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Mangrove Estuary Tour: Wildlife and Beach Adventure
4.9
49 Ratings
Marco Island
Experience the beauty and wildlife of Marco Island’s mangrove estuaries on our eco boat tour. Spot dolphins, birds, manatees, and more on this fully guided adventure!
Experience the beauty and wildlife of Marco Island’s mangrove estuaries on our eco boat tour. Spot dolphins, birds, manatees, and more on this fully guided adventure!
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Goodland - Discover the charming fishing village of Goodland. Located in Collier County, Florida, Goodland is a census-designated place with a population of 267 as recorded in the 2010 census. It is part of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area.
- Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Explore the mangrove estuary at…
- Goodland - Discover the charming fishing village of Goodland. Located in Collier County, Florida, Goodland is a census-designated place with a population of 267 as recorded in the 2010 census. It is part of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area.
- Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Explore the mangrove estuary at the Rookery Bay Preserve. This National Estuarine Research Reserve in Naples, Florida, is supported by the Friends of Rookery Bay.
- Ten Thousand Islands NWR - Enjoy boat tours that explore the barrier islands of the Ten Thousand Islands.
- Marco Island - Discover the barrier islands surrounding Marco Island, Florida. This barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, off Southwest Florida, is connected to the mainland by bridges south of Naples. It boasts resort hotels, beaches, marinas, golf courses, and a network of inland waterways. A long, sandy beach stretches along most of the west coast, with resort hotels in the south. Tigertail Beach Park features a tidal lagoon, ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding.
- Southwest Gulf Coast - The tour includes Gulf waters, weather permitting. Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast is home to a collection of captivating coastal treasures. Beautiful beaches, such as Ft. Myers Beach, Tigertail Beach, and Pensacola Beach, line the Gulf, stretching along I-75 from Tampa to Naples.
- Cape Romano - The boat tour may pass by Cape Romano, where the renowned dome house once stood.
What's Included
- Complementary shelling bags
- Cooler with Ice
- Parking fees
- Complementary shelling bags
- Cooler with Ice
- Parking fees
What's Not Included
- On-board restrooms
- Food (Yes, you can bring your own food!)
- Drinks (BYOB - please, no red wine!)
- On-board restrooms
- Food (Yes, you can bring your own food!)
- Drinks (BYOB - please, no red wine!)
Additional Information
The Island Paradise: Dolphin, Shelling, Birding Eco Boat Tour offers the ultimate wildlife and nature adventure for families, nature enthusiasts, and shell collectors. This guided boat tour takes participants deep into the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, where they will encounter playful dolphins, a variety of bird species, and pristine,…
The Island Paradise: Dolphin, Shelling, Birding Eco Boat Tour offers the ultimate wildlife and nature adventure for families, nature enthusiasts, and shell collectors. This guided boat tour takes participants deep into the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, where they will encounter playful dolphins, a variety of bird species, and pristine, untouched beaches while learning about this unique coastal ecosystem from an experienced captain.
This relaxing yet adventure-filled tour provides a perfect blend of exploration, education, and enjoyment, making it an unforgettable experience for all ages. Whether seeking the best shelling locations, incredible wildlife encounters, or simply a peaceful retreat, this eco-tour is a must-do during a visit to Marco Island!
The tour lasts 2.5 hours and departs from our private commercial docks at 220 Goodland Dr (across the street from Stan’s Idle Hour) daily at 8:00 am, 10:45 am, 1:30 pm, and 4:00 pm.
- Children 6 and under are required to wear life vests (provided).
Location
220 Goodland Dr
Goodland Drive
Free parking across the street from Stan's Idle Hour Restaurant in the gravel lot behind the white fence. Our boats are located on the "Private Dock" behind our banner and flags.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(49 Ratings)
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Terrimu5802xy
May 11, 2026
First visit to Marco Island - Best boating tour EVER. Captain Nate is super knowledgable and accommodating. He has a good sense of humor too. The water was calm and the dolphins loved playing in the wake of our boat when he picked up speed. The wildlife was amazing. We saw dozens of ospries nesting on one of the islands! The oyster bars were beautiful. Best part of our vacation!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan
May 2, 2026
Highly recommend - Great trip in a beautiful boat. Our Capn Rick was very knowledgeable and took the time to teach us about the area including Coon Island (yes they have raccoons and he has seen them swimming!) these 10000 islands are breathtaking. Our 1000 islands at home (we are from NY) pale in comparison. Mangroves, birds, fish, no dolphins unfortunately but just the waters and breeze were wonderful. Shelling on the island was great just off the coast and high rises at Marco Island. We hope to visit Rick and his lovely wife again. !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bobster123chicago
Apr 18, 2026
Pleasant boat ride experience - Here is a brief review based on your experience:
We had a nice time exploring the waters around Marco Island and Goodland. One of the highlights was seeing dolphins playing in our boat’s wake.
Our guide was both pleasant and knowledgeable, teaching us about the local history and pointing out beautiful birds in their natural habitat, including ospreys, egrets, and cormorants. We also enjoyed a relaxing stop to look for unique shells. The boat was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. We recommend this to anyone looking to spend a few hours on the water, seeing some wildlife in their natural habitat and learning more about the history of the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifertk270bh
Mar 31, 2026
Amazing - Absolute best. Gary was amazing. Got some great shells. Saw some dolphins. Manatee came over and said hello. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katherinetb5378zr
Mar 26, 2026
Highly Recommend this Memorable Family-Friendly Boating Experience! - What a memorable, family-friendly experience! Captain Nate was awesome and so knowledgeable about the local wildlife. We witnessed the most amazing first flight of a baby Osprey, saw a manatee, and families of playful dolphins throughout our tour. Capt. Nate also knew the area well enough to navigate to a lesser-populated island where we collected beautiful sea shells and even a handful of sand dollars! It couldn’t have been a more enjoyable experience. The boat was also very clean, had a canopy for shade, and a cooler filled with ice. Life vests were also provided (including for my young children). The tour was just shy of 2.5hrs over calm waters. I would highly recommend this experience - thank you Capt. Nate (and furry Chief Mate Honeybear)!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carrie_o
Mar 14, 2026
Great for families - This was an awesome tour with Captain John!! He was knowledgeable and accommodating! We saw tons of different birds and were educated about may different things. Dolphins and then stopped for tons of shells!! Thanks again for a memorable experience!!
Review provided by Viator
Moplopd
Mar 11, 2026
Awesome Time! - We went on the Island Paradise tour with Cape. John M. From the moment we stepped on board the boat Capt. John was very enthusiastic and informative. I especially enjoyed his ability to identify the different Birds and Fish in the area and provide habitat and migration info. John could go to great depth on each bird or fish spotted throughout the trip. I would take this trip again with Capt. John without hesitation.
My wife and I had a very enjoyable day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martha
Mar 11, 2026
Captain John M - We had a wonderful day with Captain John Melilla on our tour. Captain John shared all his knowledge of the islands, dolphins..birds and eco system in a fun and delightful way. There was never dull moment as we went from dolphins to birds to shell island and more. Would highly recommend captain John and this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johnhe3768lt
Mar 11, 2026
Marco Magic - Capt. John M was a terrific guide and boat captain, very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and provided a wonderful experience through the 10,000 islands!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Burkso
Mar 2, 2026
Excellent experience!! - Captain John was GREAT!! We got to see so much during our 2.5 hour trip with him. The highlight of the trip was seeing so many dolphins jumping in the boat's wake - certainly a bucket-list experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
