We booked a private eco tour for our party of 6 as a Mother's Day gift. We had the pleasure of having Captain Zach as our guide with the assistance of Captain Kevin. We all had an amazing time. Zach is very passionate about the preservation of this beautiful area and all the wildlife that lives here. He's incredibly knowledgeable and happy to answer any and all questions... even the ridiculous ones...lol. He interacted so well with our two daughters who are 4 and 10, but was sure to engage with everyone on the boat so we all got a personalized experience. We saw so many dolphins and birds (the spoon bills were a special treat for us) which was our main objective. The boat itself was very comfortable and they were happy to accommodate our boat with an extra shade to keep my Mom more shielded from the sun. He also offered to take us out a hour earlier than the advertised time of 11 a.m. so that we could try to beat the heat, again to accommodate the older guests on the boat. Our girls had the best time taking their turns driving the boat and he even treated them to shark teeth after the trip because he heard us talking about shark teeth hunting and we had asked him about secret spots to look for them. Captain Zach is just an easy going guy with a lot of passion and expertise that he loves to share. Having that kind of person as our tour guide really made the experience for us. Overall just a fantastic time. Worth every penny to get a private tour. 10/10 experience! read more

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We had a wonderful time on our tour with Chris! He was very knowledgeable about the area and he catered our experience to what we wanted to see. We booked a private charter and I can't recommend it enough! We've done the regular tours, too, and they are great. We love this company and recommend it often. Just book it! read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Dolphin in the inlet - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Took the private Catamaran sunset cruise-and we had a great time! Weather was perfect when we set out, sun was shining and it was so quiet! Got very close to the dolphins and the captain was very knowledgeable about the history of the area. Some weather pulled in while we were out, and it got very exciting for a few moments while the captain got all the sails in! We've taken another sailboat ride in St Augustine and definitely preferred this tour. Really let us see why people love to sail! Highly recommend this tour! read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Storm coming in - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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I decided to do this spur of the moment yesterday. They have a few different adventures (e.g. kayaks, powerboats) but I chose the catamaran sail for the Queen Bee and me. As it turns out, we were the only ones booked for this particular adventure: woo hoo! We found that out upon checking in at their little office at the St Augustine Marina. So it was just Captain Jim and the two of us! That made for a much better experience than I ever hoped to receive for the $65 price tag. So as we sailed along the intercoastal out toward the breakwater and back again to the inlet between Anastasia Island and ANP, we received a very detailed narrative about the ecology, the marine life as well as a few interesting stories about Captain Jim and his adventures! Odd thing is that Captain Jim himself is an Arizona transplant!!! You'd never know he was a lifelong desert dweller by how he moved the catamaran in all the odd shifting wind patterns and cross currents from three different bodies of water. He began with a quick but thorough safety briefing and all the do's and don'ts. He had a very warm and outgoing personality; he loves questions and teaching folks about this beautiful ecosystem we are blest with having here in Florida. He seems to have the system down pat! The drawbridge tender recognized our vessel from a quarter mile off (Jim does this daily and runs like clockwork) and squawked at us over the radio. So Captain Jim didn't even have to call and announce he was waiting for the 1330 lift! True to form, we were back at the bridge by 1500 for the 1500 lift, and the bridge tender just waved and said hello as we passed through. Queen Bee has never been aboard a catamaran so this was a first and a little treat at the same time. Good part about this also: catamaran also has max tour capacity of six passengers. So you really get the feel of what it's like to sail and perhaps be like a crewman rather than just ballast. So if this is something you'd seriously think about doing while acting like a tourist, I highly recommend it over a fishing charter or some bigger harbor cruise boat. No amenities aboard and definitely not the most comfortable seating. However there are cushions and you have the option of stretching out on the trampoline toward the bow. read more

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Me and my friend went on the sunset catamaran cruise with Captain Dan, we had such a great time, thank you! read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - sunset catamaran cruise - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Captain Kevin was amazing from start to finish. He welcomed us to the business and took us on a great boat tour. We saw dolphins at every turn. We also learned some great dining and historical tips. read more

