Ok, fine. I admit it...I watch The Bachelor. Basically, one summer, sweating in 100+ degree heat without an air conditioner, I accepted a friend's invitation to spend the evening at her air conditioned apartment. When I got there, I discovered a Bachelor viewing party. Then, I had to keep watching to see if the runner-up from that season found love, and then see what happened to my favorite contestant from the next season. And, so on. I do love seeing the exciting destinations that the groups visit around the world. During the most recent week of Season 14, I was excited to see that Ben and the ladies on the group date went swimming with pigs in The Bahamas. This was so exciting to me because I had done the exact same thing four years earlier! The episode showed aggressive pigs and awkward silences, but what was it really like to swim with pigs in The Bahamas? Getting ThereThe Exumas are a chain of islands in The Bahamas. We were staying on Staniel Cay, one island in The Exumas, while the pigs live on Big Major Cay, an uninhabited island in The Exumas. To get to Big Major, we had to island-hop by boat, and there is a little bay where boats can pull in to see the pigs. We were staying at someone's private house, so we had a motor boat at our disposal. However, many accommodations, such as Staniel Cay Yacht Club, offer use of boats and kayaks to guests that purchase vacation packages. The ExperienceFirst of all, these pigs FOR SURE know what's up. When they see boats pull into the bay, they immediately swim over. The pigs have learned that boats mean food for them. Luckily, we had a pig veteran with us, so she knew to bring snacks for feeding the pigs. We had veggies and some lunchmeat (Don't worry! Nothing pig-based) . We initially fed them from the boat, but eventually we ventured into the water and made our way to the beach. The water around us was a clear, turquoise blue, perfect for swimming and wading. On the island, there were piglets running around, which was adorable!
Were the pigs really as aggressive as shown on TV? Actually, yes! Swimming with the pigs is not dangerous by any means, but the pigs are determined to get whatever food they can. They continually approach and bump people to ask for more snacks. One of my friends actually got bit in the butt by one of the pigs on the island! We spent part of the day on Big Major Island, feeding the pigs, swimming in the water, having some drinks, and walking the beach. Then, we motored to a sandbar and to another island to eat. Having a boat in The Exumas is amazing because it gives travelers the freedom to explore the whole region. You can sail to another resort or yacht club, park your boat at the dock, and enjoy a meal. You can go snorkeling at Thunderball Grotto, site of filming for the James Bond film Thunderball. You can explore other beaches or try new water sports. I was glad we included swimming with the pigs on our Bahamas vacation because it was unlike any other experience I have had. Without having seen it on TV or hearing about it from a friend, I never would have imagined that there was an island with swimming pigs somewhere in the world!
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#ThrowbackThursday to my honeymoon in November 2014 Picture a dream tropical getaway. Can you see the clear blue water? Can you hear the rustle of palm trees waving in the breeze? Can you feel the sand under your toes and sun on your skin as you lay in lounge chairs? Can you feel the gentle rocking of kayaks and stand-up paddle boards as you circle the island? Can you taste the fresh tropical fruit and coffee from beans grown only a couple of hours away? Ok, stop picturing this and just go to Coco Plum Island Resort in Belize. On our honeymoon, Brett and I got to spend five days here! Coco Plum is on a private island, nine miles off the shore of Dangriga, Belize, meaning that the only thing on the island is the resort. We took a boat to and from the island, for arrival, inland tours, and departure. The island is situated near the Belize Barrier Reef, which offers fantastic snorkeling, diving, and fishing. There are options for zip-lining, cave tubing, and touring Mayan ruins on the mainland of Belize. The people who work at Coco Plum are some of the friendliest, most welcoming, and most thoughtful people I have ever encountered while traveling. The island is very small and intimate, offering only fourteen cabanas that accommodate two people each. A fun fact about Belize is that the official language is English, so you shouldn't have any problems with communication if you're monolingual. Unless you're my husband, who had a ten minute conversation about mangoes with our driver from the Dangriga airport, who was actually talking about mangroves ("We're not allowed to cut down the mangroves", "Good, I love mangoes!"). I could write more, but I think the pictures I took speak for themselves. It's not hard to make this place look beautiful! |
AuthorMy name is Alyssa Good and I have a passion for travel, adventure, culture, and new experiences! I focus on budget friendly travel, trip planning resources, and seeking out new experiences. Archives
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