We originally reserved seats on one of the other trips, but cancelled to go on this tour instead--this one was recommended by one of the Sea Turtles Inc. guys. Good choice! We saw so many dolphins, and we're so close to them--one pod swam right up to the bow as soon as we left the docks. The captain knew all the birds and gave us a lot of info about the ecosystem and how humans interact with the coastal plains and marine life. We also went by the breakers to see turtles--apparently that's where this captain and others find and rescue any injured or trapped turtles. Why did we cancel the other reservation for this one? This tour respects the animals--no caged or cooler kept animals passed around like show and tell. This tour is eco friendly. As avid scuba divers, it matters to us that businesses don't abuse animals or natural resources for tourist profit. This is a clean operation that supports and defends the wildlife. Totally worth it--and we saw several pods of dolphins--win, win, win! read more

For the ultimate birding and dolphin experience pick Fins to Feathers! The captain was super knowledgeable, friendly, and courteous to people and animals alike! He loaned me his zoom lens so I could get some great shots! We did the 2.5 tour and it was the perfect length of time! He was great with kids and is dog friendly! read more

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My husband and I went on the 7:00 cruise and it was perfect. We got to see a beautiful sunset, lots of dolphin and sea birds. The captain was very friendly and knew exactly where the dolphin hung out that time of day. He respected the dolphin's space. We are very happy we took Fins to Feathers and not a boat packed with a bunch of people. read more

Fins To Feathers - Tours Near Me - Port Isabel, Texas

If you have a group/family of 4-6, this is the best deal going for dolphin tours. Captain Paul is the guy the others follow so they can find dolphins. read more

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We would highly recommend it!! They clearly know what they are doing. Super nice and we saw all kinds of dolphins. They can even identify the dolphins and get to know them. Don't go anywhere else. They also sell shirts and photographs that they take themselves. We can't wait to go back!! read more

Fins To Feathers - Tours Near Me - Port Isabel, Texas

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We had a great time on the Fins & Feather tour. Paul was very friendly, knowledgeable & funny. He was respectful of the dolphins too! Loved that the boat was small & our group of 4 had the tour to ourselves. We learned about the island history & saw a Lot of dolphins. Highly recommend the Fins & Feathers tour! read more

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This dolphin tour was well worth the money. We went out today and had a great time. Paul is knowledgeable and friendly. We were able to see a lot of dolphins and different kinds of birds. If you are looking to do a dolphin tour I highly recommend booking here! read more

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Our family loved this dolphin tour! The captain was very knowledgeable and seemed to genuinely care for the wildlife. He pointed out a lot of interesting spots and we were able to see many dolphins. We even got to see some that were now riding in front of a ship. Great experience!! read more

We had a great morning hanging out on the water. The dolphins came to our boat, we did not chase them like other boats do. It was a real pleasure to be a part of their daily routine, watching the carch and eat their food. Little baby dolphins were part of the group and they were adorable! read more

Captain was hilarious. We enjoyed the tour, having a chance to see the dolphins and seeing a beautiful sunset together. read more

Fins To Feathers - Tours Near Me - Port Isabel, Texas

The captain is very knowledgeable on the sea life and birds. He offers a nice tour and the groups are small. Highly recommend if you are looking to see some dolphins. read more

Loved this birds and dolphin tour! We did another dolphin boat tour before this but this one was the best by far. Captain Paul has a lot of knowledge, he's funny as all get out, and showed us lots of birds. We passed a federally protected bird nesting site w a million different birds (is it bad that I am partial to the pink spoonbills? They are so beautiful!). Tons of cool birds big and small. We saw just a couple dolphins, but weren't terribly disappointed cuz, well wildlife so unpredictable of course. We bobbed along the jetties and spotted lots of sea turtle heads popping up and down. So cool!! Captain Paul said times r tough and this may be his last season. That's so sad, he's such a great tour guide. Book this tour you guys will love it! read more

Captain Paul really loves showing people the wildlife in this area. He's very knowledgeable about the birds and water life. Such an awesome tour...I highly recommend it! read more

