Siesta Key is a blast no matter when you go. Music and seafood festivals, best shelling beaches, fishing, and wildlife tours, and boating excursions – there’s always something fun under the sun! However, as daylight dims over the pristine white sand beaches, you may want to take a moment to breathe and soak in the scenery. The sunset blankets the sky in rich hues of pink, blue, and orange (and occasionally even green!).
Few things are more extraordinary than a sunset dolphin cruise. In those twilight hours, you can marvel at nature’s beauty both in the sky and in the water. There is a sense of peace that comes with the experience.
Of course, there are plenty of options for dolphin tours. Whether you’re looking for a private sunset cruise or daytime group outing, Siesta Key dolphin watching is a pastime for many visitors to the area.
Charters
Looking for a relaxed ride to soak in the scenery? Hit the waves on a charter ship with an experienced captain at the helm, sit back and enjoy a nice meal and a glass of wine. Maybe you want to combine your dolphin watching with some other activities? Plenty of companies will take you on a daytime fishing charter, jetski or parasailing adventure.
Charters like Key Life, Kokomo, and Siesta Key Watersports offer a huge range of boat tours from morning to evening, including full-day tours. Go shell hunting, point of rocks snorkeling, and scuba diving while exploring the hidden gems of the Sarasota Bay region. You can easily catch an island-hopping adventure where you’ll be swimming with the dolphins.
The white sand beaches and warm Gulf Coast waters are home to many species of birds and aquatic animals. Sharks, stingrays, pelicans, eagles, and ospreys all call the Sarasota bay area home. It’s entirely likely you’ll get to see some of these other animals as the cherry on top of an excellent trip.
Canoe and Kayak Tours
If you prefer to be closer to the action you can try a kayak or canoe tour – get breathtaking views of the landscape right on the horizon. Companies like Siesta Paddlesports or Ultimate Kayak SRQ provide guided tours where you’re bound to. You can also rent equipment and paddle around at your own pace. Your Siesta Key dolphin swim will be even more memorable when you discover them for yourself.
Another great idea is to take an eco-boat tour. Mote Marine in Sarasota is just a hop, skip and a jump away. Their friendly expert staff will educate, entertain, and help you fully appreciate the breathtaking sights on your trip. You can get adult and children’s tickets for the boat ride or combine it with an Aquarium trip for a deep dive into the marine life of the area. You might even get a chance to help prepare meals and feed the sharks!
As tourism and industry in the area grow, it’s more important than ever being aware of the challenges that these majestic creatures face. Sarasota has a large population of dolphins. It’s a nesting ground where mothers come to raise their young. This is great for tourism, but that also means we all have to do our part to protect their habitats. Dolphins are smart creatures. They like the attention, but they will know to avoid humans if they feel like they’re under threat.
Plan Your Next Trip
Looking to get in on a dolphin cruise? Your trip can be dynamic and spontaneous, quiet and relaxed, or a perfect balance – the choice is yours. After you’ve taken part in the Siesta Key dolphin tours, end your sunset voyage with a walk to one of the more secluded Turtle or Crescent beaches. Then check out the restaurants, bars, music and street performers that go well into the night or hit the hay in one of our cozy, Siesta Key beach rentals.
Dolphin Eco-Tours
Taking a dolphin eco-tour is fun and empowering, especially for the people in your life who care about animals. Supporting organizations like Mote Marine helps to advance valuable research and services for animals. They rescue animals, prevent stranding and deaths, and ultimately work to preserve species and the environment so we can continue to enjoy nature’s splendor.
