How to Swim With the Pigs in the Bahamas (From Eleuthera)

Where are the swimming pigs near Eleuthera?

The world-famous Pig Beach is at Big Major Cay in the Exuma chain — beautiful, but a long way from Eleuthera. The good news: you don't have to go there. A small colony of swimming pigs lives on a sheltered cay just off North Eleuthera, reachable by boat from Spanish Wells in well under an hour. Same experience — pigs paddling out to the boat, snouts up, looking for a snack — without the all-day Exuma logistics.

Because it's close, we can fold the pigs into a half-day trip alongside a sandbar stop or a snorkel reef, instead of burning a whole day just getting there and back. That's the single biggest reason to do it from this side of the Bahamas.

How to get there

Every trip leaves by boat — there's no road to the pigs. From North Eleuthera the run goes out past Spanish Wells and across protected water, so it's smooth on most days. You have two simple ways to do it:

1. Book a guided trip. The easiest option — we handle the boat, the route, the timing and the snacks for the pigs. You just show up at the dock. This is what most of our guests do.
2. Charter your own captain. If you want to combine the pigs with spearfishing, lobstering or a longer island-hop, we build a custom day around it.

Flying in? Most guests land at North Eleuthera (ELH), which also serves Harbour Island and Spanish Wells by quick ferry. See our guide to the best time to visit Eleuthera for flight and ferry timing.

What it's like — and how to do it right

The pigs are strong swimmers and they will come straight to the boat. They're friendly but they're still large animals, so a few simple habits keep everyone (pigs included) happy and safe:

• Let the pigs come to you — don't chase or corner them in the water.
• Feed only what your captain provides. Bread, junk food and anything in a plastic bag makes them sick.
• Keep fingers flat when offering food, the same way you'd feed a horse.
• No standing on the pigs or pulling tails for photos. They'll happily pose without it.
• Watch from the boat first if you have small kids, then ease into the shallows.

Best time of day to go

Morning is almost always better. The pigs are hungriest and most active early, the light is soft for photos, and the wind tends to be lighter before midday, which means a calmer ride and clearer water. Afternoons can still be great, but a fed, sleepy pig is less interested in swimming out to say hello.

Year-round the pigs are there, but the water is warmest and calmest from late spring through early autumn. For the full month-by-month picture, read our best time to visit Eleuthera guide.

What to bring

• Reef-safe sunscreen (applied before you board, not on the boat)
• A waterproof phone case or a floating-strap action camera
• A hat, sunglasses and a light cover-up for the ride
• Water shoes if you have them — the bottom near the beach can have grass
• Cash for tips if you enjoyed your captain