{"id":13431,"date":"2016-03-02T14:24:15","date_gmt":"2016-03-02T14:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"\/inspire\/?p=13431"},"modified":"2017-12-11T22:50:43","modified_gmt":"2017-12-11T22:50:43","slug":"6-tips-visiting-swimming-pigs-exuma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/6-tips-visiting-swimming-pigs-exuma\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Tips for Visiting the Swimming Pigs of Exuma"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever considered swimming with pigs? We\u2019ve partnered with travel expert and writer Angie Orth from Angie Away<\/a> for a look into her experience in Exuma, where she dove in with these unexpected aquatic creatures! <\/em><\/p>\n

When I first visited the unassuming swimming pigs of Exuma<\/a> in 2007, they were hardly the paparazzi-magnets they are now. Back then, a few small boats might motor up to shore each day in the hopes of catching the water-loving piglets on the beach. In the ensuing years, their popularity has skyrocketed and the pig population has grown, too. Now that the local swine are the subject of The Bahamas\u2019 ad campaign<\/a>, the swimming pigs of Exuma have become a curious must-see attraction for visitors.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a><\/h3>\n

If the summer-loving sows have swum their amphibious way onto your travel bucket list<\/a>, here are a few tips for a productive, safe visit to piggy paradise.<\/p>\n\"honeymoon-2-480x600\"<\/a>\n

1. Book a tour or stay on Staniel Cay.<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you want to stay near Big Major Cay where the pigs live, your best option is itty-bitty Staniel Cay, which offers a sizable marina, several small hotels (EMBRACE Resort <\/a>is my favorite) and an airstrip. From there, you can rent a small boat or hire a local guide to whisk you over to Pig Beach. From Staniel Cay Yacht Club, it\u2019s only about 10 minutes to the pigs.<\/p>\n\"DSCN1790-600x450\"<\/a>\n

If you\u2019re staying on mainland Exuma, which most people do, your best bet is to hop on an organized tour that includes a visit to Big Major Cay. I recommend 4C\u2019s Adventures<\/a> because you also get to check out the friendly sharks of Compass Cay, the endangered pink Rock Iguanas on Leaf Cay and a gorgeous sandbar that goes on for miles.<\/p>\n\"DCIM355GOPRO\"<\/a>\n

2. Don\u2019t be fooled by imitation pork.<\/b><\/h3>\n

The bonafide swimming pigs living on Big Major Cay, an uninhabited island about halfway up the Exuma archipelago of 365 islands. If you hop on the 4C\u2019s Adventures boat, it\u2019ll take up to two hours to speed to that area of the Exumas from the settlement of Barratarre.<\/p>\n\"IMG_6574-600x600\"<\/a>\n

Be warned \u2013 imitation pigs are popping up everywhere! On our honeymoon, I found out that Sandals Emerald Bay<\/a> takes their tour guests to a much closer island, claiming an interaction with the famous swimming pigs. Sure, they\u2019re pigs and they swim, but they aren\u2019t the famous swimming pigs of Big Major Cay. It\u2019s up to you if it makes a difference \u2013 just don\u2019t be fooled by lipstick on a pig.<\/p>\n

\"DCIM355GOPRO\"<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n

3. Be a gracious guest.<\/b><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve seen people act like swine in the presence of these national treasures \u2013 it\u2019s just piggish! It should go without saying that you shouldn\u2019t tease the pigs, throw rocks at them or try to ride them. I\u2019ve seen all three behaviors.<\/p>\n

Also if you can, feed the pigs natural food, not bread, cinnamon buns, macaroni and cheese, hot dogs or Poptarts. Stick with grapes, apples, lettuce and produce.<\/p>\n

\"DCIM355GOPRO\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

4. Take photos, but no selfies, please.<\/b><\/h3>\n

As sad as it is, most wild animals don\u2019t want to be your friend. (Read: my bear encounters in Alaska)<\/a> Usually, they just want the food in your hand.<\/p>\n

Since their eyesight isn\u2019t the best, it\u2019s very easy for the pigs to confuse your GoPro for a tasty snack. And if the GoPro is next to your face \u2026 things could go badly \u2026 for your face<\/em>. Take safe photos & know where the pigs are at all times. Turning your back to them in order to take a selfie is a huge no-no. It can be done, but you might just get your ear nipped off!<\/p>\n\"DCIM355GOPRO\"<\/a>\n

5. Pigs aren\u2019t mermaids, y\u2019all.<\/b><\/h3>\n

I like the swimming pigs, I really do, and I may get some heat for saying this \u2013 but y\u2019all, they\u2019re pigs<\/em>. If they weren\u2019t in the water, washing off their steamy tropical stench, they\u2019d just be rancid livestock. In a pigpen, most folks would turn their noses up \u2013 but put them in sparkly turquoise water on a white sand beach and suddenly they\u2019re the mermaids of the Exumas.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"DCIM355GOPRO\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

They still do all the things non-marine pigs do, like poo, only they do it in the water where you\u2019re swimming. Just remember that when you\u2019re diving in with your mouth wide open next to them.<\/p>\n\"DCIM355GOPRO\"<\/a>\n

6. Be prepared for a crowd of tourists who haven\u2019t read these tips.<\/b><\/h3>\n

As the pig popularity has grown over the years, so has the fan base. Countless boats, large and small, motor up to the beach every day and the piggies swim right out to meet the adoring crowds. Depending on the time of day, you could have Pig Beach all to yourself, or you might share it with 50+ people.<\/p>\n\"honeymoon-4-450x600\"<\/a>\n

If you\u2019re alone, you\u2019ll have the chance to take some fantastic photos. If you\u2019re sharing with lots of others, it\u2019s going to be very difficult to take good shots. Be patient, follow the outlier pigs \u2013 <\/em> \u2013 and don\u2019t be afraid to be the first person off or the last person back on the boat. You\u2019ll get the best pictures without your fellow travelers in each shot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ever considered swimming with pigs? We\u2019ve partnered with travel expert and writer Angie Orth from Angie Away for a look into her experience in Exuma, where she dove in with these unexpected aquatic creatures!  When I first visited the unassuming swimming pigs of Exuma in 2007, they were hardly the paparazzi-magnets they are now. Back then, a few small […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":13452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[458,482,464,292],"class_list":["post-13431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","tag-bahamas","tag-exuma","tag-swimming-pigs","tag-travel-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n6 Tips for Visiting the Swimming Pigs of Exuma - Inspire | Travelocity.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"So, you want to swim pigs? 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