Pig Beach is the loudest calm you’ll ever see. This Nassau-to-Exuma full-day boat tour strings together Pig Beach with rock iguanas and nurse-shark swims, and it feels well-paced because it runs as a small-group experience. I also like that lunch and drinks come included, so you’re not doing snack math all day. One drawback: the schedule is long, and the fast boat ride can be choppy and wet, so plan for sea spray and bring a suit you don’t mind getting rinsed.

The vibe on board is usually upbeat, with friendly crew members and steady attention to safety, including Captain Ryan in the mix. You’ll be eating well and sipping too, with alcoholic beverages included for age 21+—and if the water turns rough, they supply ponchos.

Key things that make this Exuma day trip worth your attention

• A small-group feel with a stated cap of six attendees, while the overall activity can run up to 30 travelers
• Pig Beach plus true wildlife stops: rock iguanas at Allen Cay and nurse sharks at Compass Cay
• Lunch and drinks are built in, including buffet-style lunch at Loraine’s, plus snacks, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages
• You get swim time on your own schedule at the Exuma sandbar after the wildlife stops
• A special extra if conditions allow: exploring the wreck of Pablo Escobar’s underwater plane on the way to the sandbar
• Bring swim-ready gear and expect spray, because the boat ride can be fast and wet, even when everyone’s trying to have a good day

Why This Nassau to Exuma Speedboat Day Feels Like Two Trips in One

This tour is built around one thing: stacking major Exuma highlights into a single day. You start in Nassau, then bounce through rock-iguanas, nurse sharks, and swimming pigs, before ending with a classic open-ocean sandbar swim and relax time.

The value isn’t just that you’ll see famous sights. It’s that your time gets handled for you: you’re on a round-trip boat route from Nassau, you get a real lunch stop, and food and drinks are part of the package. When you pay $499 per person, you’re buying convenience plus multiple included stops—not just a ticket to a beach.

Allen Cay Rock Iguanas: Short Visit, Big Personality (And a Do-Not-Disturb Vibe)

Allen Cay is your first stop, and it’s all about seeing ancient rock iguanas up close. You’ll spend about 30 minutes there, and the goal is to watch them without harming or disturbing them—which matters because these are living animals, not props.

What you should know: 30 minutes is enough to get a good look, but it’s not a slow, lingering nature walk. If you want better odds of seeing more iguanas, you’ll do well focusing your attention upward and around the trees once you’re on site.

The payoff here is contrast. Before you ever reach Pig Beach, you’re already getting a taste of the Bahamas as a real ecosystem with locals like birds and reptiles sharing the same space.

Compass Cay Nurse Sharks: Swimming With Wild Fish, Not a Theme Park

Next comes Compass Cay, where nurse sharks are in the area and you can get in the water with them. You get another 30 minutes, and this is one of those moments people remember because it’s not staged—these are sharks in their habitat.

A practical way to think about this stop: you’re trading control for experience. You can’t dictate where the sharks swim, and you can’t treat it like a swim-with-animals selfie session. But if you’re comfortable snorkeling or floating and you follow the crew’s guidance, it can be a genuinely cool wildlife encounter.

Also, don’t ignore the basics. Bring swim gear that stays on. Keep your movements calm. If you’re the type who panics in water, this might be the moment to decide if you want to get in fully or watch from the boat.

Pig Beach and Swimming Pigs: The Main Event, Done in Your Own Time

Pig Beach is why most people book this. You’ll spend about 30 minutes at the site, and it breaks into two parts: paddle time around the swimming pigs, and then time after the boat docks where you can walk or swim among free-roaming piggies.

Here’s what makes this stop feel special: it’s not only the pigs in the water. It’s the freedom of choosing your own level of involvement. You can paddle, then step back and enjoy the shoreline time. If you just want to watch, you can do that too.

Two things to keep in mind so this stays fun:

• Keep expectations realistic. This isn’t a private pig party; it’s an active animal environment.
• Bring a suit that dries fast enough for the rest of the day, because you’ll likely be wet again soon.

If this is on your bucket list, this stop is the “yes” moment. Everything else is supporting cast.

Black Point Lunch at Loraine’s: Fuel Up Like Someone Who Wants to Enjoy the Afternoon

At Black Point, you get a buffet-style lunch held at Loraine’s, a local cafe. The lunch stop is about 1 hour, and you’ll have multiple dish options, including some local flavors.

This is more than just a meal. It’s where the day resets. After boat time and water time, you’ll want real food, not just snacks. And because lunch is included, you can actually eat without worrying whether you’ll be spending extra on the side.

One smart tip: use the lunch break to take a breath and dry off even a little. If the boat ride has you salty and wet, a warm meal and a change of posture helps you enjoy the second half instead of just surviving it.

