A lot of you may be asking yourselves if swimming with the pigs in the Bahamas is worth it. In my personal opinion, the answer is a resounding YES!
I know that swimming with the pigs is a major travel bucket list item for some of you out there, like it was for me. That is why as soon as I booked my Nassau trip I started looking at excursions where I got to swim with the piggies.
Some are deterred by the price tags of the available excursions, which vary by the details of the excursion and when you go. I know from personal experience how hard justifying the cost of something that expensive can be, but believe me, it is 100% worth it and can be the highlight of your whole trip.
There are ways to cut down on the price, you can choose an excursion only for the pigs with no add ons, go to one of the smaller pig islands, and look for deals. Or you could just eat cheaper while on your trip, that way it evens out. (At least in my logic it does!)
The excursion I ended up booking was to Rose Island and included snorkeling, lunch, various animal sightings, and, of course, swimming with the pigs! The whole experience was absolutely magical and I would love to do it again.
In this post I am focusing on Rose Island because that is the only pig island I went to, however there are other islands such as Big Major Cay (which has the popular Pig Beach), Eleuthera, Abaco, and more.
To make you more assured in your choice to book an excursion I will answer some common questions that you might not be able to find answers to.
Do I have to bring my own food to feed the pigs?
No, you do not need to bring your own food. The tour companies will hand out food that is safe for the pigs when it is time to feed them. I was given apple and hotdog pieces on my excursion.
Do the pigs roam the island 24/7?
No, the pigs do not roam all the time. They are kept in an enclosure away from the tourists to give them a break and some shade. When a tour is ready to feed the pigs they are released and run to the ocean to get their treats and for a quick dip!
Will the pigs hurt me?
The pigs can hurt you, however, it is not likely that they will if you follow the safety instructions you are given. To prevent them from stepping on your feet you have to stand in water that at least goes to your knees, always feed the pigs with the skewer they provide, and make sure that you put your hands up when you run out of food!
How is the pig poop situation?
This is a question that is hard to find an answer to due to it being gross and ruining the aesthetic of this excursion. I think you will be relieved when I tell you that the poop is not a problem on the island! The workers there do a very good job cleaning up after the pigs and people even stand in the water with nets at the ready when the pigs are released, so don’t worry.
Can you touch the pigs?
Yes! You are welcome to touch the pigs, just make sure that you are gentle and respectful to them. When I was there they had two really good photo opportunities, one where they got the large pregnant mama pig to lie down (by continuously feeding her) and the other was when they allowed you to hold the cutest little piglet.
