Shell Key & Fort De Soto boat tour: 4-hour sandbar excursion
A 23-foot pontoon holds six people and all their gear, so a family books one boat instead of two.
A 4-hour boat tour from Clearwater explores Shell Key, Fort De Soto Park and the Johns Pass sandbar with a captain piloting a 23ft Sport-toon. You cruise the intercoastal, watch for dolphins and wildlife, pull up to waterfront restaurants, and choose which sandbars and islands to visit. The boat carries up to six passengers and includes a cooler, Bluetooth radio and USB charging.
The experience
You meet the captain at the center of the intercoastal, between Shell Key and Clearwater, and head out on a 23ft Sport-toon built to hold six passengers comfortably. The boat is twenty minutes by water from Johns Pass sandbar, so you can reach multiple stops inside the four hours. The captain navigates using GPS and can take you to Shell Key, hit the sandbars, check out islands, or simply cruise the waterway while you watch for dolphins and scan the beautiful houses along the intercoastal.
The route includes access to waterfront restaurants where you can pull up and eat on the water. A cooler comes aboard, and the boat has Bluetooth radio and USB charging ports, so you can play your own music and keep phones charged throughout the day. The captain decides the route based on what you want to see (wildlife, specific islands, or just a relaxed cruise), so no two trips are identical.
What’s included
A cooler and a 23ft Sport-toon pontoon boat with Bluetooth radio, USB charging ports and GPS navigation.
Information
Lasts 4h, runs every day, 12 start times, from US$ 650 per group, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Operated by Tropical Boat Rentals of Madeira Beach
Is this one for you?Choose this if your group is six or fewer and wants everyone on one boat. The 23ft pontoon keeps your party together instead of splitting across multiple vessels, and your captain customizes the route based on what you want to see that day.
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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 wildlife might we see on the boat tour?
Dolphins are common along the intercoastal, and you'll have chances to spot them as the captain cruises the waterway. The tour also passes islands and sandbars where seabirds gather, and the route takes you past the natural habitats where local wildlife congregates.
Can we stop to eat during the 4-hour tour?
Yes, the tour includes access to waterfront restaurants where the boat can pull up. You can eat on the water and then continue exploring, so a meal break fits inside the four hours depending on which restaurant you choose and how long you want to stay.
How many people can fit on the boat?
The 23ft Sport-toon holds up to six passengers, so a group of six books one boat and travels together. Infants can ride on an adult's lap, and the boat is suitable for all physical fitness levels.
What's included on the boat?
A cooler and the pontoon boat are included. The boat also has Bluetooth radio so you can play your own music, USB charging ports to keep devices powered, and GPS navigation that the captain uses to guide the route.
How far is Johns Pass sandbar from where the tour starts?
Johns Pass sandbar is twenty minutes from the starting point by boat, so it's an easy reach during the four-hour tour. The captain can take you there or to other nearby stops like Shell Key and Fort De Soto Park depending on what you want to explore.
Shell Key & Fort De Soto boat tour: 4-hour sandbar excursion
4h
from US$ 650 per group