World's weirdest beaches: swimming with pigs in the Bahamas

Swim with the wild pigs of the Exumas archipelago in the Bahamas. (© shalamov/Istock.com)

Looking for something different this summer? Why not head to one of the world's weird and wonderful beaches? Relaxnews looks at some of the most unusual, magnificent and unique beaches, all of which make intriguing destinations in their own surprising way. Today we're heading to the Bahamas, more precisely to the Exumas archipelago, where visitors can take a dip alongside the local population of wild pigs.

Where to find it

Pig Beach is located in the Bahamas, on the island of Big Major Cay in the Exumas archipelago. The site is popular with divers who head there to explore the blue holes and caves, and get up close with sharks and coral reefs.

Unusual feature

While travellers often think of the Bahamas as a place to enjoy clear turquoise waters, they'll no doubt be surprised to learn that it's also a great place to go swimming with pigs. A colony of around 20 feral pink and black pigs live on the otherwise uninhabited island of Big Major Cay. Tourists can easily approach the pigs, who are used to human contact, and even swim alongside them in the sea. In fact, the island's porcine population happens to have excellent swimming skills. These local celebrities are so used to human visitors that they're perfectly tame and aren't considered dangerous. There are several theories about how the pigs ended up on the island. One widely held belief is that they were "stored" on the island by sailors who intended to come back and cook them but who never returned. The island's piggy population has since grown.

How to get there

Pig Beach (not to be confused with Pig Island in the Crozet Archipelago in the Indian Ocean) can be reached by boat. Trips run from Great Exuma, the archipelago's main island, or from Staniel Cay.

Best beach activity

The swimming pigs are the main attraction on this Bahamas island. In fact, Big Major Cay is otherwise uninhabited and has no particular features of interest for travellers, other than its natural beauty and stunning waters. Visitors can spend several hours watching the pigs from a boat and feeding them. Tour operators recommend taking bread and vegetables to feed the pigs. Visitors can lounge next to the animals on the white sands, pet them and take dips with them in the Caribbean Sea, where they swim right up to tourists. Just watching the island's pigs is a fascinating activity but swimming alongside them is an even more unique experience for curious travellers.