My review will contain two parts- the first part where I review the business aspects and second part which will get political (disclaimer!) because unfortunately the boat captain got into politics as well. Overall experience was ok. Dolphins, open waters, birds, good weather-what's not to like?! However, the route wasn't planned well, we stayed in the same spots with no dolphins for quite a long while. Eventually as the request of another passenger, we were taken out farther where we got to see more. The captain talked incessantly which made it difficult to enjoy the dolphin sounds, peace and quiet of the ocean. The topics of his monologue were quite inappropriate from dating and divorce stories, oversharing on other personal topics and politics. It isn't good business to make paying customers feel uncomfortable out in the ocean. This begins the second part of my review. The captain shared his opinions of football players kneeling during the national anthem thereby disturbing his viewing pleasure, police brutality against black people being about "a few bad apples". For someone who said todays news is "fact spinning" he surely parroted out the same "spun" beliefs without original thought. My recommendation is to find a boating company that a)knows dolphin routes well and steer accordingly, b)speaks only relevant information of the tour and c)lets passengers enjoy a breath a fresh air in these divisive times. read more

This was a wonderful tour!! He was very knowledgeable and fun...great jokes! It was a great time and highly recommend!

A must do! We are so glad we decided to go with this more intimate and small boat versus the large commercial boats. We got to see a dolphin swimming and jumping out in front of the boat! Definitely coming back and doing it again next summer! read more

Captain's Paul & Heather are so amazing, and have such a heart for these beautiful animals. This was our second trip out with family, and I can't say enough about how fun it is! The boat is small enough for us to have a personal family trip, and we got so close to the babies. Diesel, the dolphin dog's, barking really gets those sweet babies up to the surface! You can tell the dolphins love Fins 2 Feathers as much as they love them! We saw a couple of other dolphin watch boats who were not as considerate of the pod, and some jet skiers who were down-right dangerous to the babies! I hope SPI will do something to protect these amazing animals from crazy humans while they are feeding at the point! If you visit SPI, give them a call. It is money well spent, and such a wonderful family trip! read more

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would give 10! Don't mess with the cheaper, crowded (thus more reviews), non-dolphin friendly places and book with them! This far exceeded my expectations and even kept a 17 year old entertained for the 2.5 hour trip. So book now! No need to read any other reviews. I will do this one again next Time! read more

If you're going to go on a dolphin tour, I highly recommend booking with Fins to Feathers. They are very eco-conscious and have a great relationship with the dolphins. Deisel the dolphin whispering dog barks to the dolphins and they come as close to the boat as they wish. Heather and Paul are very educated and dedicated to improving the ecosystem. They don't pull sea creatures out of the water, which causes them to suffocate (most of the other tours do). We had a really lovely experience on their tour and really enjoyed talking with them. If you want to see dolphins up close without disturbing them or the other sea creatures, go with Fins to Feathers. read more

Why 5 Stars? In a nutshell, I'm in agreement with what the previous reviewers have said about Heather & Paul. Plus, we had four people in our party, so it should have been a simple thing to pick a date and set our reservation, but life gets complicated. So, Heather, I appreciate all of your time and patience as we worked through the process of setting our reservation! Both Paul and Heather accompanied us on our outing, and we definitely saw both "fins" and "feathers." By way of a "PS", I grew up fishing the bays along the Texas Gulf Coast. It was special to see one of them again in good company and from the vantage point of a small, quiet boat. Thank you, Heather and thank you, Paul! Ellen and Ben read more

Can't say enough about how much my wife and I enjoyed dolphin watching with Captain Paul. He was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and professional. The dolphins seemed very familiar with him and comfortable around his boat. Strongly Recommend. read more

This is a great tour. I'm not the type for big tour boats crammed with people so this was perfect! Very intimate with only capacity for 6 people. The captain was knowledgeable and very personable. We saw dolphins as well as some beautiful birds. Very reasonably priced and worth it! read more

Heather and Paul were friendly, gracious, and knowledgeable hosts. It was easy to see that this is more than just a business to them - they genuinely care for these animals. We saw no less than 30 dolphins on our tour and it seemed as though the dolphins preferred our boat over the other larger chartered boats. Diesel (the dog and expert dolphin spotter), was an added treat as he interacted with the dolphins. We had a great time and will be recommending this tour to our friends who visit the area. Thanks Paul and Heather for a great experience!!! read more

