Barrier Island Shelling Tour

Barrier Island Shelling Tour The Barrier Island Shelling Tour is the ultimate shelling adventure for those looking to discover rare and beautiful seashells in untouched, remote locations. This guided boat tour takes you beyond the busy beaches to the best shelling hotspots in the Ten Thousand Islands, where you can collect sand dollars, alphabet cones, lightning whelks, and even the elusive Junonia. 2.5 hour tour departs from our private commercial docks at 220 Goodland Dr (across the street from Stan's Idle Hour) daily at 8:00 am, 10:45 am, 1:30 pm, and 4:00 pm. Family-Friendly Adventure: A perfect activity for kids and adults alike, with plenty of time to explore and collect treasures from the sea. This laid-back yet exciting tour is a dream for shell collectors and beachcombers. Whether you’re a seasoned sheller or a first-timer, our Barrier Island Shelling Tour will leave you with incredible finds and unforgettable memories of Marco Island’s pristine coastal beauty.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   1 hour

   Kice Island is regarded as the "shellers" island near Marco. The barrier island has fantastic shells on the gulf shore but is a notoriously difficult anchorage with a shallow mangrove shoreline, and is open to wind and waves. Our expert captains know where to go, and our certified Florida Master Nauturalist guides know where to find the rarest and most exotic shells.

2. 2

   Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

   1 hour

   Boat tours explore barrier islands of the 10,000 Islands.

3. 3

   Marco Island

   Tour the barrier islands surrounding Marco Island Florida. Marco Island is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico off Southwest Florida, linked to the mainland by bridges south of the city of Naples. It’s home to resort hotels, beaches, marinas and golf courses, as well as a network of inland waterways. A long, sandy beach covers most of the west coast, with resort hotels in the south. Tigertail Beach Park has a tidal lagoon, popular for kayaking and paddleboarding.

4. 4

   Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

   Experience the mangrove estuary of the Rookery Bay Preserve. Rookery Bay is a National Estuarine Research Reserve in Naples, Florida supported by the Friends of Rookery Bay.

5. 5

   Southwest Gulf Coast

   Our tour includes Gulf waters weather permitting. Florida's Southwest Gulf Coast contains a constellation of enticing coastal gems. Stunning beaches, including Ft. Myers Beach, Tigertail Beach and Pensacola Beach, fringe the Gulf, down the I-75 from Tampa to Naples.

6. 6

   Cape Romano

   15 min

   The boat tour will cruise by Cape Romano to see the famous Dome House. The Cape Romano Dome House is an abandoned house consisting of six dome-shaped modules on stilts, located approximately 300 feet offshore from Cape Romano Island, south of Marco Island, in the Ten Thousand Islands of Collier County, Florida.

7. 7

   Goodland

   See the quaint fishing village of Goodland. Goodland is a census-designated place in Collier County, Florida, United States. The population was 267 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area.

• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Children 6 and under are required to wear life vests (provided).
• Beaches can require walking long distances on uneven terrain, walking through water, and navigating areas around mangrove trees and stumps.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.