Home of the daily Dolphin Exploration Tours & Sunset Celebration Cruises!
Experience Clearwater Beach, its magnificent waterways, and its resident Bottlenose Dolphins onboard Clearwater Beach's Best Outdoor Activity of the year!
Board any of our Daily Cruises or join us for a Special Event. Our double-decker catamaran boasts an enclosed area in the shade, a sun deck, and a premium bar. We do not serve meals but have snacks available for purchase. Our crew will narrate your tour with snippets about the area and point out wildlife along the way.
You can also charter the boat for a Private Event throughout the year.
Last but not least, we care! We are the only Ocean Friendly certified commercial boat operation in all of Pinellas County and are proud to donate to local events and charities regularly.
Fun. Exciting. Family-friendly.
Dolphin Exploration Tours
Our Dolphin Exploration Tours will take you from Clearwater Bay out Clearwater Pass on the beautiful emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico (weather permitting) in search of the Sun Coast’s favorite…the Bottlenose Dolphin.
In addition to offering Guaranteed Dolphin Sightings*, your Captain will highlight some fascinating facts about the natural wonders our Gulf Coast offers as well as point out celebrity mansions along the way.
The tour offers something for everyone, including educational information on our area and our wildlife, and optional drink upgrades including unlimited beer and soft drinks for the adults!
Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!
Sunset Celebration Cruises
The Tropics Sunset Celebration Cruise will take you from Clearwater Bay through Clearwater Pass to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico (weather permitting).
Sail the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico as you view a breathtaking Florida sunset and — if you’re lucky you may witness the legendary green flash.
Your crew will point out some interesting facts about the natural wonders of the Gulf Coast as well as popular sights along the way. We are pleased to include a Complimentary Sunset Champagne Toast for all guests 21 and up."
Dolphin Exploration Tour "Happy Hour" (April - Sept)
We are offering a Happy Hour Tour (April - Sept). Offering $5 "You Call It" Drinks! Please check tour schedule for availability.
Our Dolphin Exploration Tours last approximately two hours and will take you from Clearwater Bay out Clearwater Pass on the beautiful emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico (weather permitting) in search of the Sun Coast’s favorite…the Bottlenose Dolphin. In addition to offering Guaranteed Dolphin Sightings**, your Captain will highlight some fascinating facts about the natural wonders our Gulf Coast offers as well as point out celebrity mansions along the way. The tour offers something for everyone, including educational information on our area and our wildlife! Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!
*Adults 21+: $5 "You Call It" Drinks exclude frozen cocktails and doubles.
**Our Dolphin Sighting guarantee (receive a FREE return trip if Dolphins are NOT spotted during the program) applies to this special offer, but guests will NOT receive a FREE drink package on their return trip.
Subject to passenger minimums.
Private Charter
Celebrate the next special occasion on The Tropics for your very own Private Charter. There's nothing like having the 126-passenger double-decker catamaran all to yourself! From our regular day cruises to creating your own route or even going to a special destination, we can accommodate almost any request. We have even structured our pricing by season and time of day to make your Private Charter affordable. We also offer catering and drink options.
Packages start as low as $1,000.00 and are tiered depending on the total number of passengers.
Complete the form below to request information or for complete pricing details.
Connect with your Private Charter Coordinator Kristi today!
Gift Card
The Tropics Boat Tours offers gift cards for $30 (one daily tour ticket), $60 (two daily tour tickets), or any other increment of your choice. For example, you could give a friend or relative a $35 gift card for them to participate in our Annual Scavenger Hunt!
CityPASS
Spend less, Experience more. Save 52% on Tampa Bay's top 5 attractions! CityPASS® includes a Dolphin Exploration Tour or Sunset Celebration Cruise with The Tropics Boat Tours.
