Eco Tours
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 96% of travelers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$137
per adult
Sand Dollar Shelling
Sand Dollar Shelling
4.9
Boat ToursEco ToursPrivate ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
As seen on the Travel Channel & the NY Times: Sand Dollar Shelling is the preferred excursion for shells and dolphin tours according to Marco Islands hotels and resorts. Discover the Ultimate Shelling and Dolphin Adventure with Sand Dollar Shelling, a top-rated excursion featured on the Travel Channel. Nestled in the heart of Goodland, Florida, and highly recommended by Marco Island's finest hotels and resorts, we offer an unrivaled experience exploring the natural beauty of South West Florida. Join Captain Evan, a certified Florida Master Naturalist, and his skilled team of local eco-guides for an extraordinary journey through the 10,000 islands. Our tours promise the best shelling opportunities in the region, with exclusive access to the area's most secluded spots. Witness dolphins in their natural habitat like never before, playfully riding the boat's wake in a breathtaking display. Experience the hidden gems of the Naples coastline, revealing sights only visible from the water.
Goodland, Florida
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Sand Dollar Shelling
Eco Tours
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travelers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$675
per group
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.9
460 reviews
Excellent
434
Very good
10
Average
6
Poor
4
Terrible
6
Justin W
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Couples
We had a great shelling experience with Captian Jamie. She was very knowledgeable about shells. Also made sure we got to see some dolphins on the side of the boat and jumping behind us and when we were out shelling, she joined us for a walk and even pointed out some shells that we missed. I'm looking forward to doing it again!!!
Written September 11, 2024
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.
It sounds like Captain Jamie provided a truly enriching and enjoyable shelling experience! Her expertise in identifying shells and ensuring you had close encounters with dolphins adds a special touch to the adventure. Having her join you on the beach to point out shells you might have missed shows her commitment to making your experience as rewarding as possible.
I'm glad to hear that you're looking forward to another trip. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback, and we eagerly await your next adventure with Captain Jamie for more wonderful discoveries on the water! 🐚🐬🛥️
Written December 16, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dec 2024 • Family
Our three-hour shelling and dolphin trip with Captain Paul was outstanding. The most interesting part was learning about the local marine life and environmental ecology from Paul, who is incredibly knowledgeable. For instance, he showed us how to identify different types of shells and explained the behaviors of dolphins in the area. His kindness and welcoming attitude, especially towards foreigners like us, made the experience unforgettable. We are so grateful for his efforts. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for an educational and enjoyable adventure.
Written December 26, 2024
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.
It's fantastic to hear that your shelling and dolphin trip with Captain Paul was outstanding! His deep knowledge of marine life and environmental ecology clearly enriched your experience, making it both educational and enjoyable. His ability to explain the local shells and dolphin behaviors in an engaging way is truly a gift.
I'm glad to hear that his kindness and welcoming nature made your experience unforgettable, especially as visitors from abroad. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback and for recommending this trip to others seeking an educational adventure. We look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable experiences in the future! 🐚🐬🌊
Written February 18, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brian S
Puyallup, WA3 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
My Mom wanted to go on a wheeling trip while I visited her and she chose a 3hr trip with Sand Dollar Shelling. It was a great time with Capt Joey. He had some fun local knowledge about the area. We started the trip with a quick safety talk and to our 3hr tour. Thankfully no Gillian’s Island adventure for us. Started out by seeing some dolphins. Then a short boat ride to the island. Found some great shells between the two of us. Since everyone in our group was done shelling we decided to leave a little early and Capt Joey took a scenic boat ride back where again we got to see some dolphins up close. Highly recommend if in the area.
Written April 1, 2024
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.
Esther S
8 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
I can’t say enough good things about the 3 hour tour to Keewaydin Island with Capt. Paul. From start to finish Paul was entertaining and informative. He made sure to tell us where we needed to be to find our best shells and his directions didn’t disappoint. The amount of shells and absolute beauty of Keewaydin Island will keep us coming back. Thank you Capt Paul and Sand Dollar Shelling
Written April 25, 2024
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.
