Evening Cruise, Refreshments
Spongeorama Cruise Lines runs this two-hour evening dolphin cruise from $29 per person, with free cancellation.
Check availability
Tarpon Springs Boat Tours: Dolphin Cruises, Kayaks And Prices
Twelve Tarpon Springs boat tours compared side by side: dolphin and sunset cruises, sponge diving boats, kayak eco tours and fishing charters.
- $21lowest per-person from-price on the roster
- 132Reviews on the Tarpon Springs dolphin cruise listing · rated 4.7
- 297Reviews on the busiest kayak listing · Manatee Season Clear Kayak Tour, rated 4.9
Manatee Season Clear Kayak Tour of Tarpon Springs
Clear-bottom kayaks timed to manatee season
from $69 per person
Check Price & Availability →Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site.
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Get Up And Go Kayaking - Tampa Bay
Tarpon Springs Boat Tours By The Numbers
$29
Evening dolphin cruise from-price (USD) · Spongeorama Cruise Lines, per person, about 2 hours
$54 to $69
Kayak tour from-price (USD) · River Wild guided kayak $54, clear kayak tours $63 and $69, per person
3 miles
Distance from the coast to Anclote Key · Florida State Parks: reachable only by private boat or ferry
11,773 acres
Anclote Key Preserve State Park · four islands, at least 43 bird species, no park fee
1887
Anclote Key Lighthouse built · Florida State Parks; the park page still lists the lighthouse as closed after storm damage, so it is a view from the water
4
Ferry providers to Anclote Key from the Sponge Docks · Island Paradise Charters, Parrotdise Express, Odyssey Cruises and Spongeorama's Cruise Lines, as listed by Florida State Parks
1905
Greek sponge divers arrive in Tarpon Springs · John Cocoris recruited the first divers from Greece
June 1 to November 30
Atlantic hurricane season · NOAA National Hurricane Center; includes the Gulf
Tarpon Springs Boat Tours By Trip Type
Dolphin And Sunset Cruises
Shelling Adventure, Island Landing
Odyssey Cruises runs this two-hour dolphin and shelling adventure island cruise, combining dolphin watching with time to collect shells, from $27.99 per adult.
Check availability
Sunset Cruise, 2 Hours
Odyssey Cruises runs a two-hour sunset cruise out of Tarpon Springs, priced from $27.99 per adult.
Check availabilitySponge Diving Boats
St. Nicholas Sponge Diving Demo
St. Nicholas Boat Line stages a sponge diving exhibition on the water, running 45 to 90 minutes from $21 per adult.
Check availabilityKayak Eco Tours
Manatee Season Clear Kayak
Get Up And Go Kayaking runs this two-hour manatee season clear kayak tour, rated 4.9 across 297 reviews, from $69 per person.
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Clear Kayak, Sponge Docks Route
A two-hour clear kayak tour of the Sponge Docks and mangroves, rated 5 stars.
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Guided Eco Paddle, 2 Hours
This two-hour guided kayak eco tour with River Wild Kayaking explores the waters around Tarpon Springs, rated 4.9 across 88 reviews, priced from $54 per person, with free cancellation if plans change.
Check availabilityFishing Charters
Private Charter, 6 Hours
A six-hour private fishing charter with Marine Zone Fishing, from $750 per group.
Check availability
Private Charter, Full Day
An eight-hour full day private fishing charter with Marine Zone Fishing, from $950 for a group of up to four people.
Check availabilityNarrow The Tarpon Springs Boat Tours List To Your Trip
Showing three of the best-reviewed tours as a starting shortlist. Tap an answer below to rebuild it.