Fantastic kayak tour with Izzy today. She was very knowledgeable and fun. Zach (the owner) is excellent to work with and gives a lot back to the local community. I highly recommend this tour - a great way to learn and relax in St Augustine. read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Hi we were lucky enough to be able to get onto this boat tour last night very last minute. I'm not a fan of small boats or water but this was the nicest most relaxing boat ride. The captain was so informative showing us the bird island and all the different types of birds. We could see the birds diving and some of them bringing food back to the mom birds sitting on the nests. He showed us where the turtles nest and gave us information of how we need to keep away from the nesting turtles for their safety. It was a 90 minute tour. We learned about the bridge and the lighthouse so much wonderful information. I felt very safe on the boat it was beautiful and comfortable. I highly recommend this tour you will really enjoy being in a smaller group. Tip: bring water & a hat. read more

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Took a dolphin tour with Capt. Dan this morning. Super nice guy, very knowledgeable about the area as well as the habitat. Saw plenty of dolphin on our tour. Highly recommend. read more

Wonderful two hour kayaking tour on a chilly morning. We layered up and packed a change of clothes after since you get wet. Our guide, Izzy was great and was training another guide, Austin. We saw several dolphins, a fish jump out of the water and many species of birds. Very relaxing and fun way to start our day. It was our family of four and a family of three. They gave a great refresher on kayaking at the beginning before we went out into the water. Don't forget to tip your guides. Great location to go out to lunch afterwards read more

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We had the most amazing tour for nights of Lights - Captain Jim was so knowledgeable and entertaining. Dress super warm but it was a night I will never forget. Can't wait to take another tour in better weather. read more

Dan was fantastic! We had such a great time out on the boat with him. He was polite, knowledgeable, and very respectful. Boat was clean and well kept, plenty of room, and very comfortable. Would highly recommend! read more

We did the 10 AM ecotour and were so excited to find out we had the boat to ourselves. Our guide, Chris, was personable and took the time to share a lot of history and details on our trip. We headed out to the inlet to chase down shrimping boats, and saw a large group of dolphins. We saw several babies playing and jumping in the air, something I've never seen on other tours I've done. He took us in to the estuaries to see different birds and to try to find turtles and manatees. We had a great time and will definitely be recommending this company to friends! We stayed in Palm Coast but this was worth the drive up - when researching options, this group stood out. read more

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Izzy was our tour guide and she was amazing! Very well informed about the marine life as well as the St. Augustine history. This was a very fun experience for the entire family! You get to see lots of marine life up close and views of the city from the water. Highly recommend! read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Kayaking at the fort - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Did the 10am kayak tour. Super fun and a great way to see some parts of SA that you wouldn't see otherwise. Friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend! read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Very pleased with the decision to join JT on a 10am kayak tour one Friday morning! I called last minute (an hour before) and Zach was able to get my boyfriend and I set up for the experience. They're conveniently located right next to bridge of lions, basically in the middle of downtown. You leave from the marina, and get to take a look at the nicer boats that are docking for the weekend. Though the trip didn't feel too long in distance, we were very pleased with what we got out of it. JT passionately describes local history to downtown, the fort, the cross, bridge of lions, and of course - marine life! We spotted a group of female dolphins, as well as a mom & baby. We spent time watching them play with each other and the fish they were eating. During the entire time JT answered all of our questions (group of 6). Unfortunately no manatees were seen this time! This is an easy kayak tour for families of all ages. Nothing strenuous or intimidating about it. On the water for about an hour and a half and it's a great way to see the city from another point of view. read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Wonderful experience! So much information about the eco system around St Augustine. We saw dolphins and learned that they are stressed!! Saw birds and marsh habitats Small boat and only 8 people! What a great way to spend a few hours to see St. Augustine from the water. read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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We went with Zach today. It was a really excellent tour and a great value. I was initially hesitant because it was $10-20 more expensive than other tours but honestly we were booking last minute and it was one of a few available choices so we said ok, let's try it. I am so glad we decided to use this operator. First because the tour was kept small (only 7 on our boat but could fit more, maybe 12?) and we got to ask tons of questions. The answers were all top notch and showed a deep understanding of the area's humans (native, colonizer, and modern day) and the wildlife. Second because the company clearly took great pride in taking care of the environment and respecting the wildlife. We saw so many dolphins but were told that can be highly variable. It would have been a great tour regardless but that really pushed it over the top. read more

