What a great dolphin cruise! The captain and first mate are awesome! They were extremely…read moreinformative, kind and funny! Highly recommend! Lots of cool dolphin facts! We saw birds, dolphins and a shark.

We had such an amazing experience with Banana Bay tour and highly recommend it to anyone visiting…read morewith kids! We did the dolphin ecological tour with our two toddlers and the team truly went above and beyond to make it special for them. They had little sand baskets ready, let the kids drive the boat, and made them feel so included and excited the entire time. We were lucky enough to see dolphins AND manatees, which was such a cool experience for all of us. Beyond that, everyone was so welcoming, kind, and knowledgeable. You can tell they genuinely care about creating a memorable experience while teaching about the local environment and wildlife. Special shout out to Annie, JR and Dennis for being so amazing! Thanks again!

Captain Jim is a great host and guide. He is so nice and lots of fun. He had a vast knowledge of…read morethe area and the history. We took the fun lunch at Cabbage Key trip. The ride was smooth with several stops along the way to point out wildlife and points of interest. He allowed us enough time on the island to enjoy lunch and thoroughly explore. If we are back in the area we would definitely do another tour with Pine Island Boat Tours.

We had a fantastic time with Captain Jim. He is extremely knowledgeable about all the local…read morebeaches, and history of the area. He knew exactly where to take us and show us where all the dolphins and manatees were. My kids loved Captain Jim. They thought he was very friendly. I would highly recommend this boat ride. The 4 hour trip is the best value , as the day flew. I can't give enough praise . 5 stars isn't enough. This was definitely the highlight of our vacation.

Captain Cathy gave us the most amazing afternoon. We saw so many dolphins. She showed us all the…read moreislands and gave us the history behind them. She took us to Cabbage Key which beforehand we didn't know was a restaurant so we packed lunch so don't do that! We would have loved to eat there. She took us to a small beach that she could back the boat up to and we had a quaint picnic and we're able to play in the water and see manta rays up close. By far the highlight of our vacation.

I have been with Captain Cathy at least three times. Each time was different from the last! I…read morebrought my out of town company and each group loved the experience. I am looking forward to booking my next cruise with my next group! Highly recommend.

I just spent an afternoon with Captain Rick on his beautiful boat, Fair Winds! The marina was…read moresuper convenient and we loved seeing a crane and a flock of brown pelicans. The little shop sells Dipndots, which was a huge hit with out kids. The more adventurous kids loved the seats on the back of the boat. The views of Sanibel lighthouse were post ard worthy. This was a great way to spend an afternoon on spring break.

From the owner: Looking for something special to do while in the Fort Myers area? Sail the warm tropical waters of…read moreSouthwest Florida aboard Fair Winds to experience the beauty of sailing. Gliding along on the warm tropical waters of the Gulf, don't be surprised to be in the company of dolphins, manatees, native birds, or even a sea turtle. You can also experience the spectacular sunsets, which are even more stunning while on the water!

Now known as MATLACHA BOATING ADVENTURES - Excursion Date -…read more3/25/2024 Without a doubt... THE BEST TIME I'VE EVER HAD ON THE WATER - Bar None! Captain Will delivered as promised and we had the most enjoyable afternoon at the absolute best value of any excursion in ALL OF FLORIDA! Our family of four went out with the good Captain and his sister boat with Captain Chris and headed over to Coya Costa - Do NOT MISS THE MYSTERY BEACH - There is nothing like being the only souls on miles of beach in the pristine aqua-green waters of the Gulf. We also cruised a secluded bay filled with Manatee and saw nesting Osprey for the first part of the trip. All the time filled with little tid-bits of history and stories about the islands and wildlife. The short walk to the beach reminded you or an episode of Gilligan's Island or Survivor but to dip in the gulf water in early Spring weather with the feeling of secluded luxury was worth every single penny. We then journeyed to Cabbage Key and had a stop at the famous restaurant for some "ON-Point" and fresh Stone Crab followed by an excellent Cheeseburger that may or may not have inspired you-know-who to pen a famous song about such carnivorous habits..... That was topped off by the tangiest frozen Key-Lime pit and a few scoops of ice cream from the local creamery. The trip back to Pine Island and Captain Will's tailgate office found us enjoying the nostalgic views and gorgeous homes of Useppa Island followed by Dolphin views and then twenty minutes of the dolphin pod ridding the wake of our vessel. We could not have imagined how exciting, fun, and memorable this excursion was. Without a doubt, at the prices he charged, no other ferry, tour, or excursion gives you half as much for the money on the Florida coast. This little operation is highly recommended and I'm not easy to please. Another couple of two adults shared he boat with us and they were blown away too with words of praise and plans to repeat the trip again. As a tip, arrive early and check out the fish market. If you're lucky, Uno or Lefty as Captain Will calls him will be begging for fish at the back of the dock by the fish market. The wild dolphin was sheer joy to watch as were were literally inches away from him as he waited on a fish or two from the fleet dropping their catch at the market. We could have watched the huge bottle-nose dolphin for hours. That alone was a high-light worthy of calling it a day but our entire journey defied expectations. I can not recommend Captain Will & Company from Matlacha Boating Adventures. Support a Veteran Owned Business and enjoy an unforgettable trip around Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. This excursion made our trip a memory to cherish! Thanks Captain Will for an unprecedented time on the water!!! If you book elsewhere, you won't have as much fun and you'll pay too much!

