Charleston Harbor Boat Tour: Shark Tooth Hunting & Beaches

Hunt for 50-million-year-old shark teeth on Morris Island

A 3-hour private boat tour of Charleston Harbor aboard Southern Charm, a center console captained by a professional. You cruise past historic harbor areas, stop at secluded island beaches for shark tooth hunting and shelling, and can add lunch at Shem Creek or a long walk on Morris Island. The boat holds up to six passengers and moves at speeds up to 30 mph, covering multiple harbor sites in a single afternoon.

The experience

Southern Charm is a center console built for speed and comfort, seating six passengers with a Bluetooth stereo system and enough range to hit several stops in three hours. Your captain plots the route based on what you want to do: some groups focus on the hunt for Megalodon teeth on Morris Island, others prefer shelling at the secluded beaches, and some just lay out on the sand. The boat comes stocked with a large cooler and ice, soft drinks, bottled water, and rain ponchos, so you travel ready for the afternoon.

The harbor itself is the draw. You pass the historic areas (the ones every Charleston visitor hears about), but from the water and at a pace that lets you actually see them. Shem Creek sits nearby if you want to stop for lunch at one of its restaurants, and Morris Island is where the serious shark tooth hunters go, walking the beach with the hope of finding that coveted 50-million-year-old Megalodon tooth. What you do is entirely up to you and your captain. The boat goes where the group wants to spend the time.

Optional add-ons (beach chairs, cabanas, towels, umbrellas, a removable Yeti cooler, or a JBL speaker for the beach) come at additional cost and let you customize the setup. In summer, water hammock rafts are available for swimming. The boat runs over 200 bachelorette charters annually, so weekend bookings in the warmer months fill months ahead if that is your plan.

What’s included

• Soft drinks and bottled water.
• cooler with ice.
• Bluetooth boat stereo.
• rain ponchos.
• emergency porto potty.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 13:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Charleston Sailing Charters

Is this one for you?Your captain speaks English and steers the route based on what your group wants to do, so you control whether the afternoon is about hunting for shark teeth, shelling, relaxing on the beach, or a mix of all three. The boat's speed and range mean you can visit multiple harbor sites and secluded beaches in three hours without feeling rushed.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is shark tooth hunting on Morris Island like?

Morris Island is a long stretch of beach where 50-million-year-old Megalodon teeth wash ashore and can be found in the sand and shallow water. Your captain takes you there and you walk the beach looking for them. It is a real hunt, not a guided lesson, and what you find depends on the tide and the day. Many visitors do find teeth.

Can we stop for lunch during the three hours?

Yes. Shem Creek has multiple restaurants right on the water, and your captain can take you there as part of the route. The lunch stop is your choice, and the time spent there counts within the three-hour booking.

How many people can fit on Southern Charm?

The boat seats six passengers comfortably. It is a private charter, so your group books the whole boat regardless of size.

What is included in the price, and what costs extra?

Soft drinks, bottled water, a cooler with ice, Bluetooth stereo, rain ponchos, and an emergency porto potty are included. Beach chairs, cabanas, towels, umbrellas, a removable Yeti cooler, and a JBL speaker for the beach each carry an additional fee. You can bring your own food and beverages onboard.

Is this tour good for kids?

Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. The boat moves at up to 30 mph, so the ride itself has motion.