Exuma in one day can feel unreal. This full-day power-boat tour from Paradise Island strings together island life and sea adventures, with five different stops that keep the day moving.

I especially like the way the schedule balances wildlife and water time. I also love that snorkel gear and key extras like landing fees, pig food, and lunch are included, so you can budget without surprises.

The one drawback: it’s a shared, fast-paced day, and your beach or sandbar time can be shorter than you’d hope if you want maximum, slow beach lounging.

Key Things I’d Focus On

Five distinct Exuma cays in one run: You see a lot without spending days hopping around.

Allen’s Cay rock iguanas: A rare species found only on a few Exuma islands.

Compass Cay nurse sharks near the marina docks: A memorable swim with serious ocean residents.

Big Major’s Cay swimming pigs: Feeding and swimming with the famous pigs, plus plenty of photo moments.

Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane snorkeling: A story-heavy wreck stop with real underwater curiosity.

Included lunch and drinks: Buffet lunch with local beer, sodas, and bottled water.

Why Exuma in One Day Works So Well From Nassau

Exuma is one of those places that’s hard to experience “small scale.” Even if you only have a day, the cays here feel special because each stop is a different kind of scene—wildlife island, shark docking area, pig beach, then snorkel and beach time.

What I like most is that this tour doesn’t ask you to be a logistics expert. You’re dropped into each moment with the boat crew handling the running and timing, which is a big deal when you’re trying to make the most of daylight.

At $489 per person for an 8-hour outing, it’s not a budget half-day. But when you add up what’s included (snorkel gear, landing fees, pig food, buffet lunch, drinks, and light snacks), it starts to look more like a packaged day on the water than a “just transportation” deal.

The Speedboat Ride From Paradise Island: Time on the Water

You’ll start at Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island at the Born Free Charters desk. From there, you head southeast to the Exuma Cays aboard a high-speed power boat, with the first stretch taking just over an hour.

This is not a slow cruise. Expect a real speedboat feel—moving efficiently between islands and stops. That pacing is exactly why the tour can hit multiple cays in one day, but it also explains why this isn’t a good match for people with back problems, heart problems, or mobility impairments.

The tour is shared and can run with up to 24 people, so you’ll want to go in ready for a bit of group energy. If you like your travel days busy and varied, the boat-to-beach rhythm works well.

Allen’s Cay Rock Iguanas: A Tiny Endemic Island Stop

One early stop is Allen’s Cay, where you’ll interact with Bahamian rock iguanas. This species is found nowhere else in the world except three small islands in Exuma, so this isn’t a generic “see a lizard” moment.

For me, that makes the stop feel more meaningful. You’re not just collecting wildlife photos; you’re seeing an animal tied closely to this exact part of the Bahamas. The crew gives you time to view and interact, which helps you slow down for a moment before the day turns into full water mode.

Time here is fairly short, so don’t plan on lingering long. It’s a quick but memorable introduction to how unique Exuma can be even before you hit the open-water swims.

Compass Cay Nurse Sharks Under the Docks

Next up is Compass Cay, known for nurse sharks that come around near the docks under the marina. You’ll ride south through the Exuma Cays, then hop in for the shark swim once the crew sets you up.

This part of the day is valuable for two reasons. First, nurse sharks tend to be calmer than people expect, especially around consistent feeding or known hangout spots. Second, swimming in that environment is one of those “only in this place” experiences, because the sharks are linked to that specific marina structure.

A quick reality check: this stop is time-limited. You’re getting a focused swim, not a long training session. If you’re hoping for a lot of repeated swim time, you might feel the day is packed—though that’s also what lets you fit the pigs and plane wreck in.

Big Major’s Cay Swimming Pigs: Feeding, Floats, and Photos

Then comes Big Major’s Cay, home of the famous swimming pigs. You’ll have a chance to feed and swim with them, and yes—you’ll want photos ready. This is the stop people remember later because it’s unusual in the best way.

What makes this more than a gimmick is that the pigs are part of how the cays work as a living coastal system. The tour includes food for the pigs, which matters because it keeps the experience moving without you needing to hunt down supplies once you arrive.

If you’re the type who likes animal encounters, this will likely be your favorite moment. If you’re cautious about animal interactions, go in with calm expectations and follow the crew’s guidance so everyone stays safe and respectful.

One planning note: this is a short window. You get real time with the pigs, but you won’t have an all-afternoon pig picnic. That’s the tradeoff for fitting in five separate island stops.

Lunch at Exuma: Included Food and a Much-Needed Reset

Between animal and sea-life moments, you’ll stop for lunch at a local Exuma restaurant. You get a buffet lunch plus a cold drink setup—local beer, sodas, and bottled water—and there are also light snacks included for the day.

This is one of the practical wins of the tour. Many water tours give you some crackers and a “good luck” vibe. Here, lunch is a real sit-down reset, which helps you keep energy up for the later snorkel and the final swim time.

Because the tour runs about 8 hours total, the timing matters. Lunch happens after earlier stops and before the final sea adventures, so you’re not eating on an empty tank or forcing food down right before swimming.