It's fantastic to hear that your three-hour tour to Keewaydin Island with Captain Paul was such a memorable experience! I'm glad he was able to provide you with the right guidance to find the best shells and that the island's beauty exceeded your expectations. Thank you for sharing your positive experience, and we can't wait to welcome you back for more incredible shelling adventures with Captain Paul and Sand Dollar Shelling! 🐚🌊🛥️
Written May 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joseph M
9 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
My wife and son and I joined "the better, more luxurious Captain Paul from NJ" for the 3 hour shelling tour on Keewaydin Island. Captain Paul was informative and a pleasure to speak with about the shelling. My wife enjoyed his tour of the impressive homes, particularly Rick Springfield's house on the way out to Keewaydin Island. We did not find the legendary Junonia shell. However, the Florida fighting conchs were so plentiful that we forced ourselves to stop picking them up. We also found lightning whelks, alphabet cones, lace murexes, and several other species. We hadn't even returned to the dock and my wife was already trying to figure out a way to return in September for another tour. Prior to our trip, we had purchased 4 jars to display our findings in, but we found so many shells that we will have to order additional jars to display all the shell we found.
Written June 28, 2024
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.
What a wonderful experience it sounds like you had with Captain Paul from NJ on your shelling tour to Keewaydin Island! His insights and the tour of notable homes, including Rick Springfield's, added unique touches to your adventure. While the elusive Junonia shell remains a target for the future, it's impressive that you found such a rich variety of other shells, including Florida fighting conchs, lightning whelks, alphabet cones, and lace murexes.
It's fantastic that your family is already planning a return trip in September—it seems the shelling was truly captivating! Needing extra jars to display all your finds is a delightful problem to have, showcasing just how fruitful your outing was.
Thank you for sharing your enriching experience, and I look forward to hearing about your future adventures and hopefully, the discovery of a Junonia shell on your next visit! 🐚🌴🛥️
Written July 22, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ToTo_Can75
Ottawa, Canada3 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Nothing but incredible feelings to share following our private sunset tour of Naples Bay. Captain Paul is such a wonderful human being. Made us feel very comfortable and shared a lot of interesting info and some fun stories. Very highly recommended, and worth every penny to have this special experience in the memory banks. Thank you Paul and the Sand Dollar team for helping to make our 20th Anniversary even more special!
Written August 23, 2024
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.
It's heartwarming to hear that your private sunset tour of Naples Bay with Captain Paul was such an incredible experience, especially on such a significant occasion as your 20th anniversary! Captain Paul's warmth, informative insights, and enjoyable stories seem to have truly enriched your celebration.
Thank you for sharing your high recommendation and for highlighting the value of this special experience. We're thrilled to have contributed to your anniversary memories and look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable moments in the future! Happy Anniversary! 🌅🛥️💖
Written September 4, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa R
McKinney, TX8 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
AMAZING experience with the 3-hour shelling, dolphin tour out of Naples! Captain Paul was incredibly knowledgable, generous and just plain fun! Pontoon boat was so comfortable and luxurious. We saw beautiful waterside mansions, dolphins, amazing birds and found lots of gorgeous shells. Highly recommend this tour and will definitely book it again for friends and family visits!
Written April 22, 2024
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.
I'm delighted to hear that your experience with the three-hour shelling and dolphin tour was so amazing! It sounds like Captain Paul added a lot of fun and knowledge to your adventure, and I'm glad to hear that the pontoon boat provided a comfortable and luxurious ride. Spotting dolphins, birds, beautiful mansions, and finding gorgeous shells must have made for a truly unforgettable day.
Thank you for your high recommendation and for planning to book with us again. We look forward to welcoming you and your friends and family back for more memorable tours in the future! 🐚🐬🛥️🌊
Written May 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Esther S
8 contributions
Nov 2024 • Family
Best experience on the 3 hour Keewayden shelling trip with Captain Paul. If your looking for a company to take you and your friends/partner/group out for a shelling trip, birthday party, celebration of whatever, don't look any further because this is your company and your Captain! I can't say enough good thing about this experience.
Written November 10, 2024
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.
It's fantastic to hear that you had such a positive experience on the Keewayden shelling trip with Captain Paul! Thank you for sharing your enthusiastic feedback about the tour and the captain. It sounds like it was a memorable adventure, perfect for any celebration or gathering. We look forward to welcoming you back for more great experiences on the water! 🐚🛥️🎉
Written December 16, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Caroline R
2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Booked this trip for the sunset slot, there was another couple with a small child joining us on the trip. We arrived at the pick up location and met Captain Joe, he seemed worried about the weather as there were imminent storms forecast, the sky was black, he said we would go anyway but may have to come back a bit sooner. We were around 20 minutes into our trip, which wasn’t cheap I hasten to add, when we arrived at the first island, another boat was nearby and Captain Joe and the person on the other boat had a chat, he then came over to us while we were looking for shells in the non spectacular selection on the beach, and rounded everyone up saying we had to go back because the storm was approaching. We all got back on the boat and hit the storm head on!! It was raining so hard, I have never been so wet in my entire life, fully clothed anyway! We were offered no money back from our trip and in my opinion I feel that Captain Joe, as pleasant as he was, being a man of the sea and probably knowing the patterns of the weather a lot better than the average person, should have called the trip off and we should have been offered another slot on another day. I would have been happy with this, as I was really looking forward to collecting my lovely shells. As I have said before, this sunset trip wasn’t cheap $287.95 to be precise. I feel that he took us out deliberately so that they were within their waiver rules which we had signed, and covered them for no form of compensation if the weather was bad. Extremely bad form Sand Dollar Boat Tours.
