Boat Tours in Cape Town at a glance
- Our pick: Ocean Wildlife Encounter Cape Town: Unscripted Boat Tour, US$ 94 per person (2h, 4.98★ · 389).
- Best value: One-hour sailing catamaran cruise Cape Town: Table Mountain views, US$ 25 per person (1h, 4.61★ · 92).
- Lowest price: Harbour Cruise Cape Town: 30-Minute Seal & Ship Views, US$ 4.86 per person (30m, 4.49★ · 92).
Price per person across the 20 options priced per person: US$ 4.86–US$ 268 (median US$ 41). With 100+ reviews: 7 of 20.
Of the 20 options: 17 with live guides in English, 18 with free cancellation, 19 with instant confirmation, 3 with hotel pickup, 17 kid-friendly, 2 private and 12 bookable last-minute.
How we rank: quality, number of reviews, availability, booking conditions and relevance to the topic. In the comparison table, our top 3 comes first. Price per person.
Boat Tours in Cape Town
Based on each operator's calendar. Confirmed when you book.
20 options
The 15 best
Ranked by quality, reviews, availability and booking conditions.
Ocean Wildlife Encounter Cape Town: Unscripted Boat Tour Boat-based wildlife tour in Cape Town guided by ocean conditions and local knowledge: find dolphins, seals and seabirds in the waters around Table Mountain and Robben Island. Every day · 07:00, 09:00, 11:30 and 17:00 · From age 4 ★ 4.98 (389 reviews) Duration: 2h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 94 per person
Cape Town: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Optional Cruise Open-top double-decker bus with 20 stops across 3 routes, 15-language commentary, and optional V&A Waterfront cruise. All-day pass includes free walking tours. Every day · No fixed time · From age 4 ★ 4.75 (1,997 reviews) Duration: 30m–2h 20m ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 26 per person
Cape Town Catamaran Cruise: Green Point Lighthouse Atlantic Coast Cruise from Cape Town's V&A Waterfront to Green Point lighthouse on a one-hour catamaran with live English guide. Spot seals, dolphins, whales and penguins from the water. Every day · 8 start times, 09:30 to 17:15 · All ages ★ 4.42 (351 reviews) Duration: 1h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 25 per person
Hout Bay: Ocean Safari Boat Tour & Kelp Snorkeling Experience Feel the salt air on a Hout Bay ocean safari: spot dolphins, seabirds & seals, snorkel kelp forests, then unwind with hot showers & garden lounge after your tour. Every day · 09:00 · From age 10 ★ 4.95 (262 reviews) Duration: 4h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 179 per person
Harbour Cruise Cape Town: 30-Minute Seal & Ship Views Half-hour harbour cruise from V&A Waterfront with seal sightings, port views and guide. Departs Quay 5, operates most weather. Every day · Every 1 h, 11:00 to 16:00 · All ages ★ 4.49 (92 reviews) Duration: 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 4.86 per person
Sunset Cruise Cape Town: Prosecco on Table Bay Watch the sun set from a luxury catamaran in Table Bay with Prosecco and a live English-speaking guide pointing out whales and dolphins as Cape Town's lights come on. Every day · Every 15 min, 17:00 to 19:00 · All ages ★ 4.47 (104 reviews) Duration: 1h 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 57 per person
Sea Kayaking Cape Town: Table Mountain from the water Paddle the Atlantic along Cape Town's coastline for 2 hours with a guide, life jacket and all gear included: Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Cape Fur seals from sea level. Every day · 07:00, 07:30, 09:30, 10:00 and 12:00 · From age 12 ★ 4.81 (209 reviews) Duration: 2h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 36 per person