Admission Includes:
Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay
The Florida Aquarium
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
PLUS get admission to 2 more attractions of your choice:
The Tropics Boat Tours
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
Glazer Children’s Museum
Adult CityPASS®: $139
Child CityPASS® (ages 3-9): $124
CityPASS prices are tax inclusive
Visit the attractions at your own pace, in any order, over a 9-day period.
Why choose us?
There are many reasons to take our Dolphin Exploration Tours and Sunset Celebration Cruises in Clearwater Beach, Florida.
Our tours are led by experienced and passionate guides who know the area and the dolphins well, so you're guaranteed to have a unique and up-close experience with these amazing creatures. Our tours are a great value for the money, family-friendly, and enjoyable for people of all ages with competitive rates and discounts for groups. We hope to sail with you soon!
Dolphin Exploration Tours
Join us for an up-close and personal look at these amazing creatures! Our experienced guides will teach you all about dolphins and their environment while you enjoy the spectacular views of the coastline.
Sunset Celebration Cruises
Experience the beauty of the setting sun while cruising along the coast on our luxurious boat. Our knowledgeable staff will be on hand to answer any questions and help you make the most of your evening.
Family-Friendly Cruises
Our family-friendly cruises are the perfect way to explore the coast together.
Words From Our Guests
It was a great trip. We enjoyed the narratives from the people in the boat, the other people were fun to be around. We saw Dolphins and enjoyed the view, whether it was other boats, the skyline and the Sunset.I would recommend it to others who have never done it before and for those who have done it
Christina B
15th February 2023
Good trip
Lena Gorecki
10th February 2023
Captain Josh and Andrew have the absolute best dolphin tours in Clearwater. Dolphins were swimming next to the boat... best time you will have in Florida. They might suck at disc golf but they are the best at boat tours in the area, showing you around the harbor and beyond!
Travis B.
10th February 2023
Had such a wonderful time. Beautiful sunset cruise. Great time. Thank you
Traciemelillo Sopranostvshow
9th February 2023
Do NOT buy a soda cup as had to wait for 20 minutes when boat was full and missed scenery.
Judy Mayer
6th February 2023
The tour was well organized and managed. I mostly enjoyed the time spent in the gulf where we saw dolphins.
ThomasG
6th February 2023
Was happy with the experience. One of the guys would give random info about the area that was neat but not overwhelming where you can’t enjoy the experience. The boat isn’t the prettiest but it gets the job done.
Ryan Willis
6th February 2023
Barely saw an dolphins other than that super nice! Very friendly, enough space for everyone. Worth the cost.
Yulissa C
5th February 2023
Very fun! Nice crew and bartenders! I would recommend. Also a good value for the price. I would book again. Fun crew and knowledgeable about the area
Shari M
4th February 2023
We had a great time on our Sunset Cruise. Nice route, perfect weather. Crew were attentive and helpful. (We observed a situation with a child getting upset stomach, and staff went above and beyond the call of duty to help out.) Sunset was spectacular!
Brad Pritts
2nd February 2023
The pirate ship was amazing!!!!!!
Alexx DeVore
1st February 2023
The sound system in the boat was poor making it difficult to fully understand what the tour guide was saying regarding the areas we were passing.
Donald Larris
1st February 2023
We had a blast! Captain Jay and Chad and Andrew took great care of us. Andrew pointed out a lot of Clearwater info as we passed the coastline on our way out and back. And when we located some dolphins, they worked in tandem with another dolphin excursion so we could see them leap out of the water in the wake. Super chill and a beautiful ride!
Krista S.
1st February 2023
It was fun getting a tour of the area around Clearwater before heading out into the Gulf of Mexico. It was so much fun being out on the water and even more exciting seeing the dolphins! The crew were wonderful and made it a great experience!
Cassie D
29th January 2023
Took a relaxing boat ride for our anniversary on the Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico by Clearwater Beach. Saw many dolphins and enjoyed the sightseeing and people watching. Crew and Captain did a great job providing for a safe & informative afternoon on the water.