Snorkeling Pablo Escobar’s Sunken Plane Wreck

The next highlight is snorkeling at a famous wreck known as Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane. The plane crashed off Norman’s Cay in the late 1970s, and it’s said to have been connected to drug flights.

The story goes that Pablo Escobar took control of Norman’s Cay and used its small runway as a base and refueling point for planes running cocaine from Mexico to the U.S. Whether every detail is exactly as told, the wreck’s reputation is real, and that context adds weight to the snorkel stop.

From a visitor perspective, I like this stop because it’s not just “look at fish.” You get an underwater view of a man-made object that carries a very specific island legend. It makes the water feel like more than scenery.

Your time here is limited—enough for a snorkel session, not enough to treat it like a full course. Go in thinking of it as one strong scene among several.

Your Final Beach or Sandbar Stop: How to Make It Count

After the plane wreck snorkeling, you finish with a beach or sandbar stop in Exuma. This is your chance to slow down, swim casually, and soak up sun while you take more photos.

This is also the part where pacing can matter most. One person felt the day’s activities were well planned and didn’t linger too long anywhere, but suggested the beach destination could be more isolated for maximum beach time. If you love solitude, you may wish the sandbar felt farther from everything else.

Still, this final stop is where you can balance the day. You’ll have the energy from lunch, and you’ll have cleared the early “wow” moments like iguanas, sharks, and pigs. Use that time for what you came for: swimming, sunbathing, and a little recovery.

Price and What You’re Really Paying For at $489

$489 per person sounds steep until you break down what’s included. You’re paying for more than a ride: you’re getting snorkel gear, landing fees, pig food, and a buffet lunch with local beer, sodas, and bottled water plus light snacks.

You’re also paying for the effort of doing Exuma cays correctly from Nassau. The boat route and stop sequencing are what let you cover wildlife, sharks, pigs, and a wreck in one day—without you needing to research each spot or coordinate multiple rentals.

So is it good value? For people who want a structured day on the water with minimal extra costs at each stop, yes. For people who only want one or two activities and prefer long beach hours, it may feel pricey for the time spent on sand.

A Shared Day With Up to 24 People: Pace, Rules, Safety

This tour is a shared experience with up to 24 people. That usually means the day moves in a tight rhythm, and it’s less about personal space and more about keeping momentum from stop to stop.

English is the live guide language, so you’ll get the story context and the safety beats without a language barrier. And you’ll likely feel how much the captain’s decisions influence the flow, because the order of the day plan is subject to change based on the captain.

Know the rules before you go:

• Bring a towel and sunscreen
• Strollers and baby carriages aren’t allowed
• Electric wheelchairs aren’t allowed
• This tour isn’t suitable for children under 2, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, people with heart problems, wheelchair users, or cruise ship passengers

If you fit those limits, the structure is a big plus. The stops are timed so you keep seeing new things instead of repeating the same coastline.

Who This Exuma Island Hopping Tour Is Best For

This is a great fit if you:

• Want a full Exuma “greatest hits” day without extra planning
• Like animals and want hands-on moments like feeding the pigs and interacting with iguanas
• Enjoy snorkeling enough to fit in multiple water stops

It may be the wrong fit if you:

• Want a slow, long beach day with minimal switching between activities
• Need long periods of walking access or have mobility constraints
• Prefer a private pace rather than a shared schedule

For families with very young kids, it also won’t work since children under 2 aren’t suitable. And if you’re visiting on a cruise, this one isn’t designed for cruise ship passengers.

Should You Book This Nassau to Exuma Tour?

If your priority is variety—wildlife, sharks, pigs, snorkeling, and beach time—then this tour makes a lot of sense. The strongest part is the way it stacks experiences into a single 8-hour window, and the inclusion list (snorkel gear, landing fees, pig food, buffet lunch, drinks) helps justify the price.

If you’re hoping for the quietest beach imaginable or the kind of day where you can linger for hours, you might feel the schedule doesn’t stretch that way. The day is designed for movement, and the final beach stop is a finish line, not the main event.

My simple advice: book it if you want a high-impact Exuma day from Nassau with minimal hassle. Skip it if you’re seeking a slow, solitary beach retreat or you need accessibility accommodations that the tour can’t support.

FAQ

How long is the Exuma island hopping and swimming pigs tour?

The tour lasts 8 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $489 per person.

What are the main stops and activities during the day?

You’ll go to Allen’s Cay for rock iguana interaction, Compass Cay for a nurse shark swim, Big Major’s Cay for swimming and feeding the pigs, snorkel at Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane wreck, and finish with swimming and sunbathing at a beach or sandbar. The order can change based on the captain.

Where do I meet the tour?

You meet at Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island at the Born Free Charters desk.

What’s included in the price?

Included are buffet lunch, local beer, sodas, bottled water, light snacks, snorkel gear, landing fees, and food for the pigs.

Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear?

No. Snorkel gear is included.

What should I bring with me?

Bring a towel and sunscreen.

Is this tour suitable for cruise ship passengers or people with mobility needs?

It is not suitable for cruise ship passengers, wheelchair users, and people with mobility impairments. It also isn’t suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or people with heart problems.