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Hilton Head Tours
Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise

By Lowcountry Watersports
Recommended by 97% of travelers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The coast of Hilton Head Island provides a prime location for dolphin-watching cruises. On this family-friendly tour, you’ll boost your odds of spotting dolphins and other marine life with the help of an onboard guide, while also learning about the local aquatic life. Plus, by planning ahead, you'll  secure a desired time slot, especially during the busy summer season.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 45 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Increase your chances of spotting dolphins in the Hilton Head Island waterways
  • Ideal for first-time visitors and nature lovers
  • Learn about the coastal ecosystem from an onboard guide
  • Choose from multiple time slots that are offered throughout the day

  • Full narration by a Local Guide
  • Guaranteed Dolphin Sightings
  • United States Coast Guard Licensed Captain
  • Observe different species of local birds
What's not included
  • Gratuities

At your chosen time slot, you’ll meet your guide at meeting point near Broad Creek, and depart on the cruise in search of Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin. You, along with a small group on board, will get the chance to spot dolphins in their natural habitat, while learning about their behaviors, feeding habits, and more from your guide. In addition to dolphins, you may also view other marine life, such as manatees, egrets, herons, sea turtles, roseate spoonbills, and osprey, as you cruise around Hilton Head Island. Plus, the area’s waterways offer the chance to check out beachfront properties, operating fishing boats, and luxury yachts along the coastline. At the end of the tour, you will return to the dock at the marina.

Start:
  • 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA
    Look for the Black Marlin Restaurant when you arrive. We are located in that same building on the very left side. Look for the American Flag outside our office.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 49854P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 49854P2