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| Tour | Length | Meets | From | Rating | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manatee Season Clear KayakGet Up And Go Kayaking - Tampa Bay | 2 hours | Belle Harbour Marina (clear kayak launch) | $69 | ★ 4.9297 reviews | Check availability |
| Evening Cruise, RefreshmentsSpongeorama Cruise Lines | 2 hours | Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) | $29 | ★ 4.7132 reviews | Check availability |
| Clear Kayak, Sponge Docks RouteGet Up And Go Kayaking - Tampa Bay | 2 hours | Belle Harbour Marina (clear kayak launch) | $69 | ★ 5.0106 reviews | Check availability |
| Guided Eco Paddle, 2 HoursRiver Wild Kayaking | 2 hours | River Wild Kayaking launch (N Pinellas Ave) | $54 | ★ 4.988 reviews | Check availability |
| Manatee and History Paddle, 2.5 HoursRiver Wild Kayaking | 2 hours 30 minutes | River Wild Kayaking launch (N Pinellas Ave) | $66.34 | ★ 4.829 reviews | Check availability |
| Tandem Kayak, 2 PeopleRiver Wild Kayaking | 2 hours | River Wild Kayaking launch (N Pinellas Ave) | $110 | ★ 5.04 reviews | Check availability |
| Clear Kayak, Free CancellationGet Up and Go Kayaking - Tarpon Springs | 2 hours | Belle Harbour Marina (clear kayak launch) | $63 | ★ 5.03 reviews | Check availability |
| Private Charter, 6 HoursMarine Zone Fishing | 6 hours | Anclote River Park boat dock (fishing charters) | $750 | 1 reviews | Check availability |
| Private Charter, Full DayMarine Zone Fishing | 8 hours | Anclote River Park boat dock (fishing charters) | $950 | No reviews yet | Check availability |
| Shelling Adventure, Island LandingOdyssey Cruises | 2 hours | Odyssey Cruises dock (Sponge Docks) | $27.99 | No reviews yet | Check availability |
| Sunset Cruise, 2 HoursOdyssey Cruises | 2 hours | Odyssey Cruises dock (Sponge Docks) | $27.99 | No reviews yet | Check availability |
| St. Nicholas Sponge Diving DemoSt. Nicholas Boat Line | 45 to 60 minutes, or 60 to 90 minutes | St. Nicholas Boat Line ticket booth (Sponge Docks) | $21 | No reviews yet | Check availability |
| Nothing matches those filters. Clear the duration setting or try another category and all 12 tours come back. | |||||
Best Month For Tarpon Springs Boat Tours
Mean Rainfall (in)
Gulf Water Temp59.867.669.876.982.885.987.888.885.280.371.568.7
Winter Manatee Kayak SeasonOpenOpenOpenOpenOpen
Atlantic Hurricane SeasonIn SeasonIn SeasonIn SeasonIn SeasonIn SeasonIn Season
- Under 3 in
- 3 to 6 in
- 6 to 8 in
- Over 8 in
- Not named
- This month
January
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 69.3 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 50.7 Gulf Water Temp (F): 59.8 Mean Rainfall (in): 3.03 Winter Manatee Kayak Season: Open Atlantic Hurricane Season: Off Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 59.8
February
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 72.0 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 53.8 Gulf Water Temp (F): 67.6 Mean Rainfall (in): 2.51 Winter Manatee Kayak Season: Open Atlantic Hurricane Season: Off Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 67.6
March
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 76.0 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 57.6 Gulf Water Temp (F): 69.8 Mean Rainfall (in): 3.08 Winter Manatee Kayak Season: Open Atlantic Hurricane Season: Off Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 69.8
April
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 81.1 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 63.2 Gulf Water Temp (F): 76.9 Mean Rainfall (in): 2.69 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Off Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 76.9
May
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 86.2 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 69.1 Gulf Water Temp (F): 82.8 Mean Rainfall (in): 2.35 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Off Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 82.8
June
