Shell Key Shuttle
Shell Key Shuttle
4.5
Scuba & Snorkelling • Boat Tours • Eco Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching • Nature & Wildlife Tours
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10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
Eco-friendly trip to unspoiled Shell Key for bird watching, shelling, dolphin watching. Sunset Dolphin Watching cruises by reservation.
St. Pete Beach, Florida
Features animals
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2022
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(38 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
631 reviews
Excellent
443
Very good
122
Average
35
Poor
16
Terrible
15
KC4444
IL545 contributions
Dec 2022
This was probably one of the best things we did on our vacation. We took the 10am shuttle to the Island so that there were fewer people and the shells were not picked over. Tips: 1. Park along the water side at the meters – you can buy a parking pass for $5 that is good for all day when you purchase your shuttle tickets. 2. Purchase your shuttle tickets and parking pass at the little booth on the pier – not the store in front. However, the store in front does sells snacks and has a bathroom to use before boarding the shuttle since there is no bathroom on the island. 3. When you purchase your tickets everyone in your party over 18 will need to sign a waiver. You will also be given free mesh bags for collection shells. You give your name and number in your party and they will call name when boarding (so there is no need to started crowding to get on, you are boarded in the order you bought your tickets) 4. After everyone is off the shuttle, they will lend you beach umbrellas & snorkeling equipment, but you will need to bring water, beach-chairs, blankets (which can be good to for a make-shift bathroom) etc. 5. When you are ready to board the shuttle back to the dock, it better to be towards the back of the line to get off the shuttle 1st. If they don’t have enough room on the shuttle, they will make another trip, so that you don’t have to wait another 2 hours for the next shuttle time. We were fortunate to see several dolphins on are trip over to the Island. On the way back we given a shells & birds informative sheet. We found a lot of larger & un-broken shells up by the backshore berm since it was after hightide
Written January 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Emma G
1 contribution
Apr 2022 • Family
The staff was incredibly accommodating and calm. They were great about communicating expectations and letting us know what was going on. The island wasn’t too crowded and there are plenty of shells on the beach and in the water. We saw a few snails and dolphins just before we left the island. We’d recommend calling ahead to make sure that they’re running with the current weather conditions and going earlier in the day so you can have as much time as possible to explore. Also, they offer $5 parking passes, which are super helpful! This was a very fun activity for our family and we felt like getting snorkels, umbrellas, and the shuttle ride for $25/person was a great deal. We’d definitely go again if we were in town
Written April 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
thank you for the nice review
Written December 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ryan Becky J
Iowa260 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Great activity! We found shells everywhere! We weren’t the best sand dollar hunters though. We were really hoping for those. We packed a cooler with food. Bring what you need for the beach day. We spent two hours here and it was a lot of fun! We went on the Noon shuttle on a Sat. I highly recommend you get on the 10am shuttle because parking is maddening. There is NO parking. The boat captains were very friendly. However, this is only a 10 minute ferry ride and probably a little over priced, but we do recommend a visit to Shell Key.
Written April 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
thanks for the nice review. we really do think our $25 is more for the time you can spend on the island not really the boat ride
Written December 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RLMVirginia
Richmond, VA62 contributions
May 2021
We took the Shell Key Shuttle at 10am on a Monday morning in May. Two adults and our 19 year old son. $25 per person seemed a bit expensive for a 10 minute ride over to Shell Key, but we had fun once there. It was not too crowded when we went, but I would expect it would not be as pleasurable on weekends or in the summer. I would recommend the first shuttle of the day to avoid crowds and also it is cooler. Lots and lots of shells, but mostly small common shells on the shore. If you have older kids or teens I would highly recommend getting the free snorkel and mask. We found a lot of sand dollars in the water that we would never have found just wading through the water. My son also found a large conch shell by snorkeling. We all enjoyed the hunt! 2 hours was enough for us-nothing else to do there. There are no bathrooms or any concessions on the island.
Written May 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for the nice review. Sounds like you found some treasures while you were on the island. Our $25 price is really for the whole 2 hour island experience and you can stay longer if you want and the weather permits. We do tell everyone it is only a 10 min boat ride and most time just point right to it. hope to see you again. We also offer a 90 min narrated sunset dolphin watching cruise if you wanted a bit more boat ride.
Written July 29, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Janet O
Brunswick, OH, USA38 contributions
Mar 2023
The Sunset Cruise we took on the Shell Key Shuttle was one of the highlights of our trip! Vijay, our captain, made the trip entertaining and pointed out so many places of interest on our trip around the bay. He took time to take us to the "triangle" where we witnessed a few dolphins before heading to the tip of Pass-a-Grille to watch the sun set. It was more than worth the price of admission! Don't miss it!
