Excellent time. Learned about the history. Pretty boat ride. Fun looking for shells. Great crew!

This was our second time taking Cap'n Rod's Lowcountry boat tour in Georgetown, SC, and it was just as fun as we remembered. Even though it was mostly overcast in late May, the rain missed us and the temperature was comfortable around 79F. It's such a peaceful and interesting way to spend a few hours, and we learned a lot too. Boat Ride & History: The boat ride to and from North Island takes about 45 minutes each way. The guides do a great job sharing local history in a way that's fun and easy to follow. We passed through some beautiful stretches of water, and it's a nice mix of scenery and stories. On the way back, the boat slowed down near the shoreline so we could look for wildlife like turtles, eagles, and even alligators. It's just the right balance of relaxing and educational. Beachcombing on the North Island: We had about an hour and a half to explore the island once we arrived, and we found so many beautiful shells. I even learned how to tell the difference between a conch shell and a whelk, which was fun. The island is quiet and natural, and it's a great place to wander, beachcomb, or just sit and enjoy the view. Before you get off the boat, the crew explains everything you need to know to stay safe and have a good time. Helpful Tips! - Bug spray really helped on the way back. We ran into a lot of horse flies when the boat slowed down near the south island shore, and while they didn't ruin anything, they were definitely annoying. - There was a bucket of water on board so you can rinse the sand off your feet. - You're allowed to leave your bags or shoes on the boat, which is super convenient if you don't want to carry everything onto the island. - There are snacks available for purchase, but I recommend bringing a small snack and water, especially if it's warm out. - If you're sensitive to sun or heat, an umbrella or extra layer might help while you're on the island. There's no shade since you're not allowed to walk on the dunes or into the trees. Notes for Sensory-Sensitive and Neurodivergent folks: I'm autistic, so I like to include sensory info in my reviews in case it helps others feel more prepared. Here are a few things to know: The boat is open-air and fairly comfortable, but I brought a towel to sit on. If you have trouble sitting still or get sore easily, a stadium cushion that can get wet would be a great option. It gets pretty windy during the ride. If you don't like hair blowing in your face, wear it up or under a snug hat. When the water is choppy, you might get a bit of spray, so a rain jacket or light waterproof layer can make a big difference. The noise level on the boat is moderate. There's some engine noise and wind, but nothing too overwhelming. The guides speak over PA system with a microphone so it was easy to hear & understand them. If you get overwhelmed by lots of noise at the same time, earplugs like Loops are perfect! You can still hear what's going on, but the noise is reduced. Those horse flies on the way back were no joke. If you're bug-sensitive, bring spray and maybe wear light fabric over your arms or legs just in case. Downtown Georgetown: After the tour, we wandered around historic downtown Georgetown. There are plenty of cute local shops and great dining options. It's a charming town and felt good to support local businesses after such a fun and relaxing day on the water. Final Thoughts: I can't recommend this tour enough. The guides are kind, funny, and really know their stuff. Whether it's your first time or you've done it before, it's such a great way to enjoy the Lowcountry. We'll definitely be back again! read more

Cap'n Rod's Lowcountry Tours - Friends finding shells - Boat Charters Near Me - Georgetown, South Carolina

See all

The co-captains were knowledgeable and entertaining. They quite a bit of information about the different marine ecosystems we were seeing on our way out to North Island. They also made sure to tell us where to find the shells on the island. When we got back on the boat they went over different types of shells we might have found so we could identify them. We saw dolphins and they slowed the boat so we could take pictures and videos. They also came around and took pictures of families with their island treasures. This is a great trip! read more

See all

The crew was amazing. I loved the stories and history that we were told about the locations we were going by. North Island was so beautiful. I found so many conch shells and sand dollars! Don't go on the muddy part cause I fell in the mud, but other than that this was amazing. It was actually our second year coming on this boat tour! Will be back next year! read more

Cap'n Rod's Lowcountry Tours - Boat Charters Near Me - Georgetown, South Carolina

