2.5 Hour Shell Key Island Adventure Including Dolphins And Shells
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
St Petersburg, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Cruise to the protected shores of Shell Key Preserve on a guided boat tour focused on wildlife viewing and coastal exploration. Travel with a captain aboard a USCG-inspected vessel as you navigate through mangroves and open waters known for frequent dolphin sightings. Enjoy time ashore to explore one of the area’s most pristine barrier islands, great for all ages, with BYOB permitted before returning comfortably by boat.
- View St. Petersburg from a new perspective
- Access a secluded island reachable only by boat
- Increase chances of dolphin sightings in active habitats
- Combine wildlife viewing with relaxing beach time
What's Included
- Cooler
- Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 4630 29th Ave S, Gulfport, FL 33711, USA
Arrival time is 30 minutes prior to departure time. If you are using Uber/Lyft, plan accordingly. When you arrive at the marina, look for the tall American flags on the dock. Calypso Cat is our boat and check in. The boat has a large phone number on the side 727-871-BOAT. Call if you need guidance.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 49 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
ShellyG
This was such a great tour. The tour guides were so friendly and knowledgeable about the wildlife. I'm a local and plan to do this tour often. It was such a fun day. Shell key was so beautiful as well.
Reviews
4.9
based on 111 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Melissa_f, Jul 2026
Amazing experience, I highly recommend. We got to see dolphins on the way out and the way back. Lots of information and knowledge was shared. Would definitely book again!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you!
Susie_c, Jul 2026
Great tour. The captains were great, friendly, knowledgeable, considerate and fun. We saw lots of dolphins and lots of shells! Definitely recommend this tour with John and Jennifer!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks for the 5 stars!
Terry_W, Jul 2026
The water was perfect, the dolphins and manatee delightful and the shells awesome! Had a great time with a very entertaining crew!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks!
Cheyenne_L, Jul 2026
The whole experience was beyond amazing!! We originally booked a 9am tour, but due to 2 crashes and a couple gridlocks, our 45 minute drive turned into an hour and 45 minutes... The staff of Calypso Cat didn't hesitate offering to get us booked on another tour that afternoon that turned out to be an upgrade without having us pay the difference! Very generous of them!
They were super friendly and informative throughout the tour. We saw many dolphins, found some neat shells at Egmont key, went snorkeling and saw some cool fish, and genuinely had a great time with them. They also offered complimentary water, had life jackets the kids could use, as well as pool noodles to float with. Definitely plan on booking another tour with them next time we're in Florida!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
YAY! We're so glad you were able to make it our with us! We understand that things can happen and we always try our best to work things out. See you again soon!
Dena_J, Jun 2026
Amazing! We saw manatee and dolphins. Shell Key was beautiful. John and Jen were so good about pointing things out and stopping for us to view the wildlife. The excursion was well planned and we had plenty of time.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We absolutely love the wildlife and we enjoy viewing thew just as much as our guests. Thanks for the awesome review!
Nancy_D, Jun 2026
John and Jen were great tour operators. We spent enough time on the island to acquire shells and enjoy the scenery. We had a great time!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the 5 star review!
robert_s, Jun 2026
My son and I came out for father's day while on our vacation. It was very relaxing. We got some seashells n saw a live leopard crab! It was a great start to a relaxing day. Highly recommend this inexpensive memory
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you!
Kathy_H, Jun 2026
We enjoyed seeing the baby dolphin with its mom and the many shells. Captain and Katie were great fun. FYI water is provided.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We have 4 baby dolphins in the area right now. It's so exciting to see them almost everyday! Thank you for your excellent review!!
Savanna_K, Jun 2026
The captain was very nice, the boat ride was relaxing and very time efficient we found so many cool shells and seen dolphins up close as well as a baby octopus and other sea life. Highly recommend!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
A baby octopus! How cool! Thanks for the great review!
Michelle_M, Jun 2026
Absolutely was incredible. We only had one day to go do things yesterday and im happy I picked this.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We're happy you picked us too! Thanks for the great review!
Yvonne_K, Jun 2026
It was an awesome time. The captains were so friendly and nice. They were very informative, helpful and fun. Would do it agian!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you!
Janell_B, Jun 2026
Website easy, especially for changing dates. Knowledgeable staff, very informative. Got to see dolphins and collected shells
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks for the 10 STARS! YAY!
Melissa_S, Jun 2026
Found lots of shells and saw some dolphins. We had a great time! Weather was beautiful and the tour guides were great!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks so much!
Deborah_F, Jun 2026
The morning ride is perfect if you want the rest of the day to relax. Love the dolphins! Need to scuba to find nice shells
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Yes, Although many beautiful shells do wash up on shore each day ,snorkeling can provide great shells too. Thanks for the great review!