One-hour sailing catamaran cruise Cape Town: Table Mountain views Sail Table Bay for one hour from V&A Waterfront on a luxury catamaran: route shifts with the wind toward Milnerton or Robben Island. Every day · 14 start times, 09:30 to 17:15 · All ages ★ 4.61 (92 reviews) Duration: 1h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 25 per person
Cape Town Harbour Cruise: 30 minutes, seals & Table Mountain 30-minute harbour cruise from V&A Waterfront with seals, dolphins, whales and views of Table Mountain, Lions Head and the working port. Every day · Every 1 h, 11:30 to 16:30 ★ 4.75 (134 reviews) Duration: 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Instant confirmation. from US$ 9.73 per person
Cape Town Canal Cruise: Hop-On Hop-Off V&A Waterfront Hop-on hop-off canal cruise through Cape Town's historic waterway to V&A Waterfront. Five stops, multilingual guide, headsets included. Wheelchair accessible water taxi. Every day · No fixed time · All ages ★ 4.22 (87 reviews) Duration: 30m ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 7.60 per person
Cape Town Sunset Boat Cruise: V&A Waterfront & Sparkling Wine Sunset cruise through Cape Town's V&A Waterfront with sparkling wine, Table Mountain views, and live music. Small groups, 20-min check-in, public transport nearby. Every day · 18:00 and 18:30 · All ages ★ 4.78 (76 reviews) Duration: 1h 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Instant confirmation. from US$ 46 per person
Hermanus whale watching from Cape Town: Boat trip & penguins Private whale watching tour from Cape Town to Hermanus with a 2-3 hour boat trip, wine tasting stop in Hemel-en-Aarde. Every day · 06:30 · Season until 30 Nov · Hotel pickup ★ 4.58 (43 reviews) Duration: 10h Live guide: EN · FR ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 268 per person
Cape Town Sunset Cruise: 90 Minutes on Table Bay Sail from the V&A Waterfront on the Spirit of Victoria, a traditional 58ft schooner, across Table Bay toward Milnerton lighthouse and back. Every day · 18:30 and 19:00 · From age 4 ★ 4.73 (33 reviews) Duration: 1h 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 42 per person
Cape Town Table Bay: Small-Group Ocean Safari with Guide Experience Cape Town’s Table Bay on a guided ocean safari by RIB. Spot dolphins, seals, penguins & more with a local skipper. Includes 60-minute cruise. Every day · 10:30, 13:30 and 15:00 · All ages ★ 4.35 (31 reviews) Duration: 1h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 38 per person
V&A Waterfront Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari RIB Cruise, Cape Town Search for whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and sunfish on a RIB boat cruise along the Atlantic Seaboard with Table Mountain views and a live English-speaking guide. Every day · 10:30 · From age 10 ★ 4.43 (35 reviews) Duration: 1h 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 73 per person
Compare 5 more options for Boat Tours in Cape Town
From US$ 39 per person · 40 min to 9 h
Cape Town: Boulders Beach Penguins & Seal Island Boat Trip Half-day tour from Cape Town with African penguin colony visit, Seal Island boat cruise, and Chapman's Peak drive. Hotel pickup included, trilingual guide. Every day · No fixed time · Pickup available ★ 4.36 (11 reviews) Duration: 3h–4h Live guide: EN · PT · FR ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 100 per person
Cape Town: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Seal Island Cruise Red and blue buses loop Cape Town's best stops (Kirstenbosch, Groot Constantia, Table Mountain) plus a Seal Island Cruise. One ticket, unlimited hops, 15-language audio. Every day · No fixed time · All ages ★ 3.61 (18 reviews) Duration: 40m–2h ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 39 per person
