Captain Jim is a great host and guide. He is so nice and lots of fun. He had a vast knowledge of…read morethe area and the history. We took the fun lunch at Cabbage Key trip. The ride was smooth with several stops along the way to point out wildlife and points of interest. He allowed us enough time on the island to enjoy lunch and thoroughly explore. If we are back in the area we would definitely do another tour with Pine Island Boat Tours.

We had a fantastic time with Captain Jim. He is extremely knowledgeable about all the local…read morebeaches, and history of the area. He knew exactly where to take us and show us where all the dolphins and manatees were. My kids loved Captain Jim. They thought he was very friendly. I would highly recommend this boat ride. The 4 hour trip is the best value , as the day flew. I can't give enough praise . 5 stars isn't enough. This was definitely the highlight of our vacation.

Wouldn't recommend! Unprofessional uptight captain who cusses at women and children because he had…read moreto load their stuff that he had been paid to do! Use anyone but them! Dude is suffering from LDS to talk to women and children that way!

A great trip to Cabbage Key with Island Girl. On time, great staff, excellent boats & a friendly…read morefun ride. I hope people tip big, as these guys work hard with Everything people bring....so much stuff. We will use Island Girl again, on our next Cabbage Key Vacation .

Caveat Emptor - Extremely Disappointing Experience with Tropic Star (Pine Island, FL)…read moreIf you're considering booking a "private nature tour" with Tropic Star, I strongly suggest you think twice. On March 23rd, my group paid $350 for what was clearly marketed as a private, multi-hour nature tour experience: lunch at Cabbage Key followed by a relaxing nature cruise with stop at Cayo Costa, wildlife viewing, dolphins, and a scenic return to the dock around 2-2:30 PM. What we got instead felt like a complete bait-and-switch. The ride to Cabbage Key was rushed, and after lunch, we were picked up at 1:00 PM only to be sped straight back to the dock at full throttle--arriving before 1:30 PM. No nature tour. No stops. No wildlife. No relaxation. Just a high-speed return trip where we were bracing ourselves on coolers and folding chairs instead of enjoying anything remotely close to what was promised. Prior to leaving the dock, my friend heard Captain Steve had multiple other groups scheduled and needed to rush back. So much for a "private" experience. It was clear our trip was cut short to accommodate their overbooking and miscommunication from staff. Customer service was just as frustrating. After multiple attempts to get a response from Vincent, the owner, we finally received a generic apology with "We have a great reputation and it's rare that I get confronted with any negativity and I sincerely apologize. We have not been able to run our big boats since Hurricane Ian 3 years ago. We're doing our best to accommodate some passengers with our smaller boats" and a vague offer for "free passage next time." When I asked for clarification--no response. I then requested a full refund to resolve the issue privately and avoid posting a review... and completely ignored. At this point, it's not just about a bad tour--it's about misleading advertising, poor communication, and zero accountability. Save your money and your time. There are plenty of reputable operators in the area who actually deliver what they promise.

What a great crew, what a great experience. The vote was comfortable and easily accessible. Finding…read morethe place was a little bit of a challenge. However, when you make the reservation they do fill you in on the GPS coordinates, and tell you that they are not necessarily correct. I would definitely do this again but I would spend all day at the beach I would not bother to go to the restaurant on the itinerary.

Our family of 5 had an absolutely wonderful experience with Captain Jessica and the Island Time…read moreDolphin & Shelling Cruise! Our four-hour trip was the perfect mix of relaxation, wildlife, and adventure. Captain Jessica and her crew went above and beyond, providing iced drinks, snacks, and buckets for collecting shells. They took us to Old Hickory Island, where we found some amazing shells, a Pygmy octopus, conch, and a sand dollar. Throughout the trip, Captain Jessica shared her knowledge about the local ecosystem, answering all of our questions about the dolphins, manatees, mangroves, and the area. One of the highlights was when she spotted a pod of dolphins. She carefully brought the boat alongside them, and we got to watch them swim and jump in our boat's wake--it was unforgettable! Communication was outstanding from start to finish. We had to reschedule twice due to weather. Captain Jessica made the process incredibly easy and stress-free. She is friendly, welcoming, and shared lots of great local recommendations for places to visit and things to do. If you're looking to support a fantastic local business while having an unforgettable day on the water, I can't recommend Captain Jessica and Island Time Dolphin & Shelling Cruise enough. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip!

Captain Jessica is a wealth of knowledge about local wildlife and history and knows how, when and…read morewhere to find the Dolfins. It was a great thrill to see them playing and leaping in our wake and was definitely the highlight of our vacation! Don't miss It!

Austin took us to multiple islands in PI sound. We went to the beach at Cayo Costa,checked out…read moreCabbage Key, lunch at Mangos. It was very easy to get on and off the boat. Austin is very knowledgeable about the area and is a fantastic captain! We will be doing this again. Our out of town guests loved it!!

