Spot dolphins and birds with a naturalist captain on a small-group eco cruise
1.5 hours
2 to 14 people
Boat tour, Naturalist guide
Explore St. Augustine's rivers and creeks on a guided eco cruise. Watch for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and coastal birds as your USCG-licensed naturalist captain interprets the estuary.
Arrive at the marina at least 20 minutes before departure. Parking in the historic district can be difficult; allow extra time. Any shoes are fine since you will stay safe and dry on the boats.
Full refund if canceled at least 48 hours before the start. No refund within 48 hours of the start.
111 B Avenida Menendez St. Augustine, FL US 32084
This outfit has clearly mastered the art of intimate, knowledge-rich tours that connect visitors with St. Augustine's natural beauty and history. The small boat format gets consistent praise for creating personal experiences rather than crowded cattle calls. Captains Kevin, Lily, Zach, Ken, and Kurt all earn individual shout-outs for their engaging personalities and deep expertise spanning local wildlife, ecosystems, and historical context. Guests regularly spot dolphins up close, sometimes even pods with babies, along with herons, manatees, and various marine life. The sunset and Nights of Lights tours seem particularly popular, combining natural beauty with St. Augustine's illuminated downtown viewed from the water. What stands out is how the guides adapt each trip based on conditions, like Captain Zach taking guests into open ocean when calm or Captain Kev knowing exactly where to find dolphins after initial lulls. The guides clearly love sharing their city and create memorable experiences through casual, informative narration rather than stiff scripted talks. Several reviewers mention the tour was featured on Samantha Brown's travel show, which speaks to the quality reputation they've built.
I highly recommend St Augustine Eco Tours! Capt Lilly is a fantastic guide, answering all our questions. We saw pelicans and osprey diving for fish. Lots of bottle nose dolphin. And Capt Lilly educated us about the local marine and wildlife along with some history about St Augustine. Also the boat is a perfect size for a small group and can maneuver where larger boats don't have access.
Sue Minter
2 months ago
I highly recommend St Augustine Eco Tours! Capt Lilly is a fantastic guide, answering all our questions. We saw pelicans and osprey diving for fish. Lots of bottle nose dolphin. And Capt Lilly educated us about the local marine and wildlife along with some history about St Augustine. Also the boat is a perfect size for a small group and can maneuver where larger boats don't have access.
Sue Minter
2 months ago