Written March 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Traveler987
43 contributions
Aug 2020
This would have got a 5 if it wasn't for the miserable guy taking your money. We paid alot had a large group he acted like we were doing him a favor handing over the cash. Boat captain was very nice. I would not recommend going on a 95 degree day. The boat offers umbrellas and snorkel equipment free when they drop you off. I highly suggest you take an umbrella. There is no shade on the island or facilities which you are told. Take lots of water to hydrate and a blanket to sit under the umbrella. There are tons of beautiful shells. You are given a mesh bag for your finds. The boat drops you off and leaves. Returns every 2 hours. On the trip back the captain saw dolphins and swung the boat around so everyone could see them. It is only a 10 minute boat ride. You can stay longer than 2 hours if it was cooler we may have. Very nice activity.
Written September 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
We are glad you enjoyed your time on Shell Key and please accept our apologies if you were treated rudely by someone in our group. We will mention this to him and hopefully it will not happen again. Thank you for taking the time to write a review.
Written September 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Morgan Watkins
3 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
My family of 6 took the shuttle in mid March. We went at noon. They provided us with a parking pass and shelling bags that we got to keep.The first boat was full so they had to take a second trip. The second trip only consisted of my family and one other, but the shuttle still ran us to shell key. The captain and his deck hand were so friendly. They passed out umbrellas and snorkle gear when they dropped us off. The shuttle was spacious. Shell key is absolutely beautiful and you really do feel like you are in paradise with crystal clear water. We fished from shell key and caught 5 kingfish. We saw manatees and dolphins. We also found sand dollars and star fish. There is an unlimited amount of gorgeous shells. On the shuttles trip back they did a head count to make sure everybody was 9n board and passed out an informative paper on the different types of shells and birds we may have found. I highly recommend the Shell Key Shuttle!
Written March 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
thank you morgan
Written December 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MoodyFoody2
Lenoir, NC231 contributions
Jul 2020
This review is based on a 2 hour stay. We were notified that we could only stay until 12:15 bc of the possible incoming storm and the Coast Guard regulations for the day. Recommend calling the morning you plan to go to make sure they plan to head out for day. We opted to go anyway since this was our only day to go.
(1) If you plan to take first shuttle - recommend arriving by 9:30 am.
(2) when you get off boat, go to right for good shell collection. The water was rougher to the right. Water was calmer to the left of boat. We shelled and then chilled in the water closer to drop off /pick up. Visibility was poor the day we went because of the storm the day before and coming in today. Storms are good for bringing up good shells but decrease your visibility when snorkeling.
(3) there are no facilities on island so do your business before you go and bring drinks/snacks if you think you will need.
(4) you are required to wear a mask and they are socially distancing groups on boat and plenty of island to social distance
(5) no need to put money in parking meter. For $3, they will give you parking pass you can use all day
(6) Your cost includes shell collection bags, snorkel and umbrella rental. It was overcast, so we opted out of umbrella use and we brought our own snorkel gear, so I can’t comment on condition or usefulness of either of these amenities.
(7) WEAR WATERSHOES (or something to protect your feet) - you are literally walking on shells (ouch)
Overall we had a great morning as a family and collected some cool shells.
(1) If you plan to take first shuttle - recommend arriving by 9:30 am.
(2) when you get off boat, go to right for good shell collection. The water was rougher to the right. Water was calmer to the left of boat. We shelled and then chilled in the water closer to drop off /pick up. Visibility was poor the day we went because of the storm the day before and coming in today. Storms are good for bringing up good shells but decrease your visibility when snorkeling.
(3) there are no facilities on island so do your business before you go and bring drinks/snacks if you think you will need.
(4) you are required to wear a mask and they are socially distancing groups on boat and plenty of island to social distance
(5) no need to put money in parking meter. For $3, they will give you parking pass you can use all day
(6) Your cost includes shell collection bags, snorkel and umbrella rental. It was overcast, so we opted out of umbrella use and we brought our own snorkel gear, so I can’t comment on condition or usefulness of either of these amenities.
(7) WEAR WATERSHOES (or something to protect your feet) - you are literally walking on shells (ouch)
Overall we had a great morning as a family and collected some cool shells.
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for the nice review. During the summer we often have to modify the schedule due to storms so it is always a good idea to call us to see if we expect a shortened day due to the weather.
