Ten Thousand Islands: Dolphin, Birding & Shelling Tour by Boat

Summary

Boat ride through Ten Thousand Islands with dolphins birds shells and wild beaches

You’ll glide through the Ten Thousand Islands by boat with a local naturalist guide, spotting dolphins and birds along winding mangrove channels before stopping to collect shells on an untouched barrier island beach. Expect laughter, maybe some surprises from curious wildlife, and moments where you just stand there taking it all in.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed was the smell — that salty, kind of earthy air you only get near mangroves. We’d barely left Marco Island and already our guide (her name was Jamie) was pointing out ospreys circling overhead. She handed me binoculars before I even thought to ask, which was good because I’m hopeless at spotting birds. The boat’s seats were surprisingly comfy, not those sticky plastic ones you sometimes get. There was this hush as we glided deeper into the Ten Thousand Islands, just broken up by seabirds calling and someone’s phone going off (which made everyone laugh — “You’re not getting signal out here anyway,” Jamie joked).

I didn’t expect to see dolphins so soon. They popped up on our left, maybe twenty feet from the boat? A couple of us gasped — I think I actually dropped my sunglasses in my lap. Jamie slowed down so we could watch them for a bit; she told us how they hunt together in these shallow channels. It’s weirdly quiet out there except for the splash when one of them surfaced again. Then we passed some sandbars where egrets were picking their way around, looking like they owned the place.

We stopped at this empty barrier island — no buildings or anything, just shells everywhere underfoot and that hot sand sticking between my toes. I found a sand dollar (well, half of one), and someone else found what Jamie called a “lightning whelk” — she pronounced it like she’d said it a thousand times but still seemed excited for us. There was this moment when everyone just kind of wandered off quietly, heads down searching for shells or watching tiny crabs scuttle away. The sun felt heavy but not too much; honestly, I still think about that silence sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Dolphin, birding, and shelling tour

• Board comfortable captain's style seating
• Explore 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge
• Spot manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles
• Observe bald eagles, ospreys, and herons
• See pelicans and rosette spoonbills
• Find shells on uninhabited barrier island beach
• Pass by Marco Island, largest 10,000 Island

Top questions

How long is the dolphin birding and shelling tour?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours from start to finish.

Is pickup included for the Ten Thousand Islands tour?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet at the departure point near Marco Island.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Yes, children are welcome but infants must sit on an adult’s lap during the boat ride.

What wildlife can I expect to see?

You might see dolphins, manatees (seasonally), sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, herons, egrets, pelicans, spoonbills and various fish and shorebirds.

Do I need to bring anything special?

You should bring snacks, drinks, hats, sunglasses and your camera or binoculars if you have them.

Does the tour include shell collecting?

Yes — there is a stop at an uninhabited barrier island beach where you can collect shells and sand dollars.

Is this suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes — it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels as most activities are relaxed and optional.

When is the best time to take this tour?

The morning tours are recommended from June through October due to better weather conditions then.

What’s included

Your experience includes a two-hour guided boat tour through Ten Thousand Islands with a Florida Master Naturalist leading dolphin spotting and birdwatching stops plus time to collect shells on an uninhabited barrier island beach before returning to Marco Island.