Six Hour Private Shelling Tour

Explore uninhabited islands during a six-hour shelling tour. Guided by an expert, search for diverse shells while learning about marine life and sustainable practices. Enjoy refreshments aboard a comfortable boat with restroom facilities.

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Safety Briefing Included

Experienced Crew Support

Quality Gear & Vessels

Private charters
Up to 6 guests
$1,150

Overview

This activity lasts for approximately six hours5+Group size Our shared tours are limited to a maximum of 6 guests per boat, ensuring a personalized and intimate experience.

6-Hour Private Shelling Adventure with Dedicated Shell Guide

Experience the ultimate private shelling tour with Treasure Seekers Shell Tours in the waters of Marco Island and Goodland, Florida.

  • Exclusive Experience – Enjoy the entire boat to yourselves and choose which islands to explore, making this the ultimate personalized shelling adventure.
  • Dedicated Shell Guide – Your private guide stays with you throughout the tour, helping you identify shells, share fascinating facts about marine life, and provide tips to enhance your shelling experience.
  • Extended Exploration – With 6 hours on the water, visit multiple islands, explore hidden coves, and maximize your time discovering rare and beautiful shells.
  • Eco-Friendly Practices – We follow responsible and sustainable practices, collecting only empty shells and preserving the fragile habitats of the Ten Thousand Islands.
  • Memorable Adventure – Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Southwest Florida, enjoy a relaxing boat ride, and create lasting memories with your family or friends.

What’s Included

  • Dedicated Private Guide: Personalized shell identification & local ecological insights from a Master Naturalist guide.
  • Exclusive Boat Charter: Private access to a clean 25-foot Sea Pro bay boat for up to 6 guests with no outside parties
  • Onboard Restroom & Amenities: Features a fully enclosed marine restroom, freshwater washdown, and covered shade T-top
  • Ice & Water Provided: Large cooler stocked with complimentary bottled water and ice, plus room for your food and drinks.
  • Remote Island Access: Navigation to secluded, boat-only barrier islands and sandbars in the Ten Thousand Islands.
  • Tailored 6-Hour Itinerary: Customizable island stops and beachcombing time tailored entirely to your group's pace.

What to Bring

  • Sturdy Water Shoes: Closed-toe water shoes or neoprene booties required for walking on sharp shells & mud flats.
  • Shelling Bags & Gear: Bring mesh bags, buckets, or sand scoops for collecting empty shells.
  • Sun Protection: Pack a hat, polarized sunglasses, and lotion sunscreen. Aerosol spray sunscreen is prohibited on board.
  • Food, Lunch & Drinks: Pack lunch, snacks, and personal drinks for 6 hours on the water. Ice and bottled water are provided.
  • Credit Card for Parking: A $10 daily parking fee is required at the Goodland Boat Park kiosk (payable by credit card).
  • Weather Layers & Protection: Bring a waterproof phone pouch, optional bug spray, and a light jacket during cooler months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of booking a 6-hour private shelling tour versus a shared shelling excursion? +−

Booking a 6-hour private shelling tour gives your group (up to 6 guests) complete exclusivity of the boat, captain, and daily schedule. Unlike shared tours, a private charter allows you to customize your 4 to 5 hours of beachcombing time based on your group’s specific interests—whether that means spending extra time on a remote tidal flat, focusing on specific shell species, or adjusting the pace for kids or seniors. You receive dedicated, one-on-one assistance from your Florida Master Naturalist guide throughout the day. Your group also enjoys full access to our modern 25-foot Sea Pro bay boat, complete with an enclosed marine restroom, freshwater washdown, and private cooler space stocked with complimentary ice and bottled water.

What should our private group pack for a full-day 6-hour shelling trip in the Ten Thousand Islands? +−

Because your private group will spend 4 to 5 hours on uninhabited barrier islands, proper packing ensures a great day. We require all guests to wear sturdy, closed-toe water shoes or neoprene booties to protect feet from sharp shell fragments, mud flats, and submerged rocks (flip-flops are not allowed). Bring ample sun protection, including hats, polarized sunglasses, and lotion sunscreen (aerosol sprays are prohibited on board). Bring your own mesh shelling bags, buckets, or sand scoops. We provide a large cooler stocked with ice and bottled water, but you should pack your own lunch, snacks, personal beverages, a waterproof phone pouch, and optional bug spray. A light windbreaker jacket is recommended during cooler months.

Can our private group collect live seashells or marine life during the 6-hour private shelling tour? +−

No. Treasure Seekers Shell Tours strictly enforces a 100% ethical, empty-shell collection policy on all private and shared charters. In compliance with Florida wildlife laws and federal regulations in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, living organisms must remain undisturbed. Any shell found containing a living animal—such as live Junonias, Lightning Whelks, Horse Conchs, or Tulips—must be gently returned to the water immediately. Living creatures including sand dollars, sea urchins, starfish, and horseshoe crabs are fully protected. Your captain will guide your group on how to spot and collect empty shells ethically to ensure barrier island ecosystems remain vibrant for years to come.

What happens if weather conditions become severe on the day of our 6-hour private shelling charter? +−

Guest safety is our top priority. Private charters operate rain or shine during mild weather, but all departures are contingent on safe marine and wind conditions in the Ten Thousand Islands. If your captain determines prior to departure that severe lightning, heavy squalls, or dangerous seas make conditions unsafe, your private tour will be rescheduled or 100% refunded. Because this is a 6-hour excursion, your captain continuously monitors real-time weather radar on the water. If inclement weather approaches while your group is exploring an island, your captain will safely gather everyone and return early to Goodland Boat Park to ensure full passenger safety.

How does tide timing impact our 6-hour private shelling itinerary in Marco Island? +−

Because low tide exposes the expansive tidal flats, oyster bars, and outer sandbars of the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, your captain strategically plans island stops around the day’s specific tidal windows. On a 6-hour private charter, you have the flexibility to align your beach arrival with peak low tide for optimal shell exposure, then transition to exploring mangrove channels, hidden lagoons, or secondary barrier beaches as the water returns.

What specific shells are we most likely to find on a full-day private charter in the Ten Thousand Islands? +−

Our remote barrier island destinations yield a diverse variety of Gulf species. Guests frequently find empty specimens of Florida Horse Conchs, Lightning Whelks, True Tulips, Banded Tulips, Alphabet Cones, Florida Cone Shells, Pear Whelks, Nutmegs, and Fig Shells. While rare finds like the Scaphella junonia depend on tidal movements and storm activity, spending 4 to 5 hours on uncrowded, boat-only beaches significantly increases your odds of finding intact, high-quality shells.

How do meal and snack logistics work during a full-day 6-hour island excursion? +−

There are no commercial facilities, stores, or restaurants on the uninhabited barrier islands, so guests should pack a complete lunch, snacks, and personal beverages for the day. We provide a large onboard cooler stocked with complimentary ice and bottled water, leaving plenty of room for your personal food items. Many private groups choose to enjoy a beach picnic on a secluded island or eat comfortably on board between shelling stops.

Can we customize a 6-hour private shelling trip for family members with varying physical abilities? +−

Yes. One of the biggest advantages of a private charter is that the day moves strictly at your group’s pace. Your captain can select islands with shallow, gradual drop-offs for easy wading, or choose firm sand flats that require less strenuous walking. Guests who prefer to relax can remain comfortable on board under the shaded T-top or on the beach while serious collectors venture farther down the tide line.

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