Weather was perfect for a day to see various birds, dolphins galore and manatees on this tour around St Augustine. The weekend I was here, it was super busy. People and boaters everywhere. There so many boaters that the dolphins spread out instead of staying in a pod of 15-20. There were mamas with their calf and it was tough to capture the photos I wanted because they were spread out so much. We saw a young Great blue heron and also near the cross there lives a older gentleman Great Blue who is at least 20 years old. We went under the Lion's Gate Bridge with Flagler College in the background. Fun first day in St Augustine. read more

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Had a night of lights tour scheduled with them. I misread the email and read 7PM departure for a 6PM....... Got a call about 5 till asking if we were coming! Adam got us on the next and last tour of the night. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! And the tour was much more than we expected! Calm and quiet, we could hear the other boats yelling and carrying on. Adam and the young lady did an excellent job answering questions, I learned a lot from them! Definitely do a tour with them! read more

We had a wonderful sunset sail with ECO Tours! Highly recommend! Very affordable and family friendly. A must while visiting Saint Augustine. read more

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Our Captain Chris was extremely knowledgeable about the area and wildlife. Trip was short but sweet and we enjoyed it! Def recommend.

J.T took us out today and he was so knowledgeable about the marine life, habitat and we were surrounded by dolphins! It was a great experience. I highly recommend this company and especially Captain JT! read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Eco Tours was one of my favorite experiences in St. Augustine! We decided to take the 4:30pm tour so that we could enjoy the sunset. We booked our tickets online, which was super easy, and arrived at around 4:10pm ready for our tour. Zach, our tour guide, immediately gave us a friendly greeting. We were so shocked that he already knew our names. It was absolutely amazing that he remembered all the guests' names (there were 14 of us) before the trip even started -- such a nice touch. That alone already showed me that this would be a 5-star experience. We got in the boat and went on our way. It was a super windy day, and Zach had warned us that we may get "sprayed" a little every now and then. Considering the conditions, Zach navigated through the rough waters really well. It was really smooth sailing! Zach was SUPER knowledgeable; he was able to answer everyone's questions and really taught us a lot about the area. The tour was a lot of fun, despite it being really cold! We didn't see much as far as wildlife (no dolphins or anything like that) but that didn't take away from the experience at all. We're aware that seeing wildlife is simply luck, and Zach tried his best to show us as much as possible. Regardless, it was a fun, peaceful, incredibly enjoyable experience. I'd say to definitely go on this Eco Tour when you're in St. Augustine -- it's a lot of fun! read more

Although the wind was terrible, our guide was super patient. It was a fun trip and we saw some beautiful wildlife!

Zach took out a group of Wounded Warriors and Veterans. Several have never kayaked and a few nervous to try it. Him and his assistant were perfect in regards to safety, instructions, care and fun. I highly recommend St. Augustine Eco Tours to anyone looking for an amazing adventure while in town. It's a must do! read more

Could note be more impressed with Captain Zach and his Eco tour! I am admittedly not an outdoorsy girl, but as a mother of 4 young (per-school and school aged) kids we try to give them as many life experiences as possible and this tour was by far one of the best to date. We didn't get lucky enough to see any dolphins but that didn't take away from this tour at all! Zach is so passionate not only about the wildlife but the whole history of the city. For the whole hour and a half my children (and husband) were completely drawn in to everything Zach was telling us. This tour should be at the top of your list of things to do when visiting! read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Learning about the canon ball jelly fish - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Great experience. Captain Jim was an amazing guide and sailor!

We had a blast! This was by far my favorite experience in st Augustine. The kayak tour was a beautiful way to get to know the area. Our guide JD was very engaging with the group and encouraged questions about the experience. It was a great activity to get some exercise and relax while getting some sun. read more

St Augustine Eco Tours - Castillo de San Marcos - Tours Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Strong recommendation for St. Augustine Eco Tours and most importantly our guide Daphne. Great ability to manage new and seasoned Kayakers while providing insight into the water, land and animal life viewed during the tour. The location is ideal to view Historic Old St. Augustine and a unique view of the Intracoastal. We were fortunate to view sharks, manatees, sea turtles and many jumping Mullets Many thanks for their part during a surprise weekend getaway read more

