Catalog leader
★ 4.8 (228)2 hoursfrom $47
Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
Tybee Island & Savannah Dolphin Tours
The dolphins live here all year. Your real choice is a coastal dock, a downtown pickup, or a private boat—and how much of the day you want to spend afloat.
Written by Alex H., Travel editor and researcherUpdated September 2026
In short: With a car, take a two-hour cruise from the coast. Without one, choose the Tybee day trip with transport. No captain can promise a sighting, and responsible boats keep their distance. The catalog leader is Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise (4.8★ from 228 reviews, from $47).
The bottlenose dolphins off Tybee live here year-round. In the tidal creeks they sometimes strand-feed, herding fish onto a mud bank and following them into the shallows. A marsh cruise is looking for that behavior, not staging it. You may also pass Cockspur Island Lighthouse, a small brick tower best seen from the water because its islet is closed to visitors.
No captain can promise a sighting. NOAA guidance calls for at least 50 yards between boat and dolphin, slow speed nearby and no pursuit or feeding. The useful choice is therefore not "which boat guarantees dolphins?" but "which dock fits the day?" Drive out for a two-hour coastal cruise, book the transport-included Tybee trip, or pay for a private boat. Fort Pulaski admission is separate from every one of them.
Pick the dock before the departure
The day trip with transport
A 5.5-hour outing from downtown with the ride to Tybee, a lunch stop, dolphin cruise and photo stops. Most of the day is on land; read the exclusions before booking.
Best for: No car, a first look at Tybee
Two-hour eco cruises
Drive to Wilmington Island or the Tybee causeway for two hours in the tidal creeks. These trips put the largest share of your ticket on the water.
Best for: Wildlife, families with a car, a beach day
The sunset cruise
Two narrated hours on the Savannah River, returning in the last light. Book it for dusk and treat dolphins as a bonus.
Best for: Couples, photographers, a second evening
The tiki boat
A 90-minute social cruise off Tybee with dolphin spotting and local narration. Drinks and transport cost extra.
Best for: Groups, a shorter boat ride
Tybee and Savannah dolphin trips compared
Current catalog prices, ratings and review counts. The private charter price covers the boat, not each passenger.
| Tour | Duration | Price | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise Catalog leader | 2 hours | $47 | ★ 4.8(228) | Check dates |
 Tybee Island Dolphin Tour | 5.5 hours | $80 | ★ 4.7(381) | Check dates |
 Sunset Dolphin Watching Eco Tour by Boat | 2 hours | $53 | ★ 4.8(63) | Check dates |
 Dolphin Spotting Eco Tour with Experienced Captain | 2 hours | $75 | ★ 5.0(18) | Check dates |
 Tybee Island: Tiki Boat Sightseeing Cruise | 1.5 hours | $47 | ★ 4.7(20) | Check dates |
Read the trip details first
Price, duration, tradeoffs and booking link:
How the ranking works
No operator pays for position. Ratings are weighted by review volume, because a 4.7 from a thousand guests tells you more than a 5.0 from three. Prices come from the current catalog and can change at checkout.
Dock and transport decide more than the logo on the boat. The downtown day trip solves the drive; coastal cruises put more of the ticket on the water; private pricing only makes sense after you divide by the group.
Six trips, six sets of exclusions
Compare where each leaves and what it omits. Captain Derek's and Captain Mike's also run local dolphin boats but are not bookable through this catalog.
