Florida Dolphin Tours: the 6 Worth Booking

1.4-Hour Mangrove Island and Dolphin Watch Sandbar in Fort Pierce

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $79Our pick

Mark and Fabia lead a four-hour Fort Pierce kayak trip through quiet mangroves and lagoon waters. You will paddle about two miles, motor about two more, watch for dolphins and rays, and stop at a sandbar for swimming or a snack when tide and weather allow.

“It was a great experience and I would 100% recommend this for everyone who is interested in nature. Fabia and Mark are amazing tour guides who love to share interesting facts about the beautiful mangroves. Thank you very much from Germany, Valerie:)”

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2.Florida Keys: Dockside Dolphin Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 45 reviews · from $107

Meet a bottlenose dolphin from a dry training dock in the Florida Keys. A short English-language class covers dolphin behavior, anatomy, welfare, and habitat protection before 20 minutes of feeding and play. You stay out of the water, while an on-site photographer captures the encounter.

“We enjoyed the dolphin encounter. Pictures were a nice touch. We didn’t have to worry about missing out on the experience to take pics.”

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3.Dolphin and Manatee Adventure tour of Osprey with Florida History

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65Best value

Set out from Osprey for a two-hour paddle through the mangrove islands of Little Sarasota Bay. Your local guide leads the way while you look for dolphins and West Indian manatees. Kayaks, paddle boards, paddles, life vests, and nearby parking are included.

“I have a couple of concerns about this booking. First of all, Viator gives the option to pay right away or wait until 2 days before the tour to pay. I picked the deferred payment option. I completed the booking on Monday, 1/1/23, for a 5-person paddle board/kayak tour on Sunday, 1/7/23, with payment due of $325 on Saturday, 1/6/23. I received confirmation of the booking on 1/1/23. On Thursday, 1/4/23, I got an email from Viator offering $25 off my first booking. I attempted to apply the coupon code through their website, but it wouldn't work. I called customer service and spoke with Jorry, who initially said the coupon…”

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4.Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour of Sarasota with Olde Florida History!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddle a kayak or stand-up board through Sarasota’s calm waterways with guides such as Daniel, watching for dolphins, manatees, turtles, pelicans, spoonbills, mangroves, and live conch. The two-hour tour starts and ends in Osprey and includes all equipment.

“We had sooo much fun!! My wife and I wanted to show our kids some of the real outdoors while on our vacation to Lido Key. It was amazing because we saw dolphins swim right up to our kayaks and we saw two manatees passing by in the clear water. Our tourguide Daniel was very informative and patient with the kids. Our kids had so much fun that we bought a Three Brothers paddle board and had it shipped back to our home. Amazing kayak and paddle board tour in the Sarasota area!”

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5.Fort Pierce: 4-hr Mangroves & Dolphin Watch Sandbar in FL

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 4 hours · from $89

Spend four hours exploring Fort Pierce’s lagoon with an English-speaking guide, paddling two miles through mangroves before using an electric motor for the return. Look for dolphins, manatees, rays, egrets, pelicans, and fish, then swim or wade at a sandbar if tides allow.

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6.Dolphin Watching Jet Ski Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.)

You and one companion ride a jet ski with a guide from Salty’s Water Sports & Boat Rental through Fort Pierce’s Indian River Lagoon. The private 1-hour-15-minute tour looks for dolphin pods near a major Atlantic nursery, with morning trips offering the best reported conditions.

“Took a few friends with me to try and spot some dolphins in the intercoastal of Fort Pierce. This tour exceeded all of our expectations, we saw many pods of dolphins, which our guide tells us are very common around this area in the fall to winter months. We chose a morning slot as it was recommended by their staff, and I highly advise anyone reading this review to take that recommendation. Not only are the dolphins more visible at this hour, the water way is quiet and flat. Absolutely a great vacation choice!!”

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