Fins to Feathers is a must do. The captain genuinely cares for the dolphins and birds and it comes through in the tour. He was constantly aware of where the dolphins were in the water to ensure their safety. It was probably the reason that more than once dolphins were willing to swim within a few feet of the boat as they were passing by. A couple dolphins out in front of the boat were even showing off for us a little. We saw tons of different kinds of birds, including the roseate spoonbills. Since this is a small tour of no more than six, you get plenty of time to ask questions and enough room on the boat to get that perfect shot. read more

We had a fantastic time on our dolphin cruise. We loved the small group setting and our family was the only party on the boat. Captain Paul maintained social distance and offered sunscreen while he told us fascinating details about the local birds and of course the dolphins. We very much appreciated that he does not trawl the bottom and pull up unsuspecting sea creatures to be poked at and instead conducts a true "eco-tour" which involves not harassing the wildlife. As with all dolphin tours, feeding the animals is illegal and it is always their choice to show up or not. That being said, he was able to show us many dolphins and pointed out their unique fin shapes that helps him recognize the individuals and told us about their growing families. We were able to see the SpaceX facility and a partially constructed rocket, as well as passing close by a ridiculously enormous freighter from Hong Kong loaded with huge blades for the wind farms, complete with dolphins jumping in the bow wave. Captain Paul is a man of wide experience and knowledge and we appreciated all the information he had to share. Our whole family loved the experience and we will for sure be back! read more

Highly recommend Ford's dolphin tour. Ford is a very nice guy, knowledgeable and passionate about the dolphin. We saw quite a few dolphin including a few swimming close to the boat. This is a slow time of year. Ford was willing to go out with only 3 guests where other tours had a minimum of 4. read more

Fins To Feathers - Excellent tour. Ford did a wonderful job. - Tours Near Me - Port Isabel, Texas

Had a great time, while being safe and respectful of the dolphins, birds, and their environment. The boat is a boat house, so it has a small toilet, and a room to get out of the shade. Very smart for little ones and those who burn easy. Life vest for all ages, especially the little ones is reassuring; safety first. First Mate,Diesel the dog, provides entrainment for kids who know how to play with pets appropriately, as always check with the captains/owners (Paul and Heather) to make sure it's ok to play. They knew several of the dolphins by name and we even got to see a new addition to the pod, she followed her mommy close. Be sure to bring sunscreen, wear clothing you don't mind getting a little sprayed, and nothing that you wouldn't be super upset if it fell overboard. Little snacks and drinks are fine, just check that the chew approves (glass bottles and alcohol are probably a no). They are really doing this for education and as a gift to others than for money, so make sure you tip the captain. Will definitely do again with family comes down to visit next time. read more

Fins To Feathers - Co-Captains Paul and Heather with First Mate Diesel - Tours Near Me - Port Isabel, Texas

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Fins to feathers is a wholesome family experience that is very affordable. Captain Paul, our tour guide, is lively and well-versed in wildlife and boating. He gave a memorable and educational tour. He adapted the tour based on our interests so don't be afraid to tell him what you would like to see. He genuinely cares about the wellbeing of the dolphins and birds which made the tour a priceless experience. He lets the dolphins approach the boat rather than driving over them and he uses a propellor guard. The dolphins clearly like his company and it was evident in the way they interacted with the tour. I highly recommend this tour and business. read more

This is, without question, the BEST dolphin tour that we've experienced on South Padre Island (and we've been on several of the larger, possibly more popular options). For just a few dollars more, you can have a completely private tour on a BYOB boat that has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with shade!!! The dolphins seem to "know" Captain Paul's boat and approach it without fear or hesitation - especially when he starts to call out to them! We saw SO many dolphins playing around our boat; far more than we've ever seen on other tours. The dolphins were swimming along with us, looking right into our eyes from under the bow and jumping up through the wake of surrounding boats! It was magical!!! I highly, highly, highly recommend this company for all of your dolphin-tour needs. We had 7 people in our group, ages 6-63, and everyone LOVED it! read more