Barb Mersch
26th January 2023
Perfect sunset cruise
Pam Gray
26th January 2023
We did a sunset cruise in Jan and it was awesome. We had a 2 year old, 3 year old and 4 year old but it wasn't a busy cruise so the kids got to run around a bit without being in too many people's way. We were on the top deck the entire time, it was amazing but windy and chilly. We had warm coats so we were perfectly comfortable. Sunset was beautiful, the guide had some interesting facts to share. I would recommend, even with kiddos in tow.
Sam Liner
26th January 2023
Magical sunset, thoughtful and friendly crew, fun entertainment on board. Thank you, Tropics Boat Tours!
Dina Christensen
24th January 2023
Got the city pass, and did the sunset cruise..was cloudy but saw many dolphins...had a great time..
Carol Young
24th January 2023
We had a lovely trip on this, we booked it through our city pass. The staff were nice. We did see a small pod of dolphins but the whole experience was excellent. If we never saw the dolphins we would have been delighted too. We saw the beautiful homes set around the water banks. Beautiful visions of grandeur we could never afford but wouldn't even if I could. The scenery was lovely. I enjoyed it
granny franny
22nd January 2023
We absolutely love this cruise! The cost is one of the lowest in the area. The staff is so friendly and their drink packages are so affordable with all you can drink beer for only 14 bucks!!!!This is a must when in the Clearwater area!
Aaron A.
21st January 2023
We had a blast! My granddaughters saw so many dolphins maybe the day... the crew of 3 were great a little windy day but no fears because of the size of the boat... staff was polite and entertaining... we booked this trip through tampa bay city pass ... although on board purchases for drinks and chips my only regret was I had no cash to tip the hosts. Thanks for a great experience
Annie C.
20th January 2023
Crew was so professional. Relaxed atmosphere, drinks available, and the crew gave us informational commentary throughout.
Stanley Locke
19th January 2023
This was a nice ride. The weather was not very nice the day we went - very windy and cold (01/13/2023). The staff was nice and had funny dad jokes lol We did see about 4 dolphins in the bay. We did not make it out to the Gulf b/c of the weather. They were out of some drink mixes for the ride but that was fine as it would have just made me more cold. I would recommend this trip again although maybe not on a bad weather day.
MontanaMom33
17th January 2023
Amazing time on the Tropics Boat Tour! All the staff members were amazing! Saw awesome sites of the Clearwater area and dolphins!
Michael Demyan
17th January 2023
Very friendly crew and nice experience
Eric
16th January 2023
Very nice experience
Wajiha Saqib
14th January 2023
Great Captain and Crew which made the trip an outstanding experience - we saw lot's of dolphins!
Mary Leedom
14th January 2023
Great tour! The guide was great and I would recommend this tour for anyone!
Katie Violet
13th January 2023
Awesome experience! We saw a pod of dolphins multiple times and got a fun history of properties on the island.
Grant Fox
13th January 2023
The crew working here were all nice and friendly. They took us out the marina and showed us some of the sights. When we got out to the Gulf the dolphins made a nice appearance! They were jumping out of the water! As it was closer to sunset we were out pretty good into the Gulf. We got our glass of champagne and after seeing the green flash we cheered the sunset. It was neat coming back in and seeing the buildings start to light up along the shore. I was nervous about being out that far on the water, but it was an incredible experience that I would most definitely do again!!
Cassie D
12th January 2023
Amazing time will definitely be returning crew was amazing Chad the bar tender was top notch
Christopher Youngs
12th January 2023
If you’re on vacation and trying to kill time,m I highly recommend this. It was my favorite activity in the week I spent around Tampa/Clearwater area. Purchased with the city pass which is also worth it for a good time. The captain and the crew were great people and extremely knowledgeable. Thanks guys.
Dylan O'Gorman
12th January 2023
Great ride around Clearwater. Saw dolphins and fabulous views of hotel sand private residences. Inexpensive and worth the experience.
