The 365 islands of the Exuma archipelago seem to invite us in a hidden way to organize our annual calendar. Although all of them are delicious, only one of its keys is home to a very special resident. It is the one known as Pig Island, an island completely uninhabited by humans, but where a nice group of pigs roam freely.
Big Major Cay is located 134 kilometers southeast of Nassau and 101 kilometers northwest of the district capital, George Town. The arrival of pigs in this corner of the Bahamas is shrouded in mystery, although there is no doubt that our protagonists are truly lucky to live in a little piece of paradise. The most widespread theory is that a Dutch ship was transporting them as food, but its crew decided to temporarily leave them on the island to return for them later. Unfortunately for them the ship was shipwrecked, but the little pigs made this place their home.
To reach this curious scenario there are several possibilities. The first would be to fly from Nassau to Staniel Cay and hire an excursion from there. The second would be to fly from Nassau to George Town and book an itinerary with one of the companies that go to Pig Beach. The last one would be to leave by boat directly from Nassau, on a tour that has guides with extensive experience. Of course there are other options, but these are the most common.
Once here, the panorama is amazing. We’ll meet in one magazine beach with sapphire blue water and fine white sand. It is best to touch the ground very early in order to enjoy this corner of heaven more calmly, as social networks have contributed to the fame of the place skyrocketing in recent years.
It is surprising to observe the ease with which the approximately 20 pigs handle themselves in the water. Having become accustomed to human presence, the docile and affectionate animals allow themselves to be petted and have stopped searching for food in the wooded outskirts. The aforementioned protagonists are not completely alone and enjoy the company of some wild goats and cats.
animals to be respected
It is very important to be respectful and only feed them with the fruit or vegetables that our guides point out to us. Also, we must feed them in the water to avoid ingesting sandsince this fact, together with the bad practice and little consideration of some tourists, caused the herd to lose 7 of its members in 2017.
It is because of that The Bahamas government has considered implementing certain guidelines to protect animals. Some limits should be set on the interaction between pigs and tourists. In the future it will be possible to take pictures of them and watch them swim, but it will be forbidden to feed them. In addition, to ensure compliance with the measures, the island will have the figure of a beach guard.
Authorized companies encourage travelers to make other additional excursions. Visiting Thunder Grotto, where scenes from James Bond movies have been filmed, bordering the islands of celebrities like Nicolas Cage or Johnny Depp and surrounding yourself with iguanas at Bitter Iguana Cay are the best examples. The most daring can put on their “brave suit” and swim with nurse sharks in Compass Cay.
Who could imagine that in the middle of the Caribbean there is an island where happy wild pigs live? Undoubtedly, the combination of a dream setting and the presence of these friendly animals make the island a one of the most peculiar environments on the planet. If you fantasize about meeting these funny piglets, relaxing on wonderful Bahamian beaches, diving with nurse sharks and practicing water sports such as snorkeling, this Exuma beach awaits your visit.
“The ocean shakes the heart,
inspires the imagination and
brings eternal joy to the soul”.