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 89.7 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 74.4 Gulf Water Temp (F): 85.9 Mean Rainfall (in): 7.06 Atlantic Hurricane Season: In Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 85.9
July
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 90.6 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 75.6 Gulf Water Temp (F): 87.8 Mean Rainfall (in): 9.05 Atlantic Hurricane Season: In Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 87.8
August
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 90.8 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 75.7 Gulf Water Temp (F): 88.8 Mean Rainfall (in): 9.66 Atlantic Hurricane Season: In Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 88.8
September
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 88.9 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 73.6 Gulf Water Temp (F): 85.2 Mean Rainfall (in): 7.03 Atlantic Hurricane Season: In Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 85.2
October
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 83.8 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 67.3 Gulf Water Temp (F): 80.3 Mean Rainfall (in): 3.19 Atlantic Hurricane Season: In Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 80.3
November
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 76.3 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 58.6 Gulf Water Temp (F): 71.5 Mean Rainfall (in): 1.90 Winter Manatee Kayak Season: Open Atlantic Hurricane Season: In Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 71.5
December
Mean Max Air Temp (F): 71.4 Mean Min Air Temp (F): 53.5 Gulf Water Temp (F): 68.7 Mean Rainfall (in): 2.74 Winter Manatee Kayak Season: Open Atlantic Hurricane Season: Off Season
Gulf Water Temp (F): 68.7
Open the month by month table
| Month | Mean Max Air Temp (F) | Mean Min Air Temp (F) | Gulf Water Temp (F) | Mean Rainfall (in) | Winter Manatee Kayak Season | Atlantic Hurricane Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 69.3 | 50.7 | 59.8 | 3.03 | Open | Off Season |
| February | 72.0 | 53.8 | 67.6 | 2.51 | Open | Off Season |
| March | 76.0 | 57.6 | 69.8 | 3.08 | Open | Off Season |
| April | 81.1 | 63.2 | 76.9 | 2.69 | Off Season | |
| May | 86.2 | 69.1 | 82.8 | 2.35 | Off Season | |
| June | 89.7 | 74.4 | 85.9 | 7.06 | In Season | |
| July | 90.6 | 75.6 | 87.8 | 9.05 | In Season | |
| August | 90.8 | 75.7 | 88.8 | 9.66 | In Season | |
| September | 88.9 | 73.6 | 85.2 | 7.03 | In Season | |
| October | 83.8 | 67.3 | 80.3 | 3.19 | In Season | |
| November | 76.3 | 58.6 | 71.5 | 1.90 | Open | In Season |
| December | 71.4 | 53.5 | 68.7 | 2.74 | Open | Off Season |
Dolphin Cruise, Kayak Or Sponge Boat: Which One Fits?
| Evening Dolphin Cruise | Clear Kayak Eco Tour | Guided Kayak Eco Tour | Fishing Charter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical from-price (USD) | $29 per person | $63 to $69 per person | $54 to $66.34 per person ($110 for two on the tandem) | $750 for 6 hours or $950 for 8 hours, per group of up to 4 |
| How long | 2 hours | 2 hours | 2 to 2.5 hours | 6 to 8 hours |
| Where it starts | 512 Dodecanese Blvd, Sponge Docks | Belle Harbour Marina, 307 Anclote Rd | 1060 N Pinellas Ave, next to The Bridge Lounge | Anclote River Park, 1119 Baillies Bluff Rd |
| Wildlife the listing names | Dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, birds; shelling stop on Anclote Key | Manatees in season (the listing runs November to March), mangroves, sponge docks | Manatee and history variant; wildlife depends on the day | Not stated in the listing |
| Rating and reviews | 4.7 from 132 | 4.9 from 297 and 5.0 from 106; 5.0 from 3 | 4.9 from 88 and 4.8 from 29 | 6-hour listing has 1 review; the 8-hour has none |
| Listing says | Free cancellation, so you can rebook; the listing shows "Likely to sell out" | Free cancellation; dry bags included | Kayak, paddle and life jacket included; snacks not | Bottled water included; meals not |
Where Tarpon Springs Boat Tours Leave From
Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.