Geoffrey Riddle
11th January 2023
When i first got there, i was a lottle hesitant about the boat. It isnt exactly beautiful compared to some other water crafts. But they really are worth every dime. We had mde our reservation before we arrived. We had absolutely no trouble getting on. Simply showing the ticket on the phone. We started slow but we did see some dolphins in the water at a distance. The captain & crew made sure that we got a close picture of some dolphins. They even joined a another company in getting to see the dolphins jump. The dolphins was so close if i had reached out i could have touched one. Toward the end of our adventure, they told a little history of the beautiful mansion along the coast line. They do serve alcohol & have other beverages & snacks. No one was out of control. I would say family friendly way to spend an afternoon. I had shot a video of the dolphins. Sorry i cant download them! Go! See them for yourself. Its a trip you will never regret it!
Karrie Silvers
10th January 2023
Great experience reasonably priced knowledgeable and friendly staff.
Andrea Bain
9th January 2023
Plenty of 🐬 even a tour with famous peoples houses. Great time out on boat
KRISTI BALDINI
9th January 2023
Amazing tour worth every penny! Good drinks, music and guide tour man. I was celebrating my birthday and they made it special. Pay extra for the drink package, worth it. I would I come back anytime!!
Elisha Lopez
7th January 2023
We took the sunset boat tour and it was an awesome experience.
Sahith Chandra
5th January 2023
Great Experience kind Staff Chad was so professional Kind to me and my Family we appreciate it very much..Thanks again
sameerah henderson
5th January 2023
The sights were outstanding. The sunset was breathtaking. The boat was comfortable and not crowded. Drink specials were outstanding and worth the price of admission.
James P
4th January 2023
Staff was very nice and informative! Views were great. This was a nice relaxing way to spend our first evening in Clearwater.
Lauren Loschiavo
3rd January 2023
The staff was friendly and professional. They made it fun even though it rained.
Paula Saracki
3rd January 2023
Beautiful sunset! Great staff.
Tracy Strain
31st December 2022
From the smooth booking process to the knowledgeable and friendly crew, the sunset cruise for our family was awesome. We got to see plenty of dolphins out in the Gulf of Mexico and the sunset was just breathtaking. The complimentary champagne that was provided to toast the sunset was a nice touch.
Sherlock H
30th December 2022
Crew were friendly and knowledgeable, drinks were delicious, sunset cruise was beautiful. Great value and a lot of fun. Definitely recommend!
Christina Hager
29th December 2022
It's a 2-hour tour with music or narration. You see beautiful skyline of Clearwater beach. We did see dolphins, but they weren't overly visible. Enjoyable boating trip because the weather was pleasant. Convenient Marina parking discounted for customers. Restaurants located nearby.
Beverly K
22nd December 2022
Had a great time on our cruise! Friendly crew, great drink packages, and we saw loads of dolphins!! Wonderful experience, highly recommend!!
Katie Cross
22nd December 2022
We saw so many dolphins! It was a really fun cruise. The captain and his crew were all nice. It’s neat that they offer various drink packages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) or you can buy drinks ala cart. Bartender made great margaritas! There’s two heads on the boat. They were kept clean the entire cruise. There’s plenty of seating inside and out with lots of standing room too.
Caribbean S
22nd December 2022
Entertaining tour guides, relatively clean boat, and decent drink prices. Could use some more/better seating.
Eva BenDebba
18th December 2022
Enjoyed a leisurely cruise and saw plenty of dolphins. Nice friendly crew.
D C
15th December 2022
We had so much fun on this trip. We saw so many dolphins. We will definitely be back.
alyssa ernest
15th December 2022
We had a wonderful time on this boat tour! The staff were so awesome, we learned a lot about the area, the drinks were so good and the boat was very clean as well. I would recommend this boat tour to anyone!
