All-Inclusive Sandbar Safari with Dolphin Playground Encounter
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Key West, USA
+22
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Spend a stunning afternoon soaking up the sights of the Gulf of Mexico, chilling out at a sandbar, and watching dolphins at the Florida Marine Sanctuary. With the help of a fun and informative crew, you’ll explore the Floridian sea while your guides tell you all about the area’s history and wildlife. Enjoy lunch as well as unlimited beer, wine, and mimosas on your trip—just remember to drink responsibly.
- Half-day boat tour with dolphin spotting and sandbar chilling
- Guides to share facts about the area
- Fun for families and friends alike
- Unlimited draft beer, wine, and mimosas
What's Included
- LunchThe menu includes Fresh Local Cuban Sandwiches Fried Chicken Tenders Veggie Wraps, Fruit & Veggie Trays Cheese & Cracker Platters Pita & Hummus Platters Beverages, Draft Beer & Wine
- Alcoholic BeveragesThis trip includes unlimited draft beer, mimosas & selection of wine.
- Soda/PopUnlimited soda
- Dolphin Playground – Watch dolphins play in their natural habitat up close.
- Secluded Sandbar – Relax on a picturesque sandbar with stunning turquoise waters.
- Swim, Snorkel, or Sunbathe – Enjoy water activities or simply lounge in the sun.
- Knowledgeable Guides – Learn about local wildlife and ecosystems from expert guides.
- Lily Pad Included - Float effortlessly as you sip on your favorite beverage on one of our lily pads
- Assortment of Water Toys - Toss a football, grab a snorkel or enjoy any of the multiple water toys at the sandbar
- Restroom on board
- Gratuities
- Towels & Sunscreen
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 201 William St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
Our check-in location is at 201 William Street, Key West FL 33040. We are attached to the waterfront brewery. Please arrive 45 minutes prior to departure to check in which will provide enough time to go through our check in procedures.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.11:00 am
Itinerary
1
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Jewfish Basin
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Key West (Pass By)
South Beach, Key West, Fl (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please arrive 60 minutes prior to departure to check in which will provide enough time to go through our check in procedures.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 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
This was a fantastic laid back day on the boat! Service was OUTSTANDING! Captain Madison and crew Caroline and Cathy made us all feel so relaxed and pampered. They were professional, efficient, friendly and just outright wonderful. If you are looking to just relax on a beautiful boat with gorgeous scenery and be waited on while playing on a sandbar, this is for you! We also saw so many dolphins and they swam right along the boat. Capt. Madison and crew were so knowledgeable and fun!!! The whole family had the best day ever in Key West!
Reviews
4.8
based on 678 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Incredible experience. Despite unfortunate weather Captain Madison and crew remained professional and polite. Major shout out to Sidney who pulled the anchor up by hand at least 8 times! Captain and crew were wonderful and highly recommend this trip!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you had an incredible experience despite the weather. Captain Madison and the crew will be thrilled to hear your kind words, and we’ll definitely give Sidney a special shout-out for all that anchor duty! We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to have you back with us for another adventure in Key West!
This was a fun day. Low key relaxing and enjoying the ocean. The crew was great and answered any questions we had.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for joining us for a day on the water! We’re so glad you had a fun, relaxing time enjoying the ocean. It’s great to hear that our crew was helpful and happy to answer your questions. We hope to see you again on your next visit to Key West! 🌴🌊
Really enjoyed this trip. Saw lots of dolphins and the sandbar was amazing. The crew couldn't do enough for you.
Will do it again if we are in the area in the future.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the dolphin sightings and had a great time relaxing at the sandbar. Our crew loves going above and beyond to make sure everyone has an unforgettable day on the water. We truly appreciate the kind words and hope to have you back for another adventure the next time you’re in Key West! 🐬🌴☀️
Captain Lola and crew were amazing. Great energy, friendly and fun to be around with. Watching the dolphins from afar was another incredible experience of itself. Loved it. During our boat trip we went to a secluded sandbar spot, it was amazing and we had it all to ourselves for a few hours. Open bar and all you can eat delicious sandwiches, veggie wraps and chicken tenders.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Captain Lola and the crew made your day on the water so much fun. 🐬🌴 It sounds like you had the perfect Key West experience—from watching the dolphins to enjoying a secluded sandbar all to yourselves, plus plenty of delicious food and drinks! We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another adventure! 🌊☀️
Stellar staff and beautiful day with dolphins and swimming - and floating - out at the warm & clear sand bar!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had a stellar day on the water and enjoyed swimming, floating, and spending time with the dolphins at the sandbar. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with our crew. We hope to see you back in Key West for another adventure soon!
