90-Minute Private Dolphin Tour in Hilton Head Island
Recommended by 100% of travelers
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Hilton Head Island, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Hilton Head Island is known as one of North America’s best spots for watching dolphins in the wild. Get out on the water and take in amazing views of these intelligent, playful creatures during this private boat tour. With a Lowcountry Master Naturalist as your captain and guide, you’ll learn all about the ecology of Hilton Head while watching the dolphins along with other wildlife including rays, sharks, and sea turtles. Just your group (up to six passengers) cruising the waters, watching dolphins eating, playing, and socializing.
- Get close-up views of dolphins in the wild on this boat tour around Hilton Head
- The private small-group tour offers an intimate wildlife experience
- The roughly 90-minute excursion allows ample time to watch dolphins frolic
- Learn all about the local ecology from a Lowcountry Master Naturalist
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Licensed Captain and Low Country Master Naturalist, providing an in-depth narrative for your group
- Private Vessel for your Family Tour
- Gratuity
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 68 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA
Enter the parking lot of Cross Island Boat Landing, just under the Cross Island Parkway. Plenty of parking available. Walk down to the docks to meet your Captain.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Harbour Town Lighthouse and Museum (Pass By)
Daufuskie Island (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- Dog Friendly
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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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
Captain Mark was very knowledgeable. An exceptional tour guide with a bit of humor mixed in. Our whole family would highly recommend him.
Reviews
5.0
based on 604 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Four adults (one pregnant) and an 18 mo old. It was the most amazing experience. First, Captain Mark was incredibly knowledgeble and shared a lot of information about the dophins and salt marshes. Super nice guy! The scenery was beautiful and the trip was very relaxing. The best part however was that we probably saw 100+ dolphins. They were everywhere! If it wasn't storming the next day I would have taken the trip again. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Experience of a lifetime
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much, Suzanne! To be in the middle of SO MANY dolphins is truly an awesome moment. That doesn't happen every day, but we are always excited when it does! Really enjoyed having you guys out on the water and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Mark was awesome! Learned a lot and saw some cute dolphins! It was a gorgeous night and there’s nothing better than being on water in the early evening. Will definitely do again!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you, Robin! Really appreciate you all coming out. There's nothing better than beautiful evening on the water. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Captain Mark was amazing! He is extremely knowledgeable about dolphins and the HHI area. He even let our tour go a couple extra minutes so we could see dolphins strand feeding!
Definitely the best part of our trip! Could not recommend this more!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you, Colin! It was a lot of fun having the family out exploring. I'm always happy to keep us out a bit longer as long we're having fun, and seeing strand feeding up close is a treat onto itself! Really appreciate you all coming out and hope to see you again soon!
We had a lovely day out on the water with Captain Mark. He was great with our three kids, and we saw literally a dozen or more dolphins. I like the private option because then we didn't have to wait on anyone and the experience felt more personal. It was wonderful- highly recommend if you are in HHI!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you, Janice! It was wonderful having the family out on the water finding dolphins. I agree that having a private tour is the way to go; having the boat to yourselves and free to personalize the tour (if someone is more interested in birds, or history, etc). Really enjoyed having you all out and look forward to seeing you again!
Highly recommend! Fun for the whole family! We will absolutely book again next year! Captain Mark was the best! Our 4yr old had a blast!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much, Catie! So glad to hear everyone had fun! Truly appreciate the kind words and I will look forward to seeing everyone next year!
This was a great tour. Saw several dolphins during the 90 minute trip. The captain, Mark, was fantastic. Was knowledgeable and was very personable. Made you feel very comfortable. Additionally, he provided excellent tips for travel around town. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you, Jonathan! I'm glad the dolphins were so cooperative during our tour. There's a lot to do on our little island and I'm happy to hear you made good use some of my suggestions. Looking forward to having you all back again next season!
We had such a nice time!! We saw a lot of dolphins and Captain Mike was very informative. Highly recommend!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you, Hope! It was a pleasure having you all out on the water exploring. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
We had a great time. Learning about the ecosystem and seeing several dolphins. The kids are huge Wild Kratts fans and they felt like they were part of a nature show. It was very interactive and such a great experience! Also took some great advice after and had some yummy sno cones after. Could ride your bikes easily to it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much, Kelley! I’m thrilled that your family had such a great time on the water. Hearing that your kids felt like they were part of a Wild Kratts episode absolutely made my day! That’s exactly the kind of hands-on, interactive nature experience I hope to create for families!
It was great sharing some of the Lowcountry’s wildlife and ecosystem with you, and I’m glad you were able to put some of the recommendations to good use afterward.