While on vacation my friends and I took the sunset cruise. The Captain and first mate were great…read moreand so knowledgable about the wild life. We saw dolphins, a manatee and a ton of birds. Highly recommend the trip, plus you can bring your own food and drink.

We had an amazing experience on our dolphin tour with Captain Karl. We saw at least a dozen…read moredolphins, a couple turtles and thousands of fish. We were not fishing but Captain Karl deffinatly knows where the fish are at! This was one of our most memorable experiences in Matlacha. Florida. We went on Monday and then went back on Wednesday and rented Kayaks and had an awesome time exploring on our own. Matlacha Boat Rides and Rentals not only does boat tours, dolphin watch tours, but they also rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards, sail boat rentals, and skiff rentals. They also do fishing trips for beginners to experienced anglers. Captain Karl was so knowledgable and even showed us private beaches that had no people on them! How cool is that? Matlacha Boat Rides and Rentals boats are super clean, and well maintained and have a great selection of boats to rent. They also let you request the type of tour and they will customize one for you. They are located at Angler's Inn on Matlacha, Florida. We loved the time we spent on the water. We will defiantly come back. Captain Karl and his wife treated us like we were old friends of theirs. We loved it.

Karl and Janette are wonderful hosts! Their room rentals come with a kitchen and lanai AND they…read moreprovide complimentary kayak rentals for people staying with them. I went on a last minute boat tour with them on my birthday and had a blast. They're genuine people who provide great service.

Our family of 5 had an absolutely wonderful experience with Captain Jessica and the Island Time…read moreDolphin & Shelling Cruise! Our four-hour trip was the perfect mix of relaxation, wildlife, and adventure. Captain Jessica and her crew went above and beyond, providing iced drinks, snacks, and buckets for collecting shells. They took us to Old Hickory Island, where we found some amazing shells, a Pygmy octopus, conch, and a sand dollar. Throughout the trip, Captain Jessica shared her knowledge about the local ecosystem, answering all of our questions about the dolphins, manatees, mangroves, and the area. One of the highlights was when she spotted a pod of dolphins. She carefully brought the boat alongside them, and we got to watch them swim and jump in our boat's wake--it was unforgettable! Communication was outstanding from start to finish. We had to reschedule twice due to weather. Captain Jessica made the process incredibly easy and stress-free. She is friendly, welcoming, and shared lots of great local recommendations for places to visit and things to do. If you're looking to support a fantastic local business while having an unforgettable day on the water, I can't recommend Captain Jessica and Island Time Dolphin & Shelling Cruise enough. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip!

Captain Jessica is a wealth of knowledge about local wildlife and history and knows how, when and…read morewhere to find the Dolfins. It was a great thrill to see them playing and leaping in our wake and was definitely the highlight of our vacation! Don't miss It!

I forgot who was guiding the tour (Tim, Tom?) but he was fantastic. We opted for the sunset cruise…read moreand right as the two other competitors went back to the marina is when the real show started. We were the only boat with at least a dozen dolphins playing nearby, within 10 ft of the boat at times. We'd definitely go back!

The captain knew just where to take us and we saw many dolphin and a beautiful sunset! They were…read morefriendly and so knowledgeable too. We will for sure book again next time we are visiting sanibel!

Wouldn't recommend! Unprofessional uptight captain who cusses at women and children because he had…read moreto load their stuff that he had been paid to do! Use anyone but them! Dude is suffering from LDS to talk to women and children that way!

A great trip to Cabbage Key with Island Girl. On time, great staff, excellent boats & a friendly…read morefun ride. I hope people tip big, as these guys work hard with Everything people bring....so much stuff. We will use Island Girl again, on our next Cabbage Key Vacation .

Today is a most beautiful day, the day before Christmas Eve. The temperature is just perfect as we…read moresit under a shaded pavilion enjoying our soup from a Perfect Cup. The parking is totally full with boat trailers, skidoos, and people just enjoying the beautiful weather. There is a playground in the middle. The boardwalk is under construction and I can't wait for it to open. There are pelicans, herons snd hawks flying overhead. A man next to us is lighting up one of the grills they have by each pavilion. In this time of mostly bad news, I glad to be able to escape to a beautiful place! Happy Holidays everyone!

Great park to put out your boat. It was easy, not crowded. There is a $10 a day parking charge. The…read moreviews getting out of the park into the water are beautiful. It's a very colorful, artsy town.