Your Marco Island vacation is sure to be full of fun in the sun, delicious local food, and rich history. However, one of the biggest appeals of Marco Island is the stunning nature. Luckily, there are tons of local wildlife tours that will put you up close and personal with the local plant and animal life. Here are a few of our favorite Marco Island wildlife tours, all conveniently located near our Marco Island beachfront rentals.
Florida Adventures and Rentals
Florida Adventures and Rentals is arguably the most popular Marco Island tour company, and for good reason. They offer several different tours that are each led by an experienced guide who will teach you everything you would want to know about the area and its wildlife. The Dolphin Tour is a two-hour excursion that will take you and the whole family through the islands and mangrove islets off the southwest Florida coast. Your guide will be able to point out not only dolphins but also various bird species like the Rosy Spoonbill and the Blue Heron. Depending on when you visit, you might even spot manatees and sea turtles! Best of all, if you don’t see a dolphin on your tour, you get your money back!
Other tours provided by Florida Adventures and Rentals include the Cape Romano Shelling Tour, a three-hour eco-tour, and the Ultimate Shelling Tour. No matter which excursion you embark on, you and your family are sure to have an unforgettable time.
Native Tours and Fishing Charters
Native Tours and Fishing Charters is home to some of the most interesting eco-tours on Marco Island. Their Motorboat Eco-Tour will let you spend 3.5 hours in the Ten Thousand Islands, where you will be able to spot manatees, stingrays, bottlenose dolphins, and five of the world’s species of sea turtles. You’ll even get to stop and find some incredible seashells to collect for a souvenir!
Another great option is the Kayak Eco-Tour, which allows you to paddle through the water prairies and small mangrove islands of the area. This 3-3.5 hour tour is a unique way to truly experience the waters of the Everglades.
Rising Tide Explorers
The tours offered through Rising Tide Explorers are critically acclaimed, having been voted “The Best of the Gulf Shore” for 2019 by Gulfshore Life. Embark on the Sunset Bird Rookery Kayak Tour to see hundreds of birds in the glow of twilight and see a little-known part of the backwaters of The Rookery Bay Reserve. Alternatively, you might enjoy the Mangrove Tunnels and Mudflats Kayak Tour, where a local biologist will take you through the mangrove tunnels and let you spot oyster reefs, mudflats, and hidden bays.
Rising Tide Explorers also offers boat tours that are a bit more laid back. The High Points Ancient Island Excursion is a great way to learn about the history of the area, while the Sunset to Full Moon Cruise gives you a unique look at the Rookery Bay at night time.
Adventure Paddle Tours
Adventure Paddle Tours is a wonderful destination for manatee tours near Naples, Florida. Their 3-hour Manatees and Mangroves Kayak Tour starts at the Port of Islands Marina and takes you all throughout the Ten Thousand Islands’ waters. Both experienced paddlers and beginners will enjoy this tour and will be able to spot river otters, manatees, alligators, and wading birds.
You might also enjoy the 3.5-hour East River Fakahatchee State Park Kayak Tour or the 2.5-hour Rookery Bay Tour. No matter which journey you embark on, you’ll be under the watchful eye of an experienced guide who can keep you safe and teach you about the area’s breathtaking plant and animal life. Dolphin and Manatee tours are wonderful opportunities to get up-close-and-personal with the nature of Marco Island. By embarking on any one of these tours on Marco Island and surrounding towns, you and your family will create unforgettable memories.
Plan Your Visit
At the end of the day, after all your adventures, you can return to our Marco Island vacation rentals to relax and reflect on your incredible adventure together!