We did the kayaking tour and loved loved LOVED it! Our guide, Zach (sorry if he spells it differently) was wonderful and so knowledgeable about the area. The tour started at the marina, and we went around the old fort and into the salt marshes. We saw a cannonball jellyfish and even got to hold it (don't worry - they don't have tentacles and can't sting you) plus saw the little crab guy that lives inside the jellyfish (yes, you read that right). We also saw fiddler crabs, lots of oysters - some even spitting, birds, and a live starfish. Apparently there's a 50/50 chance of seeing manatees or dolphins but we didn't get those this time...bummer! Zach gave is a lot of the history of the area as well. We had so much fun, and it doesn't hurt that we got a great work out too! FYI, the tour lasts about 2 hours. They kayaks are extremely nice kayaks - very comfortable to sit in and they even cone equipped with a rudder. Keep in mind they encourage you to use the tandem ones, and I was definitely worn out from all the paddling at the end and thankful I had someone else with me. If you're in the area, check this place. It is well worth your money!! read more

Friday night Sunset Cruise with JT was perfect! There were 6 in our group and we had an amazing 2-hour (private) trip. JT asked what we might want to see (dolphins, manatees, birds...) and we said "anything and everything"! JT was very knowledgeable and took good care of us. There was a green turtle in the marina when we left; and we spotted a green heron on the trip (who knew). As the waters were relatively calm, he took us a couple of miles into the ocean searching for dolphin. JT had a story for the points of interest (the Fort, Julia Island, Anastasia, etc,) but also for the different species of birds we saw, and the (anticipated) dolphins and manatees. This trip was very well done and our group was thankful. As can be the case, we did not spot any dolphins or manatees, but JT made the trip exciting and educational. read more

I will recommend this tour to all I know visiting St Augustine. Kyle did a great job. We learned so much about the area and marine wildlife....definitely the highlight of our trip read more

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So wonderful to see St Augustine from the water in a kayak. My husband & I took the tour with Adam who was very knowledgeable & helpful. We learned so much about the ecosystem & saw a lot of wildlife we had not previously seen. Highly recommend! read more

Took the family for a tour with Chris. He did an amazing job finding interesting wildlife and the ride was very comfortable. My kids get seasick very easily and this was such a pleasure. read more

- Get your money's worth - Educational - Great staff We looked at all the other options between the Pirate boat ... which had bad reviews and they charge you for drinks (they make it seem included), Schooner which is lengthly and didn't want to spend half the day on a boat, to the Scenic Cruise - that got horrible reviews. Adam was our Captain. We saw what he had said but being such a busy week, we didn't expect too much. Boat traffic was high. But we did see Manatees, saw types of shrimp and heard the sound they make and also dolphins. He explained so much about the marine life in the area and was attentive to our attentions. We were taking pictures of the lighthouse ... he suddenly went into this area so we could get the best picture. Adam was also collecting floating trash that was in the area. That alone impressed me! Overall ... we left the boat knowing more ... sunburnt :) and just the right amount of time to experience the harbor (2 Hours) Yes! Without a doubt I would recommend this ride!!! We sat in the middle for about 30 minutes reading reviews on here and trip advisor ... reviews were correct! read more

We did a private water tour for our family. JT was our captain. He was friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable! We saw dolphins, manna ray, sharks, osprey, manatee, and loads of other wildlife. JT also gave us the history of the waterways which was very interesting as well. Overall, a great experience that I would recommend for sure. read more

We had so much fun . Captain Chris was very pleasant and informative. We were able to see many dolphins, sharks, and local birds. Highly recommend and will definitely be coming back! read more

Very personal and informative tour, with just ten people in the boat and a comfortable connection with our guide. A highlight of our visit to St Augustine! read more

Took a evening cruise Echo Tour with five of my closest friends. Captain JD was our tour guide. Cannot say enough about the Echo Tour experience viewing St Augustine from the Mantanzas River, and experiencing hundreds of dolphins, birds and other assorted wildlife. Captain JD was very knowledgeable on bird species and the other wildlife. We saw an amazing sunset over Saint Augustine, and overall the tour was amazing. Highly recommended. read more