Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island
5
Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island
By Isla Tours
Recommended by 95% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
Share the waters with the world’s most playful sea mammal on a family-friendly dolphin watching cruise. During the tour, listen to interesting and informative narration on the diverse marine life that lives within the waters surrounding South Padre Island. Keep an eye out for a 'pod', which may consist of 10 to 30 dolphins. A wildlife-safe net may pull in starfish, sea horses, and more for your viewing pleasure.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 40 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English, Spanish
Features animals
Highlights
- Observe local marine life in its natural habitat
- Take a tour that the whole family can enjoy
- See landmarks from a unique vantage point
- Choose from two convenient departure times
- Local guide
- Live commentary on board
What's not included- Gratuities
- You may bring a small cooler with any drinks or snacks you would like.
- Departure details
- 33256 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597, USA Turn right off Queen Isabella Causeway, travel 1/2 mile, turn right into Sea Ranch Marina, keep right of Sea Ranch Restaurant, Isla Tours directly behind restaurant on left at Murphy's Law.
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 38329P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Availability for shows cannot be checked without making a booking. Credit cards will only be charged upon confirmation of show availability
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- A note from Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island
- Currently, there are no mask mandates or capacity limitations in place. You are welcome to wear a mask, but they are not required. We do make a practice of sanitizing the boat between trips, and our Captain and Crew frequently wash their hands.
What you can expect during your visit- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- How much is Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island?
- Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island price starts from $16.00. Discover and book Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island on Tripadvisor
- What is the Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island cancellation policy?
- Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island?
- Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island is hosted by Isla Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Isla Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island on Tripadvisor
- How much time do I need for Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island?
- On average, this experience will take approximately 1h 30m. Discover and book Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 38329P1
Reserve your spot
from $16.00
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.
X6858ZAheatherc
00Great job to the crew of Flat Bottom too!
Cesar and crew were fantastic and fun. My son had a great time catching white fish and loved being on the water. …
diamondpcustoms
00Well worth going
Lots of fun and worth doing. We caught a bunch of white fish and I caught a guitar fish! I had no idea what it was …
robinhR9615CN
00Awesome
Awesome tour. Everyone was nice and funny. Interesting information provided. Saw lots of birds and some dolphins
Travel280633
00Worth It
Capitan Patrick was funny, knowledgeable and we saw lots of dolphins. Worth it! Jennifer and Corey, the deckhands,…
Pamela H
00Party boat
Only saw 4 dolphins BUT ITS A PARTY ATMOSPHERE! The dance floor and Dj is upstairs. BYOB and snacks small ice ches…
Departure61658997474
00Captain Murphy's (Law) RULES!
The crew was very nice and the experience was amazing! The sunsetwas beatiful and watching the dolphins right befor…
bethcB6216MO
00Dolphin ride
Corey and Jennifer snd the captain, Patrick were super. Very knowledgeable, enjoyed it alot . Excellent
Kerstyn A
00Amazing time
We had such a fun evening watching the dolphins. Jennifer and Corey were amazing and entertained my entire family …
527vanyaw
00Amazing bday experience
Patrick, Jennifer and Corey made the entire trip fantastic! The tour was amazing and the vibes immaculate. One THOU…
G9652IJbeverlyl
00Chill vibes/nice breeze
Very cool! We got to see a few dolphins but the boat ride and fireworks were fantastic! My teenagers had fun also. …
heathermarieem
00BEST EXPERIENCE EVER
Jennifer, Mike, & Andrew are the perfect trio. Jennifer was the best host EVER she was very helpful and informative…
909ilser
00Summer Vacation 2023
This tour was really great! We learned so much about dolphins from the deck hands and saw lots of dolphins. Very fr…
57tammyy
00Dolphins watching
The views were amazing! Loved seeing the dolphins!! Recommend this tour!! The boat captain and team did a great j…
Regina B
00Great for family!
Great crew! Issa was fun and informative! Awesome sunset and lots of dolphins! Kids had a great time too. Highl…
Stacy M
00Best dolphin cruise
It was great! We saw so many dolphins and the staff was very friendly! Worth it! The tour also had other fun facts …
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
314 reviews
Excellent
278
Very good
21
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
10
Rhonda T
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Couples
Loved the show and tell of items pulled from the sea with the net and the dolphins riding along the boat. Ersan and cody did a great job. The captain gave a lot of information too. Great trip
Written June 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
Thank you for the review!!! We are happy to hear that you had such a great time!
Written June 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leslie J
1 contribution
We scheduled our trip over 24 hours in advance and we’re told to be there 30-15 minutes before departure. We arrived and check in 20 minutes early and then wait for our trip. At the designated start time for the trip we are informed that they need 10 guests to have a trip so we will not be able to go out. I was so upset that I was not given any sort of warning about this policy until the moment our trip was to go out. The company stated they could refund or we could take the time to travel back to our hotel and come out later for another trip that may or may not occur. Do NOT book with this company - pay a little more to go to a different company that will actually honor your time on vacation.
Written October 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
We apologize for the inconvenience and fully understand your frustration. We are addressing the situation so this does not happen again. Thank you for informing us of the issue and we will resolve it in order to avoid future inconveniences.
