Marco Island Dolphin-Watching and Shelling Tour
5
Marco Island Dolphin-Watching and Shelling Tour
By Florida Adventures and Rentals
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About
Ages 0-99, max of 6 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Local guide
What's not included- Lunch
- Start:Pickup details
- Location Name: Caxambas Park and Marina on Marco Island Location Address: 909 Collier Ct, Marco Island, FL 34145, United States Directions: Caxambas Park Marina Return Location: Returns to original departure point
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 30481P4- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 30481P4
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- pamaZ7136ND0 contributionsFantastic tour!Fantastic tour with Captain Colleen and Elliott leading. They were both very knowledgeable and personable! We got really lucky and saw a large pod of dolphins on our way to the shelling island and they even swam and jumped in the wake of the boat. The shelling spot on Morgan Island was a beautiful stretch of beach where everyone found loads of treasured shells to take home.Written 15 February 2025
- 356kristenr0 contributionsDolphins and shellsWe had a great time out with Marco and a very knowledgeable woman who’s name escapes me. We got cool shells and saw awesome dolphins. Really nice family time and perfect amount of time. We had probably an hour of exploring for shells. Nice small group size and comfortable boat.Written 15 February 2025
- M1450PIcourtneys0 contributionsColleen & Elliott Rock!!!We had so much fun on Colleen & Elliott's tour! We have been doing this tour with them for a couple years now & will continue to keep requesting them every year moving forward because they make our experience so exciting and tailored to us!Written 15 February 2025
- sarahhD1069CT0 contributionsGreat dolphin tour!Had such an amazing time with Colleen and Elliott! They made sure we had a great time and we will continue to request them every year!Written 13 February 2025
- brookedW701EM0 contributionsWe love Colleen!!Capt Collen and Elliot were fantastic! My friends and I look forward to this experience every year! Florida Adventures allows you to tailor your tour based on interest, we love it!Written 13 February 2025
- juliesL4361PI0 contributionsFun in the sunCaptain Colleen was great took such special care of us. Going again this season. We found lots of shells and the weather was fantastic.Written 12 February 2025
- middleschoolteacher10 contributionsWe picked a great tour!Our guide Elliot provided interesting information in an entertaining way. The trip was just the right length to experience the beautiful mangroves around Marco Island.Written 12 February 2025
- sierrag3120 contributionsGreat Kayak Tour of Mangroves with ElliotWe had a great tour with Elliot! He was friendly, fun, and super informative. We saw an ibis. The snail wars info was cool. 😊Written 10 February 2025
- juanlT6646FL0 contributionsAwesome!Jessica and Katie were amazing! We will be back. They went far and beyond with their service. They are funny and super knowledgeable ! Thank you!Written 5 February 2025
- Steve H0 contributionsWildlife Sightseeing and Shelling Tour From GoodlandOur family of 4 adults and 2 children took the tour with Colleen as our captain and guide. It was a great experience for all of us. She had amazing knowledge of the 10,000 Islands and the dolphins and birds that inhabit this area. It was great to see the smiles on the kids as they watched up to six dolphins frolicking in the waves behind the boat. We had ample time to explore for shells and sand dollars during our island stop. Friendly, knowledgeable, informative, responsive, and safe is the best way to describe this excursion. Highly recommended to anyone wanting to get out on the water and enjoy nature.Written 2 February 2025
- Michele G0 contributionsPerfect day on the waterOur family really enjoyed our 4-hour eco tour. The scenery is beautiful, and we’ve never seen so many dolphins and shells in one area. Captain Marco was great! He grew up on Marco Island and is very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the Ten Thousand Islands. He customized our tour to our interests and was very accommodating. We highly recommend this tour and Captain Marco! We’ve been on many boat tours, and this was one of the best.Written 1 February 2025
- karensW117PF0 contributionsFascinating Boat Tour!Captian Marco was amazing! He was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing fascinating history about the island while pointing out local wildlife. We enjoyed seeing the dolphins even learning about the unique ecosystem of the area. It was a fun, scenic adventure!Written 31 January 2025
- Deborah E0 contributionsBest Marco Island wildlife and shelling tourWe really enjoyed our boat tour of wildlife and shelling with Marco. He was very entertaining and extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife and history of Marco Island. He knew where to find the best shells and found dolphins and other wildlife for us to view. We highly recommend touring with Marco.Written 30 January 2025
- bonjoviisme0 contributionsBest shelling guide and experience you could ask for!I give Coleen, our guide a 10+++. She was wonderful! She brought us warm blankets to wrap up in on our way to Dickmans. She let us shell and she was there if we had questions. She shared her finds with us and she made sure we were happy with our location. She was SO knowledgeable about the 10k islands and the wildlife. We met Knuckles the dolphin and she told us all about her. She gave us suggestions on where to eat at Goodland and we loved eating outside and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We found SO many beautiful and amazing shells! I have knee issues and she was so understanding and made sure I was okay during the trip. When we go back to Florida to shell, I will definitely use Florida Adventures and ask for Coleen!Written 22 January 2025
- MaryBethEllisB0 contributionsSuccessful Shelling!Even though it was a cold windy day, it was perfect for shelling! Our guide pointed out wondrous nature and interesting history of the area as we rode to and from the island! While we were on the island, he brought us the kinds of shells we wanted that he picked up along the beach! On our way back, two playful dolphins jumped in the wake of our boat for quite a while! We would positively book with him again. We gathered enough shells to fill to the brim five 1-gallon Ziplocs!Written 21 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
35 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Leanne A
2 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Had the most amazing time, our group had 3 boats with the most knowledgeable and fun crews, who not only shared a wealth of local information, they also knew how to attract the dolphins with their synchronized boat driving. We walked away with th beat memories!! Thank you Captain Marco and Tyler!
