After an unexpected turn of events with Hurricane Matthew, we finally have our newest addition running tours with Harbour Safaris.  ‘Empress’ has become a welcomed addition, adding not only capacity to our swimming pigs adventures but also comfort, speed, and economy as well!  As we learn to use our new vessel to the best of her abilities, we are able to offer two trips on select days!

For now, these trips will be added weather dependent – so even if you see sold out, be sure to check with us a few days before your trip to see if we’ve added another excursion.  You can also email us at info@harboursafaris.com with your details, and if anything opens up we’ll be sure to let you know!

Be sure to check out our amazing reviews at TripAdvisor!  You’ll see why in less than a year we became a top ten tour in Nassau!

For more information and to book, check out our Swim With The Pigs page!

Photo by Emma, one of our new first mates!

Locals can find us in The Tribune’s Weekend edition, out now!

Going full hog with a sea safari 

(Click to enlarge)

*Just a few edits:

• The company name is “Harbour Safaris”.
• While we do visit the Bahamian Rock Iguanas at Allan Cay – we no longer feed them. The carrots are for the piggies!
• The world famous Swimming Pigs live on Big Major Cay (also known as ‘Pig Beach’) – this is where we visit them.

We have taken many a satisfied customer to see the famous Swimming Pigs on Big Major Cay (Pig Beach) in Exuma. While the pigs always leave our guests in awe, it’s the unexpected bonuses of the trip that leave passengers with something extra to write home about.

Most notably, the incredible beauty of the Exuma Cays. It’s so simple, yet so breathtaking. Stunning, pristine beaches, water that plays with every hue of blue and private islands scattered throughout.

A day spent exploring the cays and, if the tides are right, magically appearing sand banks, can be ideal for the traveler looking to escape the busy city streets of Nassau.

Whether your joining our scheduled Swimming Pigs Excursions, or are looking for a more personal charter experience, our team can ensure that you enjoy Exuma to the fullest. Just be sure to pack your smart phone and camera! Your friends will quickly be jealous of all of your #NoFilter vacation photos of pure perfection.

You can inquire about private charters set to customised routes by emailing info@harboursafaris.com.

Ever wonder how Harbour Safaris got started? What if we told you the Bahamian boat tour company that travels to the famous Swimming Pigs from Nassau all began with a honeymoon in London? It’s true! You can read about the unusual inspiration and more in a recent interview with company president, Lee McCoy, published in The Bahamas Weekly.

For details on our Swimming Pig Excursion – click here.

For any questions contact info@harboursafaris.com or 242-394-TOUR (8687)

How far is it to the swimming pigs from Nassau?  It’s approximately 77 nautical miles.  That’s approximately 89 miles or 143 kilometers – by sea.

To put that in terms of Florida distances – that’s like leaving Miami, driving past Fort Lauderdale, passing West Palm Beach, and ending up in Jupiter.

Oh, and that’s each way!  Then drive back in the afternoon.  And instead of doing 60+mph you’re in a boat doing around 37mph.

So when people ask why it costs so much to get down to the swimming pigs from Nassau, the answer is simple – there is a lot of time travelling and logistics involved in such a fantastic day trip!

There are other options available – you can fly into Staniel Cay (or Black Point or Great Exuma) and charter a boat (or go on a group tour) – you’ll spend hours in airports, have to buy your own lunch and drinks, catch a taxi or two, and then do it all again in reverse.  And when all added up, you’ll spend well over $500 per person and only get a couple of hours in the cays.

Instead of the hassle of security in airports, haggling with taxis, and bumpy roads – imagine gliding effortlessly through the Exuma Cays, the wind in your hair, the sun on your face.  You’ll pass some of the most beautiful scenery in the world (don’t believe us? Ask Scott Kelly, a NASA Astronaut!).  You’ll spend your day zipping through the Exuma Cays instead of waiting to get there!

Not only do you get to see the pigs, but also the indigenous rock iguanas, get up and personal with nurse sharks, have lunch at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club (included!), pass private islands of the rich and famous, mingle with other like-minded travelers, wallow in the warm waters and on sandy beaches, and get local knowledge from our 100% Bahamian born and raised crew. What more could you ask for?!?

Still have questions?  Feel free to get in touch with us!

We decided to have a little fun this morning – we met the outgoing pig tour from Nassau at the mouth of the harbour and shot some photos and video! Yes, we will definitely have to hire a professional photographer and videographer to get the results we want, but we got some great shots!  What a great way to spend the first weekend of the new year, by exploring the Exuma Cays, having lunch at Staniel Cay, visiting the swimming pigs at Big Major, and seeing the iguanas in Allen’s Cay – all from Nassau!

Dear Adventurer/Tourist/Domestic Traveler/Family/Friend,

We’ve finally got a taste of the winter weather, with a passing cold front bringing wind and waves. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still Paradise here in the Bahamas, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70’s and high’s in the 80’s!

