90-Minute Dolphin and Nature Tour of Hilton Head
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Hilton Head Island, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Cruising the salt-marsh ecosystem in search of dolphins is a popular activity in Hilton Head, but unlike other similar tours, this dolphin and nature tour uses small boats so wildlife isn’t scared away easily. Sail along the water from Shelter Cove Marina, down Broad Creek, and into Calibogue Sound, while keeping a lookout for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, birds, and other animals that call the area home.
- This dolphin and nature tour gets you off the beach and on the water
- Hilton Head Island is known to have active populations of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins
- Small boats don’t intimidate the wildlife, making sightings common
- Easily fit this tour into your plans with multiple departure times offered
What's Included
- USCG Liscenced Captain - Guide
- Boat cruise
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Hilton Head, Hilton Head, South Carolina
We meet all guests in Shelter Cove Marina at our Outside kiosk. The address is 1 Shelter Cove Lane, located near the Ship Store and Ela's Grill.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Outside Hilton Head (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Not all seats have shade
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Abra_H
Riley was very knowledgeable about the area, wildlife, and the vegetation. He was very friendly and accommodating to all onboard.
Reviews
4.9
based on 236 reviews
Howard_S, Feb 2026
Excellent educational experience on waterway and all living in it, and the ecosystem of the area. Dean was very knowledgeable and enjoyable to listen to.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Sounds like a peaceful day on the water with captain Dean! Thank you for sharing your lovely experience in the salt marsh!
Jonathan_A, Jan 2026
It was a great time! Our guide, Hunter, was informative and was careful with us on the choppy water this morning. 10 out of 10 would recommend for others.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
The best way to start your day is on the water exploring the salt marsh! We are happy we could share this experience with you!
Chris_M, Nov 2025
We saw so many pods today and they were playing and jumping captain Dan was great along with his first mate
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Sounds like a great time on the water during your stay! Thank you for your 5-star review!
Lee_M, Sep 2025
This dolphin and estuary tour was in the river channel (not the ocean). It was very informative and relaxing. We saw groups of dolphins. Captain Dan provided good narratives.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dolphins are such magical creatures and a highlight member of the lowcountry family. Sound like a great time with captain Dan!
Joanne_J, Sep 2025
We had a great time. Our captain Patrick was friendly, knowledgeable of the area. We loved meeting Champ, his yellow lab. It was a great trip saw some dolphins and pelicans. My husband loves pelicans. Patrick took us over to a dock we spotted that was loaded with pelicans resting. We got some wonderful photos. It was a wonderful trip and we highly recommend it.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We are thrilled to hear about your lovely time on the water with Patrick and Champ! We hope to see you again on your next trip to Hilton Head
Cynthia_H, Sep 2025
Good way to see the eco environment of the island. Captain Riley knowledgeable regarding environment and wildlife.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your review! Captain Riley has a passion for the lowcountry, and we are glad you got to experience the lovely ecosystem!
Nancy_R, Sep 2025
What a fun morning we had! The weather was perfect, we saw lots of dolphins and birds, and Captain Dan was very knowledgeable. Thanks for a great experience!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Sounds like a lovely morning on the water! Thank you for your 5-star review, and we are happy to hear captain Dan could help may your tour top notch!
David_M, Sep 2025
Crew very friendly and well informed- just what we wanted - also flexible as we cancelled initial cruise due to rain but had perfect weather next day
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We are happy to hear the weather ended up working out, and we were able to get you out on the water!
David_G, Jun 2025
Informative, relaxing, and the dolphin sightings were great! Captain Dan did a wonderful job guiding us.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for the great review! We're glad you found the tour informative and relaxing, and enjoyed the dolphin sightings. Captain Dan will be happy to hear your kind words. Hope to see you again soon!
Abra_H, May 2025
Riley was very knowledgeable about the area, wildlife, and the vegetation. He was very friendly and accommodating to all onboard.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We’re glad Riley’s knowledge and friendly, accommodating nature made your trip enjoyable. We appreciate you sharing your experience!
Nancy_C, May 2025
Use bathroom before you go. Enjoy the scenery. Thankful for water provided. Knowledgeable captain. Open to any questions,
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks for the helpful tips and kind words! We’re glad you appreciated the knowledgeable captain and enjoyed the scenery with the water provided. Hope you had a great time!
Deana_I, Apr 2025
Had a wonderful day with Matt and the the dolphins really showed out for us super wonderful time loved
Response from Host, Apr 2025
It sounds like Matt made your day unforgettable! How amazing that the dolphins were so active—what a perfect way to experience the water! So happy you had such a wonderful time!
Jennifer_R, Apr 2025
Captain Matt was fantastic. Very informative. We were lucky enough to have to dolphins come up right along side our boat and got to take some awesome pictures and videos.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
That sounds like an unforgettable experience! We’re thrilled you had such a great time with Captain Matt and got to see dolphins up close. What a perfect moment to capture on camera. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!
PATRICIA_M, Apr 2025
Fun time with family. Our captain was great and told us lots of interesting facts about dolphins. We saw lots of dolphins!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thanks for the great feedback! We’re so glad you and your family had such a fun time out on the water. It’s always a treat to see so many dolphins, and it sounds like your captain made the trip even more enjoyable with all the interesting facts. Hope we get to welcome you all back again soon!
LAUREL_P, Apr 2025
We had a knowledgeable guide and learned lots about HHI nature and ecosystem. We had a great time! Saw many dolphins.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
We're so glad you had a great time and enjoyed learning about Hilton Head's nature and ecosystem! It's always exciting to see dolphins out on the water. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you back soon!
