Shell Island Tour: Explore Panama City's Sandy Beaches

Spanning over 700 acres, Shell Island acts as a protective barrier for the waters of St. Andrews Bay in Panama City. The island’s stunning coastline is marked by pristine sandy beaches, making it ideal for activities like shelling, sunbathing, and sightseeing.

Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Boarding Times (please arrive 30 minutes before departure):
For those requiring transportation to the ferry, the tram departs from St. Andrews State Park Pier Store every hour on the hour (please check the calendar for current times). This tram will take you directly to the ferry dock.
Departures from Shell Island occur hourly at half past the hour….

What's Included
  • Snacks available for purchase at the Pier Store
  • Drinks available for purchase at the Pier Store
  • Beach Umbrellas/Chairs available for purchase at the Pier Store
What's Not Included
  • On-board restrooms
  • Parking fees
Additional Information
  • Please bring: Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hat and Water bottle
Location
4607 State Park Ln
State Park Lane
Meet at the St. Andrews State Park Pier
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(91 Ratings)
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Amanda_r
Apr 28, 2026
Wonderful family trip - Everyone was super nice and informative! The captain was so kind on the way back when we seen dolphins he went off course so everyone could see them!
Review provided by Viator
Joe_l
Apr 19, 2026
Will definitely come back - Shell island was great had a great time will definitely be back water was beautiful clear truly the emerald coast
Review provided by Viator
Kai_y
Apr 11, 2026
Fun ride to Shell Island with wheelchair - We traveled with a 5 yr old and a 92 yr old grand mother. Staff was very attentive and helpful. We even got a beach wheelchair to take grand mother around on the beach from the state park. Boat Captain, Ryan, and his staff went over and beyond to make the boat ride a joy for everyone. He asked for people’s favorite music and even stop the boat so we can see dolphins. Highly recommend the ferry ride to the Shell Island.
Review provided by Viator
Bennie_p
Apr 3, 2026
Best Trip Ever! - We enjoyed everything about the boat ride. The captain allowed my son to stir the boat. He has autism and he just doesn’t know how he brought tears to it our eyes as parents because he didn’t treat him differently. One had on a American flag bandanna the other a blue shirt with shades on
Review provided by Viator
Rociog330
Apr 3, 2026
Exceptional Service - While visiting Shell Island, we unfortunately missed our ferry—but the customer service team (especially Dennis and Tracy) truly went above and beyond. They were understanding, accommodating, and helped us resolve everything quickly, including assisting with our 3rd party purchase.Their kindness and professionalism made a stressful situation with 2 kiddos so much easier. Our day turned out to be one of the best days of our vacation. Thanks again you are one of a kind! -The Martinez Family
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leticia
Apr 1, 2026
Amazing Shell Island Ferry - The ferry and tram staff were awesome! Shell island didn't have as many shells as I remember from our trip 6 years ago but there hadn't been a storm recently either. Overall I'd go again with this company vs the competition.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stacig305
Mar 31, 2026
Nice staff, fun and beautiful island - Nice experience to a beautiful beach. Collected some shells and enjoyed the white sand and lovely water. Some people found some sand dollar which was really cool.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margaret_d
Apr 3, 2026
Don’t go for the shells. - Nice little ferry ride, but the drop off location is different than it was a few years ago. I don’t know if the change in drop off locations (different part of the island) has anything to do with it, but we saw next to no shells. We did see dolphins, but as we went for shells we were a little disappointed. We ended up feeling like we basically just paid to go swim on a different beach. The boat crew were very nice.
Review provided by Viator
Andrew_c
Apr 24, 2026
The boat ride was amazing... - The boat ride was amazing the driver and his partner were awesome they stopped so everyone could see the dolphins
Review provided by Viator
Bryttani_m
Mar 29, 2026
Never got to go on the ferry - Was told the 30 mins prior to our trip boats weren’t running after we booked and paid in advance and paid to get into the park they said they would issue an immediate refund with email proof and that hasn’t been done yet
Review provided by Viator
From $28
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).