Guided Mini Boat Dolphin Tour in Hilton Head Island
Take the wheel on a guided mini boat adventure through Hilton Head waters
Duration
2 hours
Ideal For
Up to 4 people
Includes
Guided tour, water, photo
Highlights
Take the wheel of your own mini boat on a guided ride through Hilton Head waters. Look for local dolphins and wildlife while learning about the area's ecosystem.
- Drive your own mini boat on a guided 25+ mile tour
- Reach speeds of more than 25 mph on the water
- Learn about Hilton Head wildlife and the local ecosystem
- Enjoy a hands-on boating experience with your party
Itinerary
- Slow cruise out Broad Creek (Dolphin Alley) to view local dolphins.
- Continue to the sound and increase speed to cover more ground.
- Stop by Harbour Town Lighthouse and cruise to Daufuskie Island to see Haig Point.
- Explore marshes to look for strand feeding, oyster farms, rays, and other wildlife.
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Family picture
Important details
- Arrive 30 minutes before departure to complete waivers
- Complete a waiver before departure
- Drivers must be ages 21+ and present a valid driver's license
- Passengers must be ages 5+
- No alcohol is permitted before or while operating a mini boat
- Maximum weight is 1,000 lbs per mini boat
- Requires operating your own mini boat; guides will not drive participants' boats
- Not recommended for heart, back, or lung problems; pregnant women should not participate
Cancellation Policy
Cancel up to 48 hours before the scheduled activity. No refunds are available within 48 hours or if you miss your trip. Full refund if the captain or guide cancels due to inclement weather.
Product ID: DZQ93G
FAQs
A: Please arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your scheduled tour time, as tours depart on time and late arrivals cannot be accommodated.
A: Yes, a valid driver’s license is required if you plan to drive your mini boat.
A: Yes, all participants must complete a waiver before participating in the mini boat dolphin tour.
Meeting details
Palmetto Bay Marina, 86 Helmsman Way Suite 101, Hilton Head, SC 29928
More about Harbour Town Lighthouse
The Harbour Town Lighthouse rises above the southern tip of Hilton Head Island like a candy-striped beacon, and there is no better way to take it in than from the water on a mini boat dolphin tour. Setting out from Broad Creek, you skim across calm coastal waters with the iconic red and white tower coming into view, framed by swaying palmettos and the masts of sailboats moored in the marina. The Harbour Town Lighthouse has been the symbol of Hilton Head for decades, and seeing it from your own self-driven mini boat gives a perspective that crowded land-based visits simply cannot match.
As you captain your two-seater boat along the route, your guide leads the way through the creek and out toward the sound, where bottlenose dolphins are known to surface alongside the boats. The breeze carries the salty scent of the Lowcountry marsh, oyster beds glisten at the waterline, and herons stalk the shallows as the Harbour Town Lighthouse stands watch in the distance. The contrast is what makes this experience memorable: wild tidal estuaries on one side, the polished elegance of Harbour Town's yacht-lined harbor on the other. Every turn of the wheel brings a new angle of the lighthouse and a new chance to spot dorsal fins cutting through the water.
This tour is perfect for couples looking for a romantic outing, families with older kids who want a hands-on adventure, and anyone who would rather drive their own boat than ride along on a big tour vessel. Photographers will love the unobstructed shots of the Harbour Town Lighthouse from the water, and wildlife lovers will appreciate the quiet approach that small boats allow. If you want to experience Hilton Head from a fresh angle and pair dolphin sightings with one of the most photographed landmarks on the South Carolina coast, a mini boat tour past the Harbour Town Lighthouse is hard to beat.