Terrible weather but they made our excursion fun and we found so many shells it was well worth to battle the weather. Kudos to staff who were full of historical stories that took us back to the days of the pirates who visited this area often. I would go again. read more

Enjoyed the boat ride and opportunity to look for shells however did not appreciate the loud music and political overtones over the speakers. It was unnecessary and actually made it difficult to have a conversation l read more

Great captain and crew, nice boat seating, good boat ride to and from island, hi information about the area, good shelling! read more

See all

We enjoyed a great trip out to the island and shell hunting was amazing Our host spoke from experience and knowledge about the area and what we were seeing Dolphins we a plus read more

This was our second time taking Cap'n Rod's Lowcountry Boat Tour in Georgetown, SC. This time we took our 11 year old grandson and it was so fun!! It. Captain Jesse and Paige the Tour Guide were so knowledgeable about the history of this beautiful area. They told us where to go to find the best shells. It was so hot but, on the boat, it was very nice and cool. I would highly recommend them for your next trip to the Georgetown, SC area. The prices were very reasonable. We will definitely be returning again.! read more

The boat ride was beautiful! The tour guide was informative and interesting too! The island was easy to walk and wade! We found quite a few nice shells too. The whole thing was fabulous! read more

Had a great time. Captain Thom was great and gave us tons of history about the bay & surrounding area. We found lots of shells on the island. We also found a beached starfish that had a missing arm, but was still alive, placed it deeper in the water to help it survive. Saw several eagles on the trip back. Couldn't get great photos, but was so nice to see. It was a really enjoyable experience and we would recommend it to friends and family. read more

See all

Captain Thom and first mate Paige were awesome. The excursion out to Shell Island is full of history about that area. Would highly recommend if you are in that area. We drove up from Edisto and it was worth the drive. read more

Judd and Jesse do not disappoint! Always a great trip. Beautiful weather and a fast boat make for a super fun shelling experience.

Had a great time on this tour. Learned so much on the way to Shell Island. The captain and crew were so friendly read more

See all

We had an absolute blast on this tour. Not only did we find some lovely shells, but we saw quite a few dolphins which was the best part!! Even on an overcast day with some light rain we had a great time. Our captains both had a great sense of humor and were fountains of knowledge with so many interesting facts about the history of Georgetown, the wildlife and waterways. I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone I know. read more

See all

An amazing afternoon with Captain Mike and Paige. The weather was a bit chilly but we had a grand time! I had no care or wants for shelling but we had a blast and came back with shells and driftwood! A wonderful history of Georgetown,SC with presentation by Paige. So much interesting knowledge. Everything was on time and comfortable. Great price for the value. And many shops and restaurants along Front St for after the tour. read more

See all

We weee supposed to go on a plantation boat tour on 11/26/22 at 9am. On 11/25/22 I got both a text and an email saying that the trip was canceled. I was unable to get though to the company, still can't on 11/27/22. No refund has been issued as of yet. No explanation was given. I sure hope everyone is ok but the communication is awful! Sure hope I get my money back. read more

Advise you to find a different way to go as these good ole boys don't seem to care what the advertisement states, even your confirmation info, which they ask to to FULLY READ, then when you question something, their true colors shine like the sun.......that includes, but is not limited to the fact you CANNOT return to the boat at all until that 1.5 hour time frame is up. BIG PROBLEM THERE. I would add more, but just know, this is NOT THE ONE to take. Sorry Rod, it's been great for years, but no longer can say the same. From A LOCAL who will spread the news by word of mouth on the inlet and other places, after following up on false advertisement, thanks to the very rude FIRST MATE DOUGIE, and Captain Tom to Thom, however he spells his name. read more

Great time and well worth the price. Very enjoyable afternoon, and the crew do a great job of making this engaging and telling the history of the area. Got to see dolphins on the way back from the shell tour of the north island. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Good time good friends!!! Captain Michael is very fun and knows how to treat guest. Looking forward to doing this again

Excellent Ride. Friendly crew. Very safety conscious. Provided a lot of information about the things along the way. Great time!

