roaming herd lives on Big Major Cay in the Exumas
Book the earliest slot you can. Departures between 8:00 and 9:30 am hit every mark at once: the pigs are hungry and swim out eagerly, the water is cleanest before repeated visits churn the shallows, and the beach clubs are quietest.
By afternoon, the animals are fed full and prefer lounging in the shade, and the docks get busy as commercial boats overlap between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm
Morning boats also beat the wind. From November to March, cold fronts push north winds and ocean swells across the exposed reefs; on those days crossings turn bumpy and snorkel stops get shortened or dropped.
The island's reefs shelter the shallows, so operators shift to leeward spots, but a morning start still gives you the calmest water of the day.
Demand runs on a different clock. From December through April, tours sell out 2 to 4 weeks ahead, and spring break dates need 4 to 6 weeks. For peak summer, regulars book two to three months out.
March: 5 out of 5 for how busy it gets. Peak crowds arrive with warming weather, light winds, and calm snorkeling seas.
Tap a month to read it.
October: 2.2 windy days. Crowds stay low while autumn winds pick up and seas turn choppier.
Tap a month to read it.
June: calm sea on 100% of days. Summer crowds ease with flat seas and rising water temperatures despite wetter days.
Tap a month to read it.
October: waves up to 0.8 m on an average day. Crowds stay low while autumn winds pick up and seas turn choppier.
Tap a month to read it.
Read together, the calendar says two things: March and April pack the boats, and October through December bring the windiest water. Book early for spring, and lean on a morning departure whenever you travel.
The famous herd at Big Major Cay sits roughly 85 miles southeast of Nassau. Reaching it means an open-water crossing of two to three hours each way, a full day of 8 to 9 hours, and winter swells that make the ride wet enough for operators to reschedule.
Several operators simply refuse cruise passengers, because a standard port call cannot fit the round trip.
Rose Island asks for a quarter of that: a 20- to 30-minute boat ride and a half-day out. What you trade is the setting. Exuma's pigs roam a wild uninhabited cay with room to spare; Rose Island's are a managed beach-club operation, as the last chapter explained.
Unbelievable experience! Family of five with three teens who loved every moment. Very hospitable crew, saw turtles and fish, and Pig Island was awesome. Great for families or solo travelers. A+++
So the choice is mostly about your calendar. Cruise passengers on a 7- to 9-hour call can only make Rose Island work. Travelers with a full day ashore, a taste for dramatic scenery and several stops, get the richer Exuma experience if they can stomach the crossing.
Three shapes of trip leave Nassau, and the difference is pace. A direct water taxi spends almost the whole four hours on the island itself, about three hours of beach between two half-hour crossings.
A multi-island speedboat condenses snorkeling, turtles and pigs into the same window, moving quickly between stops with roughly two hours for lunch and beach on Rose Island. The private beach club trips stake out one stretch of sand and stay on it.
The Nassau: Swimming Pigs and Private Beach Club Trip with Lunch sits in the middle of that spectrum: a 30-minute boat ride, a private beach with chairs and shaded seating, a Bahamian lunch, paddleboards and snorkel gear included, with a turtle sighting near Green Cay when weather allows.
It suits readers who want the animals and an unhurried afternoon at their own speed.
| Relaxed, most time on the island | Fast, several stops condensed | Unhurried, one home beach | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig interaction | Session on arrival, then free time | 15 to 30 min within a packed route | Structured session plus beach time |
| Food and drinks | Not included, buy at the beach bar | Varies by operator | Lunch and a drink included |
| Cruise port fit | Comfortable half day | Comfortable but tight coordination | Comfortable half day |
One caution from people who have done it: verify any sailing or snorkel cruise actually stops for the pigs, and check whether turtle stops only pause the boat for a deck viewing. Green sea turtles gather at Green Cay because the seagrass there is their natural feeding ground, so a proper stop is worth having.
Most boarding points sit inside the cruise gates' shadow. Departures along Woodes Rogers Walk run about a minute from the exit, the waterfront stands by Señor Frog's take a 4-minute walk, and Elizabeth on Bay on East Bay Street takes about 5 minutes east. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes and the walk is nothing.
Boats that leave from marinas across the harbor need a 7- to 10-minute taxi over the bridge. Walking that bridge takes half an hour in the sun, and harbor water taxis run on schedules too irregular to trust with a morning departure, so take the cab.