My family and I were really looking forward to this excursion, which makes the experience even more disappointing. Before the excursion, I specifically messaged the company and explained that we were arriving on a cruise ship. I asked whether we would have enough time to get off the ship and make it to the excursion, and I was assured that we would.
We made it a priority to get off the ship as quickly as possible and were actually among the first passengers off. We immediately headed to the meeting location, only to find out that the excursion had already left without us.
What bothers me most is that I feel like I was intentionally misled. The company knew we were cruise passengers, knew what time our ship was scheduled to dock, and still told me we would have no problem making it. Had they been upfront and told me the timing was too close, I never would have booked it.
I requested a refund since we never even had the opportunity to participate, but they refused and told me I was outside their cancellation policy. This wasn’t a situation where we simply changed our minds or showed up late because of something we did. We relied on the information the company gave us before booking.
If the company knows what time cruise ships dock and knows passengers cannot realistically make the excursion on time, then I don’t understand why they offer or recommend this excursion to cruise passengers in the first place.
We lost our money and, more importantly, missed an experience that my family had genuinely been excited about. I would strongly recommend that other cruise passengers get the meeting time and the company’s assurance in writing before booking, because our experience was extremely disappointing.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re sorry to hear that this guest was disappointed, but we would like to clarify what was communicated and how we handle cruise ship guests.
This is not how we work or communicate with our guests, and we want to make sure future customers have accurate information when planning their excursions. The guest contacted us to ask about shuttle services, the best way to reach our location from the cruise port, and whether the boat would wait for them. Our team responded:
“We do not offer shuttle services for our sandbar trips. The cruise port is only about a 7–10-minute walk. Captain does not wait for anyone; guests need to be checked in before boarding time. Boarding will not start until 10:45am.”
At no point did we promise that the boat would wait or assure the guest that they would definitely make the excursion. In fact, we specifically explained that the captain does not wait for guests and that they must be checked in before boarding.
Guests arriving by cruise ship are responsible for allowing enough time between their ship’s arrival, disembarkation, and their excursion reservation. We always do our best to provide estimated walking times, boarding information, and other details to help guests plan accordingly.
We also understand that this reservation was made through a third-party booking platform, whose 24-hour cancellation policy applied to the reservation. Since the guest did not arrive for the scheduled excursion, it was considered a no-show and fell outside the applicable cancellation window.
We’re always happy to answer questions and help guests plan their arrival, but we cannot guarantee that a vessel will wait for passengers who have not checked in by the required boarding time. We hope this clarification helps future cruise passengers plan their excursions with confidence and avoid any misunderstanding about arrival and boarding requirements.
Great day on the water. Saw dolphins and relaxed on the sandbar. The crew was awesome. Kathy and Kayla were always right there for drinks or fun facts. Captain John took care of us. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review! 🐬☀️ We’re so happy you had a great day on the water, enjoyed the dolphins and sandbar, and felt well taken care of by our crew. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Kathy, Kayla, and Captain John! 🍹🏝️ We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you back in Key West again soon!
Amazing, beautiful sights with relaxing atmosphere and incredible experience, highly recommend! Ship crew super down to earth and knowledgeable, thank you for everything!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the beautiful sights, relaxing atmosphere, and your experience with our crew. It means a lot to know that their knowledge and down-to-earth approach made your time with us even more special. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back again soon!
The Sandbar Cruise was great! Cpt. Madison, Emily, and Sydney were the best team. They were knowledgeable, transparent, and attentive. Everything was well organized, the team clearly crew what they were doing and cared about making it an enjoyable experience. 10/10
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the amazing 10/10 review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the Sandbar Cruise, and that Captain Madison, Emily, and Sydney made your experience so enjoyable. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with the team. We hope to see you back on the water soon!
We had a blast! Logan, Logan and Kelsey were amazing! We brought our 4 and 6 year olds and loved it!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the awesome review! We’re so glad you and your little ones had a blast with Logan, Logan, and Kelsey! We love hearing that the whole family enjoyed the experience. We hope to see you all again soon!
Unfortunately due to weather our adventure was cancelled. I would love to give this a higher rating but I have nothing to base it on.