Written July 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Justina
Luxembourg, Luxembourg7 contributions
Mar 2020
Overall it was a pleasant afternoon. However being from this area, I was not all that impressed for what we got for the price. I was a bit disappointed as I didn't realize that it was only a 10 minute boat ride to a place very close to the rest of St Pete and not at all a secluded island as I had imagined. Plus I didn't find a single large sand dollar or any interesting shells. I found some broken sand dollars that I could find on any beach on the coast and some other common shells. When we walked to one side of the "island" it was more and more looking like another built-up beach with condos and houses close by. It looked like you could just walk onto the island which is in fact a connected key and not an island. The others on our boat seemed to find more big shells and they said in the water was the place to get them. For $56 for two people, I wished I had just had a nice dinner on the beach in Siesta Key or Casey Key and walked the free shoreline. We did see two dolphins on the way back.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sorry you did not enjoy the trip. We do tell everyone at check-in that it is just a 10 minute boat ride to the island so I'm not sure why you were surprised by that. Most people feel that the shelling is better on Shell Key than along the other beaches but it sounds like you did not find that to be the case. Our price is considerably less than the other boats that take people to the same island, but if you want a longer boat ride and less time on the island you may want to pay more and try a different operator next time.
Written March 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
joyjoy1
michigan17 contributions
Oct 2022
I will begin my review from the start of the day. The email outlining the check in process was flawless. It sounded complicated but was very easy.
The staff checking in was excellent, she interacted with the children and educated them on shells.
The staff on the Ferry were excellent. Informative funny and very kind.
I am not sure why this island gets such high reviews. This island is simply a very narrow shoreline, and the rest is nature preserve. Be sure to wear water shoes as there are painful burrs everywhere you walk. The area to set up is narrow and limited. We saw very few shells. I understand that is subjective to the weather. Once we found our spot and set up the canopy and chairs, a boat decided to anchor directly in front of us. They completely blocked our water view. I requested they move on either side of where we were set up. They did, but heated words were exchanged. The water was warm and clear. There were dolphins right in the water not far from us. Bottom line, it was a good visit, but I would never spend that kind of money again simply for a 15 min.ferry ride.
The staff checking in was excellent, she interacted with the children and educated them on shells.
The staff on the Ferry were excellent. Informative funny and very kind.
I am not sure why this island gets such high reviews. This island is simply a very narrow shoreline, and the rest is nature preserve. Be sure to wear water shoes as there are painful burrs everywhere you walk. The area to set up is narrow and limited. We saw very few shells. I understand that is subjective to the weather. Once we found our spot and set up the canopy and chairs, a boat decided to anchor directly in front of us. They completely blocked our water view. I requested they move on either side of where we were set up. They did, but heated words were exchanged. The water was warm and clear. There were dolphins right in the water not far from us. Bottom line, it was a good visit, but I would never spend that kind of money again simply for a 15 min.ferry ride.
Written October 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
hi joyjoy, sorry you did not enjoy your time on the island. it sounds like it may have been high. although the nature of a barrier island is to change which means it can grow and shrink. we do tell everyone it is a 10 min boat ride for a 2 hour island experience.
Written December 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tdmm01
Orlando, FL1 contribution
Do they take reservations or is it first come, first served?
colleen b
St. Pete Beach, FL
We do not take reservations for daytime trips but they are needed for our sunset cruises. We are only 10 minutes away from the island so we add extra trips as needed if boat fills up.
Hi there! Am I allowed to bring a cooler with lunch, snacks, etc.? I know of some shuttles that have forced us to buy their food instead of taking our own before boarding the shuttle. Thanks!
Mark S
Corrales, NM3,637 contributions
You can pretty much take anything you can carry! Make sure you pick up after and have a great chat with the guys and gals who run it. Enjoy!!!!
Jet19331809413
Dickson, TN
Are there food and drinks, bathrooms, etc. available on the island ?
Rick W
Independence, MO158 contributions
No. There is NOTHING on the island. It is a nature preserve, and you must take anything that you brought to the island off when you leave. You can buy snacks, water, etc. at the dock prior to your departure.
Jessica S
Toronto, Canada5 contributions
Do you provide life jackets for children on the boat ride? Thanks
colleen b
St. Pete Beach, FL
We are a Coast Guard certified vessel so we do have life jackets under the seats for everyone on the boat. They have to remain on the boat so cannot take them on to Shell Key. It is just a 10 minute boat ride and most people don't feel it is necessary to put life jackets on the kids when they see what is involved. Thank you.
Can I get there to see how island with that with my own boat
pennyk73
Wichita, KS71 contributions
I have seen people take their own boats over, but there isn’t a dock.
Redneckwoman60
Edgerton, Wisconsin, United States29 contributions
I was wondering about bathroom facilities if you stay all day??
Kiven D
Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States11 contributions
No bathrooms on the island. But you can use the bathroom on the boat during the return trips.
do they have beach chairs
Mark S
Corrales, NM3,637 contributions
I can't remember about the chairs for sure. They do let you borrow a beach umbrella and give out shelling bags. Call them at 727-360-1348 to ask about chairs. Enjoy, this is a wonderful day out. We snorkeled with Stingrays and found over 30 Sand Dollars. Keep your eyes open for Devil Rays and Horseshoe Crabs as well...