Summer vacation is in full swing, and Hilton Head Island has tons of activities for families of all ages to enjoy. The best way to spend quality time together while avoiding the oppressive heat is by exploring the waters of Hilton Head on a boat tour. With so many tour options, you can find boat tours tailored to kids, tours that give you a front-row seat to fireworks, or tours that get you up close and personal with dolphins. There’s something thrilling for the entire family to experience when you pick one of our favorite Hilton Head boat tours.
Mini Boat Tours
Lowcountry Watersports is the ONLY company offering Mini Boat tours! Experience the fun of driving your own Mini Boat as you follow our trained guides! Considered one of the best boat tours on Hilton Head, you get to drive your own mini boat to see more sights than any other tour. They offer three different tours:
- Dolphin Tour
- Disappearing Island Tour
- Sunset Tour
Tours start with a slow cruise out the Broad Creek also known as Dolphin Alley to catch a glimpse of local celebrity dolphins, such as Moochie, Pickles, Lucky, and Frank. To drive a Mini-Boat, you must be 21 or older, but everyone can ride as they are safe and fun for the whole family.
Pirate Ship Tour
For families with kids aged 2-10, swashbuckling fun and merriment await your pint-sized sailors at the Pirates of Hilton Head! Young buccaneers and adventurous mates will sail the ocean blue with the crew of the Black Sparrow for about an hour and a half. Our legendary pirate crew will teach the little scallywags how to talk like a real pirate crew and deck them out in eye patches and tricorn hats before showing them how to march in style so they can showcase their swashbuckling flair. This fun and interactive pirate cruise includes face painting, a treasure hunt, and even a water cannon fight with Stinky Pete!
Vagabond Sunset Cruises
Join Vagabond Cruise for a breathtaking sunset experience on one of their many stunning vessels. Their sunset cruises cater to families or couples seeking a romantic evening on Hilton Head Island, or anyone who just wants to unwind on the water. Witness a magnificent Hilton Head sunset, spot some dolphins, and savor a delectable dinner when you reserve one of their sunset cruises:
- Sunset Dolphin Cruise
- Sunset Dinner Cruise
- Private Sunset Cruise
- Sunset Sail
- Sunset Shrimp Trawl
- Fireworks Sunset Cruise
Guaranteed Dolphin Tours
Don’t get stuffed like a sardine on one of the bigger dolphin tour companies on Hilton Head. While they do have options for larger groups, Dolphin Discoveries limits most of their tours to just six people, so everyone on board has plenty of room to get the best view of the dolphins. Unlike the big “head boats” that take up to 40 people at a time, they keep tour numbers small, so you have a better chance of seeing all the aquatic wildlife up close. Here are some of the “guaranteed dolphin tours” they currently offer:
- Guaranteed Dolphin Tours Private & Shared Boats
- Incredible Sunset w/ Guaranteed Dolphin Tour
- Family Shell Hunting & Guaranteed Dolphin Tour
- Fireworks & Guaranteed Dolphin Tour
Hilton Head Fireworks Cruise
If you thought boat cruises were fun, just wait until we add fireworks! From June 22nd to August 17th, you can see Shelter Cove’s Harbourfest fireworks every Tuesday on a two-hour Hilton Head Fireworks Cruise. It’s more than just a Hilton Head firework cruise, as you’ll also see a variety of local wildlife, spot a bottlenose dolphin or two, and catch a glimpse of the stunning harbors and mansions that offer glittering lights at night here in Hilton Head. A fireworks cruise takes you to all the perfect viewing points, is safe and suitable for all ages, and best of all? You get to avoid the traffic and chaos!
Your Hilton Head boat tour adventures are waiting! Book your summer stay before school starts and get ready to live like a local