Dolphin trips · PANAMA CITY BEACH

The 15 Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours People Actually Book

24 trips  ·  from $28 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 panama city beach dolphin tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time - From 5201 North Lagoon Drive to the open water
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Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

1.Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,362 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $57Our pick

Sail from Panama City Beach aboard Island Time’s spacious catamaran, watching for wild dolphins before reaching Shell Island. You can snorkel in St. Andrews Bay, paddleboard, use the waterslide, collect shells, or simply relax. Crew members such as Emma, Sarah, Heath, and Clayton are often praised for friendly service.

“We had the perfect time on Island Time! The two captains and bartender took the time to get to know us, were so helpful in spotting dolphins (easily over 100)! They slowed down and stopped so we could take videos/photos. Then spending time walking the beach on shell island was more beautiful than expected. My husband snorkeled and we found sand dollars and gorgeous shells. The music was relaxed but fun, the drink offerings were spot-on (go for the rum punch) and the 3 hours on the trip were some of the best spent on our entire trip!”

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Sunset & Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time - Setting Sail From 5201 N Lagoon Drive
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Sunset & Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

2.Sunset & Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,867 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $57

Set sail from 5201 N Lagoon Dr with Island Time Sailing for a two-hour sunset cruise through Grand Lagoon. Look for dolphins near St. Andrews State Park, enjoy music and drinks from the onboard bar, and finish with dockside games and dancing. Captains Clay and Christo are among the crew praised for finding good dolphin views.

“Everything about this dolphin watch boat tour is phenomenal, the Captain and crew are amazing! Me and my girlfriend have done this twice within a year and it’s been amazing and worth every penny.”

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Snorkel & Dolphin Sightseeing Tour Aboard the Footloose - The boat ride and onboard setup
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Snorkel & Dolphin Sightseeing Tour Aboard the Footloose

3.Snorkel & Dolphin Sightseeing Tour Aboard the Footloose

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 441 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $50

Spend about three hours aboard the Footloose catamaran from Panama City Beach. Snorkel with provided gear at Shell Island, walk its white-sand beach, then search for dolphins in the Gulf. The crew, including captains such as Gordon, Marcy, Ryan, and first mate Lamar, serves one complimentary drink before opening the bar.

“It was a great time! My 16 and 18 year old boys who never want to participate in anything- actually did and said it was a lot of fun! It was really chill and easy going. We were able to do our own thing and by the time the excitement started to die down, it was time to go. Timing was perfect from our ages down to our 2 year old!”

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2 Hours Swim with the Dolphins in Panama City - Getting Into the Water Near Wild Dolphins
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2 Hours Swim with the Dolphins in Panama City

4.2 Hours Swim with the Dolphins in Panama City

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 302 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $71

Join Bay Point Water Sports for a two-hour Gulf boat trip with a maximum of six people. Captains Dale, Dan, Rob, or Robert look for wild dolphins, stingrays, manatees, turtles, and sharks, then offer time to swim, snorkel, and visit Shell Island.

“Just amazing. The captain was awesome!!! 100% recommend it. We saw a lot of dolphins. The shell islands is beautiful.😉😃😃”

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2-Hour Private Sightseeing Dolphin Tour in Panama City Beach - Leaving Beck Avenue for the bay
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2-Hour Private Sightseeing Dolphin Tour in Panama City Beach

5.2-Hour Private Sightseeing Dolphin Tour in Panama City Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 235 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Captain Zach leads a private two-hour cruise for up to six people through St. Andrews Bay and toward Shell Island. Look for wild bottlenose dolphins, turtles, rays, and other sea life, then snorkel or walk the white-sand beach. Water, ice, a cooler, and gear are included.

“Great experience! Private trip to see dolphins UP CLOSE. Much better experience than larger boats packed with strangers. The visit to Shell Island was great where we (Captain Zach) found a shark tooth and witnessed a stunning sunset.”

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Shell Island Dolphin Sightseeing Boat Tour in Panama City Beach - Why the crew makes a difference
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Shell Island Dolphin Sightseeing Boat Tour in Panama City Beach

6.Shell Island Dolphin Sightseeing Boat Tour in Panama City Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 221 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Cruise St. Andrews Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and Shell Island for about 90 minutes on a boat limited to 18 people. Captains such as Justine and Drea, with first mate Sophia, look for wild bottlenose dolphins and other wildlife while sharing local facts. Water is included, but there is no restroom onboard.

“Very nice captain drea and 1st mate sophia. Had a great ride out and saw a ton of dolphins! great way to see PCB.”

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Panama City: Sunset Dolphin Cruise in St. Andrews Bay - Getting to the dock at St. Andrews State Park
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Panama City: Sunset Dolphin Cruise in St. Andrews Bay

7.Panama City: Sunset Dolphin Cruise in St. Andrews Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 218 reviews · 1h 30m · from $28Best value

Board a double-deck catamaran at St. Andrews State Park for a 90-minute sunset cruise. Guides such as Ryan, Brian, Kent, and Roy keep an eye out for wild dolphins, deer, and good photo angles while beer, wine, and cold drinks are available onboard.

“Ryan, Bryan and Dennis were awesome. They only had 5 of us but they still went through with the entire tour. They took awesome pictures and they gave us lots of information about the islands. They even played a happy birthday song for my boyfriend’s birthday.”

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Dolphin Sightseeing Tour on the Footloose Catamaran - Cruising Panama City Beach and Shell Island
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Dolphin Sightseeing Tour on the Footloose Catamaran

8.Dolphin Sightseeing Tour on the Footloose Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 198 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Join the 40-foot Footloose catamaran for a 90-minute dolphin search off Panama City Beach, with Shell Island views, tropical music, a complimentary drink, and snacks for sale. Captains such as Paul, Mike, and Ryan have earned praise for finding dolphins and keeping the trip friendly and smooth.

