Dolphin cruises leave from the marinas around Grand Lagoon and from St. Andrews State Park; two private boats leave from Panama City. A shared cruise of 90 minutes to two hours costs about $32 to $43 per person on Viator, small-group trips $49 to $71 per person, and private boats $299 to $389 for a group of up to six on Viator. Sightings aren't guaranteed. Feeding wild dolphins is illegal, and NOAA asks you not to swim with them.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change the order we show places in or what we say about them. How we make money
Which tour suits youSt. Andrews State Park · Photo: Royalbroil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
Viator prices are "from" prices; each Viator listing says whether that's per person or per group. Direct prices come from the operators' websites; Viator prices and ratings from Viator on November 1, 2026. Each card says whether the Viator booking can be cancelled for free; the deadline is on the listing.
No reliable source says which time of day or year is best for seeing dolphins.
Shared trips of 90 minutes to 3 hours on cruise boats and catamarans. The cheapest way to go per person.
Island Time Sailing
A three-hour dolphin cruise with time at Shell Island. Snorkel gear and life jackets are included, and a bar on board sells food and drinks.
From $52.43 on Viator
Flipper's Adventures
A 90-minute boat tour to look for dolphins. Restrooms on board.
From $32 on Viator
Flipper's Adventures
The 90-minute cruise at sunset, with captain and crew.
From $37 on Viator
Good Jibez Only Boat Tours
90 minutes looking for dolphins in the waters near Shell Island. Water included.
From $35 on Viator
Island Time Sailing
A two-hour sunset sail on a 50-foot catamaran for up to 65 passengers, with restrooms and a shaded lower deck. Taxes and fees are included in the Viator price.
From $41.73 on Viator
Direct from the operator: $39 ages 13+, $29 ages 0–12 on the operator's site
Paradise Adventures
A 90-minute sunset sail on a catamaran, with one drink included.
From $38.45 on Viator
Paradise Adventures
Two hours on a catamaran at sunset, with one drink and live music on some evenings.
From $42.73 on Viator
St. Andrews Adventures (park concession)
A sunset cruise from St. Andrews State Park with a licensed guide and restrooms on board. The concession's cruise page says it currently runs Tuesday to Saturday, 4 to 5:30 pm, through February, and calls it a 2-hour cruise; its schedule page lists Thursday to Saturday, 4 to 6 pm. Neither gives a year. Tickets are sold at the Pier Store, where you park and take a tram to the dock 30 minutes before departure. You need a park entrance pass.
From $32.05 on Viator
Most of these add snorkeling. The operators don't say whether you can stay on board while others snorkel; ask when you book if someone in your group won't swim.
Lagoon Pontoons / Island Time
Six guests at most, with snorkel gear. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; full refund if the operator cancels for weather.
From $49 on Viator
Direct from the operator: $59 per person; private boat $299
Awesome Dolphin Tours
A shared two-hour trip to Shell Island with a Coast Guard–licensed captain and snorkel gear. Up to six people per booking.
From $71 on Viator
Private prices are usually for the whole boat, not per person; check on the booking page.
Beachy Boat Rentals
Two private hours for up to six people, with bottled water. Viator lists this one per person, not per boat.
From $70 on Viator
Capt. Zach's Adventures
Two hours on a private boat for a group of up to six, with bottled water, a cooler with ice and snorkel gear. Viator lists the price per group.
From $347 on Viator
Sunshine Watersports PC
A private two-hour sunset cruise for a group of up to six, with fuel, life jackets and a licensed captain. Viator lists the price per group.
From $299 on Viator
Sunshine Watersports PC
Three private hours for a group of up to six, with dolphin viewing and a stop at Shell Island; fuel and boat costs included. Viator lists the price per group.
From $389 on Viator
The dolphins here are wild. NOAA Fisheries says:
NOAA's guidance against swimming with dolphins is a recommendation, not a general ban.
Source: NOAA Fisheries: marine life viewing guidelines and distances
Several operators advertise swimming with wild dolphins, among them FUNPCB; two such trips are on Viator, from $71. NOAA asks visitors not to seek out swimming with wild dolphins (see above). If you want to follow that advice, pick a tour that watches dolphins from the boat and keeps any snorkeling separate.
Bay Point Water Sports
A two-hour trip with snorkel gear and bottled water, up to six people per booking. It's advertised as swimming with wild dolphins; read NOAA's guidance above before you book.
From $71 on Viator
Water Planet
Four hours with snorkeling at Shell Island. Its own website gives two seasons, February 17 to December 15 on the home page and March 1 to October 15 on the tour page, and still shows an old 2022 booking note, so confirm that it runs.
From $145.75 on Viator
Direct from the operator: seats from $119 plus tax and fees
Sources: Viator partner data; Water Planet; NOAA Fisheries.
Many tours combine dolphins with snorkeling at Shell Island, and the island ferries are cheaper if you only want the beach there.
