Island Hopping, Sunken Plane

From Nassau: Exuma Island Hopping Tour with Swimming Pigs

★ 4.9 53 reviews

8 hours, free cancellation.

from $489 per person

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Duration: 8 hours
Group: Up to 24 people
Meeting point: Carnivale Bahamas / Sterling Marina, Paradise Island, Nassau
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meal: Meal included

Overview

This full day trip from Nassau packs the Exumas' greatest hits into eight hours on a high speed powerboat. You leave from Paradise Island, ride southeast for just over an hour, and spend the day working south through the Exuma Cays with a crew from Born Free Charters Company Ltd. Five island stops are on the schedule, and the order is left to the captain's discretion on the day.

The first stop is Allen's Cay, home to Bahamian rock iguanas that exist nowhere else in the world except three small islands in Exuma. Next comes Compass Cay, where nurse sharks gather under the marina docks and swimmers get in the water with them. Then it is Big Major's Cay, the original home of the swimming pigs, where you can feed them and take photos in the shallows. Lunch is a buffet with a cold drink at a local Exuma restaurant before the boat heads to Norman's Cay to snorkel a plane wreck that crashed there in the late 1970s, when the island served as a refueling base for cocaine flights. The day ends with swimming and sunbathing at a sandbar or beach.

It suits travellers who want the animal encounters, the wreck and a beach stop in one outing rather than booking several tours, and who are fine on a shared boat with up to 24 guests. Solo travellers and families have both reviewed it warmly. It is a long day on the water, so it is best for people comfortable with speedboat rides and swimming in open water.

What's Included

Included

Buffet lunch at a restaurant
Local beer
Sodas
Bottled water
Light snacks
Snorkel gear
Landing fees
Food for the pigs

Not Included

Crew gratuity (left to your discretion)

Itinerary

Meet at Carnivale BahamasCheck in at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, Sterling Marina, Hurricane Hole. Transportation to this point is not included.
Speedboat to Allen's CayA one hour ride southeast from Paradise Island to meet the rock iguanas.
Compass Cay nurse sharksRide south through the cays, roughly 45 minutes, then swim with the nurse sharks under the docks at Compass Cay Marina.
Big Major's Cay pigsAbout 40 minutes at Pig Beach to feed and swim with the pigs. Pig food is included.
Buffet lunchA short ride to a local Exuma restaurant for a buffet lunch and a cold drink.
Snorkel the sunken planeSnorkel the plane wreck off Norman's Cay, which crashed in the late 1970s. Gear is included.
Sandbar or beach swimA 30 minute swim stop at a sandbar or beach, chosen by the captain, for sunbathing and photos.
Return to Paradise IslandA roughly 70 minute boat ride back to Carnivale Bahamas.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the day, from what is already paid for to how the pacing feels.

Getting there. There is no hotel pickup. You make your own way to Carnivale Bahamas on Paradise Island, so plan transport and arrive with time to check in.
Food and drink. The buffet lunch, local beer, sodas, bottled water, light snacks and snorkel gear are all included, along with landing fees and food for the pigs. Crew gratuity is not included and is left to your discretion, and several reviewers encourage tipping.
Pace and fitness. Expect a lot of boat time between stops and swimming at each one. One reviewer noted the time at each location is enough for photos but you may wish for longer, so treat the stops as well-timed rather than leisurely.
What to bring. The listing asks for a towel and sunscreen. Reviewers mention photo opportunities at every stop, and one said the crew were good at taking videos and photos for guests.
Group feel. This is a shared tour with up to 24 guests. Reviewers describe the crew as friendly and attentive, with music and drinks keeping the energy up on the boat.
Value check. Gratuity is the only on-the-day cost the listing flags. Multiple reviewers said the tour felt expensive but worth it once they counted everything that was covered.

Common issues. Transport to the meeting point is on you, and gratuity for the crew is extra. One reviewer was disappointed that the final stop was a beach rather than the sandbar described, since the captain chooses between the two. Strollers and electric wheelchairs are not allowed on board, which limits the tour for some travellers with limited mobility. Several reviewers also called the trip expensive, even those who rated it highly.

Common Questions

Is Lunch Included On This Tour?

Yes, a buffet lunch at a local Exuma restaurant is included, along with local beer, sodas, bottled water and light snacks. Snorkel gear, landing fees and food for the pigs are also covered. The only extra is the crew gratuity, which is left to your discretion.

Where Does The Tour Start And Is Hotel Pickup Included?

No, hotel pickup is not included. Check in is at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, Sterling Marina, Hurricane Hole. You need to arrange your own transport there.

What Is The Pablo Escobar Plane Wreck?

It is a plane that crashed just off Norman's Cay in the late 1970s, reportedly while carrying cocaine. The island's runway reportedly served as a refueling stop for drug flights bound for the U.S., and the wreck is popularly known as Pablo Escobar's sunken plane. Today it is a snorkel site, with gear provided.

How Big Is The Group?

This is a shared tour with up to 24 guests. Reviewers describe a lively but friendly atmosphere on board, with music, drinks and an interactive crew.

Can I Cancel If My Plans Change?

Yes, the listing allows cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Inside that window the listing does not state a refund, so cancel early if needed.

What Should I Bring?

The listing asks for a towel and sunscreen. Swimwear is needed for the iguanas, sharks, pigs, wreck snorkel and final swim stop, and a camera or phone for photos is a good idea given how many stops there are.