We've swum with a lot of sea creatures - the great white sharks in South Africa, sea lions and penguins in the Galapagos, whales in New England, manta rays in the Caribbean… but this was definitely a first… the Bahamas swimming pigs in the Exumas.  Not sea pigs.  Just plain old barnyard pigs who have learned that yachts come bearing gifts of bread, hot dogs (beef, I hope?), lettuce, leftovers and an occasional Kalik – that’s the local Bahamian beer. It’s chow time for the fittest as they piggy paddle out to greet us and tread water by our charter yacht’s tender, poking their twitching snouts up high, grunting and snorting for snacks.  Who would think that a Bahamas swimming pig could create such delight - in fact, plunge us into belly roll laughter?  Or that So where did these pigs come from?  I’ve heard a few versions.  My favorite is that they are owned by a local farmer who taught them the art of panhandling so he could conserve his cash for rum.  Since the island is uninhabited, that's probably not the true story, but I still like it the best. Another tale is that they were shipwrecked survivors of a local cargo ship. Hmmm - a bit more plausible.  Whatever the true story, these pigs in paradise have it made – a sugar sand deserted beach, a dense thicket of palms and bushes for a snooze in the shade, fresh water springs somewhere… and an unending stream of squealing tourists like me, delighting in their antics and sparing them the task of hunting for their own food. And true confession, I didn’t really swim with them.  Our captain jumped in first, and after watching Miss Piggy chase him out of the water and head full steam down the beach in pursuit of a handout, I opted to be the designated photographer. According to the tourist board, the Bahamas swimming pigs, "though feral, are exceptionally friendly, running from under the shade of the almond trees to greet visitors that bring them treats".   Maybe I'm barnyard phobic or pig naive, but their run looked more like a charge to me. I’d already swum with a pod of nurse sharks the day before, and honestly, I felt safer with them.  Although they did not make me giggle as much as those pigs in water. Although you can access the Bahamas Swimming Pigs by a tour boat, we think the most relaxed way to see them is by charter yacht - where you embark on a week of adventure sailing the Exuma Cays. Location:  Big Major Cay in the Exumas, the out islands of the Bahamas… easily accessible by charter yacht. Check out our new Bahamas Itinerary on our website.