How to Survive Pig Beach, Bahamas. Behind-the-Scenes Peek. no texting & tacking

Despite its international fame, Pig Beach might surprise you. Unpleasantly.

All of the ads on the internet offer photos of cute, wet snouts curiously sniffing at the camera. Or little piglets being cuddled by kids.

Here is what you will actually find backstage.

Before I forget – here is Our YouTube Episode #15 featuring our visit to Pigs Beach.

7 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets and Tips

Would it have been the full Bahamas adventure without visiting Pig Beach?

Probably not. So we went.

Would we repeat? Nope.

Kind of like visiting Khaosan Road, in Bangkok – you have to see it to be personally disappointed (and believe it).

Here we go – 7 behind-the scenes views of Pig Beach:

1. Quite busy

Pig Beach is a not very large and it is always busy.

There are lots of people in the water, taking photos and tossing food to the pigs.

There are even more adults and kids waiting by the shade, for a turn to go pet the baby pigs.

Tip: Prepare for a busy day in the sun. The best time to visit the Bahamas, and the one lacking storms and terrible heat is from December until end of May. It is also the busiest.

2. Very dirty

Pig Beach is a small beach full of pigs of all sizes.

And poop in the sand, of all sizes (I circled some below).

And poop in the water, of all sizes.

It is an obstacle course to make it from the water to the shaded area where the younger piglets typically hang out.

Many of the “surprises” are a bit hidden in the sand, just waiting for you to step on them. Keep in mind pigs are omnivores, so the gross feeling of a wrong step comes with the accompanying smell.

Tip: Wear shoes when walking in the sand. Water shoes, which can be scrubbed in the sand and rinsed work best.

3. Too touristy

Cute pig snouts have been printed on countless travel ads throughout the years.

Tourists coming to visit expect all the fun they can get for their money. They often bring snacks and drinks along. For added fun.

To be honest, the half-drunk tourists trying to run away from the huge pigs, were far more entertaining than the pigs themselves.

Tip: Keep your camera handy, you are guaranteed a good photo or video of poor tourist behavior. As well as drunk tourists chased by pigs.

4. Pigs do bite, btw.

Is this surprising?

Of course they bite, and just like any other domesticated animal, when teased enough, they will chase and attack.

pig chasing a boy Pig Beach — *This one chased us only briefly, because we did not have any food.*

There are always a few larger pigs and they are the most “welcoming” to new tourists. They run towards the carrots, apples and other snacks bravely being waved around.

We had pigs, when I was growing up, and we only pet them with great caution, occasionally, and briefly.

Tip: Do not bring snacks for the pigs at all. You will still be able to pet the baby pigs and walk around without feeling like a moving target.

5. Sharks nearby

We swam around the boat and snorkeled and spearfished in the Bahamas, almost daily, and we saw sharks.

I would be lying if I said I was never worried. But they did become a fact of life around us, while living aboard.

Having said that, there have been accidents with people attacked by sharks while swimming or snorkeling with pigs.

Our kids spotted sharks, while swimming around the boat, right at the anchorage by Pig Beach. We sailed away as soon as we were done visiting the pigs and the Grotto.

Note: Bahamas is not amongst the countries with the highest incidence of shark attacks, but they do occur. And something about the pigs attracts them.

6. There is no actual swimming

Do not expect to swim with pigs at Pig Beach.

It is busy with boats and tourists. Besides, with all kinds of gross things floating around – from food scraps to… you know what, swimming should be the last thing on your mind.

And, yes, there are the occasional sharks too.

Tip: Some tours offer snorkeling with pigs. Check where the snorkeling takes place – out a bit, or right at the beach (bad idea).

7. Very Busy Anchorage

Good luck finding a nice spot – protected and away from the motorboats constantly zooming by.

Dinghying to the beach is not a problem at all. It is easy to find a spot close to the beach. Most people do not spend too long with the pigs.

Tip: Try to anchor as far to the side as you can – towards the Thunderbolt Grotto. You will be somewhat protected by the point, while allowing you a speedy getaway once done with Pig Beach.

But the kids want to go!

I know.

Ours did. And so will yours.

If you are not able to convince the kids the pigs are not worth it, try to only visit briefly and use the rest of the time to snorkel the Thunderbolt Grotto.

Tour Staniel Cay too, it is a neat little town. We enjoyed it.

Tip: They have good ice-cream at the small grocery shops, in Staniel Cay. It helps with upset kids.

Popular Tours

Chartering a boat, or booking a private tour guarantees that you will have time to see what you wish to see.

When looking for popular packages and deals, keep in mind that 25 minutes might be more than enough at Pig Beach and not enough at all at the Thunderbolt Grotto.

Here is a link to a few popular pig tours to browse:

Tours, sightseeing tours, activities & things to do | Viator.com

Tip: Book a tour, which offers a visit to Iguana Beach, the Grotto and maybe even the sharks nearby.

Where is Pig Beach?

Big Major Cay has the famous Pig Beach, right around the corner from the Thunderbolt Grotto. This is in the Exumas. It is the original and most popular pig beach.

There are a few places, which offer a close encounter with pigs and pigs’ doodoo.

Rose Island is very close to Nassau and is another popular pig beach.

Pigs also swim at Abaco.

Where to anchor

This is a very, very busy anchorage.

anchorage at Pigs Island — *The orange curvy line shows our approximate anchoring site.*

If you are able to find a protected spot somewhat between the Thunderbolt Grotto and Pig Beach, you can dinghy to both and make the most out of your visit.

Keep in mind that you want to be protected both from he wind and the strong current, around the point, at the Grotto.

An added bonus to not trying to squeeze in too close to Pig Beach, is that you are not quite in the way of the motorboats constantly zooming by.

Extra added bonus: You can pick up anchor and cruise away quickly and will not have someone’s anchor right on top of yours.

What else to see in the area

Oh, where do I start!

Staniel Cay is right next to Pig Beach and is a charming town with a very popular restaurant right at the docks.

The famous Thunderbolt Grotto is a must-snorkel cave – we absolutely loved it (just go at slack tide).

Here is our YouTube Episode #15 featuring the pigs and the Grotto.

Pirates Beach is beautiful, quiet (hard to find in the Exumas) and offers amazing views for photos.

A bit to the south is the protected iguana beach, which is actually included in some tours.

Even Black point is not too far off – we loved watching the local fisherman clean their catch at the docks.

Conclusion

If you are curious about pigs – visit your local neighborhood farm. This guarantees you will find pigs in their natural environment, with proper shelter and distance observed.

If you can care less about pigs and want to visit, because the kids really want you to – go for it.

We did, so I would be a hypocrite telling you otherwise. Just use common sense.

Oh, and watch your step.

How to Survive Pig Beach, Bahamas. Behind-the-Scenes Peek.