Best time ever. The crew were so attentive & made sure we had a great time. Highly recommend & will do again!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had the best time ever on our All-Inclusive Sandbar Safari. It's wonderful to know our crew was attentive and made sure you had an amazing experience from start to finish. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are excited to hear you'll be joining us again. We can't wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable day on the water!
If you’re drinking hard liquor just know they offer bottom of the barrel quality liquor. Other than that everything was perfect!!!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear you had a great time overall and that everything else was perfect. We appreciate your feedback about the liquor selection, as guest input helps us continue to improve our experiences. We hope to welcome you back for another fun day on the water soon!
It's a lot of fun, a lot of sun, and we got to see dolphins! The captain and crew were great. Very attentive and very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had so much fun on our All-Inclusive Sandbar Safari and that you got to see dolphins—that always makes the trip extra special! It's wonderful to know our captain and crew made such a positive impression with their attentiveness and knowledge. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another sunny adventure in Key West soon!
Trip was nice. Great water, a little rocky in the sand. Suggest bringing water shoes. Crew was great and very attentive.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review! We're glad you enjoyed the beautiful water and that our crew took great care of you throughout the trip. Thanks as well for the helpful tip about bringing water shoes—the natural sandbar can be a little rocky in some areas, and we're sure future guests will appreciate the suggestion. We hope to welcome you back for another fun day on the water in Key West!
By far the best time ever. Capt John & the crew on Miss Lora were absolutely amazing. The service in the water was great. John took us to a beautiful spot with lots of Dolphins.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear you had the best time ever aboard the Miss Lora with Captain John and the crew. It's wonderful to know their outstanding service and hospitality made your trip so memorable. We're especially glad Captain John was able to take you to a beautiful spot where you saw lots of dolphins—that's always a guest favorite! We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable adventure in Key West.
Dolphins and sandbar were such a great relaxing trip. The crew were the best always friendly and go above and beyond to make sure your trip is fun and exciting! Unlimited drinks and food!! Definitely a must do!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your amazing review! We're so happy to hear you had such a relaxing and fun trip enjoying the dolphins and the beautiful sandbar. It means a lot to know our crew went above and beyond to make your experience exciting and memorable. We're also glad you enjoyed the unlimited drinks and food! Thank you for calling us a "must do" in Key West—we truly appreciate your recommendation and can't wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure!
This was a terrific experience. Boat ride was enjoyable, drinks and food delicious. The sand bar was refreshing and pleasant. Floated and cooling in the sun. Dolphin observation was so fun to watch. As a solo traveler I had no issue - great for the solo traveler
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the boat ride, food, drinks, sandbar, and dolphin watching. It's especially great to hear you had such a positive experience as a solo traveler. We hope to have you aboard again soon!
Captain John, Kate, and Alicia took care of us all wonderfully. We’re ran a little late due to a faulty parking kiosk, but they held the boat for us. They offered plenty of food and drinks, brought them to us while letting us swim and play on a sandbar for 2 hours, then found a pod of 13 dolphins we could watch frolic as Alicia told us all about them. Best dolphin cruise we’ve ever been on - thank you so much, worth every penny!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the amazing review! We're so glad you made it despite the parking kiosk issues, and we're happy our team was able to accommodate you. Captain John, Kate, and Alicia will be thrilled to hear your kind words! It sounds like you had an incredible day enjoying the sandbar, great food and drinks, and an unforgettable dolphin encounter with a pod of 13 dolphins. We're especially happy Alicia's knowledge made the experience even more memorable. Thank you for choosing Sunset Watersports—we truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on your next trip to Key West!
The crew was very attentive, plenty of food & drinks. The captain eagerly located dolphins for us to see & the sandbar was gorgeous. I’ve been on lots of these excursions but this one by far is the best value.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such a great experience with our Sandbar Safari. It's great to know our attentive crew, delicious food and drinks, beautiful sandbar, and the captain's efforts to find dolphins made your day so enjoyable. Hearing that you've been on many similar excursions and consider ours the best value means a great deal to us. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable day on the water!
Such a fun experience! We saw so many dolphins and had a lot of fun on the sandbar! Would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your great review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a fun time on our Sandbar Safari and enjoyed seeing so many dolphins. There's nothing better than spending time at the beautiful sandbar and watching dolphins in their natural habitat! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure the next time you're in Key West.