Thank you for choosing Cross Island Cruises and for sharing your experience. I hope to see your family again on your next visit to Hilton Head!
It was a wonderful excursion for the private dolphin cruise with Captain Mark. He was in contact with us up until we got on to the boat. He was great with my 4 year old and 7 year old. He gave great info about Hilton head, the sound and its ecosystem. We saw about 30-40 dolphins and he took us to his crab trap to see a blue crab and a stone crab. He took us to the “island of a million shells” which my 7 year old was captivated by. I would recommend this excursion to all!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you, Ryan! It was a pleasure having your family aboard, and I'm so glad your children had such a great time. Watching kids get excited about dolphins, crabs, and exploring the shell shore is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Thank you for your kind recommendation and for choosing Cross Island Cruises. I hope to welcome your family back for another adventure the next time you're visiting Hilton Head Island!
Captain Mark is fun, friendly and knowledgeable! We saw about a dozen dolphins and other sea creatures!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you, Colleen! So appreciate your kind words! It was great having you out on the water, and I look forward to seeing you again soon!
Mark was WONDERFUL! He was very knowledgeable and very respectful of the wildlife and other boaters. I would recommend him to anyone asking and will definitely rebook if we return to Hilton Head Island, SC!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Abbie! Really enjoyed having you all out on the water with me. I appreciate the kind words! Hope to see you again soon!
Excellent experience! Captain Mark was fantastic and the wildlife did not disappoint. Would highly recommend and will also love to do this excursion again.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Leslie! Really appreciate you coming out on the water exploring with me. Looking forward to seeing you again!
We had a great experience! Saw a bunch of dolphins and Mark was very friendly and knowledgeable of the wildlife around Hilton Head!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Brian! It was great getting the opportunity to meet the family and get you in front of some cool wildlife! Really appreciate the kind words and look forward to doing it again soon!
I cannot give enough praise about Captain Mark. He was knowledgeable and fun. My grandson is 11 and talks a lot! Mark was patient and engaging with him. Let him drive the boat and kept him entertained the entire trip. Will definitely book him again if we come back to Hilton Head.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the kind review, Nicole!
I had an absolute blast spending time with you all. One of the best parts of this job is seeing the waterways through the eyes of a curious kid, and he certainly kept me on my toes!
I'm glad he enjoyed getting a turn at the helm and that we were able to make the trip fun and engaging for him. Every tour is a little different, and I always enjoy answering questions, sharing stories, and helping young explorers connect with the wildlife and waterways around Hilton Head.
Reall appreciate you all coming out on the water with me, and I look forward to seeing you again soon!
Captain Mark is a super nice, super knowledgeable captain. He made the trip fun for everyone. Aged 9-75. We saw dolphins up close, his crab pot and crab catch. Beautiful scenery. History of area. A side trip for kids to get shells. A very personal tour tailored to our group. Price is extremely reasonable. You’d pay the same price for a big impersonal tour in a boat that couldn’t go places Captain Marks boat can go. Highly recommend !
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Mary!
It was a pleasure spending time with your family and showing everyone a little bit of what makes Hilton Head's waterways so special. One of the things I enjoy most about private tours is being able to tailor the experience to each group rather than following a one-size-fits-all script. Whether it's wildlife, photography, history, shell collecting, or just enjoying the scenery, every trip ends up being a little different.
Thank you for recognizing the value of a small, personal experience. I truly appreciate your support and hope to see you back on the water the next time you're visiting!
Captain Mark is incredible. His knowledge of the area and how he speaks with children is wonderful. It has been the highlight of our trip. Would recommend to anyone!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, Morgan! It was great getting the opportunity to get you all out on the water. I appreciate the kind words and look forward to seeing you again soon!
We wanted to try something different during our visit to Hilton Head Island, so we booked a dolphin excursion—and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Captain Mark was fantastic from start to finish.
Our original tour was scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, but a couple of days beforehand, Captain Mark called to let us know the weather might be rough that morning. He offered to move us to Monday instead. Thank goodness we took his advice. Monday was gorgeous, while Tuesday turned out cold and windy. The switch made all the difference.
Once we got underway, Mark shared great insight about the area and the dolphins that gather there. We spotted several right away, including a few that came surprisingly close to the boat. We saw multiple small pods throughout the tour, and we always felt completely safe. Mark made the whole experience fun, relaxed, and memorable for everyone.
