Nassau 3 Island Boat Tour: Every Option Compared
A Nassau 3 island boat tour packs a reef snorkel, a pig beach stop, a turtle sighting and lunch into one day, and four different boats sell close to the same route. I get asked which one to pick more than almost anything else on this site, so I laid all four side by side rather than sending you to whichever one shows up first in a search.
Quick answer
The Nassau 3 island boat tour style trip visits Athol Island, Rose Island, Pearl Island and Green Cay in a single day, mixing reef snorkeling, a turtle stop and pig time with lunch on board. Four boats run this route from Nassau, priced $124.80 to $154.81 per person as of August 2026, running 4 to 5.5 hours depending on the operator.
Key takeaways
- Four boats cover the multi-island route: prices run $124.80 to $154.81 per person
- The catamaran runs the longest day at 5.5 hours and holds the best rating on this page, 4.8 from 992 reviews
- The most-booked boat holds 4.3 from 3,282 reviews, with departure timing the recurring complaint in those reviews
- Secret Cays caps its boat at 15 travelers and checks in at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal
- The catamaran collects $30 to $35 in cash on the island for pig admission, on top of the ticket price
- Every boat takes a signed waiver, excludes pregnant travellers, and leaves the towel off the included list
Which Boat to Pick
Four boats out of Nassau run close to the same day: reef snorkeling, a pig stop, Green Cay turtles and lunch. They are not interchangeable, and the gap between them is time and rating more than price.
The 3 Islands Tour, Snorkel, Pig Beach, Turtles & Lunch, run by Shore To Shore Bahamas, is the one most people book. It costs $124.80 for a 4-hour day aboard a 40-foot Midnight Express or 44-foot Zero Tolerance speedboat, stopping at Athol Island for the pigs, Rose Island for the beach, Green Cay for turtles and Pearl Island for the reef. It's also the lowest-rated of the four, 4.3 from 3,282 reviews, and the recurring complaint in those reviews is departure timing, not the water or the animals. I'd still book it if price is what decides things for you, just build slack into your morning around pick-up.
The Pigs, Snorkel, Turtles, Lunch, Private Beach Club tour lands the pigs at a private beach club on Pearl Island instead of a public stop, and it comes with lounge chairs, hammocks, a bird aviary and an observation deck. At $128 for 4 hours and 4.5 stars from 1,397 reviews, it sits close to the budget boat in price but adds real amenities.
The Snorkeling, Pig Beach, Swim with Turtles, and Lunch catamaran is the longest day on the water, 5.5 hours, and the best rated, 4.8 from 992 reviews. It meets at Montagu Beach rather than downtown, feeds gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian lunch with unlimited Cuba Libre and rum punch, and covers Rose, Pearl and Athol in one run. The catch: pig admission is not in the ticket. It's $30 to $35 per person, cash, paid on the island, and skip it and you stay aboard.
The Rose Island Swimming Pigs & Turtles Snorkeling Tour, run by Secret Cays, caps its boat at 15 travelers, which is small for this category, and checks in at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal where Margaritaville sits. At $150 for 3.5 hours and 4.6 stars from 115 reviews, it trades a bit of time for a smaller group and shorter lines at the pig pen.
Which of These Four to Book
If You want the best-run day and have 5.5 hours
The catamaran. It holds the strongest rating on the site and stays flat in chop. Budget $30 to $35 cash per person on top for the island landing.
If You are travelling as a small group and hate crowds
The Secret Cays powerboat, capped at 15 travelers, checking in at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal.
If You want a private beach club with hammocks and an aviary
The Pearl Island powerboat day, which folds every fee into the ticket.
If You want the cheapest three-island run and can accept a busier boat
The speedboat run at $124.80. Read the timing complaints first, then decide.
If You are on a ship with a short call
None of these four. The shorter port-call boats sit in the cruise excursion guide.
Compare the Nassau 3 Island Boat Tours
All four visit a version of Athol Island, Rose Island, Pearl Island and Green Cay, and all four include snorkel gear and lunch. Here's how they differ once you're on the water.
from $124.80 Nassau: 3 Islands Tour, Snorkel, Pig Beach, Turtles & Lunch
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from $128 Nassau: Pigs, Snorkel, Turtles, Lunch, Private Beach Club
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from $154.81 Nassau: Snorkeling, Pig Beach, Swim with Turtles, and Lunch
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from $150 Nassau: Rose Island Swimming Pigs & Turtles Snorkeling Tour
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Short names below match the boats above; use the deep links to jump to a specific card.
| Tour | Duration | Price | Book | Rating | Pig Island | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Island Speedboat | 4 hours | $124.80 | 4.3★ (3,282) | Athol Island | Lowest price, most booked | |
| Pearl Island Beach Club | 4 hours | $128 | 4.5★ (1,397) | Pearl Island | Private beach amenities | |
| Full-Day Catamaran | 5.5 hours | $154.81 | 4.8★ (992) | Rose/Pearl/Athol | Longest day, best rating | |
| Secret Cays Small-Group | 3.5 hours | $150 | 4.6★ (115) | Rose Island | Capped at 15 travelers |
The Islands You Actually Visit
None of these boats go anywhere near the famous Exuma herd; that story belongs to Rose Island day boats and is worth a read before you book if you've seen photos of Big Major Cay and expected the same beach. The islands on this route are closer, smaller and run by the operators themselves, and that is the reason the day can be packed with four stops instead of one long crossing.
