Shelling and Dolphin Tour: 10,000 Islands and Marco

The best shelling beaches in Southwest Florida are only reachable by boat in shallow water.

A half-day shelling and dolphin tour through the 10,000 Islands and Marco with a live English-speaking guide who teaches you what shells to hunt for and where to find them. The boat navigates shallow waters most vessels cannot reach, stopping at Kice Island, Dickmans and Cape Romano: the three spots with the best shells in the region. Groups stay small, with a maximum of six passengers per boat. Larger parties can book multiple vessels. Bottled water is included. Free parking is available at the marina.

Step-by-step itinerary

Shelling and dolphin watching tour

• See dolphins, mangroves, and birds
• Travel to shelling beaches
• Learn shelling from guides
• Collect shells at Kice Island and Cape Romano

The experience

The boat leaves from a luxury marina with free parking and heads into waters shallow enough that only specially designed shelling vessels can navigate them. Your guide teaches you what to look for as you hunt the beaches. The shells everyone is after and the ones most people miss. Kice Island, Dickmans and Cape Romano are where the best shells in Southwest Florida wash ashore, and the boat takes you to all three in a single morning or afternoon.

On the way to and from the shelling beaches, you pass dolphins, mangroves and native birds. The route itself is part of the tour: the water, the wildlife and the landscape change as you move through the 10,000 Islands. The whole trip runs three hours, which means you get the shelling and the wildlife without the full-day commitment.

Boats are limited to six passengers, so the experience stays intimate and personalized. If you're traveling in a larger group, the company can arrange multiple boats to keep everyone together. Bottled water is provided. Service animals are welcome, and infants can ride on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• live English-speaking guide who teaches you what shells to hunt for and where to find them.
• access to three shelling beaches (Kice Island, Dickmans and Cape Romano) reachable only by shallow-draft boat.
• wildlife viewing of dolphins, mangroves and native birds on the route.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day at 08:00 and 11:30, from US$ 137 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 11:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

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

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sand Dollar Boat Tours of Naples

Is this one for you?Small groups and families with children will find the six-passenger limit keeps the boat intimate and the guide focused. If you want to hunt shells without spending a full day on the water, the three-hour window fits a morning or afternoon without eating into the rest of your schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

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 shells will I actually find on these beaches?

Your guide teaches you what to hunt for and helps you spot the shells everyone is looking for, as well as the rarer ones most people walk past. Kice Island, Dickmans and Cape Romano are the three beaches where the best shells in Southwest Florida wash ashore, and the boat takes you to all three.

Can I see dolphins on this tour?

Yes. Dolphins, mangroves and native birds are part of the route as the boat moves through the 10,000 Islands to reach the shelling beaches and back. The wildlife viewing happens naturally as you travel between stops.

How many people go on the boat?

Groups are limited to six passengers per boat to keep the experience intimate. If you're traveling with a larger party, the company can arrange multiple boats to accommodate everyone.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs three hours total, including travel time to the shelling beaches, time to hunt for shells, and the return journey through the 10,000 Islands.

Where do I park, and is there a meeting point?

The tour departs from a luxury marina that offers free parking. That's your starting point for the journey.