Set sail into the sunset on a romantic cruise or fascinating boat tour filled with marine life spotting and sightseeing on one of these five Naples, FL boat tours.
(Photo: Viator.com)
Naples, Florida – a delightful city– is surrounded by the water of the Gulf of Mexico, creeks, and swamps. As such, boats make for a pretty logical way to get around and it’s not uncommon for locals to have a road leading to the front of their house and a waterway and pier at the back. Taking a boat tour in Naples is a great way to experience the unique beauty of the natural world here.
Naples kayak rental with single & tandem options
One of the simplest, and cheapest, ways to get out onto the water is in a kayak and there’s a center just north of Naples city where you can rent them from two to three hours. The kayak rental place, which has received consistently exceptional reviews, provides dry boxes for your phone, life vests and paddles, all included in the fee. You can paddle up the Cocohatchee River or along the mangrove studded waterfront, looking out for resident dolphins and manatees. From $23 per person.
Manatee sightseeing eco boat tour from Naples
(Photo: Viator.com)
For a specifically wildlife-oriented boat trip, there are a number of environmentally-conscious and -friendly tours available that bring visitors closer to some of the region’s more unusual inhabitants. The gentle manatees of Florida are particularly endearing in their cumbersome manner. But keep an eye out to the vegetation and shorelines as camouflaged alligators and fascinating water birds are abundantly encountered on this 90-minute boat tour. From $44 per person.
Naples sightseeing boat tour
For first-timers to Naples, FL, the sightseeing boat tour can be one of the best ways to get familiarized with the city’s best sights from the water. On-board commentary provides useful background on the area’s history and wildlife, some of which you’ll no doubt see from the boat, including pelicans and, potentially, dolphins. You will pass the mansions of celebrities, historic buildings and plenty of natural landmarks, such as Keewaydin Island during the 90-minute cruise. Multiple tours leave daily. From $51 per person.
(Photo: Viator.com)
Gulf of Mexico sunset cruise from Naples
Between light and dark you’ll discover the day’s most romantic hours for a Gulf of Mexico cruise. At sunset every day, there’s a 90-minute tour departing from Tin City, the upmarket shopping district, past historic buildings and the mansions of millionaires before hitting the open seas. From here you will get the best view back towards shore as the sun sets and, if you’re lucky, you may even spot a manatee or dolphin to crown the experience. From $55 per person.
Private sunset boat trip of Naples Bay
If the idea of a shared and guided boat tour does not appeal to you, then there is the option of this excellent private charter available from late February until November each year. For a set group fee, you and up to four other people in your group can head out into the Gulf of Mexico for two and a half hours, stopping to swim at secluded spots or even reaching the shell-covered beaches of Ten Thousand Island, returning to Naples after sunset. From $325 per group.