| Departure | What the trip is | Not included | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Savannah, by trolley or bus | A 5.5-hour day trip to Tybee: the ride out, a lunch stop, the dolphin cruise and ocean-view photo stops; free cancellation | Fort Pulaski or lighthouse admission, beach time, gratuities; whether lunch is in the fare shows at checkout | Tybee Island Dolphin Tour (from $80 · 5.5 hours · ★4.7 (381)) |
| The marsh side, with your own car | A two-hour dolphin-spotting and wildlife eco cruise through the tidal creeks | Transport; no free-cancellation badge, so read the cancellation window at checkout before you pay | Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise (from $47 · 2 hours · ★4.8 (228)) |
| The Savannah River at sunset | A two-hour narrated sunset dolphin-watching eco trip, sailing back to port as the sun goes down; free cancellation | Transport, food; the dock is on your confirmation | Sunset Dolphin Watching Eco Tour by Boat (from $53 · 2 hours · ★4.8 (63)) |
| Off Tybee, by tiki boat | A 90-minute tiki-boat cruise off the island with dolphin spotting and the captain's narration; free cancellation | Transport, drinks | Tybee Island: Tiki Boat Sightseeing Cruise (from $47 · 1.5 hours · ★4.7 (20)) |
| The coast, with a captain's narration | A two-hour eco tour on the nature, history and culture of the coast; bookings close ten hours before departure; free cancellation | Transport | Dolphin Spotting Eco Tour with Experienced Captain (from $75 · 2 hours · ★5.0 (18)) |
| The marsh, private | A 2.5-hour private trip for up to four people; the price is for the boat; bookings close ten hours before departure | Everything beyond the boat | Private dolphin tours in the amazing Savannah Marsh ($395 per group · 2.5 hours · ★5.0 (1)) |
Prices, durations and ratings are the catalog's as of September 1, 2026. The private charter's total is never a per-person price.
Every current dolphin trip
6 tours in this category.
★ 4.8 (63)2 hoursfrom $53
Sunset Dolphin Watching Eco Tour by Boat
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 5.0 (18)2 hoursfrom $75
Dolphin Spotting Eco Tour with Experienced Captain
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 4.7 (20)1.5 hoursfrom $47
Tybee Island: Tiki Boat Sightseeing Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 5.0 (1)2.5 hours$395 / group of 4
Private dolphin tours in the amazing Savannah Marsh
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
Which dolphin trip fits?
Best for couples
Take sunset for two hours of narration and last light. A group of four can compare it with the private marsh charter.
Best for families
With a car, cruise in the morning and visit the Marine Science Center or beach after. Without one, the day trip handles transport.
Best for wildlife
Choose the marsh eco cruise. Bring binoculars: responsible boats hold 50 yards off and never chase.
Best without a car
The 5.5-hour day trip is the only option with transport from Savannah. Know that most of those hours are not on the boat.
Best for four
The private charter prices the boat for up to four people. With fewer passengers, a per-person eco cruise usually costs less.
Best value
Drive out for the two-hour wildlife cruise. You pay for time on the water instead of a bus ride and photo stops.
Before you leave shore
Book by the cutoff
Some eco and private trips close ten hours before departure. Cancellation windows vary, so check the exact listing after looking at the forecast.
Find the right dock
Lazaretto Creek is on US-80 before Tybee; other marsh boats leave from Wilmington Island. Your confirmation—not the tour title—settles the address.
Park before the island
The public Lazaretto ramp has free paved parking. Tybee parking itself costs $4 an hour or $25 a day.
Bring distance tools
Pack water, sun protection and binoculars or a long lens. Add a layer at sunset; never bring food for the dolphins.
Tip the crew
Bring cash for the captain and mate. On the day trip, the driver is a separate person to thank.
Let the captain call it
Read the Tybee forecast and tide prediction the night before. The operator makes the final sailing decision on the day.
Give the dolphins room
Responsible boats stay at least 50 yards away, move slowly and never pursue. Feeding, touching or swimming with wild dolphins is illegal. Bring water and sun protection; let the captain make the weather call.
Questions before you book
Which dolphin tour should I choose?
With a car, choose the two-hour wildlife cruise and spend the ticket on water time. Without a car, the 5.5-hour Tybee day trip is the only option with transport from Savannah.
What month is best for dolphin watching?
