Ten Thousand Islands Shelling, Dolphin and Beach Experience

Dolphins that ride your wake. Shells you won't believe you found. This is the Ten Thousand Islands.

About

The moment you clear the Goodland marina aboard one of our flat-bottom boats, the world quietly rearranges itself. Rooftops disappear behind you, and what's left is the wide, glassy stretch of Gullivan Bay, one of the last truly untouched estuaries on the Gulf Coast. You'll wind past Helen Key and a maze of mangrove islands so green and undisturbed they barely look real, hardly another boat in sight.

This is the kind of Florida most people never get to see, and it's ours, every single trip. Somewhere along the way, dolphins usually find us, riding the wake close enough that your whole crew ends up leaning over the rail cheering them on. And somewhere on a beach most tourists will never stand on, someone in your group finds a shell that becomes the entire reason they tell this story for years.

Once we beach on one of these remote islands, out come the shelling bags for some old-fashioned treasure hunting. Southwest Florida is one of the richest shelling coastlines anywhere, home to more than 300 species, and we run trips across low, high, and in-between tides, so you can pick whatever timing works best for your day. You'll walk away with olives, zigzag scallops, banded tulips, lightning whelks, murex, and alphabet cones in hand, and always, somewhere in the back of your mind, the hope of finding a Junonia. You don't find a Junonia, it finds you, and we'll make sure you know exactly what one looks like, just in case today's the day.

Here's the thing, though: you don't need to know a single shell name to have the time of your life out here, because your captain and mates do. They're naturalists at heart, and they'll walk you through every shell, bird, and dolphin you spot along the way, so the whole trip doubles as an easy, unhurried education without ever feeling like one. Plenty of our guests come strictly for the dolphins and end up just as hooked on the treasure hunt. Plenty come for the shelling and end up just as obsessed with the dolphins. Either way, keep your eyes on the water the whole ride. Manatees roll through the shallows, ospreys dive for breakfast, and every so often a roseate spoonbill flashes bright pink against all that green, showing up right when you least expect it.

Bring the whole crew and book the boat privately, up to 19 of you, perfect for family reunions, milestone birthdays, or a big group who just wants the boat to themselves. Or join one of our small shared trips, so it never feels like a crowd. Either way, you're on the water with USCG Master Captains who've spent years learning exactly where the dolphins run and where the tide leaves the best shells behind.

Good to know

• Departs from Goodland, FL, about 15 minutes from downtown Marco Island and 35 from Naples
• Runs about 3 hours for shared trips
• Small-group shared trips; private charters available for up to 19 aboard our flat-bottom boats
• Shelling bags and life jackets in every size included
• Free rescheduling for weather and instant online confirmation

One thing worth a quick check on your end: I'm comfortable with 1,500+ as a combined, conservative total, but if you can glance at the actual Google Business count for the Naples listing, we can tighten that number up to something exact rather than a safe estimate.