The Bahamas are one of the top playgrounds of the Caribbean for American and Canadian tourists. The picturesque tropical islands are full of things to see and do, including a range of more unusual attractions. One of the most unique attractions in the Bahamas is swimming with the pigs on Pig Beach. Other attractions include swimming with the nurse sharks on Compass Cay and feeding the iguanas.

The iguanas can be visited with day tours from Nassau as well as day tours from Miami (Bahamas Air Tours offers superb day tours from Florida). These remarkable lizards are friendly and harmless, one of the leading highlights for anyone visiting the tropical Exumas.

What To Know Of The Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana

The Northern Bahamian rock iguana is found on Andros Island (by far the largest Bahamian Island) and the Exuma Islands. The species is listed as vulnerable, and there is an estimated population of around 5,000 iguanas. The populations are thought to be declining.

• Population: Less Than 5,000 Iguanas Total

The closest living relatives to these iguanas live in Cuba and Grand Cayman Island (they may have diverged millions of years ago). The subspecies of the northern Bahamian rock iguana are:

• Andros Island Iguana
• Allen's Cay Iguana
• Exuma Island Iguana

The iguanas reached the southwestern Bahamas around 18,000 years ago during the ice age when the sea levels were much lower. Many of the Bahamian islands would have been connected at this time (that means the iguanas there today are relict populations).

The iguanas live in tropical dry forests, pine barrens, coastal coppice, and mangrove habitats. They are mostly herbivorous.

Related: This Bahamas Island Has Been Confirmed The Safest As Of 2022

The Visiting Iguanas On Iguana Island Bahamas

One of the top attractions in the Bahamas is visiting the iguanas on Iguana Island Bahamas (otherwise known as Bitter Guana Cay) in the Exuma Cays. Iguana Island is located around 86 miles south of the capital of Nassau and is normally included in day trips from Nassau and even Miami. Visiting the cay feels like traveling back in time to a prehistoric era.

The iguanas on the island normally grow to around two feet long (although they can grow up to four feet long).

Besides the iguanas, other attractions on Iguana Island include hiking the island and snorkeling on its beaches.

Iguanas are comfortable with tourists and do not feel threatened by visitors (as long as the visitors don't get too close). The lizards are protected, and visitors should not feed them. They are also harmless to people. While the wildlife of the Bahamas may pale compared to that of the Galápagos Islands, they are very much worth visiting.

Related: Yes, You Can Island-Hop In The Bahamas & Here's How And To Where

Day Trips To See Iguana Island Bahamas

Day Trip From Miami, Florida

Bahamas Air Tours offers day trips from Florida's Miami by plane. The day trip includes many of the top experiences in the Exuma Cays, like swimming with the pigs, swimming with the nurse sharks, visiting the iguanas, and more.

The tour is by private charter aircraft from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (around an hour's drive from Downtown Miami). The flight to the Bahamas takes around an hour.

• Check-in: 6.45 am
• Return: 6.30 pm
• Days Offered: Every Day
• Passport: Required
• Cost: $849 Per Person (Plus $48 In Taxes)

Note that passports are required to visit the Bahamas when arriving by air (there are only some limited exceptions for tourists coming by cruise ship).

Day Trip From Nassau, Bahamas

Visitors can also visit the iguanas from the capital of Nassau too. From Nassau, visitors have the option of taking a day tour by speed boat or by airplane. Speed boats are cheaper, while going by airplane saves time that can be used to explore more of the attractions in the Exuma Cays.

Tour Options From Nassau:

• By Plane: 30 Minutes
• By Speed Boat: 3 Hours

Bahamas Air Tours is one of the companies offering flying day tours from Nassau. These tours explore the other top attractions as well (like pig beach, the nurse sharks, and more); on the day tour, explore seven Exuma tours.

• Cost: $675 Per Person
• Private Boat Upgrade: $325pp (Minimum 2 persons)

The tour includes lunch, hotel transfers in Nassau, flights, and taxes. It is a full day's excursion and one no one will forget in a hurry.