I highly recommend his tour—you won’t be disappointed.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, Rocco! I really appreciate your kind words and your flexibility on getting out on the water. This week has been really up and down with the weather. Dolphins have been everywhere lately, making my job pretty easy! Really appreciate you guys coming out and look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Captain Mark was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about Hilton Head and the wildlife. We had a great time. The private tour was perfect. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, Michele! Really appreciate the kind words and I'm so glad everyone enjoyed themselves! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Captain Mark was very personal, friendly, informative and went the extra mile to make it an enjoyable trip. We saw lots of dolphins!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you Rebecca! Really appreciate you being flexible with our scheduling this week. Couldn't have asked for a better morning on the water! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Such an amazing boat ride! The views were beautiful and so peaceful. The captain was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience even better.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Lemeshia! Really enjoyed getting the opportunity to show you guys around the water! Such a perfect day for it. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
Captain Mark provided my family a wonderful dolphin tour! He catered it to my young girls by not only showing them dolphins but also showing us a blue crab he caught in his personal trap and taking us to an island of shells. He is very knowledgeable of the area and dolphins. He also did a great job communicating ahead of time to reschedule us due to weather. He’s a great captain and we highly recommend his tours!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Kelly! It was wonderful getting the opportunity to get you guys out on the water this week. I really appreciate you all being flexible with the weather. I really enjoyed being able to show off some interesting areas of the water for the girls. Looking forward seeing you back again soon!
We had an amazing time on our private dolphin tour with Captain Mark! From start to finish, everything was smooth, relaxing, and so much fun. We saw dolphins up close, which was absolutely unforgettable.
One of the best parts—no motion sickness at all! Captain Mark made sure the ride was comfortable and enjoyable the entire time. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience feel special for all of us.
Highly recommend booking with him if you’re looking for a memorable and stress-free adventure on the water!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Johnny! The winds this week have definitely made our outings adventurous! Seeing dolphins up close never gets old, and I’m happy we were able to make it a smooth, comfortable ride for everyone (especially with no motion sickness, that’s always a win!). I appreciate the kind words and recommendation.
Hope to have you back out again for another adventure next time you’re in town!
Lots of fun seeing nature! We saw many dolphins including mothers and babies. Our kids had a great experience. We felt safe the whole time. Captain Mark was very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Marie! So glad to hear the kids enjoyed themselves. Really appreciate you guys choosing my tour, hope to see you again soon!
We had an incredible time on the 90-Minute Private Dolphin Tour in Hilton Head Island. From the moment we got out on the water, it felt like a special experience. The captain was knowledgeable, friendly, and knew exactly where to go.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Michael! Couldn't have asked for a better day this time of year. Really enjoyed having you all onboard and look forward to seeing you again!
Captain Mark was awesome. Easy to communicate with and an overall great guide. Loved the narrative and discussion. He expertly guided us to different neighborhoods and also found plenty of dolphins. Couldn’t be happier with the choice. Definitely a repeat and way beats a standard tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Matthew! It was great meeting you and the entire family, really enjoyed getting the opportunity to show you guys around the water. Very glad the dolphins were cooperating! Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
Capt Mark knows and loves this area! He gave interesting, in depth answers to all sorts of questions about the history, the creatures, geography, the ecosystems, the development of life on Hilton Head! All four of us found Mark and the trip a delight!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Margie! It was wonderful getting a chance to meet you all. Really enjoyed the questions and the dialog during the tour! Hope to see you all again in warmer weather!
Captain Mark was a great host, knowledgeable about local wildlife and ecosystem, and very personable. We would highly recommend 👌
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you, Lisa! It was great meeting you and your family and getting an opportunity to show you guys around the island's waters. Looking forward to seeing you next season!
We had a wonderful trip out with Mark to experience the dolphins, the waters and islands in the area. We took the 4;00 time slot which gave us an opportunity for a beautiful sunset too.
Mark navigated us well to ensure we saw plenty of dolphin, told us about their numbers, feeding and hunting habits. He answered lots of questions about the tide, salt marsh, and oyster shell shoreline.
We will donut again when we are back. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for coming out, Jeanelle! Really enjoyed getting the opportunity to show off the area to you all. Really appreciate including me into your family vacation plans. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
A wonderful tour of the low country and dolphins!! Mark was an exceptional host and was very knowledgeable of the area.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you, Stephen! I really appreciate you including my tour into your vacation plans. Had a great time with you all and look forward to seeing you soon!
Captain Mark was awesome, and we had a great time! We saw about 20 dolphins, and learned some cool things about the animals and the island that we didn’t know. The kids had a blast! Will definitely book again when we come back!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you, Joseph! Awesome time out with the family. Love it when the dolphins are out in full display! Looking forward to seeing you again next season!
From $289.00
per group (up to 6)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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