Fins To Feathers - Tours Near Me - Port Isabel, Texas

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This was by far the best part of our trip on the water. Captain Paul and Heather were truly knowledgeable about the local habitat and show their love for nature. They carry smaller groups than their competition which makes the whole trip so much more personal. Diesel, the guide dog lol, makes the trip that much more interesting:-) They do allow other dogs onboard with plenty of room for us humans. You may pay less for other dolphin tours in the area but you will miss out on a more personal experience with these great folks! read more

Great people and great trip! Saw the dolphins up close and had a wonderful time! Would definitely recommend this tour. Loved how personable the whole experience was. read more

Fins To Feathers is an amazing dolphin tour. It was reasonably priced and great quality. I highly recommend anyone visiting the South Padre area to go on one of the tours. They were flexible and let us bring our two big dogs on the tour with us. It was also BYOB and the boat had lots of places to sit and sit in the shade as well. We got to see tons of dolphins and learn more about them. It is a don't miss tour! read more

My husband and I had a great time on a dolphin cruise with this company. They have a large, friendly, loud dog on the boat...I loved it but people with dog allergies/fear/etc should consider this before booking. read more

This is a great place to get a boat tour. They are super friendly. Very talkative, and love what they do. They are very respectful of the wildlife and care about them a lot. The best parts had to be seeing the dolphins around the boat and Diesel, the dolphin spotting dog. He was super friendly and very motivated to find and play with the dolphins. I would reccomend this place to anyone who is looking to take a tour at South Padre. read more

Absolutely awesome! Our captain was extremely knowledgeable about the area and we learned tons about the inland waterway, birds, portuguese man o war, and dolphins. George and Gorge the dog found a family of 4 dolphins and we followed them for an hour coming within yards of where they breached. We were also fired upon by the pirate ship but escaped unscathed. George also let my kids drive the boat for a while and remained calm even when my son nearly crashed us twice. It is more expensive than one of the large boats but it is worth every penny for the personalized service, great knowledge of the captain, and cuddling with an adorable dolphin spotting dog. read more

Paul/Fins to Feathers Dolphin and birding tour showed us a great example of interacting with and respect of the dolphins and wildlife. He is very knowledgeable. We would highly recommend this small personalized tour over the large big boat dolphin tours. We were able to be up close and personal with the dolphins and have all your questions answered. We would definitely do this again! read more

Who doesn't love dolphins? This tour was the best! Captain Ford has the perfect laid back personality, love and rapport with the dolphins, and depth of knowledge to guide this exceptional trip. He encouraged our group (limited to 6 people) to make happy noise to attract the groups of bottlenose dolphins to his little catamaran/houseboat. And the curious little guys did not disappoint! Several groups, including babies, came close enough to see well, rewarding us for our antics with a tail slap or two. We even had a few come almost within arm's reach of the boat. My daughters (ages 15 & 17) were delighted. We all were. It was kind of funny, after had been in our spot for a bit, the bigger tour boats came around, knowing that Captain Ford knew where the dolphins were. We were glad that their groups got to share the sight, but we all were happy to be on the smaller boat, closer to the action! The boat had both a shaded inside part, and places you could sit or stand out on the deck. It was very comfortable (but not fancy--some of the seating was in folding lawn chairs, which I felt added to the charm.) You are welcome to bring coolers and snacks. Just a wonderful way to enjoy SPI/PIs delightful marine mammal life! read more

This was the highlight of our entire trip. Captain Paul was awesome. He kept my husband entertained by talking politics and their military service experience while my daughter and I soaked up the fun and friendly dolphins. He definitely loves the dolphins and the birds. He is very protective of his "babies", it was great, they were happy to see him. There was another tour boat that just ran over the dolphins while we were watching them, so sad. More than 15 years ago, we took a big boat tour and this small personal tour was much better. He even allows dogs on board. We really appreciated that since having our dog limited what we could do. Thank you!!! read more

Great trip!!! The Captain really cared about showing us a amazing time. We were out there for 3 hours and the Dolphins and Birds we all over the bay. I would definitely go out with them again. A+++++++ read more

This was such a great experience. I wanted to spend the day on a boat and thought the kids would like to see a few dolphins. We saw SO many dolphins that played along the boat and showed off for us. They clearly know the boat and felt safe with Captain Paul and Heather and Diesel. Definitely would do this again!!! read more