Athol Island sits just off Paradise Island, a short hop from downtown, and is where Shore To Shore lands its pigs. Rose Island is the main pig beach used across most Nassau tours, a low, quiet cay with a sand spit and shallow water on the lee side, and it's the stop three of these four boats share. Pearl Island hosts the private beach club stop on two of these four boats, with a dock, chairs and shade built for a longer visit than a drive-by landing, plus the observation deck and aviary on the beach club tour specifically. Green Cay is the turtle stop, a mangrove-edged shallow where boats idle for wildlife rather than tying up, and every listing is upfront that turtle sightings here are not guaranteed since the animals move with the tide and the season; I've had mornings with three sightings in ten minutes and mornings with none at all.
The route order varies slightly by operator, but the shape of the day is the same: a crossing, a reef or shallow snorkel, a turtle stop, the pig beach, and lunch somewhere in between. None of these four crossings run more than half an hour each way, which is part of why a 4-hour ticket can fit three or four stops without feeling rushed on the water, even if the pig time itself stays short.
What a Day on Board Looks Like
Every operator runs its own order, but the shape of a 4-hour day looks close to this once you've done a few of them.
- Pick-up, 8:30 to 10:00 AM, from your hotel or a downtown boarding point
- Waiver signed and boarding, about 20 minutes; every boat requires this before you board
- Crossing to the first stop, 15 to 30 minutes depending on the island
- Reef or shallow snorkel, 30 to 40 minutes with gear provided
- Green Cay for turtles, roughly 20 minutes; sightings here are not guaranteed
- The pig stop, a short stop of the whole day
- Lunch and beach time, then the return crossing back to shore by early to mid-afternoon
The catamaran runs a fuller version of this at 5.5 hours and meets at Montagu Beach on East Bay Street past Fort Montagu, by the pink washroom building at the main dock; the operator emails directions the night before since there's no street address. Secret Cays checks passengers in at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, where Margaritaville sits, and its guide wears a white Secret Cays shirt so you know who to look for at check-in.
What Is Included and What Is Not
All four include snorkel gear and lunch. The differences show up in drinks, extras and one hidden fee.
| Tour | Included | Not Included |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Island Speedboat ($124.80) | Captain, snorkel gear, kayaks, water, rum punch, hot lunch, hotel pick-up | Towel, tips |
| Pearl Island Beach Club ($128) | Snorkel gear, water, fruit punch, lunch, lounge chairs, aviary access, transport | Towel not guaranteed on every booking; alcoholic drinks beyond what's listed |
| Full-Day Catamaran ($154.81) | Crew, snorkel gear, lunch with dietary options, unlimited rum punch, washrooms, hotel pick-up | Pig Island admission: $30 to $35 per person, cash, paid on the island; a towel, especially December to March |
| Secret Cays Small-Group ($150) | Powerboat, captain and guide, snorkel gear, soft drinks, water, lunch, tips, cruise-port pick-up on request | Towel |
Know Before You Go
Not suitable for
- Pregnant travellers, excluded on all four boats
- Guests with epilepsy, listed as an exclusion on the speedboat and the catamaran
- Anyone with mobility impairments or a wheelchair, excluded on the beach club and the Secret Cays boat
- Children under the published minimum: age 5 on the catamaran, age 2 on the Secret Cays boat
What to bring
- A towel, since none of the four boats include one in the ticket
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
- Cash if you're on the catamaran, for the $30 to $35 pig admission
- A swimsuit under your clothes to save time at the first stop
Not allowed
- Large bags, luggage or coolers on any of the four boats
- Strollers or electric wheelchairs on the beach club boat
- Guests who are bleeding or have an open wound, kept out of the water
3 Island Boat Tour FAQ
What is the 3 island tour in Nassau?
It's a one-day boat trip that combines reef snorkeling, a turtle stop and swimming with pigs, with lunch included, run by several operators on slightly different routes and boats.
Which islands does the Nassau boat tour visit?
Depending on the operator, some mix of Athol Island, Rose Island, Pearl Island and Green Cay, none of them the original Exuma Pig Beach.
How long is the 3 island tour?
Most run 4 hours. The Secret Cays boat runs 3.5 hours and the catamaran runs the longest at 5.5 hours.
Is lunch included on the Nassau island tour?
Yes, on all four boats compared here. The catamaran adds dietary options; the others serve a set hot lunch.
Which 3 island tour is best?
The catamaran holds the highest rating, 4.8 from 992 reviews, but adds a cash pig fee. For value without the cash surprise, the $124.80 speedboat covers the same islands for less, with departure timing as its known weak point. If a smaller group matters more than the price, the 15-traveler cap on the Secret Cays boat is the one to weigh against both.
Do I need to book the 3 island tour in advance?
Yes, especially in the busier months. All four boats here take a waiver at boarding and offer free cancellation up to 24 hours out, so there's little downside to locking in a date early and adjusting later if your plans change.
What Riders Say
Great crew! Location is still under construction
If you only remember one thing from this page, remember that the price difference between these four boats buys you time and comfort, not more pig. Pick the catamaran for the longest day and the best rating if you don't mind carrying cash, or pick the $124.80 speedboat if the total is what matters and you can live with a possible wait at pick-up. I've laid out every Nassau pig boat side by side on the homepage if you want to weigh these four against the port-call and beach-club options too.
For every price on one page across the whole site, and for the honest case on the boats that run out of Nassau harbour, those two pages cover the ground this one doesn't.