Dolphin, Birding and Shelling Tour: Eco-System Exploration
4.9
214 Ratings
Goodland
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: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • In a comfortable captain-style seat, you’ll be securely transported deep into the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge for a guide-led tour by a Florida Master Naturalist. Depending on the time of year, anticipate encounters with manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, herons, egrets, pelicans, rosette spoonbills, and a variety of fish and shore birds, as well as the chance to discover extraordinary shells.
  • Among the 10,000 Islands, Marco Island is the largest and 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

Your naturalist guide will acquaint you with the diverse birdlife and wildlife in the region, also providing insight into the local ecosystem, its rich history, and heritage. Our tours are uniquely tailored every time, reflecting the movement and adaptability of the local fauna. Wildlife in this area is seasonal and shifts habitats depending on environmental conditions. We adapt in the same manner. Don’t forget to bring along your cameras, binoculars, snacks, favorite beverages, hats, and sunglasses for an unforgettable experience!

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
(214 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Maren_y
May 26, 2024
Saw so many dolphins!!! Found great shells! - Captain Ed was awesome! So knowledgeable. He made sure we would see dolphins, and we sure did. He knew exactly how to get them to play. Even helped us find shells. So worth it!!
Review provided by Viator
Amber_b
May 10, 2024
Did not disappoint! - It was so much fun, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a great experience! We definitely recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
909jimr
May 8, 2024
Great Birding and Shelling. - Whenever we're on Marco Island (frequently) we always book the two-hour dolphin/shelling/birding tour with Everglades Area Tours. The guides are great and know the area and its wildlife very well. We were lucky to book a tour with our favorite guide, Ed, when we visited in April 2024. There were a lot of people on this tour but it didn't seem crowded. We tried to book near low tide, which is better for birding and shelling, too. We had several very close dolphin encounters, with mature and immature dolphins; very cool. Eventually Ed beached us on Kice Island for birding and shelling. We're really into birding so we were looking forward to this. There were plenty of Black Skimmers, Royal Terns, Least Terns, Black-bellied and Wilson's Plovers, Brown Pelicans (the White Pelicans had all migrated north by this time) and at least one American Avocet. But the coolest thing by far was the immature Northern Gannet that Ed spotted, a bird very seldom seen in SW Florida (or anywhere else in North America besides Maine). I have a poor photo of it taken with my smartphone, but it was unmistakable; like a Brown Pelican with a very different head. Ed and the other guides were all very excited, and I was grateful to be able to add this bird to my life list. Ed is an excellent guide; very aware of the flora and fauna of the area and stand-up guy, too. We very much enjoyed our trip and look forward to the next one. Afterwards, we had our traditional post-trip lunch at Crabby Lady in Goodland, which was also memorable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dalit57
Apr 18, 2024
Great experience! - We really enjoyed the tour! Our guide was super nice and knowledgeable, and succeeded finding and showing us dolphines, birds of many kinds, manatees. He even managed to make one of the dolphine play with us! It was a wonderful experience, very much recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emilycb2800ua
Apr 14, 2024
Great time!! - We had a wonderful experience with Captain Kate. I’ve been on many dolphin tours and this was the best experience I’ve had. They were jumping in the surf behind the boat and it was amazing. My daughter loved the shelling part of the tour as well and collected a lot of pretty shells to bring home. Kate was knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. She shared a lot of knowledge about the local wildlife, landscape and lunch recommendations. Would definitely go again and would recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Seaside39824896894
Apr 14, 2024
Great experience - Captain Ed was amazing. Great guild. Made it all a good trip Dolphins, birds and the seashells were all beautiful and interesting
Review provided by Tripadvisor
653miken
Apr 3, 2024
Great tour! - We had a great tour! Captain Kevin was very nice and knowledgable. We have seen surfing dolphins. The shelling was awesome. The scenery is beautiful. Would definitively do the tour again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jake_m
Mar 31, 2024
Captains Ed & Ryan found... - Captains Ed & Ryan found us dolphins to sort with the boat, pointed out a loggerhead turtle, various birds, a red egret, and fed osprey for us for a photo op.
Review provided by Viator
Christinesn5744gs
Mar 28, 2024
Excellent Tour! - Captain Ed and Maddy were excellent tour guides. Shared great information about dolphins and the area. Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robertrg6155yp
Apr 7, 2024
Two Hour Tour - We really enjoyed our excursion. The group that was signed up for the the tour was a larger one, so we were put on a smaller 6 person boat - which was great! Our captain/guide was very knowledgeable and shared many interesting facts about the area and it's wildlife. The shelling portion of the tour was really great. Only issue is that our tour was a shorter than expected (perhaps reducing the time we could have spent on the island shelling/swimming) because one group showed up late and we waited over 20 minutes for them. This seems to be happening more and more. Folks show up late, with a story about traffic or a longer wait at the restaurant, don't apologize, and the people that planned accordingly/ left early because there might be traffic have to wait or get their tour shortened.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
July 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today