Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Charleston, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore the waters around Folly Island on this small-group bottlenose dolphin-spotting tour. Let your captain sail you through the tidal creeks behind Folly Beach in the hopes of spotting the dolphins and observing their behavior in the wild. Listen as your guide explains more about the flora and fauna you see along the way.
- See Morris Island Lighthouse on this Folly Beach tour
- There’s plenty of time for photos
- Great fun for visitors and locals alike
- Feel free to pick your captain’s brain
What's Included
- USCG Licensed Captain and Eco Guide
- 27' Carolina Skiff with Cushioned Bench Seating
- Cooler full of ice
- Restroom facilities at departing location
- Ample Parking
- Drinks or Snacks
- Sunscreen or Bugspray
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 2223 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
Please arrive 15 minutes before trip departure time! Our office is the small yellow building in the same parking lot as Crosby's Fish & Shrimp co. This is where you will check in for the boat trip and sign liability waivers. In the summertime there can be beach traffic - please plan accordingly!
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Morris Island Lighthouse (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Martin_D
This your was fantastic. We not only saw some beautiful natural areas and wildlife, we were also super well informed by our guide and captain Luke. This gent is as good as they come, super knowledgeable and very friendly. I highly recommend this tour.
Reviews
5.0
based on 142 reviews
Diana_W, Apr 2026
Our captain Luke was very knowledgeable about the history of this region. He was very couteous. We saw lots of dolphins. A must do for all ages.
Jorg_V, Apr 2026
We had an unforgettable experience with Castaway Island Excursions on the sunset dolphin cruise! From the moment we arrived, Hailey and Captain Luke welcomed us warmly and made us feel right at home. The timing couldn’t have been more magical as we watched the sun set while a full moon rose over the water.
It wasn’t just about the dolphins (though they were incredible to see!). My son loved seeing the treasures they’ve collected, and he was thrilled to share how he found an antique bottle during his visit. Along the way, we glided through the stunning creeks and learned about how these waterways function and it’s clear how much Hailey and Captain Luke care about protecting them. Their passion for the environment and the work they do really shines through.
This cruise is perfect for families, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Folly Beach while supporting people who genuinely care about the waterways. We can’t recommend it enough! Lovely people.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much, Jorg, for this incredible review and for choosing Castaway for your family adventure! You are right, we could not have asked for a better combination of the sunset and moonrise - it was an incredible evening! Hailey and Captain Luke love sharing their knowledge and dedication to the waterways with you. It’s guests like you who make our efforts so rewarding! We hope to see you and your wonderful family again in the future! Until then, take care and keep exploring. Thanks again - Cheers! 🌅🐬
Linda_G, Mar 2026
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history and geography of the area. We got to see dolphins and take some pictures at the sunset.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you Linda! Sunset is certainly the best time to be out on the water. We are so glad that you had such a great experience!
Martin_D, Mar 2026
This your was fantastic. We not only saw some beautiful natural areas and wildlife, we were also super well informed by our guide and captain Luke. This gent is as good as they come, super knowledgeable and very friendly. I highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you Martin!! It was certainly a tour to remember (haha). We are so glad that you and your wife had such a great time out there with us! We hope to see y'all the next time that you are in Charleston. Thanks again!
Jaime_V, Mar 2026
We had an amazing dolphin tour out of Folly Beach with Captain Luke! He was incredibly kind, super knowledgeable about the area and wildlife, and made the whole experience feel relaxed and personal. One of the highlights was getting to stop and walk around Morris Island, which made the trip even more special. The estuary was absolutely beautiful, and we saw so much along the way. Such an incredible experience — I will definitely be doing this again. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Jaime - we can not thank you enough! This is an incredible review and it sounds like the absolute best way to spend your birthday! We are so glad that y'all had such a great time and we hope to see you again in the future. Thanks again! Cheers!
Laura_L, Mar 2026
We had a wonderful time on this tour. We saw dolphins, oysters, pelicans, oystercatchers and other birds. Captain Luke was very friendly and knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the great review Laura! Our estuary has SO much wildlife to see. We are glad that you had a wonderful trip and we hope to see you next time!
Gordan_N, Mar 2026
Excellent tour, Capatain Luke was great and very knowledgeable. Me and my wife will definitely be back.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We are so glad that you had such a great trip! We look forward to hosting y'all out on the water again. We appreciate your review!
PATRICIA_M, Mar 2026
Luke was a great guide, a lot of history about the water life and islands. Beautiful scenery. Saw dolphins in 2 spots!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the review Patricia! You truly can't beat a sunny, spring day out on the water. We are so glad that you had a great time!
Jason_T, Nov 2025
Quite an enjoyable fun boat excursion in learning about the local marshes, oysters, dolphins, and rich history of the area. Loved the many times our tour guide and captain sped through the waters. Looking forward in bringing my wife to share the same experience. Thank You!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you Jason!! We are so glad that you had a great time on the post-thanksgiving cruise with us! We look forward to hosting you and your wife in the future. Cheers!
