Best of Casco Bay: 90-Minute RIB Tour from Portland Harbor

Portland•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

1.5 hours (90 minutes)

Fitness Level

Moderate fitness—able to board from a dock and stand for periods; stable footing recommended.

Overview

Cut loose from Portland Harbor and let a local captain thread a 14-passenger RIB through Casco Bay’s lighthouses, forts, and seal-haunted coves in 90 minutes. Fast, informative, and photo-ready—this tour hits the highlights and the quieter corners where wildlife shows best.

Best of Casco Bay: 90-Minute RIB Tour from Portland Harbor

Boat Tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The RIB skims the gray-green edge of Portland Harbor and the city unspools behind you—brick warehouses, the working waterfront, a gull that seems to decide your route. Within minutes the rhythm of the engine replaces traffic noise and Casco Bay opens: scattered granite islands, squat fort ruins, and lighthouses marking edges where tides push and backs off. On a 14-passenger rigid inflatable boat, the captain steers a line through currents that shape Maine’s coast and every passenger gets a front-row seat.

Adventure Photos

Best of Casco Bay: 90-Minute RIB Tour from Portland Harbor photo 1

Adventure Tips

Arrive early

Be at the paid lot at the end of Thames Street 15 minutes before departure; the crew meets guests by the blue picnic tables and tour flag.

Dress in wind layers

Bring a windproof jacket and warm mid-layer—offshore wind can make temps drop quickly even on sunny days.

Bring binoculars and a zoom lens

Wildlife and lighthouse details are best seen with binoculars or a telephoto lens; phones work but limited reach.

Motion-sickness precautions

If you’re prone to seasickness, take medication before boarding; the RIB’s speed and chop can be lively.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Harbor seals
Harbor porpoise

History

Casco Bay’s islands and lighthouses trace layers of maritime history from Indigenous navigation and colonial fisheries to 19th-century coastal defenses and modern lobstering.

Conservation

Respect wildlife by keeping distance from seal haul-outs and avoiding loud noise; the operator follows guidelines to minimize disturbance and prevent feeding or interacting with animals.