Catamaran Cruise and Sushi in Cape Town: V&A Waterfront Cruise Table Bay on a catamaran for an hour, then eat 14-piece sushi at the V&A Waterfront with harbor views. Watch for whales, dolphins and seals from the water. Every day · 13 start times, 09:30 to 17:15 · From age 5 ★ 3.71 (7 reviews) Duration: 2h 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 41 per person
Cape Town: Robben Island, Two Oceans Aquarium & Sunset Cruise Drive to Nelson Mandela Gateway, ferry to Robben Island, explore the aquarium, then watch the sunset from the water. Includes all entry fees, transport and bottled water. Every day · 09:00 · Hotel pickup · From age 4 ★ 5.00 (2 reviews) Duration: 9h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 164 per person
Robben Island Ferry & Prison Tour: Skip-the-Line Cape Town Robben Island prison tour from Cape Town with skip-the-line ferry access, Nelson Mandela's cell, and ex-prisoner guide. Half day, boat included. Every day · 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00 · From age 3 Duration: 4h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 97 per person
The top 12 of 20 options, side by side
✓ 2026-11-14| Option | Price | Duration | Rating | Days and times | Guide languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Wildlife Encounter Cape Town: Unscripted Boat TourOur pickGroup of up to 7 | US$ 94 per person | 2h | 4.98★ · 389 | Every day · 07:00, 09:00, 11:30 and 17:00 | English |
| One-hour sailing catamaran cruise Cape Town: Table Mountain viewsBest value | US$ 25 per person | 1h | 4.61★ · 92 | Every day · 14 start times, 09:30 to 17:15 | English |
| Harbour Cruise Cape Town: 30-Minute Seal & Ship ViewsLowest price | US$ 4.86 per person | 30m | 4.49★ · 92 | Every day · Every 1 h, 11:00 to 16:00 | English |
| Cape Town: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Optional Cruise | US$ 26 per person | 30m–2h 20m | 4.75★ · 1,997 | Every day · No fixed time | — |
| Cape Town Catamaran Cruise: Green Point Lighthouse Atlantic Coast | US$ 25 per person | 1h | 4.42★ · 351 | Every day · 8 start times, 09:30 to 17:15 | English |
| Hout Bay: Ocean Safari Boat Tour & Kelp Snorkeling ExperienceGroup of up to 10 | US$ 179 per person | 4h | 4.95★ · 262 | Every day · 09:00 | English |
| Sunset Cruise Cape Town: Prosecco on Table Bay | US$ 57 per person | 1h 30m | 4.47★ · 104 | Every day · Every 15 min, 17:00 to 19:00 | English |
| Sea Kayaking Cape Town: Table Mountain from the water | US$ 36 per person | 2h | 4.81★ · 209 | Every day · 07:00, 07:30, 09:30, 10:00 and 12:00 | English |
| Cape Town Harbour Cruise: 30 minutes, seals & Table Mountain | US$ 9.73 per person | 30m | 4.75★ · 134 | Every day · Every 1 h, 11:30 to 16:30 | English |
| Cape Town Canal Cruise: Hop-On Hop-Off V&A Waterfront | US$ 7.60 per person | 30m | 4.22★ · 87 | Every day · No fixed time | — |
| Cape Town Sunset Boat Cruise: V&A Waterfront & Sparkling Wine | US$ 46 per person | 1h 30m | 4.78★ · 76 | Every day · 18:00 and 18:30 | English |
| Hermanus whale watching from Cape Town: Boat trip & penguinsPrivate · Pickup offered | US$ 268 per person | 10h | 4.58★ · 43 | Every day · 06:30 · Season until 30 Nov | English, French |
By what you need
- Private (2): Hermanus whale watching from Cape Town: Boat trip & penguins (US$ 268 per person) · Cape Town: Robben Island, Two Oceans Aquarium & Sunset Cruise (US$ 164 per person)
- Small groups (up to 15) (3): Ocean Wildlife Encounter Cape Town: Unscripted Boat Tour (US$ 94 per person) · Hout Bay: Ocean Safari Boat Tour & Kelp Snorkeling Experience (US$ 179 per person) · Cape Town Table Bay: Small-Group Ocean Safari with Guide (US$ 38 per person)
- With pickup (3): Hermanus whale watching from Cape Town: Boat trip & penguins (US$ 268 per person) · Cape Town: Boulders Beach Penguins & Seal Island Boat Trip (US$ 100 per person) · Cape Town: Robben Island, Two Oceans Aquarium & Sunset Cruise (US$ 164 per person)
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