Haters will say your vacation photos are photoshopped.
To those who may or may not know, there's an uninhabited island in Exuma called Pig Beach (aka Big Major Cay) with, yes – wild pigs. From what I've seen on Instagram (and in the Fyre Festival promo video), it's a place like no other.
Mesmerized by the surreal photos on social media from influencers and pig whisperers alike, I had to visit Pig Beach for myself. The best way to get there is to fly into Exuma and check into Grand Isle Resort and Spa. Through a local adventure company Triple A Adventures, resort guests can book a half or full day on the boat through the resort's concierge to visit the pigs, as well as nursing sharks and wild iguanas. I'll save the iguanas for another newsletter.
After visiting the infamous pigs, I learned that not everything on Pig Beach ends up on Instagram. Pigs might not fly, but they certainly can swim…and you can swim with pigs in Bahamas!
Pig Beach in Exuma is f*cking unreal.
First, you find yourself in arguably the most beautiful water in the world. Water so clear you'd be a fool to put a filter on your photo. Then you add in a wild pig just roaming the water. The juxtaposition of the two makes you wonder if you're witnessing real life, or if you died and went to heaven. Approaching the island, I found myself with a dumb smile on my face as the pigs swam up to the boat because it was just the most WTF-is-happening moment.
Big pig energy.
Once you process that there are about 20 wild pigs swimming around you in the most beautiful water in the Caribbean, then you begin to realize how big they actually are. We're not talking The Three Little Pigs. That's a fairytale. These are some big-ass f*cking pigs that went to The Bahamas and not to some market.
Swim with pigs in the Bahamas and beware of the biters.
“That one's a biter,” my boat captain warned me. He pointed out which pigs are more likely to bite, as they each have a personality of their own. They're more intimidating than cute, but in the water they're moving in slow motion. Worst case scenario…you can outrun a giant pig.
We fed them white sliced bread to get the money shot.
How do you get the pig to jump up on its hind legs for that money shot? Sliced white bread. Bring a lot of it — like, an entire loaf. I definitely didn't expect that's what would do the trick, but it worked and was low-key a little scary because I didn't want a 400lb. wild pig falling on top of me after jumping up to get some Wonderbread.
The beach is a pigsty, literally.
The beach itself isn't all that glamorous, unless you love the smell of pigs in the heat. It's literally a pigsty with everything the piggies need, including ample shade, water, and small pens for the piglets. Each pig was tagged, as they are registered, and frequently checked up on by a local committee of caretakers made up of residents at Staniel Cay.
They're responsible for maintaining the large enclosures for the swimming pigs, including a special nursery for the piglets, replenishing and servicing the permanent water installation, and coordinating vet visits to the pigs throughout the year.
The piglets don't like being held.
The piglets don't like being held by strangers—I mean, would you? Tourists chase them, and they squeal loudly. So just leave the piglets alone, okay? It's uncomfortable, and it's not worth however many likes your picture would get on social media.
So even though Pig Beach isn't exactly like what it looks like on Instagram, it's not a total mirage either—and still reigns supreme on our bucket list. After you take your pictures, don't forget to put your phone away and enjoy it, IRL.
Speaking of Vacation, this might just be the coolest SPF around. Since launching last year, the award-winning brand has made waves for its “leisure-enhancing,” nostalgia-fueled sunscreens, and Classic Whip is no exception. I mean, have you ever seen whipped sunscreen?!
So even though Pig Beach isn't exactly like what it looks like on Instagram, it's not a total mirage either—and still reigns supreme on our bucket list. After you take your pictures, don't forget to put your phone away and enjoy it, IRL.
Be good,
JB
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