The captain and crew of the Lady Lora were brilliant. Great service and a great day. We saw so many dolphins going out and coming back. Time at the sandbar was just right and I was very impressed by the crew member walking around the seabed with a floating bar, filling up people’s drinks and not spilling a drop 😀 the other guests were a joy! Was shocked though at the number of passengers who did not tip. The crew deserved better after the great hospitality they provided.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great day aboard the Lady Lora. It's wonderful that you were able to see so many dolphins, enjoy the perfect amount of time at the sandbar, and experience the exceptional service from our crew.
We're especially glad you noticed the floating bar service at the sandbar—that crew member will be delighted to hear they made such an impression! We'll be sure to share your kind words with the captain and crew, who work hard to provide a fun and memorable experience for every guest.
Thank you for recognizing their hospitality and dedication. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back aboard for another unforgettable day on the water!
Five hours of sun and fun.Saw dolphins,food and drinks were plentiful and good Staff knowledgeable and very friendly Time on sand bar perfect.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so glad you had a fun-filled day on the water. It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed seeing dolphins, the food and drinks, and that our knowledgeable, friendly staff helped make the experience even better. We're also happy the time at the sandbar was just right. We appreciate you choosing Sunset Watersports and hope to see you again on your next visit to Key West!
We went for my 21st birthday and really could not have asked for a better experience. Our bartenders Terry and Emily were SO nice and we seriously left with no complaints!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for celebrating your 21st birthday with us! 🎉 We're honored you chose Sunset Watersports for such a special occasion. We're so happy to hear you had an amazing experience and that Terry and Emily helped make your day even more memorable with their friendly service. We'll be sure to share your kind words with them. Thank you for your review, and we hope to celebrate with you again on your next trip to Key West!
Everything was perfekt!
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Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review! We're so happy to hear everything was perfect! We truly appreciate you choosing Sunset Watersports for your Sandbar Safari adventure. We hope to welcome you back for another fun-filled day on the water the next time you're in Key West!
This was an amazing experience got up close with dolphins and crew was amazing!
Memorable for the whole family.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear your family had such an amazing experience on our All-Inclusive Sandbar Safari. Getting to see dolphins up close is always a special moment, and we're so glad our crew helped make the trip memorable for everyone. We truly appreciate you choosing Sunset Watersports and hope to welcome your family back for another unforgettable adventure in Key West!
My experience on this Dolphin and Sandbar was absolutely amazing. I recommend you take your family or friends and go. The Captain and his team is amazing. The drinks and food was great. I will definitely do this every time I come to Key West.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your amazing review! We're so happy to hear you had such a fantastic time on our Dolphin and Sandbar Safari. It's wonderful to know you enjoyed the crew, the food, and the drinks, and that the experience made such a lasting impression. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we can't wait to welcome you back the next time you're in Key West for another unforgettable adventure!
It was a beautiful day. The boat and its crew were amazing. We saw dolphins and swam in the sandbar for 2 hours. They served drinks and had food. Very accommodating…def get your money worth. I would highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such a beautiful day on the water. It's great to know you enjoyed seeing the dolphins, relaxing at the sandbar, and that our crew helped make the experience so memorable. We're also glad you enjoyed the food and drinks and felt the trip was a great value. Thank you for your recommendation—we truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Key West!
Excellent adventure The crew was great and helpful The food was yummy and the drinks were plenty. My best day at Keywest!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an excellent adventure and that our crew helped make it your best day in Key West! It's great to know you enjoyed the food, drinks, and the overall experience. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable trip soon!
The Captain and crew were very good and trustworthy . Everything from check til the end of excursion was organized. The boat was so clean! The food was good and we saw lots of dolphins! At the sand bar, they made sure everyone is safe and they even continued to bartend in the water. You can tell they want everyone to have a good time and provide great service. Thank you Captain John, Kathy and Nic! You're absolutely amazing!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're delighted to hear that everything, from check-in to the end of your excursion, was well organized and that you appreciated our clean boat, great food, and the opportunity to see so many dolphins. It's wonderful to know Captain John, Kathy, and Nic went above and beyond to keep everyone safe while making sure you had a fun and memorable experience. We'll be sure to share your kind words with them. Thank you for choosing Sunset Watersports, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
From $150.45
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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All-Inclusive Sandbar Safari with Dolphin Playground Encounter
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