Written 8 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Leanne,
Thank you for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you had the most amazing time during your excursion with us. It sounds like a truly unforgettable experience.
We're delighted that you had the opportunity to explore the waters and experienced knowledgeable and fun crews. Sharing local information and creating an engaging atmosphere is what we strive for. It's wonderful to know that they were able to attract dolphins with their synchronized boat driving, allowing you to witness these incredible creatures up close.
Creating lasting memories is our ultimate goal, and we're glad that we could contribute to your collection of the best memories. We will make sure to pass on your gratitude to Captain Marco and Tyler for their exceptional service and dedication.
Thank you for choosing us and for sharing your positive feedback. We would be honored to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.
Kind Regards,
Sole Reilly,
Managing Director.
Written 5 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
All who Wander are not Lost!
1 contribution
May 2020 • Family
We can’t say enough about what an amazing time we had on our shelling and dolphin tour with Captain Chris. My sister and I and our 3 children took the 2:00 p.m. dolphin and shelling tour and it was perfect. Starting out the company had excellent social distancing and cleaning measures in place, which were a must for us. The boat was in perfect condition and Captain Chris kept us well informed and entertained the entire journey (our kids like to ask a lot of questions). We saw several dolphins, (and Captain Chris took extra time to show us how one liked to race in our wake and do flips and tricks). We also got to see a manatee! Shelling was super fun and we found all kinds of unique shells to take home. Shelling bags were even given out complimentary. We had so much fun we scheduled a second jet ski tour during our stay. Great fun, great experience and great business to support!
Written 31 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear guest,
We are so happy you had such a great time exploring and seeing dolphins during your Cape Romano and Shelling Tour with Captain Chris. Captain Chris is great and we are so happy he was able to give you a special experience with the dolphins and answer all of your kids questions! We do everything we can to provide a great shelling experience. It is also great to hear that you also booked the 10,000 Island Guided Jet Ski tour with us, and that you had a great experience. We hope to see you again in the future, and thank you for booking your adventures in Marco with us.
Kind regards,
Caitlyn
Reservations Agent
Written 3 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lubeow
2 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
Our family which includes three young boys, ages 12, 11 and 8, contacted Florida Adventures during our Marco Island stay in March. We opted for the private tour because we felt it was the best way to see all we wanted. Captain Steve and Marilyn our guide made this experience wonderful! Both were very knowledgeable of the waters, surroundings and wildlife. We were able to see several dolphins up close which was a thrill for all of us - along with several birds. We went by the Dome House which exceeded our expectations and Captain Steve put the boat in the perfect position for Marilyn to take a family photo. We wrapped up our tour with shelling which was so beautiful and peaceful we’ll be day-dreaming about that for some time.
All five of us loved our time on this tour and would highly recommend it to everyone. Every part was fun, engaging and simply beautiful.
All five of us loved our time on this tour and would highly recommend it to everyone. Every part was fun, engaging and simply beautiful.
Written 16 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Guest,
Thank you very much for taking the time to review our company on Trip Advisor. We are delighted to hear that your private boat tour was so perfect. The Dome Houses are so interesting, that anyone visiting this area should take a boat ride to see them before they are gone. Seeing dolphins in the wild is always a plus, and how exciting that must have been for the kids, and adults of course! We really appreciate your recommendation to future visitors and we hope to see you back next time you are on Marco Island.
Kind Regards,
Sole Reilly,
Managing Director.
Written 23 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brenda M
3 contributions
Jan 2020
Capt Marco led us on a wonderful excursion, and shared so much information about both the area and the wildlife. He is a wonderful advocate for our planet! We had dolphins surf behind the boat on 3 different occasions. I could have watched that ALL DAY!! And he went out of his way to find some Roseate Spoonbills for me to photograph. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone who loves nature. I will do it again next time I'm in Florida. Thanks Capt. Marco!!
Written 17 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Brenda, Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a review for our company on Trip Advisor. We love to hear that you had a fantastic time with Captain Marco, who is a very passionate guide and has a high respect for the ecosystem of this area. We are so glad that you got to see the Roseate Spoonbills and had the opportunity to take pictures, (which are so nice by the way!). Marco knows where to find all kinds of wildlife and that makes him a superb guide. We really appreciate your recommendation to future travelers to take this tour and we hope to see you back on our tours when you are back in the area, have a great day!