    From
    ₱2,387.26
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Lowcountry Watersports
      2,515
      United States
      Joined in February 2017
    • josho824
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great fun seeing Dolphins!
      We had a tour to see the Dolphins. Couldn’t find the exact one in the drop down. However our trip was just a Dolphin tour. Jackie and Kate did a great job on our tour. We got to see so many Dolphins and they were very knowledgeable of the area. Great job! Would definitely go again.
      Written November 24, 2024
    • Navigator662521
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice Plan B
      We had initially signed up for a kayak tour, but the high winds made it impossible. The tour operator offered us an alternative to go on a dolphin watching tour instead. While it was not our desired choice, we enjoyed nonetheless. A nice Plan B.
      Written November 18, 2024
    • H7337JSglorial
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      amazing time looking at dolphins
      the views were amazing and we did see several dolphins. they dont come real close to the boat like in the picture because of the engines. you cant feed them so that was a bummer. i wanted to lure them closer. Still had a great time. tour guide and captain were awesome
      Written October 30, 2024
    • S7286XNmichaelw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      This is both fun and extremely informative!
      This was a TON of fun. The weather was juuuuust warm enough to enjoy the trip in late October. You WILL get a little wet so make sure you take a towel. But what a great way to experience the waterways around Hilton Head. And we learned some fascinating background from our guides. HIGHLY recommend!
      Written October 29, 2024
    • F5846YTjasonk
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect Day on the water
      Thomas and Greg gave us an amazing experience! A little history, a few fun facts, great views and good times on the water. Not to mention dolphins, dolphins, and more dolphins. We will definitely be joining them again the next time we are in Hilton Head. Thanks guys!
      Written October 27, 2024
    • mrk4th
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Get your feet wet!
      Captain Kate and first mate Lisa were terrific. A bit of science and history was welcome on our ride to the disappearing island. And yes, we did see several groups of dolphins.
      Written October 21, 2024
    • ThorCCC
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great personal trip with up close encounters.
      We got to the location and they were ready and knew our reservation when we walked in. Very friendly staff. We ended up being the only party on the boat and it was fantastic! They had a drink and donuts for each of us as promised. Going in the offseason I didn’t think we would see that many dolphins. But I was wrong. Dawn was our captain and almost right away we found a small pod just playing around in the inlet. We watched them for almost 45 minutes. All the while Dawn was explaining to the kids different facts about the dolphins, wildlife, and the island. This trip was quite a bit more costly than others like it but it was well worth the added expense for the personal experience that we received. Highly recommend this trip!
      Written October 20, 2024
    • 748debbym
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience
      Amazing experience. Aaron and Pete were great guides. I had never driven a boat before but the instructions were clear and made it easy
      Written October 14, 2024
    • 576kerrya
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great outing!
      This was our 2nd time doing this tour, and it remained lots of fun. We didn't see dolphins, but we saw lots of birds and crabs and learned about the local ecosystem. Our guide, Ali, was great. Our oldest son (14) has his own single kayak for the first time, which was fine but challenging. Our youngest son (11) went in a double kayak with me.
      Written October 7, 2024
    • Excursion567601
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun!
      So much fun! Expect to get a little wet! Great 2-hour experience!. Thomas and Amanda were great! Beautiful sights. You'll have a blast!
      Written October 4, 2024
    • garylA3914YH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun and Unique Experience
      Such a unique and fun experience! We saw lots of the area, including some dolphins, and had a great time doing it. Our guide was exellent as was his assistant Willy who followed us to make sure everything was ok. Without a doubt, this is something you have never done before---unless you have!
      Written September 27, 2024
    • 1986twm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Creek Cat Tour
      Fun time on the water with good guides. Saw dolphins and lots of Hilton Head by water. Definitely recommend to friends and family.
      Written September 24, 2024
    • U6014IQjennifere
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Enjoyed Our Dolphin Tour
      The boat ride was great, we saw the dolphins several times and it was exiting for our granddaughter to see them swimming in the ocean for the first time. Capt. Spike and 1st Mate Jackie did an awesome job. We enjoyed this tour!!
      Written September 23, 2024
    • 999angelicae
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Unforgettable
      I was expecting to have a nice kayaking experience on the water. No expectations. It was a beautiful day. This adventure blew me away! Allie, my guide, was so awesome and knowledgeable. Loved my time out on the water with her. The highlight was definitely seeing a mother and baby dolphin. Incredible! The baby dolphin swam under my kayak! Got to see some turtles and crabs too. It was so peaceful. Definitely going to come back and tell my friends. Thank you for such an amazing time!
      Written September 20, 2024
    • tambouzigreen
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      AMAZING
      Staff was very accommodating and very forthcoming when it came to communication. Allie was truly amazing and very personable and professional. Her knowledge about the area was truly inspiring. The kayaking experience is any way you want it. You can just chill and paddle and get lost in your thoughts and enjoy the quiet or the guide can talk to you about any and everything. It is definitely better service than burger king! I would recommend Low Country ti everyone who visits Hilton Head. You will not be disappointed or left wanting for more!
      Written September 19, 2024
    See all 2,515 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles676 reviews
    Excellent
    624
    Very good
    37
    Average
    10
    Poor
    2
    Terrible
    3

