Should You Do a Rose Island Tour from Nassau?

Rose Island tours are half-day boat trips (usually 3–4 hours) that take you about 20–30 minutes from Nassau to a small outer island with shallow turquoise water, a sandbar, and a small resident group of swimming pigs. Expect to swim with the pigs (they’re friendly but can be pushy when food appears), spend time in ridiculously clear water, and have a few hours on a quiet beach. The boat ride can be choppy if the wind is up. It’s a simple, low-key excursion — not a luxury experience, but one of the better quick trips you can do from Nassau if you want to get off the main island.

Best time is December through April when the weather is most reliable and the seas are calmer. Summer and early fall can be hot, humid, and more prone to afternoon showers. Expect to pay around $65–$95 per person depending on whether the tour includes a basic lunch, drinks, and snorkel gear. Private charters run significantly higher.

Tip: Choose the smaller-group tours that visit the sandbar first and the pigs second — the pigs get overfed and bored by afternoon. Skip any tour that promises “nine islands” or long beach parties; you’ll spend most of the day on a crowded boat instead of in the water. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a waterproof phone case, and cash for tips.