Scott_J, Nov 2025
Perfect weather today while observing nature, learning about spartina grass, oysters, and pluff mud and spotting many dolphins. Small group made it an intimate experience with the knowledgeable Captain Luke. Memorable experience.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you Scott!! We are so glad that you had such a great time on our dolphin trip with Captain Luke! Even in November, we still have some beautiful days out on the water here in Charleston. We hope to see you again!
Stephanie_P, Sep 2025
What a wonderful excursion! Luke was an unbelievable guide. The experience was fun, relaxing and informative. We saw at least 15 dolphins during the cruise including a newborn calf, and learned a lot about the native estuary dolphins. There is a little bar near the dock so people could bring to go drinks onto the boat. Overall it was well worth it and I would highly recommend it!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Luke certainly is amazing! We are so glad that your experience out on the water with us was great. We welcome any drinks and snacks on the boat! Thank you for this review and we hope that you come see us again the next time that you are visiting!
BarbaraL_M, Sep 2025
The four of us had a wonderful experience on this trip! The guide was able to locate many dolphins and we were able to watch them play and feed. We saw Morris Island lighthouse along with some of the places shown in the Outer Banks series. Luke also educated us about the area in an enjoyable way. This was our favorite activity during our 3 day stay in Charleston.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Barbara! Thank you so much for this awesome review. We are so glad that y'all had a wonderful time and that our trip made your vacation in Charleston so memorable! We hope to see you again in the future.
Phyllis_P, Aug 2025
Really friendly and fun guide- learned lots about the salt marsh and he made sure we saw dolphins (they were a little out of their normal territory due to Hurricane Erin). 100% recommend.
We even saw a loggerhead turtle and an otter!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for the excellent review Phyllis! We are so glad that you had a great time and still saw a variety of wildlife after Hurricane Erin passed by the coast and mixed some things up. We hope to see you again in the future!
Olivia_M, Aug 2025
My friends and I had a TERRIFIC time on this excursion. The captain was incredibly knowledgeable about the dolphins & other wildlife in the area. I would highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for this amazing review Olivia! We are so glad that you had a wonderful time on the sunset dolphin trip. Come see us again the next time that y'all are in town!
Elisabeth_M, Aug 2025
This tour was incredible! We saw lots of dolphins and learned about South Carolina history and ecology. Luke is an incredible guide and captain!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We are so glad that you had such a great time out on the dolphin trip (and saw a bunch of dolphins)! Thank you for coming out on the water with us. We hope to host you again in the future!
Jolyn_E, Aug 2025
It is an amazing trip Luke was fantastic and gave us so much info on the wildlife estuary
History. We were able to see a 2 day old baby dolphin
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We are so glad that you enjoyed the dolphin trip Jolyn! How cute are those newborns?? We never get tired of seeing them! Thank you for coming out with us and for this wonderful review!
Angela_S, Aug 2025
Captain Luke gave us a wonderful estuary tour and had great knowledge to share with us about Charleston’s beautiful marshes. He showed us Bottlenose Dolphins, various bird species and took us to the lighthouse! He was very kind and answered any questions we had. The sunset was the cherry on top! It was a pleasure to be on board and we appreciated every minute. The weather couldn’t have been better. We thank Luke and the rest of the team for making this experience possible and when we come back to visit Charleston we’ll be sure to book another boat excursion. I also bought a great baseball cap hat with their logo on it! Luke also spoke about how eating local seafood is of course better than farmed. Definitely agree! Thank you all again and we recommend this tour to anyone who wants to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and relax on a boat.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Wow Angela, all we can say is thank you for this well-worded and detailed review. It sounds like you had a fantastic time out on the sunset trip with Captain Luke! Sunset is such a great time to be out on the water. We look forward to hosting you again and we hope that you enjoy your new Castaway hat! Thanks again :)
Yasmina_Z, Aug 2025
Captain Luke was amazing. We saw so many dolphins and learned a ton. Perfect length of time for a boat trip.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you Yasmina! We thoroughly enjoyed having your family out on the water with us! We hope to see you the next time that you are in town.
Nick_F, Aug 2025
The area within the estuaries for the tour was amazing. Long enough but not too long and the wildlife scenery was outstanding. Our tour guide Justin was amazing and so knowledgeable and passionate about the surrounding environment.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for the excellent review Nick! We are so glad that you thoroughly enjoyed your experience out on the water with us. Y'all were an awesome group! Cheers!!
Karen_B, Jul 2025
Luke was great, very knowledgeable and created a fun atmosphere! Lots of dolphins and a beautiful sunset!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hey Karen! We are so happy to hear that you had a great time on the dolphin trip with Luke. You just can't beat a sunset out on the water! Thank you for coming out with us and we hope to see you again in the future!