We had a great time! Thank you our guide and captain were very nice and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the history of Georgetown. read more

See all

Very fun! Loved seeing the dolphins! Many people on the boat found big shells. Beautiful day, boat was great! Captains were so nice and we learned a lot of history read more

Cap'n Rod's Lowcountry Tours - Shell island!! - Boat Charters Near Me - Georgetown, South Carolina

Placid waters and liberated hawks can't save this tour from its bridled banality. Lengthy and quasi-informative, this tour seeks to fulfill your fledging interest in South Carolina's past. Paige does his best to stimulate the masses on this 3-hour excursion that will put your stamina to the test, but even he cannot trunk the flooding waters of monotony. Deferential adages, like the quotable "there ain't much for the next 45 minutes or so, so imma let y'all sit back and enjoy the ride" are invariable. Still, the tour does not purport to be something it isn't. It is quaint, low stakes, and easy like a Sunday morning. If the weather holds, give Rod a call. read more

we went in shell island tour today with a gma, and 3 little ones. what a GREAT day!! capt and mate Judd were phenomena. so much history, and they made it fun. never a dull moment. we saw dolphins and eagles. the beach was great. we brought a backpack cooler, umbrella, chairs and blanket. absolutely perfect. make sure you go past jetty for the best shells. bring shell bag will be doing this trip again. kids said this was the "best" thing we did all week. read more

This was my second trip with Cap'n Rod's in 9 years. I came back because I had such a great time before. This trip did not disappoint. Crew is very knowledgeable. I highly recommend it even if you are staying in Myrtle Beach as we were. Many things to see along the way. We will do this again for sure. read more

Captain Bentley and First Man Kenny are amazing. We love taking the tours on Cap'n Rod's boats. Extremely informative and fun! Great for everyone, be it for a trip to Shell Island or a plantation tour along the various waterways. read more

I would definitely recommend this tour company, went on the shelling excursion and the guides were very informative about the surrounding history. The beach we shelled on had tons of beaches wood and shells but I have to say I thought there would be more larger shells than were found but overall liked the tour. read more

See all

Great time Great staff. Good shelling. Really nice picnic lunch. Saw some gators and dolphins also from a distance. read more

I have mixed feelings about this tour. The narration provided was excellent but there just wasn't enough of it. Much of the tour involved passing by abandoned rice fields (pretty boring after awhile) accompanied by some information regarding the rice culture. This presentation could be more interesting if further expanded. What was it like to plant and cultivate rice? FYI the short river tour at Brookgreen Gardens offered a more comprehensive presentation about this aspect of the area. Similarly there might be more information about the various rivers - the history, native flora and marine species, depth of river, impact of tides, etc. We saw a few bald eagles and that was all the wildlife covered by the tour. As the rivers are basically named for Indian tribes (Waccamaw, Pee Dee) it would make sense to discuss Native American life and traditions as well. It takes a long time to get to the part of the tour where the plantations are (not many), and it was kind of disappointing to have only cursory information about those plantations provided. What was daily life like on a plantation that focused on rice cultivation? How did the civil war impact life and the rice culture? Another way to enhance the lull in narration might be to make the tour more interactive by having a trivia game. A question and answer period would also be appropriate. There was a little bit of "get to know you" time as the tour ended but it focused on identifying medical and military personnel on the tour and ignored what others were doing in their lives. The seating was uncomfortable (3 hours of sitting on plastic lawn chairs bolted to the floor). Lastly, for the price (almost $45) free beverages and snacks should have been included in the tour. Ultimately we felt it would have been better to take the shell island tour and regretted not doing so. read more

Awesome adventure! I highly recommend the shelling and lighthouse tour! You get a history tour , a walk on a private beach while searching for seashells! What better way to spend a day! read more

See all

WOW! This is absolutely the best value there is to be found if looking for a great tour! The scenic view while traveling to and from the island is breathtaking! Captain Doug knows his history of this beautiful area and is a master storyteller! This is definitely worth the time and a very inexpensive way to see the coastal area around Georgetown! We will be back! read more

