Marco Island
Dolphin Cruises, Shelling & Boat Tours on Marco Island
The best of Marco Island is offshore — dolphins, uninhabited shell beaches, and the mangrove maze of the Ten Thousand Islands. These are the tours in our guide so far.
The Dolphin Explorer runs a hands-on dolphin research cruise out of Rose Marina on Bald Eagle Drive — guests actually log the dolphins the crew is studying. Paradise Cycle Boat Cruises leaves from the same marina on a pontoon boat where the pedaling is optional. Quality Backwater Fishing & Shelling Charters heads into the backwater for shelling and light-tackle fishing.
Just three here for now. We would rather keep the list short than pad it out with names we have not looked into ourselves.
Which Marco Island boat tours look for dolphins?
The Dolphin Explorer out of Rose Marina is a research cruise where guests help the crew photograph and log the local dolphins. Paradise Cycle Boat Cruises, from the same marina, lists wildlife watching among what its cruises offer.
Where do boat tours leave from on Marco Island?
Most launch from the north-end marina district; the Dolphin Explorer and Paradise Cycle Boat Cruises both depart Rose Marina on Bald Eagle Drive. Backwater shelling and fishing charters run from the same area out toward the Ten Thousand Islands.
3 local spots on this list
See every spot on the island map
DiscoverMarco is Marco Island’s illustrated local guide. Find these places — and the rest of the island — on the interactive map.
Open the island map