Private Dolphin Cruise Fort Myers Beach: 25 ft Tiki Pontoon

Slow boat tour through mangroves with dolphin sightings at Big Carlos Pass

A private 90-minute cruise on the Tiny Tiki, a 25 ft custom tiki pontoon, carries up to 6 people through the intracoastal waterways around Fort Myers Beach with USCG-licensed Captain Kate. You start at the north end of the island, cruise past waterfront restaurants and other boaters, then head south into the mangroves where dolphins, manatees and wading birds are most active, turning around at Big Carlos Pass before heading back. The boat has shaded and unshaded seating, coolers with ice, and a Bluetooth speaker so you can play your own music. Bring your own beverages and snacks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dolphin Tiki Cruise along Fort Myers Beach

• Start tour at north end of Fort Myers Beach
• Cruise down the intracoastal past populated areas
• Pass waterfront restaurants and other boaters
• See nature along mangroves toward southern island end
• Turn around at Big Carlos Pass dolphin spot
• Return to starting point

The experience

The Tiny Tiki leaves from the north end of Fort Myers Beach and heads down the intracoastal at a pace that lets you see what's around you. The first stretch passes the populated side of the island (other boats, waterfront restaurants, the working waterway), then opens into mangroves as you move south. That's where the wildlife shows up. Dolphins hunt at Big Carlos Pass, where the water funnels through and the fish concentrate. Manatees graze in the shallows, and various wading birds work the edges. Captain Kate knows the route and the timing, and she runs the boat so you're not fighting the engine to talk or hear.

The boat itself is built for this kind of cruise. A 25 ft pontoon gives you room to move around without feeling crowded, even with six people. There's shaded seating and unshaded seating, so you can choose sun or shade as the afternoon shifts. Coolers with ice are on board, and the teak tables give the whole thing an actual tiki bar feel, not a gimmick, just the way the boat is built. You bring your own drinks and snacks, and you control the music through the Bluetooth speaker, so the soundtrack is yours.

Parking is free at the launch point. Infants sit on an adult's lap. The whole cruise runs 90 minutes, which is long enough to get into the mangroves and back without feeling rushed, and short enough to fit into an afternoon without swallowing the day.

What’s included

• The cruise includes coolers with ice on board.
• shaded and unshaded seating.
• a Bluetooth speaker for your music.
• and Captain Kate's local knowledge of the intracoastal route and wildlife patterns. Free parking is available at the launch point.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day17 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to4h 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 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tiny Tiki Tours

Is this one for you?Book this cruise if your group is six people or fewer and you want the boat to yourself. The flat rate means no strangers, no schedule built around other groups, and the whole afternoon shaped around what your group wants to do and where you want to linger. The 90-minute window is long enough to reach the mangroves and back without feeling rushed.

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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 kind of wildlife will we actually see on the cruise?

Dolphins are the main draw, especially at Big Carlos Pass where they hunt for fish moving through the pass. Manatees graze in the shallow mangrove areas, and various wading bird species work the shoreline. What you see depends on the day and the tide, but the route is designed around where these animals are most active.

Is the boat shaded, or will we be in the sun the whole time?

The Tiny Tiki has both shaded and unshaded comfortable seating, so you can choose depending on the weather and your preference. You're not locked into one spot.

Can we bring our own drinks and snacks?

Yes. The cruise is BYOB. Bring your own beverages and snacks. Coolers with ice are provided on board, so your drinks stay cold.

How long is the cruise, and where does it start?

The cruise is 90 minutes and starts at the north end of Fort Myers Beach. You head down the intracoastal past the populated areas, then into the mangroves, turn around at Big Carlos Pass, and head back to the starting point.

Who operates the boat?

Captain Kate, a USCG-licensed captain, runs all tours. She knows the waterways and the wildlife patterns along the route.

Can we play our own music during the cruise?

Yes. The boat has a Bluetooth speaker on board, so you can connect your phone and play whatever you want.