9 Dolphin Tours in Key West That Still Read Well a Year On

1.Key West Dolphin Watch and Snorkel Tour – Eco Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,163 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $79Our pick

Cruise from 631 Greene Street with Fury Water Adventures to watch wild bottlenose dolphins, then snorkel 6 to 12 feet deep among patch coral, sponges, and small fish. The crew provides gear and instruction, with names and personalities varying by departure. Beer and wine follow the water activity, while shaded seating, soft drinks, and a nautical restroom make the ride comfortable.

“It was an interesting trip. The water was spectacular. The Captain and his first mate were very hospitable and knowledgeable. If you enjoy beautiful scenery and like serenity then I highly recommend this trip”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling Eco Cruise Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 757 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Join Fury Water Adventures for a three-hour catamaran trip from Key West. You’ll watch for wild bottlenose dolphins, snorkel in shallow refuge waters, and ride back with beer, wine, sodas, or seasonal champagne. Guides such as Lisa, Alli, Nicole, Liv, and Penny have been praised for calm, friendly help, especially with nervous snorkelers.

“Great trip. Informative, friendly, helpful and attentive staff. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Key West Sunset Sail: Dolphin Watching, Wine, and Tapas

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 699 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $89

Set out from Key West’s Historic Seaport for a 2.5-hour sunset cruise aboard a luxury catamaran. The crew looks for wild dolphins before serving wine, beer, champagne, and chef-prepared bites such as shrimp cocktail, smoked fish dip, caprese skewers, and key lime pie. You’ll pass Mallory Square, Fort Zachary Taylor, and Sunset Key, with guides such as Captain Daniel, John, Jordan, and Gracie helping set the mood.

“Wonderful trip! Saw dolphins, beautiful sunsets and great crew! Tapas and beverages to suit all. Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Biologist Owned & Operated: Dolphin Watching & Guided Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 497 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $143Top rated

Set out from Key West Historic Seaport aboard the custom-built SQUID, a quiet catamaran limited to 16 people. Guides such as Heather, Bryan, Wade, and Patrick share dolphin facts, help beginners snorkel, and serve fresh fruit and vegetables. Expect about four hours on the water, with dolphin watching first and snorkeling at the best available site.

“Not the trip we booked, but any day on a boat is a good day! There weren’t enough folks signed up for the afternoon on the Squid, so the team was great about communicating our options and we were able to join the afternoon snorkel, sandbar and sunset on the Blue Q catamaran. Dan and Heather were a wonderful crew and took amazing care of the 6 of us on the trip. The Blue Q is a beautiful boat and easy to get in and off with the center ladder. The fresh fruit was the perfect snack. Again, it wasn’t the trip we planned, but Dan and Heather made it…”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 493 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Join the Sunset One for a three-hour Key West cruise with an English-speaking guide, wild dolphin watching, snorkeling near Cottrell Key, and a sunset sail back to the dock. The crew, including guides such as Kevin, Kylie, Madison, and John on different departures, provides gear, safety help, and a draft beer.

“Great crew, we were lucky not even to see the dolphins but also to swim nearby”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Shallow Water Snorkeling and Dolphin Watching in Key West

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 465 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $108

Join the 14-passenger Catamaran Echo at Key West Bight for four hours of sailing, wild dolphin watching, and shallow-water snorkeling. You may see coral, sponges, tropical fish, sharks, turtles, or lobsters. Crew members such as Sandy, Deb, Aiden, and Captain Stewart are praised for friendly help, while beer, wine, fruit, and snacks round out the ride.

“Bailey and Aiden were the best. Lots of fun, laughs and very informative. Lots of snorkeling. They have floats to point out the lobsters,the-water was clear to the bottom. The dolphins are hit or miss, seen some on the way out, but none at the playing pool for dolphins. Then they put up the sails and we sailed for the last part of the trip. They pointed out different islands and what was on them, even a homeless island. The sail boats that were abandoned that sunk were unbelievable, some just the top of the mass still showing. That was unbelievable to us. We would definitely recommend going out with…”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.All-Inclusive Sandbar Safari with Dolphin Playground Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 451 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $149

From Key West’s Historic Seaport, you’ll cruise into the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary aboard a boat limited to 50 people. Expect dolphin watching, a shallow sandbar stop, lunch, unlimited beer, wine, mimosas, soda, water toys, and guides such as Captain Madison and Captain John sharing local facts.

“Great staff, amazing sandbar, dolphin sighting! Yummy food and drinks galore! Loved the music and atmosphere!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Key West Dolphin Watch or Snorkel Boat with pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 399 reviews · from $63Best value

Ride from Miami across the Overseas Highway and Seven Mile Bridge to Key West, with about five hours on the island. Choose a 2.5-hour dolphin watch, 3-hour snorkel trip with basic gear, 90-minute glass-bottom boat ride, or free time. Captains including Lisa and Zane have earned praise for friendly, reassuring boat service.

“We did the boat ride with snorkeling option, which was through Fury Watersports . They were absolutely amazing (10/10) and it was so much fun! Highly recommend! The tour bus was air conditioned and comfortable. The tour bus driver didn’t speak English and due to a miscommunication on “When are we leaving?” Which he replied “25 minutes.” What he meant to say was “5:25.” (It was about 5:20 when I asked him.) I got on the bus, put my stuff down, and considering how much time I thought I still had, I hopped off the bus right in front of him to grab a water and protein bar from the…”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Key West Dolphin and Snorkel Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 334 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $69

Spend about three hours on the water with Sunset Watersports, looking for wild dolphins near Key West, snorkeling with provided gear, and watching the sunset on the return. Captains and crew members including Owen, Noah, Kevin, Stephanie, and Dante have been praised for clear safety guidance and local facts. Beer, wine, champagne, and soft drinks are included.

“I don't even know where to start...but to summarize this was the worst cruise excrusion we have ever been on. From the start to finish something was off. There was no room.for our 7 ppl.family on the boat. The captain said "you guys squeeze in" to fit us in and we were supposed to sit separately for a 3h trip...unacceptable!!! On the previous cruises we went on , they would sit ppl by the groups, starting from from the largest to.make.sure everyone sits together...but here it was a mess...could not believe it, so we partially.stand or sit on the ice cooler... I wish I could upload some photos, cuz Noone…”

Check availability →Read our full review