Written August 1, 2024
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.
I'm truly sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with the sunset shelling tour. It sounds like the weather rapidly degraded and significantly impacted your outing, and the response to those conditions wasn't handled in a way that met your expectations, especially considering the cost of the tour.
Our weather during the summer months is very localized and rain may impact trips. We rely on local radar stations and advanced radar predictions. We always offer an opportunity to reschedule when the weather is unsafe, lightning or storms are nearby.
A quick phone call to us could have quickly resolved your disappointment, as there may have been other options we could have offered.
Again, I apologize that your experience wasn't as enjoyable as anticipated.
Written September 4, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cynthia B
Jefferson, GA283 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Sunset Shelling, Dolphin and 10,000 Island Tour!
This is the Best boat tour for all the things you want to see down here, It is not a huge, luxury boat, so it only holds 6 - 8 folks. What is important is they go 3 hours before the sun sets and you return at the most romantic part of the day as the sun is setting.
We wanted to see birds and the other folks wanted to see dolphins. We all got what we wanted! Our captain Jaime knows these 10,000 islands so well and was able to narrate our whole tour. She pulled up on the best island for shelling and gave us a bag to collect as many as we wished. We climbed over and walked on broken shells to find sea shells whole and unbroken.
We brought our own drinks and a bathing suit cover for when the sun went down. We took photos and made a great memory.
I highly recommend the Sand Dollar Boat Tour out of Goodall if you are in Marco Island.
This is the Best boat tour for all the things you want to see down here, It is not a huge, luxury boat, so it only holds 6 - 8 folks. What is important is they go 3 hours before the sun sets and you return at the most romantic part of the day as the sun is setting.
We wanted to see birds and the other folks wanted to see dolphins. We all got what we wanted! Our captain Jaime knows these 10,000 islands so well and was able to narrate our whole tour. She pulled up on the best island for shelling and gave us a bag to collect as many as we wished. We climbed over and walked on broken shells to find sea shells whole and unbroken.
We brought our own drinks and a bathing suit cover for when the sun went down. We took photos and made a great memory.
I highly recommend the Sand Dollar Boat Tour out of Goodall if you are in Marco Island.
Written November 14, 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.
It sounds like you had an absolutely enchanting experience with the Sunset Shelling, Dolphin, and 10,000 Island Tour! Being on a smaller boat really does offer a more intimate and personal touch, doesn't it? The timing to catch the sunset is just perfect for creating that romantic atmosphere.
It's great to hear that Captain Jaime was so knowledgeable and could cater to everyone's interests, from birdwatching to dolphin spotting. Finding the ideal spot for shelling and providing a bag for your finds shows the thoughtful touches that make such a difference. Plus, being able to bring your own drinks and enjoy the experience at your own pace adds so much to the enjoyment.
Thank you for your glowing recommendation and for sharing your experience. It sounds like a must-do for anyone visiting Marco Island who wants a blend of natural beauty, relaxation, and a bit of adventure! 🌅🐚🐬🛥️
Written November 15, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Should we bring water or is that provided?
Written March 23, 2021
What is the tour length? And do you do tours around the end of September? Thanks
Written April 5, 2020
Capt Evan K
Marco Island, Florida
Most of our tours are three hours. We do offer some other options.
Written January 28, 2023
What is the cost per person (for the shelling tour) and how many people are typically on the boat? We're planning our trip there for mid-April.
Thanks for the information!
Written January 10, 2020
I have a 4 month old, a 7 and 10 yr old. I'm looking for some thing the older kids will enjoy yet the baby will be comfortable as well. Thoughts??
Written August 7, 2017
I am fully licensed to take infants. I believe we are the only company that does. We can accommodate the little ones. Call.
Written October 28, 2017
Yes and many others. We keep most places secret to offer the best shelling of any excursion. Thank you. Dogs welcome.
Written December 5, 2016
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