Resident bottlenose dolphins live here all year, so choose by weather rather than month. Summer is hot and stormy; shrimp boats work the sounds from roughly June to mid-January.
How much does a dolphin tour cost?
Current prices are $47 for the two-hour eco cruise, $53 for sunset, $47 for the tiki boat and $80 for the day trip. The private charter is $395 for the boat, not per person.
Can you see dolphins in Savannah itself?
Yes. Resident dolphins use the brackish tidal rivers, and some trips sail from the Savannah River rather than Tybee.
Are dolphin sightings guaranteed?
No. NOAA guidance keeps boats at least 50 yards away, limits viewing time and bars pursuit; “dolphin tour” describes the habitat, not a promise.
How far is Tybee, and where do I park?
Tybee is 17.5 miles from the Historic District by US-80. Lazaretto Creek has free paved parking before the island; Tybee parking is $4 an hour or $25 a day.
Which tour includes transport from Savannah?
The Tybee Island Dolphin Tour. Its 5.5 hours include the drive, lunch stop, cruise and photo stops; most of that time is on land, and exclusions appear at checkout.
Is the private charter worth it?
Usually only with four passengers. Divide the $395 boat price by your group before comparing it with per-person eco cruises.
What else might the boat pass?
Causeway trips can pass Cockspur Island Lighthouse, Fort Pulaski and working shrimp boats. The lighthouse is meant to be seen from the water; its islet is closed to visitors.
What should I bring?
Water, sun protection, binoculars or a long lens, and cash for the crew. Bring a layer at sunset and nothing to feed the dolphins.
What happens if the weather turns?
The operator decides on the day. Read the coastal forecast and tides the night before, then check the cancellation cutoff on your listing.
What can I do after the boat?
Pair a morning cruise with the Tybee beach, the Marine Science Center or Fort Pulaski on the drive back. Check current hours before setting the order.
Primary sources
Checked September 1, 2026. Schedules, fees and policies can change, so recheck a linked source when the detail will affect your visit.
- GetYourGuide: Savannah activities — current catalog fields
- NOAA Fisheries: common bottlenose dolphin — size, lifespan, habitat, 50 yards and 30 minutes
- NOAA Fisheries: marine life viewing guidelines — distance, no feeding, no-wake, never pursue
- NOAA Fisheries: protect wild dolphins, admire them from a distance — why feeding harms; penalties
- NOAA Fisheries: bottlenose dolphin conservation and management — depleted coastal stock; enforcement hotline
- NOAA Fisheries: Marine Mammal Protection Act — 1972 act; definition of harassment
- NOAA Southeast: marine mammal and sea turtle viewing guidelines (PDF) — engine in neutral if approached
- Georgia DNR: State Wildlife Action Plan, mammals technical report (PDF) — year-round residents; stock sizes
- Georgia DNR: 2026 food shrimp season opens — June 9, 2026
- Georgia DNR: shrimp season extended to January 15, 2026 — when the shrimp boats stop
- Georgia DNR: Lazaretto Creek boat ramp — triple-lane ramp, courtesy dock, no fee
- Tybee Island Marine Science Center: mammals — strand feeding
- Tybee Island Marine Science Center — hours and admission
- National Park Service: Cockspur Island Lighthouse — 1837–39 tower; 1854 hurricane; 1855 rebuild
- National Park Service: Cockspur Island Lighthouse closed to the public — view it from the water
- National Park Service: Fort Pulaski fees — $10, seven days, under 16 free
- Visit Tybee: getting here — 17.5 miles by US-80
- City of Tybee Island: parking services — $4 an hour on the island
- National Weather Service: Tybee forecast — day-of conditions
- NOAA tide predictions — official station predictions
Make the boat the anchor of the Tybee day
Cruise in the morning, then use the Tybee guide for the beach or stop at Fort Pulaski on the drive back. The parking guide covers island rates; the boat guide covers downtown alternatives.
Catalog leader
Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise
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