Kathy Tremblay
14th December 2022
The tour was everything they advertised. We could understand the person commentating and he was very knowledgeable. It was a great excursion!
G T (SGT)
11th December 2022
We had a great experience and it’s worth the moneyThe Dolphins were amazing!The crew of the tour were very nice and friendly
Maria Kujawa
9th December 2022
This slow moving double deck boat will take you through the channels and about half mile out in the Gulf of Mexico. As you work your way back in through the channels, you may not have seen a dolfin yet, but fear not, they know an area in the channels that the dolfin frequent. Keep an eye out, we even saw a shark at one point.
Paul Verhagen
9th December 2022
Was great experience. WE SAW A POD OF Dolphins with a baby. The experience was wellworth our time.
Sherre' Minton
9th December 2022
This tour was just right for what we were looking for, which was a peaceful sunset cruise with the hopes of seeing beautiful scenery, a gorgeous sunset, and dolphins. Short and sweet, around 2 hours. They offer a wide drink selection and a great crew with just the right amount of energy and commentary, no cheesy crowd involvement or awkward moments, just class and knowledge. We saw about a full hour of dolphins from all sides of the boat and a gorgeous sunset. It was a smooth ride, left on time and was well worth the money. Highly recommend if you are looking for a chill cruise with cool people.
Lindy C
7th December 2022
Had a great time, the only thing I was disappointed with is when I filled out the info online, one of the questions if we were celebrating anything special and i put on the form we were celebrating our 40th anniversary and was hoping they would announce it to surprise her, but it wasn't announced. They did announce a couple of birthdays, so I must have been overlooked. Thanks for the tour though, everyone was very friendly and would recommend to others. Mark
Mark Tusing
2nd December 2022
Had an amazing sunset cruise with the family. Staff was awesome and made the evening very enjoyable.
Tara Tucker
2nd December 2022
Great atmosphere seen dolphin 🐬
Troy Smith
2nd December 2022
Una puesta de sol muy linda, servicio bueno
Teresa Noda
2nd December 2022
Easy process from start to finish. Boat was exactly what we expected and met all our needs. Drinks were delicious and fairly priced. We had a terrific time and would recommend to anyone.
T Cleve
25th November 2022
Great tour. Great guides and lots of dolphins!
Tony LaSala
25th November 2022
Great times
Danielle
25th November 2022
Great crew and views! Dolphins guaranteed!
Tabithia Whitehill
25th November 2022
The guys running this are great. Lots of information about the area and the dolphins. Seeing the dolphins up and close was an amazing experience. The boat ride is also nice and relaxing.
Rick Smith
16th November 2022
I would recommend the sunset cruise to anyone in the Tampa area. Dylan and Ryan were very friendly and helpful. They recommended bars and restaurants in the area on top of giving wonderful customer service. The views were spectacular. The tour itself was very informative. Drinks were available onboard, decently priced. There were no snacks. Luckily, I found last-minute parking across the street. I would recommend coming early for parking if you are driving. Nevertheless, great experience!
Candice C
16th November 2022
Friendly staff and lots of dolphin spotting
ridhi Chatterjee
16th November 2022
Crew was awesome, saw some dolphins excellent cruise
Deb H
16th November 2022
Very nice cruise. It was sunny and 88 degrees. Couldn't have picked a better day. The whole crew was very nice.
Lorenzo Mendoza
16th November 2022
We loved the friendly, knowledgeable crew and thoroughly enjoyed the dolphin watching and boat ride.
Irene Homeier
16th November 2022
Very good I had a very nice time
Craig Harper
16th November 2022
Very nice outing (we got to see THE GREEN FLASH as the sun set!), but I do have one suggestion: the tour guide needs to pull back on the "radio DJ" announcer voice.
J. Clark
16th November 2022
We had a great time and seen so many dolphins. Staff was extremely friendly
Brittany Deaton
16th November 2022
Fun experience for my husband and I! The crew was great Bartender made awesome drinks
Brenna Lanphear
16th November 2022
Lovely tour, thank you!