There is no public ferry to Rose Island, so an organized boat is the only practical route unless you own one. The beach below the high-tide line is public Bahamian Crown land, but meeting the pigs means paying a landing fee or holding an excursion ticket.
The water taxi boards downtown at the harbor, while the beach club trip offers optional roundtrip transport from hotels and the cruise port. Expect to sign a liability waiver before boarding on some trips.
Pack for an open boat, because the spray comes sideways when the wind picks up. Swimwear goes on under dry clothes before you leave the hotel.
Water shoes matter more than people expect: shorelines turn rocky and pig hooves are heavy things to have step on bare feet. Bring a towel; the boats do not supply them.
Reef-safe sunscreen, applied early, covers the 9 to 12 sunshine hours Nassau gets daily. From December to March, when highs sit around 25 to 26 degrees and the boat breeze bites, a light jacket or dry layer earns its space.
A waterproof phone pouch or camera is the difference between pig photos and pig stories. ::w3
Money plan: several tours include lunch and soft drinks, but bar drinks at non-inclusive beach stops run high, about the cost of a decent lunch for a beer and a rum punch together. Head-mounted action cameras are welcome, which saves any photo-fee question.
The encounter is run more tightly than most visitors expect. Handlers hand out the food themselves, skewered hot dogs or apple slices on sticks, and watch how each skewer is held. Feeding happens in ankle-deep water with staff standing among the guests.
Your part is simple. Hold skewers out to the side so no open palm offers food straight on, keep your hands open and raised when walking near the animals, and never turn your back on them or clutch a fist they might read as a snack.
Do not ride, grab or chase the pigs, and leave the piglets to the handlers. A one-piece suit or rash guard protects your skin if a pig nudges.
An open cut, scratch or sore on your skin Stay out of the water near the pigs; their waste in the shallows carries bacteria that infect wounds, so swim elsewhere on the beach instead
Bites are uncommon; nudges and a dunk in the shallows are the usual mishaps. Do not swallow seawater near the animals, keep your head above the surface, and rinse off and wash your hands before eating. Non-swimmers do fine: the water runs waist-deep over a gently sloping bottom, and life jackets are available.
For toddlers, the honest read is mixed. Rose Island's short crossing and shaded clubs make it one of the gentler options, but the pigs outweigh a knee-high child, so keep small children on your hip or on the sand during feeding. Age rules vary by operator, so check yours before booking.
Two numbers tell you when the crossing gets shaky. Above 15 knots of wind, the open water between Nassau and Rose Island turns choppy and operators start dropping snorkel stops from the day. Past 20 knots, or in winter seas of 6 to 8 feet, crossings get shortened or cancelled outright.
When that happens, the terms are decent: a cancellation for bad weather or sea conditions brings a full refund or the option to reschedule.
Some tours also refund in full if they cannot run on low bookings. Your morning departure helps here too, because the front that ruins an afternoon crossing often leaves the early water ridable.
| If this happens | What happens then |
|---|---|
| Bad weather or rough seas cancel the trip | A full refund or a rescheduled date |
| The tour cannot run on too few bookings | A full refund is issued |
| You are pregnant, or have back, heart, respiratory or epilepsy conditions | The open-boat crossing is not suitable, so pick a calmer activity that day |
| Children under 3 or travelers over 70 on certain speedboats | These boats are not suitable for them, so check the operator's own limits before booking |
| Electric wheelchairs | Not allowed on certain boats, and beach access involves sand, so confirm arrangements in advance |
Health and age limits matter more than weather for some travelers: pregnant women are excluded by nearly every operator, and certain speedboats bar children under 3 and people over 70. Check the specific tour's rules if any of those apply.
The last hour has a shape, and knowing it keeps the return calm. When the boat noses back into the harbor, allow 45 minutes to an hour between your return and the all-aboard call, to absorb harbor congestion and the walk back through the terminal.
Walking off through the market exits takes nothing: the gates guard against people entering, not leaving. Going back in is where the SeaPass matters. Returning passengers show their cruise SeaPass card to verify they belong to a ship in port, then show identification again at the security desk of the passenger terminal before re-boarding.
Operators on these half-day trips monitor cruise schedules and routinely wait for ships that dock late, and passengers report punctual returns. The buffer is for the things nobody controls: a queue at the security desk, a slow walk down a long pier. Keep it, and the afternoon ends as easily as the morning began.
If your boat leaves in the morning, you will be back by early afternoon with hours to spare, and the waterfront around the departure docks fills them well.
