Shell Island Tour: Explore Panama City's Sandy Beaches

Spanning over 700 acres, Shell Island acts as a protective barrier for the waters of St. Andrews Bay in Panama City. The island’s stunning coastline is marked by pristine sandy beaches, making it ideal for activities like shelling, sunbathing, and sightseeing.

Duration: 15 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Boarding Times (please arrive 30 mins before departure time)
Departures from St. Andrews State Park are hourly at the top of the hour (see calendar for current times).
Departures from Shell Island are hourly at the bottom of the hour.
Returns from Shell Island leave from the State Park dock.
Know Before You Go : Shell Island has been preserved as a…

What's Included
  • Snacks available for purchase at the Pier Store
  • Drinks available for purchase at the Pier Store
  • Beach Umbrellas/Chairs available for purchase at the Pier Store
What's Not Included
  • On-board restrooms
Additional Information
  • Please bring: Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hat and Water bottle
Location
4607 State Park Ln
State Park Lane
Meet at the St. Andrews State Park Pier
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.4
(56 Ratings)
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Melissa
Aug 15, 2025
Family Friendly - Loved the flexibility of catching the ferry back at any time (on the hour). We saw dolphins! Lots of seashells! Ryan and Devon were so welcoming and great with the kids.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
742chaseo
Aug 8, 2025
Shell Island Experience 2025 - Our hosts were AMAZING! Ryan and Devin were both very entertaining, friendly, and made the whole experience very memorable. We traveled with 3 young kids and each of them were paid lots of attention to along with all of the other kids on the boat. We didn't just feel like "part of the job." The whole thing was made to feel like even a simple boat ride was an experience worth remembering! Kudos to both Captains! They blew it out of the water! Shell Island 🏝️ was breathtaking! Clear water and pristine white sand. A must-do if visiting Panama City Beach! Get away from the busy touristy coastline and unwind in remote beauty. Enjoy God's breathtaking natural masterpiece!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jengin79
Aug 7, 2025
Awesome - Friendly boat drivers! The beach was very clear and less people than public beaches. Several shells to find in the water.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brandon_h
Aug 3, 2025
Shell island ferry - Short walk to beach from dock on island. Staff were friendly and helpful to all. It was enjoyable experience.
Review provided by Viator
Candice
Aug 1, 2025
Professional. Clean. Prompt. Personable. - We enjoyed our trip to Shell Island. We literally swam with a shark (yikes). The beach is clean. You can see baby turtles and stingrays. Jellyfish were in the water too. The ferry was a pleasant experience. Great employees!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shaneishia_h
Jul 27, 2025
Great ride, excellent crew - We had a great time on our ride out to Shell Island and even got to see a few dolphins. The crew were the absolute best! They were super kind and assisted with boarding and unloading.
Review provided by Viator
Angela
Jul 16, 2025
Favorite Florida memory - All around best time ever you go snorkeling an see all kinds of fish an I even spotted a flounder an jellyfish it relaxing an fun an all around amazing time
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shirley_d
Jul 13, 2025
Awesome time - There is nothing on the island but miles of sugary white sand. Rent or bring chairs, umbrella and drinks we had a great time walking up and down the beach.
Review provided by Viator
Elise_p
Jul 12, 2025
Best choice excursion for a relaxing day! - Come prepared with a cooler and an umbrella or you won’t have any shade. Bring snacks, plenty of drinks and of course suns screen! An absolutely beautiful experience to be dropped off on an island for $25ish dollars. Obviously, the earlier you get there the longer you can choose to stay. Captain and deckhand are great! Even the shuttle driver was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic experience.
Review provided by Viator
Robin_p
Aug 1, 2025
She'll island waters - Water is too rough but ferry was great and workers were fantastic. I would rather just stay at Beach than travel to the island.....
Review provided by Viator
From $26
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).