Private boat tour Clearwater: Dolphins, islands & swimming

Slide into the Gulf’s calm waters from your private double-decker yacht

A private boat tour in Clearwater for up to 8 passengers aboard a 25-foot Tahoe Funship with a Captain guide, taking you north to Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island and Three Rooker Sand Bar for wildlife viewing, shelling, swimming and snorkeling. The tour includes water, floats, life jackets, pickup at a designated meeting point, and runs about 4 hours. Afternoon and evening departures can include sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Caladesi IslandEntry included30m
2. Honeymoon Island30m
3. Clearwater Beach50m

Private boat tour and island visits

• Safety briefing and cast off
• Cruise north of Clearwater Beach
• Spot dolphins and local wildlife
• Visit Caladesi Island for exploring
• Explore Honeymoon Island beaches and trails
• Visit Three-Rooker Sand Bar island
• Swim, snorkel, or shell on islands
• Enjoy cooler with water and floats

The experience

The boat day starts with a safety briefing, then you cast off north from Clearwater Beach toward the barrier islands. The Tahoe Funship is a 25-foot double-decker with a slide, comfortable seating and shade: the kind of setup that works for families, couples marking an anniversary, or groups celebrating a graduation or bachelor party. A Captain steers and narrates the route, and spotting dolphins is common along the way. You may also see manatees, sea turtles, rays, Ospreys or native birds.

As the tour continues, you anchor at islands like Caladesi (one of the few untouched stretches on the Gulf Coast, reachable only by boat), or Honeymoon Island, where four miles of beach and a three-mile trail through virgin slash pine forest are yours to explore. Guests typically get off the boat to shell, swim and snorkel in the Gulf. A cooler with ice, bottled water, Big Joe floats and mesh shell bags come along. Three Rooker Sand Bar, a small island that emerged within the last decade, is another stop where the sand keeps shifting and accumulating.

Afternoon and evening tours can include watching the sun set from the boat over the water. The whole outing runs about 4 hours, and you return to the designated meeting point with pickup included. Life jackets and safety gear are provided, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Professional Captain guide.
• private boat (25-foot Tahoe Funship, max 8 passengers).
• cooler with ice and bottled water.
• Big Joe water floats and mesh shell bags.
• life jackets and safety equipment.
• pickup and drop-off at designated meeting point.
• fuel.
• island hopping and anchoring at sand bars.
• access to Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island and Three Rooker Sand Bar for shelling, swimming and snorkeling.
• dolphin and wildlife viewing.
• local taxes.

Information

Lasts 4h, runs every day at 12:00, from US$ 1,050 per group, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate3 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to1d before

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by A Boat Day

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private boat with a Captain who knows where the dolphins are and the islands to anchor at: the small group size and customized route mean the day shapes itself around what your group wants to do, whether that's wildlife spotting, beach exploring or a sunset cruise.

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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's the best time to see dolphins on the Clearwater boat tour?

Dolphins are very likely to appear along the route north toward the barrier islands at any time of day, though morning and midday departures tend to offer the most active sightings. Evening tours are also popular and include the sunset over the Gulf.

Can we swim and snorkel at the islands, or is it just looking?

You get off the boat and swim, snorkel and shell on the islands: Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island and Three Rooker Sand Bar are all stops where guests explore the water and beaches. Big Joe floats and mesh shell bags are provided.

Is the boat suitable for young children?

Yes, the Tahoe Funship is designed for families and includes a slide, comfortable seating and shade. The tour suits all fitness levels, and life jackets and safety equipment are provided for everyone aboard.

What's included in the price?

The private tour includes the Captain and boat, pickup and drop-off at the meeting point, cooler with ice and bottled water, Big Joe floats, mesh shell bags, life jackets, safety equipment, fuel and local taxes. Gratuity for the Captain is separate.

How many people can fit on the boat?

The Tahoe Funship holds a maximum of 8 passengers per booking, which keeps the group small and the experience customized to your group's interests.

What if we want to watch the sunset? Does that change the tour?

Afternoon and evening tours can include watching the sun set from the boat over the Gulf of Mexico, so you can request a later departure time when you book if that's your preference.