Hilton Head Dolphin Tour Companies Compared
Hilton Head dolphin tour companies compared: shared cruises from $40, private boats for up to six, a skiff from Skull Creek and a tour where you drive your own catamaran. Here is how the main operators differ.
Hilton Head Dolphin Tour Companies Compared
| Leaves from | Boat and group | How long | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Seafari | Shelter Cove Harbour | Shared cruise, family-run since 2008 | 90 minutes | From $40 for adults |
| Captain Mark’s | Shelter Cove Harbour | Shared, on the Holiday, a big shaded tour boat | About 1¾ hours | Ask when you book; infants free |
| Tale Hunter | Skull Creek docks, Squire Pope Rd | 27-foot skiff, up to 15 | Eco-tour; private sunset cruise about 2 hours | Ask when you book |
| Bluewater Adventure | Shelter Cove Marina | You drive a two-seat catamaran behind a guide | 2 hours | $135 adults, $115 children |
| Salt Marsh Sailing | Shelter Cove Harbour | Private, 27-foot catamaran, up to 6 | 2 hours | $359 for the boat |
| Cross Island Cruises | Shelter Cove Harbour | Private, up to 6, naturalist captain | Varies by trip | Ask when you book |
| Vagabond | Harbour Town, Sea Pines | Shared sightseeing boats | Varies by trip | Ask when you book |
The budget pick: a family-run 90-minute cruise on Broad Creek from $40, seven days a week.
A big, shaded boat with a narrated trip of about 1¾ hours, Monday to Saturday. Infants ride free.
Eco-tours on a 27-foot skiff for up to 15 from the Skull Creek docks on the north end, plus private sunset cruises.
Drive your own two-seat catamaran on a guided two-hour tour: $135 for adults, $115 for children.
Private sails for up to six on a 27-foot catamaran: $359 for the two-hour dolphin day sail.
Private dolphin, sunset and strand-feeding trips for up to six with a Lowcountry Master Naturalist captain.
The first choice is shared or private. A shared cruise sells seats on a bigger boat and costs the least per person; a private boat is yours alone for up to six and costs more: a full boat on Salt Marsh Sailing’s $359 day sail is about $60 a head. The second is where you leave from: most boats go from Shelter Cove mid-island, Tale Hunter from Skull Creek on the north end and Vagabond from Harbour Town in Sea Pines. Book online on the Hilton Head dolphin tours page.
Shared Dolphin Cruises: Buy a Seat
Dolphin Seafari is the lowest price, from $40 for adults, on a 90-minute run up Broad Creek that never goes past two hours. Captain Mark’s runs a larger shaded boat, the Holiday, for about 1¾ hours, Monday to Saturday, which suits grandparents and anyone who wants shade and a seat. Vagabond, at Harbour Town, is the pick if you are staying in Sea Pines. Tale Hunter runs its eco-tours on a 27-foot skiff that carries up to 15, a smaller boat than the big cruise boats.
Private Dolphin Boats
Salt Marsh Sailing and Cross Island Cruises both take your group alone, up to six. Salt Marsh Sailing is under sail on a 27-foot catamaran, $359 for the boat for a two-hour dolphin day sail, $399 at sunset. Cross Island Cruises runs dolphin, sunset and strand-feeding trips on Calibogue Sound with a Lowcountry Master Naturalist at the wheel. More private boats are on the dolphin tours page.
Bluewater Adventure vs a Dolphin Cruise
Bluewater Adventure is a different trip: instead of riding, two of you drive a small CraigCat catamaran in a line behind a guide, through the marsh and out on the sound, for two hours. It costs $135 for adults and $115 for children, drivers must be 18 or older with a driver’s licence, and passengers must be at least 5. Choose it for the thrill of driving; choose a cruise if you want a guide talking about the dolphins while you watch.
Which Dolphin Tour for Children
With small children, a shared cruise on a big boat is easiest: Captain Mark’s lets infants ride free, and Dolphin Seafari’s 90 minutes suits short attention spans. Bluewater Adventure takes passengers from age 5. For pirates and mermaids, see dolphin cruises for children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated
What is the best dolphin tour on Hilton Head?
It depends on the trip: Dolphin Seafari is the least expensive shared cruise, from $40; Captain Mark’s has a big shaded boat; Salt Marsh Sailing and Cross Island Cruises are private for up to six; and Bluewater Adventure lets you drive your own catamaran.
Is Bluewater Adventure a dolphin tour?
Yes, but you drive. Two people share a small CraigCat catamaran and follow a guide for two hours through the marsh and out on the sound. It costs $135 for adults and $115 for children.
What is the cheapest dolphin tour on Hilton Head?
Dolphin Seafari, from $40 for adults, on a 90-minute shared cruise from Shelter Cove Harbour.
Shared or private dolphin tour: which is better?
Shared costs less per person, from $40, and suits couples and small families. A private boat for up to six is yours alone: Salt Marsh Sailing’s $359 day sail works out to about $60 a head for a full boat.
Where do Hilton Head dolphin tours leave from?
Most leave Shelter Cove Harbour, mid-island. Tale Hunter leaves the Skull Creek docks on the north end, and Vagabond leaves Harbour Town in Sea Pines.
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