Took this tour last summer and never wrote a review. In light of what's going on today in the US I felt it was my responsibility to put into a review how I felt at the time. The cruise with Captain Doug Rohloff giving tour guide information had a real Confederate positive slant. He was essentially bragging about how the Yankee's ships were blown up. It was the mildly racist good 'ol boy/southern confederacy slant that I have never stood up too but will from this point on. It definitely made me and my friend feel uncomfortable. I am a veteran and did not feel like this is what a veteran owned business should stand for at any point. read more

Our tour was cancelled from weather & rebooked . 2 days before new date our 1 person could not make it . I called and explained the guy was like no problem for a refund , if there wasn't a possibility of a refund I would have asked someone else . He said no problem for a refund . We'll guess what . No refund ; I would totally not recommend them there is another shell tour on the dock Rover tours . We've been on both & highly recommend rover . Better narrator smaller boat do you can hear everything . read more

We had a great time on the boat tour and the staff was awesome. Paige was full of jokes, the captain and his dog were very entertaining and both had so much knowledge about the area. We left with lots of shells and learned a lot about the history many have forgotten. We will definitely be coming back again! read more

See all

I found out about Cap'n Rod's from one of the many coupon booklets. We were looking for something without too much walking. $30 (with $2 coupon) per person for a 3-4 hour tour; sounds decent to me. You have to call to make reservations and find out the tour times. When we called, only shell island was available. So we drove from Myrtle Beach for about an hour to Georgetown, SC. There are many public parking lots so that wasn't an issue. The town of Georgetown has a lot of history, which you will learn on the tour. We got on the boat and the captain pointed out bits of history here and there along the way. The ride was pretty long and I even fell asleep. If you sit in the front, you may get occasionally get splashed. Once on the island, you get to walk around and do some "beach combing" (look for seashells) for 1 hour. It was hot so bring sun block! They have water & snacks available to purchase for $1 on the boat if you like. It was a good experience and I absolutely love the boat ride with the breeze. It is something nice to do if you're sick of the beach. read more

Cap'n Rod's Lowcountry Tours - Shell Island - Boat Charters Near Me - Georgetown, South Carolina

Great captain and crew! Fun, informative and a very relaxing morning :) glad we decided to go! Would do it again!

What a great way to spend an afternoon on the water - learning some Georgetown history and seeing the beautiful water - best money you can spend while on vacation a great time we will do it again! read more

I loved this tour! We were initially scheduled to go on a Wednesday morning, but the cold and wind made them reschedule to Thursday morning. Captain Rod himself was the one who we booked the reservation with and the one who called us about the date change. Thursday morning was cold and windy as well, but very much less so. We met in Georgetown behind the clock tower - about an hour from North Myrtle Beach - with about twenty other people and got going. The boat was large and had coverings on the side to protect against the wind and spray since it was cold and that definitely helped the experience. We went with Captain Doug, who was certainly an entertainer and made sure to talk to everyone on the boat. The history portion of the tour is mainly on the way to the island. It's a little geared towards Southern fancies, with some jabs at "Yankees" throughout. Sometimes it gets a little political, but as Captain Doug said, he doesn't follow a script, so that may differ between the Captains. The island was absolutely gorgeous and the time he gave us there was just right - no one was getting bored from being there so long and I didn't feel like we were cut short. Overall, it's definitely worth the money for a three to four hour cruise - you get a lot of nice history trivia, and the boat ride is super relaxing. The crew is helpful and kind and everything good. They even have $1 refreshments that the proceeds go to benefit orphanages in Europe. At the end of the tour, the Captain even helped people find local shops and restaurants in Georgetown to help them enjoy their stay. read more

See all

Captain Rod and Paige are excellent tour guides full of lots of interesting local history. The boat ride was beautiful with lots to see. We got to see brown pelicans diving for breakfast, a gator, sturgeon jumping out of the water, and crabs scuttling ashore. On the island there was beautiful driftwood and shells galore. Would definitely recommend and will be repeat visitors. read more

See all