![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.dreamyachtcharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Happy-pig-pig-beach-exumas.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhere Can You Swim With Pigs in the Bahamas?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While you might see copycat tours popping up on other islands across the region, the original swimming pigs live on Big Major Cay. This island is located in the Exumas, a chain of 365 cays and islands stretching south of Nassau. Locals and travelers frequently refer to Big Major Cay simply as Pig Beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other Bahamian locations offer pig encounters as well, including sites closer to Nassau. But when travelers picture the famous swimming pigs from viral photos and videos, they’re picturing Big Major Cay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is Pig Beach, and Why Is It Famous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pig Beach is the name given to Big Major Cay, after the feral pigs that have made the island their home. It\u2019s also sometimes referred to as Pig Island by Bahamas visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nobody knows for certain how the Exuma swimming pigs first arrived on Big Major Cay, since they aren’t native to the island. Theories abound: sailors dropped them off intending to return and cook them but never came back, or the pigs survived a nearby shipwreck and swam to shore. None of the stories about how the pigs came to live on the island has been confirmed, but they\u2019re entertaining and part of the island\u2019s charm, if not its history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Big Major Cay remains uninhabited by humans, leaving the pigs as the island’s primary residents. Over the years, they became an international internet sensation, and the chance to hang out with the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas draws travelers, filmmakers, and celebrities from every corner of the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Geographically, Big Major Cay sits in the central section of the Exuma island chain, roughly 82 miles south of Nassau. The closest neighboring island is Staniel Cay, a livelier outpost with its own airstrip and marina, which serves as the main gateway for visitors headed to Pig Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pig Beach itself is quiet and undeveloped, a stretch of white sand dotted here and there by green scrub. Its calm, shallow waters and protected bays provide a safe, beautiful environment for the pigs to swim out and meet visiting boats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s no infrastructure to speak of: no hotels, resorts, restaurants, not even bathrooms. For travelers who enjoy roughing it, the lack of modern amenities just adds to the charm. And for those who prefer access to creature comforts, a Bahamas yacht charter<\/a> allows them to swim with the pigs in Exuma while having a private retreat anchored just a short swim away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting to Pig Beach in the Bahamas requires a bit of planning, and you have four main options to choose from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some travelers book high-speed powerboat tours departing directly from Nassau. While convenient for those staying at major resorts, these excursions involve several hours of traveling across rough open water, leaving you with very limited time on the actual beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a small regional flight from Nassau or Fort Lauderdale into the tiny airstrip on neighboring Staniel Cay. Once you land, you still need to hire a local water taxi to take you across the remaining stretch of ocean to Big Major Cay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Group excursions run daily from regional hubs like Great Exuma or Staniel Cay. These tours pack dozens of tourists onto a single vessel, following a rigid timeline that often clashes with the arrival of other large groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The easiest and by far the most convenient way to get to Pig Beach is by incorporating it into your sailing itinerary on a yacht charter. With an Exumas yacht charter<\/a> with Dream Yacht, you can anchor right in the bay and stay on the island all day if you wish. You are free to arrive and leave whenever you want, which means you can time your visit to avoid the tourist crowds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Day tours can get you to the island. However, operators need to cycle groups through several stops before heading back to port. As a result, this option might not give you enough time to truly immerse yourself in the experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast, an Exumas catamaran charter<\/a> means you don\u2019t have to rush through your trip. A yacht charter runs on a different clock, one set by the captain or the people on board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A yacht charter turns what is often a rushed tourist stop into a relaxed, stress-free component of a Bahamas sailing vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arriving at Big Major Cay is a surreal experience that is very different from a standard Caribbean beach visit. The island is often busy with tourists, depending on the time of day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As your vessel approaches the shallow shoreline, the larger pigs will swim out to greet your hull. They have learned that boats mean food, and they are excellent paddlers, using their snouts to steer through the clear water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The beach itself is a stretch of soft white sand, with smaller piglets lounging near the shaded tree line. The water is shallow near the shore, warm and clear enough to see the bottom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The pigs are highly accustomed to people and are generally very enthusiastic hosts. You will find a mix of large, adult pigs wandering the shoreline and tiny piglets running along the sand, making for excellent photo subjects. You can pet them if they come up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Group size and timing impact the experience more than anything else. Arriving outside peak day-trip hours, which a private charter makes far easier to plan around, means a quieter beach and pigs that aren’t already worn out from a whole day of visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Exumas stay warm year-round, so the pigs are active in the water every month. Winter brings drier weather and calmer seas, making sailing conditions more predictable for charter guests. Meanwhile, summer is hotter and more humid, with a higher chance of afternoon storms rolling through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Local volunteers on Staniel Cay have spent years caring for the porcine residents of Pig Beach. They\u2019ve built freshwater systems, a nursery for piglets, and care areas for animals that are sick or injured. A vet also visits regularly to keep the pigs healthy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The system they\u2019ve created means the animals are well-cared-for. However, they still rely on the help of visitors to maintain their happy life on the island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To help keep the animals healthy and safe, follow these tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only feed the pigs approved foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, and never give them processed junk food or bread. Always feed them while you are standing in the water rather than on the dry sand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When pigs eat on the sand, they accidentally ingest large amounts of grit, which can lead to digestive issues. If you prefer to feed them on land, use the designated feeding troughs on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Always respect the pigs\u2019 space, and let them come to you. Never chase, tease, carry, or try to ride the pigs. They are incredibly friendly and docile, but like all animals, they can become startled or bite if they feel cornered or overwhelmed. A calm approach keeps both visitors and pigs safe, and it’s the same standard crews expect from every guest who steps into the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following the posted guidelines helps preserve the beach and the animals for the next boat that pulls up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dream Yacht is one of the world’s leading yacht charter operators. We offer four charter styles for exploring the Exumas, each suited to a different travel style:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swimming with the pigs of Big Major Cay ranks among the most memorable stops in the Bahamas, and a yacht charter elevates the experience. From Pig Beach to quiet anchorages scattered across the Exuma Cays, Exuma excursions by yacht charter<\/a> allow you to explore top destinations in the area in comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Pigs](\"https:\/\/www.dreamyachtcharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pigs-on-the-beach-bahamas-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhere Is Pig Beach in the Exumas?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Get to Pig Beach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Nassau Day Trips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Flights to Staniel Cay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Commercial Powerboat Tours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Private Bahamas Yacht Charters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.dreamyachtcharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Swimming-pigs-exumas-bahamas-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy a Yacht Charter Is the Best Way To Visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\nWhat To Expect When You Arrive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Welcome Committee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Life on the Beach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pets and Photos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Sunset](\"https:\/\/www.dreamyachtcharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Sunset-at-Pig-Beach-Bahamas-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBest Time To Visit the Swimming Pigs in the Bahamas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Swimming With Pigs in the Bahamas: How To Visit Responsibly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Approved Feeding Practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Respectful Interaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Charter Options With Dream Yacht<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\nPlan Your Exumas Yacht Charter With Dream Yacht<\/h2>\n\n\n\n