    shellshell0
    New York City, NY9 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2020
    The tour delivered on the dolphins - we saw a ton of them - so the 3 stars are for that. However if you care at all about COVID-19 safety, do not take this tour. I understand that masks are not required on HHI for outdoor activities, however there was zero social distancing on this tour and the guides did not do anything to try and keep people safe. The guides were not wearing masks, and they were delivering the tour narrative/lecturing/loud talking while 2 ft. apart from us and the other passengers. Half of the passengers were not wearing masks, and they invaded my personal space, standing/breathing over me and pushing me to take videos of a dolphin that was on the side I was sitting on. Again, I understand the mask rule doesn't apply for outdoor activities, but that is assuming social distancing and people are being careful. The tour company could have acted more responsibly by having their guides wear masks (again the guides were NOT 6 ft. from the guests at all), and by having the guides announce that people should try to respect others' personal space as best as possible while also enjoying the tour. Another passenger even said "no social distancing on this tour" and laughed. There was also no mention if the boat had been sanitized or any other safety measures. Hope this helps anyone considering this tour who cares about staying safe.
    Written October 4, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    GrandTour94715
    4 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2020
    I purchased a Groupon in early December to use during our New Years trip to Hilton Head. I checked the website and there was no indication that they would be closed during the holiday. In fact, there were links to book Dolphin tours on the exact days that we would be in Hilton Head.
    A week before the trip I reached out to schedule our tour using the Groupon for 10 people. I received a text back from the company saying that they would try to make it happen. Texting with customer support went well for several days, and then absolute silence.
    I paid $180 for a Groupon to HHI for Dolphin Tours and will not be able to use them, even though the website never indicated they would shut down.
    I have reached out by phone, email and text to resolve this issue and have not heard anything back in over a week.
    Very disappointed with this company. Beware of purchasing Groupons with them as they are not dependable.
    Written January 12, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Christen A
    Albemarle, NC287 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had Captain Ben and a very nice young lady as our tour guides. We got to see plenty of dolphins on the very relaxing ride. "Pickles", a resident dolphin and her baby gave us a great show. I would highly recommend!
    Written July 8, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    The McGowans
    Louisville, KY201 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2020 • Couples
    We were lucky to have Captain Mark and Monica lead our Dolphin tour. We went September 10, and it was a perfect amount of patrons on our boat. There was plenty of space for distancing, and plenty of opportunity to walk around the boat. Mark & Monica were very professional, engaging, and knowledgeable about the waters/waterfront properties/dolphins. Best part is seeing plenty of dolphins up-close, and learning many fun facts. Worth the money, plus some, and I say this as someone who has gotten to swim with dolphins in the wild!
    Written September 19, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Aubrey G.
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Family
    Brought our family of five to the dolphin tour experience and we were welcomed with the nicest captain and helpers. Absolutely 100% recommend, just bring a light jacket if you’re coming at January, a little chilly. We saw around 8-10 dolphins, we can’t wait to come back as we adore HHI and everyone on it!!!! 🐬💛
    Written January 7, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    So amazing! Glad your experience was top notch and that you saw dolphins in their natural environment! Can't wait to have you back on your next HHI vacation.
    Written January 8, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Richard V
    Greenville, SC37 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We enjoyed our time on the boat watching dolphins and learning about the local area. Becky was our tour guide, she has a degree in Biology, since I’m a science teacher, I completely enjoyed the information about the salt flats, oysters, and she answered every question I had. She also told us about the islands, the million dollar houses, and the best places to eat seafood, especially Oyster Happy Hour at the Poseidon restaurant. Please make sure you tip Becky and the captain, they work very hard to insure you have a good and informative time.
    Written July 25, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    4RonPaul2012
    North Truro, MA88 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2020
    The tour was great! Kelly & Captain Ben were entertaining and shared a lot of information about dolphins and the local area. We had many dolphin sightings including a Mom and her baby. It was an enjoyable boat ride.

    I was thankful they said we were sailing without a group of 8 that hadn't arrived yet. With covid, they need to leave some of the seats empty.
    Written November 27, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Chelsie K
    Lexington, KY1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2023
    We had a great time! Our original booking had to be rescheduled because there was thunder that morning, but they rescheduled us for a couple of hours later on the same day, which worked out great! We saw several small pods of dolphins and really appreciated the ample time they gave us to watch them. Captain Jack let all the kids who wanted to drive the boat on the way back, which my son thought was the coolest thing ever! All children also received a "dolphin expert" certificate, which was cute. First Mate Ginger did a great job telling us about the dolphins and other plant and animal life as well as the homes we passed on our tour. I would highly recommend this tour!
    Written June 21, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    SimbaFamily
    Holt123 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2021
    We took the day time dolphins tour, only saw a couple dolphins but the captain was good to make sure he kept following the, and moving the boat so everyone saw them and got photos. Kelly did a great job narrating and answering questions. She provided some restaurant recommendations Nd places in Hilton Head to visit as well.
    Written February 18, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Amy C
    Wake Forest, NC79 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2020 • Family
    Relaxing on the water and seeing the PGA golf tour happening! Captain Mark and Kaitlyn were very informative about the island and answered every question I had. We didn’t see too many dolphins but that is the risk you take with a dolphin tour. A few did go up to a nearby boat and let the people onboard pet them! It was a relaxing hour and a half on the water. The price is a little high, but after doing other tours it seemed to be the norm for 11/2 hour tours. The Blue Marlin Restaurant next door was amazing as well!
    Written June 20, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise provided by Lowcountry Watersports

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