Tracy Turner
16th November 2022
Delighting in dolphins and stunning sunsets in Clearwater Beach, Florida
Welcome to our tour company in Clearwater Beach, Florida! We are so excited to be here and to offer our breathtaking sights, resident bottlenose dolphins, unbelievable sunsets, and a warm welcoming community to everyone. We are located in the heart of Clearwater Beach and we are proud to be a part of such a wonderful and welcoming community. Our sunsets are some of the most beautiful in the world and our dolphins are always a hit with the kids.
We warmly welcome you to come and experience all that our company has to offer!
Frequently asked questions
Our tours are 1 hour and 45 minutes in duration from dock to dock. We also have an additional 15 minutes of boarding prior to each tour.
Yes, we offer beer, wine, soft drinks, and a full liquor bar for purchase on board. We also offer drink packages that may be purchased from the booth prior to departure.
In the unlikely event we do not see dolphins during a dolphin tour (not valid on sunset tours) you will be able to take another dolphin tour free of charge at a later time. Drink packages purchased during the original tour are not refundable and do not apply to your next dolphin tour.
Yes, we do have restrooms on board for the use of our guests. Please keep in mind that these are marine heads. Please note any signage in the restrooms regarding what may be flushed down the toilets.
Yes, while we are an outdoor activity our open-air lower level does provide shade and protection from the elements. Note that guests in wheelchairs may not be able to access this area based on the size of their wheelchairs.
Unfortunately, you may not bring food on board as we do not have appropriate areas for consumption. We do offer light snacks on board for purchase.
Yes, please visit our private charter section for more information. You may also email charters@thetropicsboattours.com for more information.
Unfortunately, we do not allow pets on board during our tours unless it is a service animal.
Yes, our ramp is wide enough to cater to most wheelchairs. However, if the wheelchair is wider than 22" the wheelchair will not fit through the lower deck threshold. If so, our wheelchair guest may be confined to the bow (front) area of the boat. We do consider this the best seat in the house. Another option is if the guest does have some walking ability he/she can collapse the wheelchair and the first seat on the inside lower level is just two steps from the threshold. When boarding, our wheelchair guests board last for prime seating on the bow. Our crew is not permitted to lift wheelchairs or any mobility equipment.
Our daily tour schedule changes with the Sunset time throughout the year. Our schedule is updated in real-time when you click on the Book Now section for each tour offered.
Yes, our ramp is wide enough to cater to most strollers. However, if the stroller is wider than 22" the stroller will not fit through the lower deck threshold. If so, the stroller may be confined to the bow (front) area of the boat. We do consider this the best seat in the house. Another option is to collapse the stroller and bring it into the lower cabin to re-open. You are also welcome to leave unneeded strollers on the dock. We are not responsible for unattended strollers but our booth is staffed until the Sunset Cruise departs.
No, one completed waiver is satisfactory for the entire party/group.
First, purchase CityPASS online CityPASS online for immediate, paperless mobile delivery.
Next, simply click here click here to schedule your tour.
Present your CityPASS tickets at the ticket booth one hour before departure.
No, masks are not required to be worn per CDC guidelines.
You will find the Marina Parking lot at the forth exist out of the roundabout at the end of the bridge when coming to Clearwater Beach. That parking lot is reserved for Marina Activities on a first come, first served basis. We recommend having one person go to our Tropics Booth while the other looks for a parking space. The Booth Staff will give you a parking code that will you allow you to book enough time in the parking space for the duration of your stay in the Marina.
We do our best to notify all guests when in climate weather impacts our tour times. At times we do wait until we can clearly assess the weather as it changes quickly in Florida. You can expect to receive a notification when we have to cancel any tour.
Yes, kids of all ages are permitted on our Happy Hour Dolphin Tour when it is available.