Map tiles and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Departure Docks
- Manatee Season Clear Kayakfrom $69
- Evening Cruise, Refreshmentsfrom $29
- Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks)Departure Docks
- Belle Harbour Marina (clear kayak launch)Departure Docks · 620 m from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- River Wild Kayaking launch (N Pinellas Ave)Departure Docks · 210 m from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Anclote River Park boat dock (fishing charters)Departure Docks · 3.2 km from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Odyssey Cruises dock (Sponge Docks)Departure Docks · 310 m from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- St. Nicholas Boat Line ticket booth (Sponge Docks)Departure Docks · 140 m from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Anclote Key Preserve State Park and LighthouseIslands And Beaches · 8.5 km from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Fred Howard ParkIslands And Beaches · 3.3 km from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Honeymoon Island State Park (Caladesi ferry)Islands And Beaches · 12 km from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Caladesi Island State ParkIslands And Beaches · 15 km from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Historic Sponge Docks, Dodecanese BoulevardSights · 430 m from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- St Nicholas Greek Orthodox CathedralSights · 990 m from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Spring Bayou (Epiphany cross dive)Sights · 930 m from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Craig ParkSights · 1.0 km from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
- Tarpon Springs Historical Train Depot MuseumSights · 1.1 km from Spongeorama Cruise Lines dock (Sponge Docks) in a straight line
What Guests Say About Tarpon Springs Boat Tours
Reviews are shown verbatim from each listing's own booking platform and are not independently verified beyond what the platform publishes.
“Cami was such a great guide! I will highly recommend this tour to my friends. We saw at least 10 manatees. Amazing!”
“Raven was very friendly and informative.”
“The kayak trip was awesome!!! Julie the guide was informative and interesting. We saw tons of manatee learned a lot about the area.”
“Great time. Great value. We really enjoyed our dinner login cruise. We saw dolphins which is always a treat. I really enjoyed our guides. They were informative and funny.”
Where To Stay Near The Sponge Docks
Hampton Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs
39284 US Highway 19 N, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
$107-$156
Check ratesTarpon Shores Inn
40346 US Hwy 19 N, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
$89-$99
Check ratesQuality Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs South
38724 US Highway 19 N, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
$85-$113
Check ratesTarpon Springs Boat Tours FAQ
Can a Tarpon Springs Cruise Promise You Dolphins?
No operator here can promise dolphins on any single trip, since wild animals move on their own feeding schedules. Bottlenose dolphins live in these Gulf waters year round, and Tarpon Springs boats encounter them often enough that several dolphin cruises run daily.
How long do the dolphin cruises and kayak tours run?
Cruises run two hours, and sponge diving demos run 45 to 90 minutes. Kayak tours last two to 2.5 hours, and charters run six or eight hours.
When Is the Best Time to Spot Dolphins Here?
Bottlenose dolphins live in the waters around Tarpon Springs all year, so no single season is required. Operators report sightings on most cruises, with calm mornings and the hour around sunset often productive near the Anclote River mouth.
Where Do the Cruises Depart From?
Most cruises leave from the Sponge Docks. Kayak and fishing trips use other launches, so check the meeting point on the listing.
What separates a sponge diving cruise from a kayak eco tour?
The sponge diving cruise is a short narrated Anclote River run from $21 per adult, with a live diver demo on select departures. Kayak eco tours run 2 to 2.5 hours from $54 per person and paddle at water level through the mangroves instead.
Can I Cancel or Change a Booking?
Free cancellation applies only to the evening dolphin cruise, the kayak eco tours and both fishing charters, with cutoffs that differ by listing. The Odyssey island cruise refunds nothing inside 24 hours, and the St. Nicholas sponge diving cruise lists no free cancellation, so confirm the ticket terms before you pay.
Tarpon Springs Boat Tours, Answered
Guides
- Anclote Key Trips
- Best Time To Visit
- Caladesi Ferry Guide
- Clear Kayak Tours
- Dolphin Cruise Guide
- Epiphany Cross Dive
- Fishing Charters
- Free Things To Do
- Manatees In Tarpon Springs
- Parking And Boarding
- Sponge Diving Boat Tours
- Sponge Docks Visit
- Sunset Cruises
- Things To Do
- Tour Prices
- Tours Compared
- Weather And Cancellations
- Where To Stay