Lisa Graves
Operations Manager
Isla Tours
Written October 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lesa N
2 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
The entire tour was fantastic, Captain Patrick, First mate Jennifer and Pork chop where kind friendly and knowledgeable
The tour was extremely affordable only $10 each for a 90 minute tour. The Captain told us so much about the island that you would never expect to learn on a "cheap" tour. The whole crew treated us like family. We saw many dolphins that swam right beside the boat and if you wanted a snack it was only $1 and there were many soda and snack choices. I would go back to Padre Island just to go on the Isla tour again. It was better than 5 Stars. If you only do one thing on Padre Island make it the Isla tour you will be delighted.
The tour was extremely affordable only $10 each for a 90 minute tour. The Captain told us so much about the island that you would never expect to learn on a "cheap" tour. The whole crew treated us like family. We saw many dolphins that swam right beside the boat and if you wanted a snack it was only $1 and there were many soda and snack choices. I would go back to Padre Island just to go on the Isla tour again. It was better than 5 Stars. If you only do one thing on Padre Island make it the Isla tour you will be delighted.
Written August 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
Thank you so much for the GREAT review! We hope to see your family AGAIN!!!
Written August 10, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
noppergal
Grand Rapids, MI23 contributions
Captain Mike and his assistant worked hard to ensure that all their passengers had a good experience—maneuvering the boat to enhance the views of the dolphins, bringing in a net full of fish from the bottom of the ocean, etc. They also educated us about the habits of the sea life we encountered. We saw lots of dolphins and had a great time!
Written February 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
VERY COOL!!!! Thank you so much for the review!!!!
Written February 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Len Melander
Weslaco, TX2 contributions
Feb 2023
Beautiful day with no wind, the captain Mike and deck hand Essen were awesome. It was amazing that the Captain of the boat finally got the Dolphins to swim off the bow of the boat so we all could get some great photos. Great experiance.
Written February 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
Thank you for the AWESOME review!!!! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour.
Written February 5, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Greg H
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
The overall experience hands down a 10. You could tell the effort the captain and staff made to find dolphins was the main priority after safety and fun. Capt. Murphy, Jennifer and, the deckhand I think Patrick?!? were welcoming, informative, and made sure we felt at home. We will be sure to do this again the next time we are down here. My favorite was that we saw dolphin calves playing
Written June 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
THANK YOU!!! We are super excited to hear that your family enjoyed their tour!
Written June 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Theresa B
1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Friends
The whole thing was AWESOME. Found out interesting things about the marine life that was caught in the net as well as watching the dolphin swim right underneath the front of the boat. The “skipper” of the boat had great information about the island’s history. I would HIGHLY recommend this tour.
Written August 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
AWESOME!!!!! Thank you for such a GREAT review!!!
Written August 29, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrea F
1 contribution
The dolphin experience was amazing. Was able to see a small pod of dolphins. The dolphins jumped out of and glided on the water. They were beautiful. The net that was thrown overboard caught a butterfly ray, small crabs, and different species of fish. The two young boys on the crew described the sea life that was caught in a way that the children on board could understand. We saw the Coast Guard South Padre station, and saw the SpaceX launch pad. The captain and crew were very knowledgeable and nice. It was a wonderful experience!
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
AWESOME!!! Thank you for taking the time to write such a great review.
Written June 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Denise M
Laredo, TX88 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Our tour time was at 1:00 PM and we were 7 total with Two kids ages 6&8 and my retired mother in law. Everyone in our party had fun. We spotted many dolphins and got to see them actively hunt. The tour was informative about dolphins and SPI facts. Captain Murphy allowed kids to steer and honk the horn mine loved that. Also they brought starfish, cow fish, and stingrays on board and provided many facts about them too.
Written April 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookingsislatours
We are all about families and making their time with us memorable. We are so happy to hear your fault enjoyed their tour. Thank you for the review!
Written April 14, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
deb0217
Dallas, TX119 contributions
Jul 2020
We definitely saw dolphins! It was majestic to watch them as they swam along side the boat. The crew knew right where to find them it seems. For the first 15 minute or so of the trip, they drag a net along the bottom of the lagoon and see what they can pick up. They did a nice presentation of what they found... a couple of butterfly rays, starfish, etc. They let us pet the ray which was very fun. The boat itself was very nice and seemed well maintained. The length of the tour was just right, about 2 hours. My only concern is that there were more people on the tour than I felt comfortable with, in these days of COVID. That being said, we were outside, masks were required. Overall this was a fun activity.
Written July 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessicalmcgowan
Gardiner, MT9 contributions
I have a tendency to get seasick. How rough are the waters this boat goes in?
Do you have to wear a mask on board ?
Susan O
Medway, MA3 contributions
We went in July and did not have to wear one--not sure about now though....
Is there bathroom on board
Sunshine238718
Harker Heights, TX4 contributions
yes
Is there a limit to how many travelers at a time? I have 7 so far that want to go but may be more.
Will there be restroom facilities available onboard the vessel?
Quisiera saber los horarios
Ani J
5 contributions
Once every 2 horas en el verano
C. Hinzmann
1 contribution
We plan to take tour on January 27th. Will we be able to see dolphins and which time of the tour is best to view them?
Ani J
5 contributions
I hope it went well
Kathleen E
Liberty, MO18 contributions
We have two very small, well behaved, carried dogs. Would they be allowed if we carried them?
Do not take dogs when others are on tour too.
Sandy E
Houston, TX2 contributions
When I looked at your available options for the "Dolphin Watch Eco Tour" on October 1st you have 4 times listed ...10:30am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm and 5:00pm. At which of these times are there typically more dolphins to be seen? Thank you. (Sandy)
