Swim with Pigs in The Bahamas

by Land Full of Treasures
Last updated:: 4:00 AM ET, Tue October 24, 2017

A day trip in a boat in the Caribbean usually involves encounters with ocean dwellers such as turtles, tropical fish and maybe a dolphin or two. However, the Bahamas has one unique creature you may not find on other islands-swimming pigs!

The island of Big Major Cay, about 35 miles southeast of Nassau, is where these pigs and piglets call home. The area has adopted a fitting nickname of Pig Island or Pig Beach.

No one is certain of where these friendly beach residents came from, but the stories grow as the pigs do. Some say they were left on the island by a group of sailors who planned to come back and use them for food. Others think they swam to shore after a shipwreck.

You may be wondering how you meet these swimming pigs. If you're staying in Nassau, setting aside a full day is necessary. You'll most likely leave out on your excursion around 8:00 am and not return until 5:00 pm or so.

Feeding and interacting with the pigs is doable, but you'll want to keep your distance. Pigs cannot see very well, and they will try to put anything in their mouth-including a phone or camera!

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