Pablo Escobar’s Underwater Plane Wreck: The Bonus Stop With Real Curiosity Appeal

In the second half of the day, on the way to the sandbar, you may have time to explore the wreck of Pablo Escobar’s underwater plane. This is the kind of strange-and-true detail that makes Exuma feel like a place you can’t fully explain to friends back home.

What’s worth noting is that the schedule places this as an add-on on the route, not the main anchor stop. So treat it as a bonus, not the guaranteed centerpiece.

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes oddball stories and tangible remnants underwater, this is the part where the day can surprise you.

Exuma Sandbar Finale: Swim, Relax, and Finally Stretch Your Legs

The last stop is the Exuma sandbar, where you’ll disembark and have about 1 hour to swim, relax, and enjoy drinks. It’s one of those mid-ocean settings that feels removed from everything else—exactly what you want after a full day of movement.

This is also where you’ll decide what kind of vacation you’re having. If you want action, you can swim. If you want calm, you can float and take in the water and open sky.

One small practical point: the sandbar hour can feel short, so don’t burn all your time on just one activity. A simple plan works best—swim once, settle once, then spend the rest doing what feels easiest.

Price and Value: What $499 Actually Buys You Here

At $499 per person, this isn’t a budget excursion. But it’s also not a bare-bones tour. You’re paying for a full-day boat route from Nassau and multiple scheduled stops across Exuma—plus lunch, snacks, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages included.

That included food and drink matters more than people think. If you were to buy everything yourself—lunch, drinks, water, and snacks—you’d still be spending a lot, and you’d lose the time savings of having it handled.

What’s not included is private transportation. So if you’re not staying near the meeting point, you’ll likely need to arrange how you get there yourself.

Getting Wet and Moving Fast: What to Pack for a Speedboat Day

This tour runs on a boat, and the ride can be fast. That’s fun when the water is calm, and it can be brutal when it isn’t. Plan for sea spray and the reality that you may get soaked.

I recommend packing like this is a beach day mixed with a water-splash ride:

• Bring a bathing suit and consider a second one if you hate being damp
• Wear clothes that can get wet without ruining your mood
• Expect strong spray and bring poncho-friendly habits

The good news: ponchos are supplied if conditions turn messy. If you’re sensitive to motion or rough water, take that seriously and be honest with yourself about whether you’ll enjoy sitting on open water for long stretches.

Also remember this basic travel rule: the experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. It can also be canceled if a minimum number of travelers isn’t met, with an alternative date/experience or a full refund offered.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Want a Different Plan)

This tour is a strong match if you want a single day that hits multiple Exuma icons: rock iguanas, nurse sharks, swimming pigs, and a sandbar swim. It also suits couples and groups who like a lively crew and an easy-to-follow schedule.

It’s also a good fit for people who don’t mind getting wet and who are comfortable doing short water stops throughout the day.

I’d think twice if you:

• know you get sick in fast or choppy water
• want a slow, relaxed pace with minimal motion
• prefer to avoid animal-interaction experiences entirely

The sweet spot is someone who’s excited by wildlife and ocean time—and okay with the day being long.

Should You Book This Swimming Pigs Boat Tour from Nassau?

I’d book it if you want the classic Exuma story in one day: Pig Beach, plus nurse sharks and iguanas, followed by a sandbar finale. Even at $499, the inclusion of lunch, snacks, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages helps justify the price because you’re not paying extra for the basics.

I’d pause and reconsider if weather and rough water worries you. This is an “ocean conditions matter” tour, and a wet, fast speedboat ride is part of the package.

If your priorities are wildlife encounters and a full, memorable day without complicated logistics, this is the kind of excursion that delivers.

FAQ

Where does the tour start, and what time?

The tour starts at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas, 2 Marina Drive, Paradise Island, New Providence Island, The Bahamas. The start time is 8:00 am, and it ends back at the meeting point.

How long is the Exuma full-day boat tour?

The duration is listed as about 8 hours.

How big is the group?

The small-group format is capped at six attendees for a personal feel, and the activity has a maximum of 30 travelers.

What happens at Allen Cay?

At Allen Cay, you can see rock iguanas up close and personal. The stop is about 30 minutes.

Can I swim with the nurse sharks and the pigs?

Yes. At Compass Cay you can get in and swim amongst nurse sharks. At Pig Beach, you can paddle around with swimming pigs and you can also walk or swim among free-roaming pigs once the boat docks.

Is lunch included, and where is it served?

Lunch is included and is served buffet-style at a local cafe named Loraine’s at Black Point. The lunch stop is about 1 hour.

What’s included in the price?

Included items are lunch, alcoholic beverages, snacks, bottled water, and soda/pop.

Is alcohol included, and is there an age requirement?

Alcoholic beverages are included, and alcohol is served to 21 years old and up.