If you're looking for something that's equal parts chill and a little adventurous, this sunset…read morecruise with Beyond Boundaries Excursions is exactly that. Whether you're out with friends or family it feels like the perfect way to wind down. The crew was super friendly and made the whole vibe feel easy with no pressure, no rush, just good energy and a great time. It didn't feel like a tour, more like a relaxed evening out on the water with people who love what they do. Honestly, I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

We had an amazing experience on our dolphin tour with Captain Karl. We saw at least a dozen…read moredolphins, a couple turtles and thousands of fish. We were not fishing but Captain Karl deffinatly knows where the fish are at! This was one of our most memorable experiences in Matlacha. Florida. We went on Monday and then went back on Wednesday and rented Kayaks and had an awesome time exploring on our own. Matlacha Boat Rides and Rentals not only does boat tours, dolphin watch tours, but they also rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards, sail boat rentals, and skiff rentals. They also do fishing trips for beginners to experienced anglers. Captain Karl was so knowledgable and even showed us private beaches that had no people on them! How cool is that? Matlacha Boat Rides and Rentals boats are super clean, and well maintained and have a great selection of boats to rent. They also let you request the type of tour and they will customize one for you. They are located at Angler's Inn on Matlacha, Florida. We loved the time we spent on the water. We will defiantly come back. Captain Karl and his wife treated us like we were old friends of theirs. We loved it.

Karl and Janette are wonderful hosts! Their room rentals come with a kitchen and lanai AND they…read moreprovide complimentary kayak rentals for people staying with them. I went on a last minute boat tour with them on my birthday and had a blast. They're genuine people who provide great service.

it was one of the best local excursions I've experienced. Captain Aldo and his first mate, Damaris…read morewere adorable and so hospitable. Captain Aldo was quite knowledgeable about the area, making sure that we were able to capture pictures of dolphins which were incredible. We also saw sand dollars and a school of sting rays. We beached on the island of Cayo Costa where we relaxed, had our lunch, and went swimming in beautiful calm waters. We couldn't ask for a better day out in the Gulf. Looking forward to experiencing this adventure again! Highly recommended!

Coastal Friends Boat Tours was an absolute highlight of our visit to south west Florida…read more My wife and our friends decided to take a sunset tour on Sunday. The boat was spacious and comfortable, very stable even amid the small swell and wakes of other boats (my wife has gotten seasick in the past, but had absolutely no problem with this trip due to the stability of the boat and the skill of Aldo the Captain/pilot). We enjoyed seeing Dolphins and Pelicans, and even a ray just after sunset.The sunset was amazing and memorable, but not the best part of our tour. What was the best part? Being hosted by the owner and captain Aldo, and his first mate (wife] Demaris. They are happy and friendly, and very skilled at operating their boat. But more than that, they are excellent hosts. We had a lot of laughs, and a very enjoyable afternoon. The opportunity to meet Aldo and Demaris, and enjoy their hospitality shouldn't be missed. You'll be glad you chose this company for your boat tour! TLDR; Relaxing and fun way to spend the afternoon. Aldo and Demaris are great people, enjoyable to be around and skilled in their business I highly recommend them as hosts and tour guides!

Captain Nick was very easy to work with. This charter was reasonably priced and customizable…read more Captain Nicks boat YOLO was in immaculate condition. My family had an amazing time.

We had a great day on the water with Captain Nick. Very knowledgeable of the area. We saw manatees,…read morewalked some of the most beautiful beaches and got to do some great shelling, learned the history of some of the islands, and had a great lunch at a local spot. Just a perfect day. We would definitely recommend Captain Nick.

We absolutely love Jug Creek for its fresh local seafood, beach atmosphere, and exceptional staff…read more It is always worth the hour-long drive to visit your restaurant for lunch or dinner. We also appreciate the live music you offer, but we wanted to share some feedback regarding the specific entertainment. Among our group, we often joke about "remembering your ABCs"--Anyone But Clive. While we enjoy the outdoorsy island vibe of Jug Creek, Clive's style of 1970s geriatric lounge music and frequent vocal shifts from falsetto to deeper tones feel a bit out of place for the setting. We wanted to share this perspective as loyal customers who want to see Jug Creek continue to thrive. We love everything else about the destination and look forward to our next visit.

Perfect dive bar for an hour to pull up on your boat and enjoy a beer overlooking the serene…read moreintercoastal waterway and thats as far as it goes. Drove down a small road with older canal homes lining the right side. Continued to the dead end that had the Jug Creek Marina and tiki style bar which was filled with customers. Parking was tricky but found a spot near the front and spaces were snug for wide trucks. We were recommended to this place through an aquaintance that was raving about it. Now that I'm here, I think I was the brunt end of a joke. Hung out for ten minutes trying to figure out how to order food. Saw two bartenders inside the tiki bar serving beer from a metal tub full of ice. No greeting and still confused and still did not see a server. Went to a door behind the tiki bar and peeked into a kitchen and finally found a server who advised us to find an open table and order from the bar. I only saw three tables with baskets of food in front of them. Seemed like a place for locals only and frowned on tourists - not positive though. I made a failed attempt to simply grab a beer from the bartender from the ice chest. The guy standing next to me did not have his beer yet and just chuckled like it was normal. Noticed the "No Smoking in the Bathroom" sign posted to the wall next to the bathroom door. It was just strange why this would even be something people would do. We traveled 35 minutes to find this off the beaten path bar and felt defeated and left thirsty and hungry. The water view was amazing but the service was horrible. The experience felt like a bar you would find deep in the back woods of the Louisiana Bayou. Drove to another 30 minutes to a waterfront bar on the Fort Myers beach for a late lunch and had a great experience.