Kelsey_P, Jun 2026
The whole experience was great. The crew was incredible. Was just the perfect amount of time as well. Would go again in a heartbeat!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you!
Jen_K, Jun 2026
Hands down the best in the area for any outing. Forget about the bigger companies this family run business was is still the best in the bay. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and caring staff. Will definitely do again if we’re back in the area.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much! We're very proud of what we do and your compliments mean a lot to us!!!
Rachael_S, Jun 2026
This was a nice boat ride with very friendly folks on board (those running the boat, and the other passengers too) we saw lots of dolphins and our Captain was respectful of them as to keeping a safe distance and not chasing them around (a major plus for this tour!) - minus one star because the shell area was average in my opinion and nothing special in the finding shells category-- Our Captain again tho went in the water and found several sand dollars and shells for folks on the boat, which was really nice of him.... They provide snorkel equipment, bags for shells and ice cold water. This was a nice way to spend the morning!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks for the great review!
Stephanie_H, Jun 2026
Beautiful day! We found some interesting shells. The captain even hunted for rare shells for us in deep water.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks for your 5 star review!
Michelle_N, May 2026
Guides were great and it was nice to see the dolphins and stingrays. But the shell experience was disappointing. No large shells like were advertised.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We remember you well Michelle! The gentleman sitting next you you that day did find a huge shell (his review is just before yours in the list). Shelling is such a fun treasure hunt and finding that special one is what makes it super exciting, maybe you'll be be the one to find it next time! We thank you for your review and wish you many exciting adventures in the future!
Alexus_L, May 2026
10/10 experience. The boat was really spacious, clean and accessible to get on and off. I loved getting to get off the boat to go shelling. I found a massive sea shell! The tour guides were so kind and helpful, even finding shells for us. We saw so many dolphins too.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We're so excited that you found that awesome shell! Thanks for the great review!
Craig_P, May 2026
Captain was funny, knowledgeable, and it was a smooth ride. Plenty of dolphins, manatee, and sea shells. Snorkeling was great and kids 7 and 10 had a blast.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you!
Melanie_D, May 2026
Great experience and so much fun! Captains John and Jennifer were fantastic and entertaining. We wish we could’ve stayed longer! Shell island is simply beautiful. Suggest to bring a bag for the shells you collect! We forgot one, but someone offered an extra.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for the great review!
Patricia_H, May 2026
We were prepared because we were told what to bring. Captain John was a delight. The wildlife he pointed out was nice.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
This is so wonderful! Thank you!
heather_g, May 2026
What a great, kind, and family owned operation! Capt John and his first mate Katie were wonderful. They were fun and knowledgeable about the area and local wildlife. We enjoyed our morning shelling/snorkeling so much that we asked if they had room for us to go out with them again on the later snorkeling cruise. We spent the whole day with them on the Calypso Cat and had so much fun and found lots of shells. 10/10 would recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
WoW! Thank you! Both trips are fun and offer a different variety. I'm so glad you opted to enjoy them both! We hope to see you out with us again soon!
B_C, May 2026
So fun and relaxing! We all didn't want to leave... The water was crystal clear, shells everywhere and it was totally uncrowded. Had the best time. Could have stayed all day!
Response from Host, May 2026
We love Shell Key! Thank you so much for the great review!
Sarah_P, May 2026
The crew was friendly, funny and accommodating! We saw quite a few dolphins, including a few newborns and the beach to collect shells was beautiful! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for the 5 stars!
Rachel_H, Apr 2026
Booking was easy, details were clear and the captains were great! We had the best time finding dolphins, and riding the boat- then found so many shells! The crew helped us explore the water to find crabs, conchs and more- so cool- then the dolphins joined us for a swim. Great experience especially for the cost!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
So cool that the dolphins came so close! Thanks for the great review!
Chantel_B, Apr 2026
The staff was great, trip was great!
We saw manatees, dolphins, birds, and landmarks. The staff was knowledgeable and kind. Very friendly!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks for the 5 star review! We love knowing that our guests are having a great time!
Chick_C, Apr 2026
Fun little cruise. Saw plenty of dolphins and even 5-6 manatees! The 2 person crew knew their stuff and were fun to travel with!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We love it when the manatees come to say hi! Thanks for the kind compliments and the 5 star review!
ShellyG, Apr 2026
This was such a great tour. The tour guides were so friendly and knowledgeable about the wildlife. I'm a local and plan to do this tour often. It was such a fun day. Shell key was so beautiful as well.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
WOW! We hope to see you out on the boat with us again soon! Thanks for the 5 stars!
Likely to Sell Out
From $59.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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