Potter's Cay sits under the bridge with conch salad and seafood stalls; the Green Parrot trades on the Bay Street Marina; The Poop Deck and The Crew House at Nassau Yacht Haven serve waterfront plates.
Culture runs closer than most people guess. St. Matthew's Anglican Church is an 8-minute walk, the French Cloister at Versailles Gardens about 15, and Fort Fincastle with the Queen's Staircase fits a brisk 20-minute loop from the docks.
A short drive widens the circle: the National Art Gallery, Fort Charlotte, and Cable Beach for a final swim. Fit in a late lunch and you turn a half-day pig trip into a full Bahamian day without ever hurrying.
For a half-day Bahamas escape with swimming, Rose Island delivers: a short sheltered crossing, a managed pig session, and a private beach to fill the rest. Go early, book weeks ahead in high season, and enjoy the pigs as the highlight of a beach day that holds its own even without them.
pigs arrive in timed sessions, hungry ones come early
The short answers to what travelers ask before booking this trip.
Nassau2026The crossing takes 20 to 30 minutes each way, up to 35 minutes depending on the boat and the sea. The whole trip runs as a half-day excursion of about three to four hours, so you spend most of the day on the island itself.
Mostly yes. Standard cruise calls last 7 to 9 hours, and the half-day tours fit with hours to spare before all-aboard. Departure points sit within a short walk of Prince George Wharf, and some tours offer cruise port transfers.
Crews watch ship schedules and will hold departure if your ship runs late. Allow 45 minutes to an hour of buffer before your all-aboard time.
The in-water feeding and interaction lasts about 20 to 30 minutes in a structured session. The rest of your 2 to 2.5 hours on Rose Island goes to the beach club, swimming, and lunch, which is where the day earns its keep.
Yes. The encounter happens in ankle- to knee-deep water with a gently sloping sandy bottom and no drop-offs, and handlers stand in the water with you. Life jackets are available. A few of the three-island tours list themselves as unsuitable for non-swimmers, so read the tour notes before you pick.
There is no island-wide rule. Some tours welcome all ages or take children from 1 year old with an adult, while others set the bar at 2 years. Check the age limit on the tour you are booking, since it is the one rule that can stop a visit.
Pigs do their business in the shallows, so droppings show up in the water while guests wade. Staff scoop them out quickly with nets. Keep your head above water, skip swimming underwater near the pigs, and rinse off with fresh water afterward, especially if you have any cuts.
It can feel rushed on a short stop, especially if your ship leaves before late afternoon. If your port call is 7 hours or more, the half-day format works well. With only 3 or 4 hours ashore, spend the time on forts and food downtown instead.
Go in the morning if you can. Departures between 8:30 am and 10 am bring calmer, clearer water and hungrier pigs before boats churn the shallows. Crowding peaks between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm when the excursion boats overlap at the beach clubs.
There are no public ferries or water taxis to Rose Island, so you need a booked excursion or a private boat. The wet sand below the high-tide line is public under Bahamian law, but meeting the pigs means paying a landing fee or an excursion ticket.
Wear swimwear under light clothes, pack a towel since boats do not supply one, and bring water shoes to guard against rocks and hooves. Reef-safe sunscreen matters with 9 to 12 hours of daily sun. A waterproof phone pouch covers the in-water photos, and some cash helps at beach bars when card terminals go down.
Rose Island sits about 3 miles offshore, a 25- to 30-minute ride, and the trip runs as a half day.
Big Major Cay in Exuma lies 82 to 89 miles southeast and takes close to three hours each way by speedboat, so it needs a full day. Rose Island wins on time; Exuma wins on wild scenery and freedom with the herd.
They are domesticated animals kept by local beach clubs, not a feral herd. They live in shaded inland paddocks, get regular vet checkups, and are brought onto the beach in timed sessions when boats arrive. Staff hand out the feed on skewers so nobody feeds them from an open hand.
morning boats: calmer water, hungrier pigs
A map of every pig island in the Bahamas, so you know which cay the pigs you saw in videos actually live on.
Heading to Big Major Cay instead? See what the original feral herd looks like and what the full-day crossing takes.
Not set on Rose Island? Compare every pig beach you can reach from Nassau and pick the closest one to your ship.
Wondering what to budget? See how water taxis, beach club days and multi-stop tours compare on price.
morning departures mean calmer water
Snorkel a reef, watch turtles at Green Cay, then meet the pigs at a private beach club with lunch, soft drinks and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
