Hilton Head Island Dolphin Tour: Small Group, Guaranteed Sightings

Watch dolphins on your own schedule, with a captain who knows where they are

A 90-minute private dolphin tour on Hilton Head Island puts your group of up to six on a dedicated boat with a licensed Captain and Lowcountry Master Naturalist who narrates the ecology as you search the waters. The boat reaches places larger tour vessels cannot, and you set the time spent at each sighting. The tour also passes Harbourtown Lighthouse and may cross into Daufuskie Island waters depending on where dolphins are feeding that day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private dolphin watching tour

• Board private boat
• Cruise waters near Hilton Head
• Watch dolphins playing and socializing
• See Harbourtown Lighthouse from water
• Search for dolphins near Cooper River
• View Daufuskie Island from boat
• Spot mobula rays, sharks, manatees, sea turtles
• Listen to captain's ecological narration

The experience

Hilton Head Island's dolphin populations spend their days eating, playing and socializing in the sound and rivers, and a private boat lets you follow them without the schedule pressure of a group departure. Your Captain, trained as a Lowcountry Master Naturalist, reads the water and narrates what you are seeing. The ecology that makes this stretch of coast unique, the behavior of the dolphins themselves, and the other creatures that share the habitat. Mobula rays jump, sharks and manatees surface, sea turtles come up for air, and hundreds of migratory bird species move through the region depending on the season.

The 90-minute tour takes you past Harbourtown Lighthouse, visible from the water, and may cross the sound to Daufuskie Island if that is where the dolphins are hunting. Because it is your private vessel, the Captain can linger at sightings or move on based on what you want to see. You are not locked into the timing of a larger boat. Dogs are welcome aboard. Infants sit on an adult's lap. The boat holds a maximum of six passengers, so the group stays small enough that everyone gets a clear view and the Captain can answer questions without shouting over a crowd.

What’s included

• Private vessel for your group.
• licensed Captain and Lowcountry Master Naturalist providing in-depth narration of the Lowcountry ecology.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00

Book up to1h 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

Easy physical levelPets welcomeNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cross Island Cruises

Is this one for you?At 90 minutes, the tour fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day, and the private boat means you stay as long as dolphins are active instead of leaving on a fixed schedule: ideal if you want to watch their behavior without rushing to the next group departure.

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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.

How do I know we'll actually see dolphins on this tour?

The operator guarantees dolphins on this tour. If dolphins are not sighted, you receive a full refund or a credit toward a future departure.

What other wildlife might we see besides dolphins?

Mobula rays, sharks, manatees, sea turtles and hundreds of migratory bird species inhabit the Lowcountry waters. What you encounter depends on the season and where the dolphins lead the boat that day.

Can my dog come on the dolphin tour?

Yes, the boat is dog-friendly. Your pet can join the tour as long as they are comfortable on the water.

Will we stop at Harbourtown Lighthouse or Daufuskie Island?

Harbourtown Lighthouse is visible from the water during the tour. Daufuskie Island may be visited if the dolphins are feeding in that area. The Captain adjusts the route based on where the dolphins are that day.

Is this tour suitable for young children or infants?

Yes. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the tour. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.

What is included in the price?

The private vessel, the licensed Captain and Lowcountry Master Naturalist guide, and all fees and taxes are included. Gratuity is not included and is left to your discretion.