M
Excellent
Captain Luke was fantastic! He was knowledgeable of the area and very informative. We would absolutely take the your again !
Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour
+5 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Price from
- $56 / person
- Location
- Charleston, United States
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 211 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Castaway Island Excursions
- Meeting point
- Please arrive 15 minutes before trip departure time! Our office is the small yellow building in the same parking lot as Crosby's Fish & Shrimp co. This is where you will check in for the boat trip and sign liability waivers.In the summertime there can be beach traffic - please plan accordingly!
Description
Join us out on the water for sunrise, sunset, or somewhere in between in a search for our favorite saltwater mammal – the bottlenose dolphin! On this trip, we will cruise through the local tidal creeks behind Folly Beach to see how many of these amazing creatures we can spot. From a distance, you will get to experience the unique feeding techniques and socializing behaviors that our dolphins display out in the wild. Along the way, your experienced guide and certified captain will teach you all about our salt marsh estuary. You will also get to pass by the historic Morris Island Lighthouse during the trip, a great photo opportunity! This is the perfect trip for families, couples, and friends alike. We are a small, locally owned business who strives to make all of our guests experience unique, personable and unforgettable while visiting Charleston! If you are interested in making this experience private, contact us directly.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun
- Start times
- 17 times a day, 8:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 8
- Adult (ages 13–90)
- $56
- Child (ages 0–12)
- $46
Out at sunset: the 5:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 6:41 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 372 of the next 442 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Morris Island Lighthouse
During your eco tour and dolphin viewing excursion you will also get an up close look at the historic Morris Island Lighthouse! A great spot for photos and turn learn a little history.
What's included
Included
USCG Licensed Captain and Eco Guide
Cooler full of ice
27' Carolina Skiff with Cushioned Bench Seating
Restroom facilities at departing location
Ample Parking
Not included
Drinks or Snacks
Sunscreen or Bugspray
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
211 reviews
How it compares in Charleston
- Rated higher than 74% of 156 reviewed tours in Charleston
- Starting price $56 is 30% above the typical $43 for tours of similar length in Charleston
Excurgo comparison of 313 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour take?
Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour cost?
Prices start at $56 per person for this Charleston experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with 17 departures a day between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
How much does Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour cost for children?
Children aged 0–12 pay from $46, adults from $56.
Does Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour sell out?
It can: 372 of the next 442 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Please arrive 15 minutes before trip departure time! Our office is the small yellow building in the same parking lot as Crosby's Fish & Shrimp co. This is where you will check in for the boat trip and sign liability waivers. In the summertime there can be beach traffic - please plan accordingly! Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(211)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
R
A great tour, well worth your time
The Tour exceeded all expectations. Capt. Luke was wonderful. Learned a lot about dolphins (who knew they have such complex brains), oysters, grasses, mud and history in a fun and engaging way. I highly recommend this tour. Capt. Luke is the owner/proprietor of his boat and really cares about the estuary and all the living things in it.
R
Great Lowcountry Tour
It is a small group. It is an open boat. We rode out to Morris Island lighthouse. The guide explained the ecosystem of the estuary. We saw lots of dolphins. The best tour of our Charleston experience. Luke did a great job.
W
Excellent Adventure!'
I had a fantastic time! Hailey was exceptionally knowledgeable and provided a great experience! Thx!
F
Dolphins Dolphins Dolphins
This adventure was so enjoyable! Saw many dolphins and learned so much about “the sea “ world. Giving Captain Luke a 5+!
K
It was informative and...
It was informative and just being able to see the beauty of the area and nature up close was an experience. Luke was our Captain and he was a 10 out of a 10! Hailey at the sign in was so sweet and friendly!
G
So glad we went. Our Captain-Guide was super.
Very comfortable boat with easy access Tremendous fun due to our captain who shared very interesting information and history. 20 dolphins in very close to boat….loads of photo opportunities. Morris Island Lighthouse was really neat to see from as close as we were. A must do excursion while staying at Folly.
Operator response
Thank you for this excellent review, Greg! We are so glad that you enjoyed your time out on the water with us. The lighthouse truly is beautiful and there's always lots of photo opportunities out there for sure! We hope to have you back out on the water in the future. Thanks again!
U
10/10 Recommend!
Great experience and highly recommend! Our captain was very knowledgeable and sweet. If you want to learn about the nature and ecosystem of the aquaculture in this area, this is the best tour! 10/10!
Operator response
This makes us so happy! We are so glad that you thoroughly enjoyed the dolphin trip and learned a lot along the way! Thank you for the wonderful review and for coming out with us!
7
Beautiful
Captain Luke was very knowledgeable about the environment and interesting and we saw many dolphins. Beautiful at sunset.
Operator response
You're right! It is so beautiful out on the creek at sunset, one of our favorite times of the day as well. We are so glad that you had an excellent time out with Captain Luke. Thank you for the review and for coming out with us!
A
Fun and informative for the whole family
Our family of eight including our two grandchildren aged two and four absolutely loved this trip. Captain Luke was so informative, funny and knowledgeable. We learned so many interesting facts about the area, the oyster population and the dolphins. We saw an unbelievable amount of dolphins including a new baby and mother. Every one of us thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
Operator response
Thank you for the excellent review Alison! We are so glad that your whole family had such a great experience out on our dolphin trip. We hope to host y'all out on the water the next time that you are in town! Cheers!
Compare similar tours in Charleston
- Lowest price: Charleston Water Taxi Cruise with Dolphin Sighting — $17
- Best rated: Charleston Eco Boat Cruise with stop at Morris Island Lighthouse — 4.9 (2,385 reviews)
- Shortest: Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour — 1h 30min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour | 1h 30min | 5.0 (211) | $56 | |
 Charleston Harbor Live Narrated History Day or Sunset Boat Cruise | 1h 30min | 4.4 (3,289) | $45 | View |
 Charleston Eco Boat Cruise with stop at Morris Island Lighthouse | 2h 30min | 4.9 (2,385) | $56 | View |
 Charleston Water Taxi Cruise with Dolphin Sighting | 1–11 hours | 4.8 (1,093) | $17 | View |
 Afternoon Schooner Sightseeing Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor | 1h 30min | 4.5 (832) | $56 | View |
 Private Luxury Yacht Charters, BYOB & Dolphins | 2h 30min | 5.0 (426) | $525 | View |
 Charleston Harbor Tour & Dolphin Watch Cruise | 1h 30min | 4.2 (220) | $50 | View |
from$56
5.0(211) Free cancellation