Cruise San Carlos Bay at sunset to spot dolphins and coastal wildlife
1.5 Hours
Narration, bottled water
Relax on a 1.5-hour sunset cruise through the tranquil waters of San Carlos Bay while your captain and first mate narrate the route. Watch for dolphins in their natural habitat and keep an eye out for seasonal birds along the Sanibel coastline.
Children 3 and under are free but still need a ticket.
Cancel 24+ hours in advance (48 hours for parties of 6+, 14 days for holiday cruises); 3% processing fee applies. Changes/cancellations within 24 hours are subject to a 100% penalty; no-shows are charged. Email/voicemail cancellations not accepted.
Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time and allow extra time for heavy traffic due to ongoing construction on the Sanibel Causeway.
Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Bring any food or beverages you want. In cooler months, bring a light jacket.
Yes. You can bring alcohol, but limit glass.
Please check in at Sanibel Marina. Look to your left as you drive into Marina parking lot. You will check in on the BIG YELLOW BOAT!
The crew here clearly knows how to create memorable experiences on the water. Captain Steve, Tom, Evan, and the rest of the team get consistent praise for being friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about the local wildlife. Families especially appreciate how engaging they are with kids. The dolphin sightings seem to be a major highlight, with multiple reviews mentioning pods coming right up to the boat, plus bonus encounters with manatees and other marine life. The sunset cruises get particularly glowing feedback. A couple of guests found the shelling excursions less impressive than expected, noting the beaches were fairly basic and the shells no better than what you'd find elsewhere locally. One reviewer mentioned the long day felt static when weather conditions weren't ideal. That said, most visitors seem thrilled with their experiences, and the company earned loyalty from repeat customers who return year after year. The variety of tours means there's something for different interests, though the dolphin-focused trips appear to be the standout option.
I took the sunset dolphin cruise and it was so wonderful! We got to see a matriarchal pod of Atlantic bottle nose dolphin who were very active around the boat. Our captain, Steve and the first mate, Tom were first class. Steve is a very experienced boat captain and the ride was as smooth as silk. First Mate Tom was so friendly, approachable and was extremely knowledgeable about marine life, dolphins in particular. The boat was clean, comfortable and included passengers as young as below 10 to my 81 years young Mom! I highly recommend AIP! Ask for Captain Steve and First Mate Tom, and tell them Jenny sent you!
Jennifer Ross
May 25, 2026
I took the sunset dolphin cruise and it was so wonderful! We got to see a matriarchal pod of Atlantic bottle nose dolphin who were very active around the boat. Our captain, Steve and the first mate, Tom were first class. Steve is a very experienced boat captain and the ride was as smooth as silk. First Mate Tom was so friendly, approachable and was extremely knowledgeable about marine life, dolphins in particular. The boat was clean, comfortable and included passengers as young as below 10 to my 81 years young Mom! I highly recommend AIP! Ask for Captain Steve and First Mate Tom, and tell them Jenny sent you!
Jennifer Ross
May 25, 2026