Discover beautiful shells on the remote barrier island beaches of Florida’s 10,000 Islands, and start your shell collecting hobby with colorful shark eye moon snails, tulip shells, and even junonia. Go to shell collecting sites unknown even to locals.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 2 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English

Highlights

Search for beautiful shells on remote barrier island beaches
Learn about the flora and fauna of the 10,000 Islands
Discover the conditions that affect shelling, and become a shelling pro
Keep your eye out for the rare and prized junonia
Start, or add to your shell collecting hobby
Explore the different shell habitats

Full description

Learn the fine art of shell collecting on the remote barrier island beaches of Florida’s 10,000 Islands, and escape the shelling hordes of Marco Island and Captiva. Make your own way to Goodland Boating Park to climb aboard a boat that will take you to remote beaches that have not been picked over by others. Few shell collectors know about - or can get to - the beaches of these islands, resulting in pristine shelling opportunities. Touring in small groups, you will be led by a shelling guide with decades of experience. Learn about the nuances of the tide, winds, and locations that affect shelling, and the life cycle and habitat of different species. Your guide even has the knack of finding the Gulf Coast's most prized shell treasure; the junonia!

Includes

Florida Master naturalist guide, certified by the National Park and licensed by the US Coast Guard
A wealth of information on the colorful history of the area, and its wonderful wildlife and flora

Food and beverages
Gratuities

Covid-19 precautions

You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Meeting point

Meet your guide 20 minutes before departure at the picnic tables to the left of the marina store.

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Important information

What to bring

Sunglasses
Hat
Towel
Sunscreen
Water

Not allowed

Pets (assistance dogs allowed)

Know before you go

There is a maximum of 6 participants per tour
Please dress for the weather and bring any sun protection you feel is necessary
All tours are fully customizable. Please contact the tour supplier for further details after booking
Tips, food and drinks are not included

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 33 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.5/5
Transportation
4.2/5
Value for money
4.1/5
Safety
5/5

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If this will be your first trip to southern gulf-side FL and in search of seashells you will enjoy the tour guides, the boat ride and shelling. If you have previously been shelling on some of the islands it may be less of an adventure, but still enjoyable. The shelling location is shared by other tour companies so shell availability may depend on who has been there first.

April 15, 2022

We had a wonderful time shelling with 10,000 islands. Our captains were so incredibly knowledgeable and kind! It was so informative and we saw a lot of wildlife on the boat as well! I am so glad we decided to go with 10,000 islands for a shelling tour. The island we were on was very big and spacious and had tons of shells. We had a lot of time on the island itself as well as on the boat watching dolphins.

December 28, 2021

There were six adults in our party and we loved this experience. The Captain and his assistant made us feel welcome. Our captain pointed out wildlife, landmarks, and helped with finding shells. We recommend this trip for families and adults. It was two hours long and the time flew by! The boat was in good ship and we felt safe at all times. It was a wonderful experience for us all.

June 1, 2021

Marco Island: 10,000 Islands Shelling Tour by Boat

Marco Island: 10,000 Islands Shelling Tour by Boat

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