Kind Regards,
Sole Reilly,
Managing Director.
Written 19 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carlos
Saint Cloud, FL1 contribution
Jun 2020
We booked 2 excursions on two consecutive days for our daughters 7th birthday. For her birthday we did the private Dolphin tour with Capt Nate. There were 5 of us and it was perfect. The dolphins played with the boat and jumped in the wake. Towards the end of the tour one even came up to the side of the boat where my 7 yr old was and poked his head out of the water to get a good look at her and say hi. She was thrilled.
Our second trip was the 4 hour shelling tour. Because it was so hot, we were concerned about being able to last 4 hours. We took this tour with Capt Marco. Again, it was great. My daughter found more shells then she could ever have imagined. Once we were getting hot at one island, Capt Marco took us for a quick boat ride to cool off and go look for star fish in shallow water. We made 2 other stops on the tour and the 4 hours flew by. Well worth the trip!
Our second trip was the 4 hour shelling tour. Because it was so hot, we were concerned about being able to last 4 hours. We took this tour with Capt Marco. Again, it was great. My daughter found more shells then she could ever have imagined. Once we were getting hot at one island, Capt Marco took us for a quick boat ride to cool off and go look for star fish in shallow water. We made 2 other stops on the tour and the 4 hours flew by. Well worth the trip!
Written 28 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear guest,
Thank you so much for booking not one but two of our boat tours and adventures! We are so happy to hear that your daughter was able to have a dolphin say hello to her for her birthday, and collect so many beautiful shells! Captain Nate and Captain Marco are great captains that do everything they can to provide you with a comfortable, interactive, and enjoyable experience. Thank you for the wonderful review of your experiences with us, we hope to see you again in the future for another adventure!
Kind regards,
Caitlyn
Reservations Agent
Written 9 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kendall H
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Friends
This company gave an exceptional tour! Definitely one we will never forget! We went out to a remote spot called White Horse Key or Horse Shoe, then we went to a great spot for shelling. On our way back we saw dolphins and a manatee! We loved every minute! Book the 3 hour tour and ask for RJ!!!
Written 5 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pswillig
Atlanta, GA52 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Amazing family tour. Great nature activity, wildlife and dome homes sightseeing. Jessica (biologist) and Steven (captain) were top notch and made for a great outing.
Written 6 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear guest,
Thank you so much for the great review of our boat tour! Captain Steven and Jessica are great guides with a ton of knowledge about the local history and the wildlife. We are so happy they were able to provide you with a top notch experience, and we hope to see you again on your next visit to Marco Island.
Kind regards,
Caitlyn
Reservations Agent
Written 9 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tom R
2 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
We had no formal plans on doing this trip. Decided to do the shell tour. Captain Marco was EXCELLENT. He shared a great deal of information to us about the Eco System and everything that goes with it. By the time we were done we saw a manatee, over 20 dolphins, got some great shells. My family and I highly recommend this tour. It was a two hour tour that was a BLAST!!
Written 2 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Tom R,
Thanks for sharing your review with us. Your review says it all. Captain Marco is a Florida naturalist. That means you get an informative 2 hrs with fun thrown in too. Our wildlife is outstanding. So happy to hear you had a blast.
Come back and visit us again soon!
All the best,
Kathleen H.
Guest relations
Written 4 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patricia P
Mukwonago, WI4 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Captain Marco (yes that's his real name - along with Pilot Jim)... is a MI native and Naturalist who REALLY knows the island(s) like they're his own! He showed us so much, expounding on history, habitat, flora and fauna, etc. Lots of dolphins interacting near us, many shorebirds, and of course, the dome homes. Our party of 6 really loved the three hour ECO tour with Marco. He's very personable and extremely knowledgeable! You won't be disappointed!
Written 13 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Patricia P,
Thank you for taking the time to review us and share your review. Captain Marco is the absolute best. No question about that. His love of the 10,000 islands and Marco is what drives him to educate every guest. He wants to see this pristine ecosystem stay unspoiled so that his kids and their kids will be able to enjoy it too.
We hope to see you again soon.
Kind regards,
Kathleen H.
Guest relations
Written 14 February 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James Y
Monroe, MI15 contributions
My family and I did the jet ski Dolphin tour on November 5th, we could not have had a better time. Our guide “Marco” was extremely knowledgeable, and treated us like family. We had such a great time we did the paddle board trip 2 days later and were just amazed at the knowledge of our guide, who once again was “Marco”, I mean how much better can it get when the guy shares the name of the Island. Highly recommend, we will be back in January and are looking forward to mores adventures! This is a guaranteed great time!
Written 14 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear James;
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review with us on Trip Advisor. We love to hear that Captain Marco (yes, that really is his name) provided you with an excellent jet ski tour and dolphin sightings. He is a wonderful educator and navigator on the waters surrounding Marco. And a big Thank you for returning to us to paddleboard. When you return this month, please call us in advance. The tours are booking up fast and we want to make sure you get to enjoy more time on the water.
See you soon!
Kind Regards,
Kathleen Heuschkel,
Guest Relations
Written 1 January 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.