Todd_H, Mar 2025
The experience was awesome and fun! Captain Dean was very knowledgeable and we got to see dolphins up close. I would highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for the kind words! We’re so glad you had an awesome time with Captain Dean, he really knows how to make the experience both fun and educational. Seeing dolphins up close is always such a treat! We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again on the water soon!
Betsy_B, Mar 2025
Captain Riley was the best! Very knowledgeable and personable! Would do this again! Very easy to book and also to check in.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for the kind words! We're so glad to hear you had a great experience with Captain Riley. He'll be thrilled to know he made such a positive impression. We love hearing that the booking and check-in process was smooth too. We'd love to have you back for another trip anytime!
Diana_H, Mar 2025
We were lucky to have beautiful weather and saw lots of dolphins with Captain Tim! The ride was more exciting than I expected since he had to go fast at times to get us to where we'd see the dolphins and it got a little rocky, but we felt safe throughout. Even without dolphins I think it would have been worthwhile as we saw beautiful sights and lots of birds. Traveling with a toddler, they let us store our car seat and had a life jacket ready for her. Highly recommend this experience!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for sharing this lovely review! We're so happy to hear you had beautiful weather and plenty of dolphin sightings with Captain Tim. It’s great to know the ride was both exciting and safe, and that our team was able to accommodate your little one comfortably. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you all back again soon!
Linda_W, Mar 2025
We were lucky and had two small pods that we saw right away and followed for a while. Captain Dan was very knowledgeable and fun.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! It's awesome that you got to see two pods of dolphins up close. Captain Dan sounds like the perfect guide to make the trip even more enjoyable. We’re so glad you had a great time!
Adriana_C, Mar 2025
Our boat ride with Captain Dean was great! He guided us safely and shared with us his love for Hilton Head island. We saw dolphins, birds and learned a lot about this ecosystem.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for sharing! We're so glad you had a great time with Captain Dean, he truly loves sharing his knowledge and passion for Hilton Head Island. Seeing dolphins and birds up close while learning about the local ecosystem makes for a memorable experience. We hope you'll join us again soon!
William_K, Mar 2025
Great time. Very informative. Extra time was spent by the Capt to find the dolphins and educate all.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for your review! We're thrilled you had a great time and found the tour informative. Our captains love going the extra mile to ensure guests have the best experience possible. We hope to see you on another adventure soon!
SallyAnn_S, Mar 2025
This was a wonderful way to see the dolphins & the beauty of HHI! We were lucky to get a spring-like, blue -sky day in early March. Our Captain was great & he knew lots of fun historical tidbits about the waterways, homes on the water, & HH. We highly recommend!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for your review! It sounds like you had a fantastic day out on the water, and we're thrilled you got to enjoy both the dolphins and the beautiful scenery of Hilton Head. A spring-like day in early March is definitely a bonus! We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you on another tour soon!
Abigail_W, Mar 2025
This activity was a great time we saw dolphins and learned a lot! Dan our guide made the experience even better with his excitement and positive attitude he even turned the boat around the save a little girls hat that had fallen off!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad you had a great time spotting dolphins and learning along the way. Dan’s enthusiasm and kindness truly make the tour special. What a great moment saving the little girl's hat! We hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Rosanne_R, Feb 2025
Although we didn't see any dolphins, Sebastian was a delightful captain. He was friendly, very knowledgeable and entertaining. We would book him again...in the summer!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that Sebastian made your trip enjoyable with his knowledge and great personality. Hopefully, next time the dolphins will make an appearance. We’d love to have you back for another adventure in the summer!
Janice_H, Feb 2025
Wonderful afternoon on the water. Captain was informative and very cordial. Bottled water was provided. Easy to board and disembark th boat.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your review! We're thrilled to hear you had a wonderful afternoon on the water. It’s great to know your captain was both informative and welcoming, and that you found the experience smooth and enjoyable. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again soon!
margomagoo51, Jan 2025
Capt Dean was so fun and entertaining! We learned a lot, got to see several dolphins. It was well worth the tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a fun and informative time with Captain Dean. Seeing dolphins up close always makes for a special experience, and we're glad the tour was well worth it for you. We hope to see you again for another adventure on the water soon!
toorigian2074, Dec 2024
Our tour to see dolphins was great and yes we did see quite a few!… thanks to our tour guide and captain this day we had a terrific time learning about the area as well!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had a terrific time on the dolphin tour and enjoyed learning about the area. It’s always a treat to spot dolphins, and we’re glad the captain and guide made the experience memorable. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Denise_W, Nov 2024
The day was beautiful and it was nice that the boat was a smaller boat and you were able to see very well. We got to see some dolphins somewhat close and the marsh itself was beautiful!!! The captain was very cordial and informative!!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for your lovely review! We're thrilled you enjoyed the intimate setting of the smaller boat and the beautiful views of the marsh. Seeing dolphins up close must have been such a treat! We're glad you found the captain both cordial and informative. We hope to welcome you back for another great outing soon!
David_R, Nov 2024
It was amazing. We got to see the dolphins close up. The captain was very knowledgeable in the area and the animals.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for the great feedback! We're so glad you enjoyed seeing the dolphins up close and that the captain's knowledge added to the experience. Hope to have you back for more amazing moments on the water!
Jan_S, Oct 2024
Captain Dean was a weath of information about the Bottlenose Atlantic Dolphins as well as the ecosystem surrounding Hilton Head. It was fun and informative and you could tell he loves sharing his knowledge of the area. I would highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your tour with Captain Dean. His passion for the Bottlenose Dolphins and the local ecosystem truly shines through, and we're happy to hear it made the experience fun and informative. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon for another adventure!
From $47.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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90-Minute Dolphin and Nature Tour of Hilton Head
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