“Nico and Ryan were excellent hosts and were able to bring us to over 50 dolphin sightings! I still can’t believe how amazing it was!”

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Dolphin Sightseeing on the Privateer Catamaran - Shell Island and the open water
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Dolphin Sightseeing on the Privateer Catamaran

9.Dolphin Sightseeing on the Privateer Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Spend about 90 minutes aboard the 52-foot Privateer catamaran, cruising Grand Lagoon, St. Andrews Bay, Shell Island, or the Gulf while the captain and crew search for wild dolphins. The boat carries up to 38 people and has a bar with drinks, snacks, and the Privateer Punch.

“We took a family dolphin watching tours! Everyone was extremely friendly and we saw lots of dolphins! Well worth the money!!”

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2 Hour Private Dolphin and Sightseeing Tour Shell Island - Shell Island and the open Gulf
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2 Hour Private Dolphin and Sightseeing Tour Shell Island

10.2 Hour Private Dolphin and Sightseeing Tour Shell Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 116 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $70

Cruise St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on a private two-hour boat trip with Captain Harry, Zach, or Britney. Look for dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays, birds, and bald eagles near Shell Island, then watch the sunset away from crowded shore viewpoints. The tour costs $70 per person.

“Capt. Harry was great. We enjoyed the ride. Didn’t see a lot of dolphins but we knew this time of year might be difficult. This was my son’s first time and he really enjoyed it! Thank you!”

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2 Hour Shell Island Jet Ski Dolphin Tour - Crossing St. Andrews Bay on one jet ski
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2 Hour Shell Island Jet Ski Dolphin Tour

11.2 Hour Shell Island Jet Ski Dolphin Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 97 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Ride one jet ski with up to two people across St. Andrews Bay, search for dolphins and other wildlife, then stop at Shell Island for beach time. Guides such as Micah, Carson, and Ross are praised for patient instruction, especially with first-time riders. Expect open-water riding and possible choppy waves.

“The guide Ross was very chill and nice! Definitely one of the best dudes in Florida to do a tour with! He put us on some dolphins and the view was amazing!”

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3 Hour Dolphin Tour and Snorkeling in Shell Island - Watching Dolphins in Their Natural Habitat
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3 Hour Dolphin Tour and Snorkeling in Shell Island

12.3 Hour Dolphin Tour and Snorkeling in Shell Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 89 reviews

Spend three hours on a private boat from Panama City Beach, watching wild dolphins and exploring seven-mile Shell Island. Your captain may include snorkeling for sand dollars, starfish, and other sea life. Equipment is provided, and you can bring snacks and drinks for your group of up to six.

“It was my Daughter’s 21st birthday trip! Captain Alex went above and beyond to make our trip special! We loved being able to bring our own snacks and drinks. He was very knowledgeable about the area and we saw tons of dolphin!”

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Snorkeling, Dolphin and Wildlife Sightings at St. Andrews Bay - Stop two: Panama City and the wider bay
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Snorkeling, Dolphin and Wildlife Sightings at St. Andrews Bay

13.Snorkeling, Dolphin and Wildlife Sightings at St. Andrews Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Captain Brittany takes your private group around St. Andrews Bay for dolphin watching, snorkeling, shell hunting, and wildlife sightings. Jenna may join the trip, and the flexible route can include Shell Island, Panama City, and Panama City Beach. Gear, water, and an ice-filled cooler are provided.

“Brittany was nice and super friendly it was a good experience. Definitely should give it a shot if anyone hasn't.”

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Panama City Beach's - Dolphin Sunset Cruise - The fast section: spray, turns, and big reactions
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Panama City Beach’s – Dolphin Sunset Cruise

14.Panama City Beach’s – Dolphin Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 70 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $69

You’ll spend about 60 minutes aboard The Scream Machine, a 30-foot, 800-horsepower boat, cruising St. Andrews Bay near Panama City Beach. Expect high-speed turns, spray, sunset views, possible wild dolphins, music, and the company of Greta, the friendly sea dog. Captain Scott, Captain Delan, and Captain Extreme are among the named captains associated with the ride.

“We had the best time ever and they were a so nice even though my daughter got sick and threw up everywhere! We are so sorry about that ! Overall we enjoyed it and it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience thanks for being a part of that!”

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Big Kahuna Sunset Dolphin Cruise Experience - Boarding at 3605 Navy Boulevard
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Big Kahuna Sunset Dolphin Cruise Experience

15.Big Kahuna Sunset Dolphin Cruise Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $54

Join Captain John, Captain Angie, or another friendly crew member aboard the adults-only Big Kahuna for a 90-minute sunset cruise. Bring drinks, watch for dolphins, enjoy music, and return to the Navy Boulevard dock after sunset.

“Captain John abd Angie were the best. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. We were able to see many dolphins abd even went close to the state park and see a deer.”

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New in Panama City Beach

★ 5.0Experience Sunset and Dolphin Adventure in Panama2 reviews
★ 5.0Private Swim with Dolphins And Snorkeling Tour12 reviews
★ 4.9Panama City: Sunset Tour with Dolphin WatchingFrom $7915 reviews

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Dolphin Watching & Snorkeling TripsSunset Dolphin CruisesSwim with Dolphins ExperiencesDolphin Watching Catamaran CruisesWild Dolphin Watching ToursDolphin Kayak Tours
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