Family-run Banana Bay Tour Company, led by Florida Master Naturalist Captain JR, welcomes you aboard custom-built boats to discover the wild beauty of Cape Coral and Ft. Myers. As a NOAA Dolphin SMART and Society for Ethical Ecoto...
Dolphin sightings are practically guaranteed here, with guests consistently reporting multiple encounters on every tour. The captains clearly know these waters inside and out, spotting dolphins (and even the occasional manatee) within minutes of departure. What sets this operation apart is the comfortable covered boat with table seating arrangements that keep family groups together rather than cramming everyone in elbow-to-elbow. The crew, particularly guides like Dave, Jeff, and Bruce, get frequent shoutouts for being genuinely engaging and informative without the scripted tour-guide feel. The sunset tours seem especially popular, combining wildlife watching with gorgeous views as you cruise back to the harbor. Families with kids appreciate how patient the crew is with questions, and several reviewers mention smooth rides that even work for passengers prone to motion sickness. The guides share interesting local history, including candid talk about Hurricane Ian's impact on the area. It's become a repeat booking for many visitors and locals hosting out-of-town guests, which speaks volumes about the consistent quality and reasonable pricing.
We decided to book a sunset dolphin tour with them while on a trip to Cape Coral last week. We had so much fun and saw so many dolphins that we decided to book a second trip 2 days later and we saw even more dolphins that time. This tour was different than other dolphin tours I’ve done before. The boat is covered which was very nice. They also make sure to seat you with your group. Every group has their own table and space. Other tours I’ve done cram as many people as they can onto the boat and you’re elbow to elbow with strangers. We really enjoyed learning about the dolphins and they were very kind and listened to all of my kid’s questions and answered them all. We really enjoyed this tour and will book again next time we travel that way.
Becky Winston
August 3, 2025
We decided to book a sunset dolphin tour with them while on a trip to Cape Coral last week. We had so much fun and saw so many dolphins that we decided to book a second trip 2 days later and we saw even more dolphins that time. This tour was different than other dolphin tours I’ve done before. The boat is covered which was very nice. They also make sure to seat you with your group. Every group has their own table and space. Other tours I’ve done cram as many people as they can onto the boat and you’re elbow to elbow with strangers. We really enjoyed learning about the dolphins and they were very kind and listened to all of my kid’s questions and answered them all. We really enjoyed this tour and will book again next time we travel that way.
Becky Winston
August 3, 2025