Dolphin, Birding and Shelling Tour: Eco-System Exploration

Embark on a thrilling Dolphin, Birding, and Shelling Tour to explore the diverse eco-systems and rich heritage of the area. Discover wildlife, adapt to changing environments, and have a great time!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS NWR - In comfortable captain’s style seating an, you will be safely brought deep into the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge for an interpretive tour of the area led by a Florida Master Naturalist. Depending on the season, you can expect to encounter manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, herons, egrets, pelicans, rosette spoonbills, as well as, numerous species of fish and shore birds as well as the opportunity to find amazing shells.
  • Marco Island - Marco Island is the largest the 10,000 Islands and the most developed
What's Included
  • Dolphin watching
  • Birding experience
  • Shelling adventure
What's Not Included
  • Please bring water, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, water shoes, bags for your shells and a towel
Additional Information

Not only will you be introduced to the great birding and wildlife in the area by your naturalists guide, you will also learn about the eco-systems, it rich heritage and long history. Our tours are never “canned”, so each tour is different. The area’s wildlife move around in order to exist in their world and so must we. Many species are seasonal and inhabit different areas in different environmental conditions, so too, we must be able to adapt. Bring your cameras, binoculars, snacks, favorite drinks, hats, sunglasses and have a great time!! Visit an uninhabited barrier island beach to collect shells, sand dollars and other treasures! Note: June through October, we suggest the morning experiences due to the weather.

Location
Goodland Boat Park
Palm Point Drive
Please meet your captain under the covered picnic table pavillion. It is to the left of the Marina store as look at it from the parking lot.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(223 Ratings)
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1 star
62alixc
Oct 2, 2024
Amazing tour of Kice island - Ed and his co captain were incredible and very knowledgeable about the area we were boating in. We highly recommend this tour! The captains got the dolphins to play next to our boat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R8267ttpeterm
Sep 15, 2024
Fun experience for a couple or family - The crew was very friendly, knowledgable of local wildlife, and dedicated to making sure we had a good experience. The pilot tried multiple times and locations until we spotted a pod of dolphins, and when we collected shells, he ran down the beach to a spot few people who have made their way to and shared the best shells he found.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Experience14339
Sep 10, 2024
Great Experience! - Captain Kevin was very knowledgeable about the area . It was a beautiful day as we saw many schools of dolphins around the boat. We were brought to a beautiful white sanded area for shelling where we collected a lot of different shells. Great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
798karynl
Aug 28, 2024
Fun in the sun - The day was spectacular. Our Captain (Kevin) was knowledgeable and relaxed. Riding on the water was great and shelling on the island was fun! The dolphins were being shy and not very playful but we still had the opportunity to see a couple.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mindypridmore
Jul 27, 2024
Up close with the dolphins - Capt Kevin was very informative and fun guide. He made sure we got to enjoy the things we most wanted to do. We were right next to the dolphins and found more shells than we knew what to do with! Definitely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marybb3808eo
Jul 26, 2024
Dolphins, Dolphins and Dolphins! - We saw lots of dolphins. The captain was very knowledgeable about the area and wildlife. He made my granddaughters Dat when he gave them a sand dollar after they couldn't find one.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fearless34019819216
Jul 20, 2024
Great way to spend a morning in Marco! - Our tour with Captain Kate was the perfect length for a morning out with me and my two young children. We saw birds fishing, dolphins surf our wake, we saw a baby dolphin, and even saw one leap out of the water with excitement! They collected sackfuls of beautiful shells and enjoyed souvenir shopping at the bait shop. Kate was welcoming and informative and great with the kids and we would definitely book another tour if we come to the area again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A7518tzlucyh
Jul 19, 2024
Flying dolphins, grazing manatees and perching pelicans! In their natural habitat!! - Fantastic boat tour this morning with Captain Ed! Visiting from London England so we wanted to see as much floridan nature as possible, the tour certainly exceeded our expectations! Amazing bird life, grazing manatee families and dolphins wave jumping. Quick island stop to look at beautiful shells 🐚 The Marco Island boat tour crew were so knowledgeable and friendly. We saw and learnt alot! What a fab experience. Highly recommend 👌
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_r
Jul 1, 2024
Great Experience! - We had a great time on our tour! Captain Kevin was a great guide! He told us all about the history of the area, about the different species of birds we passed, and he made sure we got up close to the dolphins as they swam. The island he took us to for shelling was beautiful! We found some pretty cool shells, and my son was even able to find 4 sand dollars! It was a great experience overall!
Review provided by Viator
Mhinkle60
Aug 8, 2024
Sadly terrible tour - The "2 hour" shelling tour got us ~20 minutes of actual time on a beach before the crew was tired of being rained on and forced us to leave. Of course they claimed "passenger safety" as the reason, but we overheard them discussing how much they didn't want to be out in the rain that day. We did get a partial refund, but the memories and experience is what we were after and were cheated out of.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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