Alexander_p, Jul 2025
Captain Luke was amazing!!! He made it fun for my 8 year old daughter and taught us all kind of interesting information about the wildlife. We also were able to see many dolphins and their babies. Highlight of our trip to Charleston! Couldn’t recommend more!!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
It makes our day seeing reviews like these! We are so glad that our trip made your vacation to Charleston so much better. Luke had a great time out on the water with y'all and we hope to see you and your family again the next time that you visit!
Michael_P, Jul 2025
Outstanding!!! Captain Luke took us on an adventure we won’t forget! He was very knowledgeable, super friendly, and knew of all the great dolphin-siting spots. We saw a mother and her 1yr old as well as a mom and her newborn infant. Thank you Captain Luke!!!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for coming out with us Michael! We are so glad that y'all had such an exciting time on the dolphin trip - it seems like you really lucked out seeing all those sweet baby dolphins! We hope to see you again the next time that you are in Charleston!
Jessica_C, Jul 2025
Amazing Experience with Captain Luke!
Captain Luke was energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and so personable. He truly went above and beyond to make sure our trip was unforgettable. He took his time with us, answered all of our questions, and even shared fantastic recommendations for local restaurants during our stay. His passion and expertise made the whole experience even more special. We would 150% recommend this tour—it was the highlight of our trip! Honestly, we don’t think we could recreate such an amazing experience with anyone else or anywhere else. Can’t wait to come back!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Jessica!! Thank you for this incredible review. We are so glad that Captain Luke showed y'all a fantastic time out on the water! Some times, trips are so good that you certainly can not recreate them, but we hope to to host you again in the future and try! We appreciate all of the support - thank you again!
Julia_N, Jul 2025
Unfortunately, we had to turn around due to a storm that came up quite quickly. Our Captain, Jodi, got us back to land safely, and the company did give us a partial reimbursement. Overall, I was impressed by the concern for our safety and the thoughtfulness of the company. I would definitely deal with this company again!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hey Julia! Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re glad Captain Jodi’s quick actions ensured your safety during the pop-up storm. Safety is definitely our top priority here at Castaway! And as I am sure you know, mother nature has a mind of her own. Being in the lowcountry, we are very susceptible to afternoon storms in the summertime. We are glad that everything worked out though and that you were able to enjoy the time that you did have while out on the water. We look forward to welcoming you back for another tour in the future. Thanks again!
beverly_w, Jul 2025
Captain Luke was an amazing guide. He was very knowledgable and had a great sense of humor. If you are in IOP and want to take a boat tour - this is a great excursion.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you Beverly for the great review! Yes, we are only a few bridges away from IOP - definitely worth the drive over to Folly if you are staying on IOP. We hope to see you again!
Marianna_C, Jul 2025
Captain Luke was absolutely remarkable. His extensive knowledge and experience in navigating the local waters are truly impressive. He expertly anticipated where the dolphins would be, leading us to an exhilarating encounter with these magnificent creatures. We embarked on the sunset cruise, and it was nothing short of breathtaking. The sky transformed into a canvas of vibrant oranges and pinks as the sun dipped below the horizon, providing a stunning backdrop to the serene waves. The combination of Captain Luke's expertise and the captivating beauty of the evening made for an unforgettable experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
WOW! This is such a beautifully articulated review that really highlights every aspect of our trips! You truly can not beat being out on the water at sunset, it is magical! Thank you so much for coming out with us. We would love to host you again! Cheers!
Kelly_S, Jun 2025
It was a great experience! I learned and saw alot! The Captain was very knowledgeable. He made us laugh while teaching us.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We are so glad to hear that you had a wonderful time on the dolphin trip! Thank you for coming out with us and leaving this great review. Cheers!
Rachel_J, Jun 2025
Charleston has been amazing, but hands down this was the highlight. Captain Luke took us on a boat trip that was a perfect combination of fun and insight as we meandered through low country estuary creeks. We saw plenty of dolphin activity, herons dive bombing for fish, oysters by the thousands and all topped off with the back drop of the best South Carolina sunset.
The best value for money trip you could take. Easy to find too.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Rachel, your review means so much to us! Thank you for coming out and experiencing the low country waters that we love so much. It sounds like your trip with Captain Luke was everything you wanted and more! We hope to see you again some day!
Brianna_G, Jun 2025
It was a great tour and learned lots of history. Also got to see some dolphins amazing. We did the sunset one and what a gorgeous night we had for a sunset tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
History, dolphins, and sunset views...what more could you ask for? We are so glad that y'all thoroughly enjoyed the trip! We hope to see you again in the future - thanks again!
leejaca, Jun 2025
This was so much fun! A highlight of our charleston trip. We did our trip at sunset! Best choice and highly recommended
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for the awesome review Lee! We are so glad that you enjoyed the sunset trip - it truly is one of the best times to be out on the water especially in the summertime.
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Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour
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