This does mean we have to watch the weather very carefully for our longest excursion to visit the swimming pigs in Exuma. Don’t worry, our knowledgeable and experienced staff at Harbour Safaris will do this for you and keep you updated as often as we can.

Depending on your schedule and flexibility, we may be able to recommend an alternate date with calm seas and our typically fabulous Bahamian weather.

However, in case we do have to cancel, we have a variety of other options that may be possible:

1. Our North Exuma tour is amazing! A quick 1-hour safari-style ride to Allen’s Cay where you feed the iguanas, followed by lunch at Xuma restaurant in Highbourne Cay, and then a jaunt through the shallow waters of Shroud Cay, where the true beauty of the Bahamas can be seen!
2. If you’re more inclined to stay in Nassau, don’t miss our Harbour Tour! At just over an hour, this tour highlights the performance of our Parker Rib (500 horsepower!) and also the culture and history in the coastal region of Nassau and Paradise Island.  Yes you’ll see megayachts and houses of the rich & famous – but there’s so much more than that!  See one of the oldest lighthouses in the region, as well as The Cloisters on PI, Fort Montagu, and other highlights.
3. We’re working on a few other options – such as a private dolphin swims, day excursions to the newly-world-famous Sandytoes, and more!

If we get bad weather, we’ll work with you or refund your money in full – your safety, comfort, and satisfaction is our main concern!

I look forward to having you on board!

Lee

We’ve sent to print our first set of flyers promoting our Nassau Harbour Tour!

Click here to download our:
Nassau Harbour Tour Flyer

These flyers will be available across Nassau, starting from when you first arrive at Nassau International Airport (LPIA) at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s Welcome Desk!

You can book our tours directly through or website or through your hotel excursion desk!  If they don’t have us listed, ask them to call us direct at 242-394-TOUR (394-8687) to book!

Swimming Pigs Day Excursion

Join us Thursday, November 12th as we visit the famous Swimming Pigs!

Without a doubt, the number one thing visitors and locals to the Bahamas want to see is the Swimming Pigs!  These unique animals love visitors, and this is the best way to see them from Nassau!

Itinerary and Description: the boat will depart from Bay Street Marina at 8:30am (check-in is 15 minutes prior) and return to Nassau between 4:30pm-5:00pm. The day starts with a direct run (2.5 hours) down to Big Major Cay (aka, Pig Beach) to see the main attraction! Once all of the selfies have been taken and the piggies have been fed we’ll run over to Staniel Cay for lunch. The day continues with winding through the Exuma Cays up to Allen’s Cay to feed the Bahamian Rock Iguanas; with one more optional stop to be added, if time allows. The last leg of the journey returns you to Nassau and, having moved North through the day’s travels, typically takes about 75 minutes.

Tour Length: 8-9 Hours

Departure Point: Bay Street Marina

Adults: $349

Swimming Pigs Day Excursion

Includes:

Bottled water throughout the day

Carrots to feed the pigs

Grapes to feed the iguanas

We recommend you bring:

• Sunscreen, sun-shirts, & hats

• Towels

• Camera (especially if it’s waterproof)

• Light snacks

• All persons must be age 12 and up. Lunch is not included; snacks, water & soft drinks are provided.
• The first leg of this journey is approximately 2.5 hours and is direct with small breaks to stretch. The return trip is broken up into smaller segments.
• All prices in Bahamian dollars & include 7.5% VAT.

Ever since their rise to internet fame, the Swimming Pigs of Big Major Cay in Exuma, Bahamas have been added to the bucket lists of many a wishful traveler.

Most will only ever get as close as to follow them on Instagram or watch their videos on YouTube but, a fortunate few will actually get to meet the swine celebrities in person.

At Harbour Safaris, we help those dedicated, lucky travelers who make it their mission to meet the pigs while visiting The Bahamas.

Just last week we took an enthusiastic bunch who were visiting Nassau from the UK. Departing Nassau in the early morning we made our way down to Staniel Cay for a brief stop to stretch our legs. Next it was on to the main attraction: the Swimming Pigs! Once at ‘Pig Beach’ the group couldn’t wait to meet the nautical pigs. Which is lucky, because they swam right up to the boat for their treats (no visit is ‘free’ after all). Like any good attraction, these 4 legged-guys demand compensation for their photos to be taken – and that reward is found in the form of food; carrots to be exact. Once their bellies were full (for the most part… I mean, can a pig ever really be ‘full’? Especially with all that cardio they do swimming!)… we made our way to North Exuma, finding a deserted beach along the way to stop for lunch. We made the first footprints this beach had seen in days, maybe weeks (maybe even longer!). It was truly pristine and beautiful (and we made sure to leave it as such).

Lastly, we made a stop at Leaf Cay to feed the friendly iguanas. Being late afternoon, these lizards were almost as pooped as we were from the glorious, sunny day! We enjoyed another dip in the blue mosaic waters of Exuma before finally making our way back to the city of Nassau.

And thus, the bucket list for this family is less one 🙂