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Set sail from Naples on a 2.5-hour catamaran cruise to a private shelling beach. This easy, scenic Gulf trip pairs light sailing with a swim-to-shore shelling stop, drinks included and onboard restrooms.
Set sail from Naples on a 2.5-hour catamaran cruise to a private shelling beach. This easy, scenic Gulf trip pairs light sailing with a swim-to-shore shelling stop, drinks included and onboard restrooms.
The hull slides through green-blue Gulf water as gulls wheel overhead and the 42-foot catamaran, Cool Beans, settles on an anchor line off a low-slung barrier island. Passengers drift between shaded cockpit seating and sun-splashed nets, cold drink in hand, watching mangrove shorelines and distant sandbars edge closer. When the skipper calls the stop, the real bit of work is simple: swim the hundred or so feet to shore, feel the reef-smoothed sand underfoot, then walk the beach looking for conchs, whelks, and the odd sand-dollar.
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Operated by Cool Beans Cruises Catamaran Sailing Charters · Naples, Florida
The hull slides through green-blue Gulf water as gulls wheel overhead and the 42-foot catamaran, Cool Beans, settles on an anchor line off a low-slung barrier island. Passengers drift between shaded cockpit seating and sun-splashed nets, cold drink in hand, watching mangrove shorelines and distant sandbars edge closer. When the skipper calls the stop, the real bit of work is simple: swim the hundred or so feet to shore, feel the reef-smoothed sand underfoot, then walk the beach looking for conchs, whelks, and the odd sand-dollar.
This stretch of Southwest Florida is geologically young—sands built by longshore transport and shells from generations of mollusks. Naples and the Ten Thousand Islands have a cultural history rooted in fishing, boat-building, and seasonal tourism; boat charters became a local mainstay in the 20th century as motor and sail access opened these shores. Expect a mix of calm sailing when winds are light and authentic sailing moments when the crew trims sails and quiet motoring otherwise.
Practical guide: the trip is 2.5 hours and suits all fitness levels, but you must be able to swim and enter the water from the boat for shelling. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for rocky sand near mangroves, and a waterproof phone case for photos. Drinks including soda, water, beer and white wine are provided; gratuity is customary for larger groups. Plan morning or late-afternoon sails to avoid midday heat, and check weather—excursions cancel for rough conditions. The Cool Beans accommodates up to 20 passengers and offers onboard restrooms and floatation aids for swimmers of varying confidence.
easy.
2–3 hours.
Appropriate for most people who can swim and walk short distances on sand; not strenuous but requires basic mobility.
You should be comfortable swimming about 100 feet in calm, shallow water; life vests and floatation devices are available for less confident swimmers.
Soda, bottled water, and for adults 21+ beer and white wine are included in the tour price.
Yes—Cool Beans has onboard restroom facilities for passenger use during the 2.5-hour cruise.
The operator cancels in unsafe weather; full refunds are provided if cancellation occurs 24+ hours before departure or if the trip is canceled for weather.
Southwest Florida’s barrier islands formed over thousands of years from shell and sand deposition; local communities evolved around small-boat fishing and seasonal tourism.
Use reef-safe sunscreen, avoid collecting live animals, and follow crew instructions to minimize disturbance to nesting birds and fragile shoreline habitats.
Cool Beans Cruises Catamaran Sailing Charters operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The hull slides through green-blue Gulf water as gulls wheel overhead and the 42-foot catamaran, Cool Beans, settles on an anchor line off a low-slung barrier island. Passengers drift between shaded cockpit seating and sun-splashed nets, cold drink in hand, watching mangrove shorelines and distant sandbars edge closer. When the skipper calls the stop, the real bit of work is simple: swim the hundred or so feet to shore, feel the reef-smoothed sand underfoot, then walk the beach looking for conchs, whelks, and the odd sand-dollar.
The hull slides through green-blue Gulf water as gulls wheel overhead and the 42-foot catamaran, Cool Beans, settles on an anchor line off a low-slung barrier island. Passengers drift between shaded cockpit seating and sun-splashed nets, cold drink in hand, watching mangrove shorelines and distant sandbars edge closer. When the skipper calls the stop, the real bit of work is simple: swim the hundred or so feet to shore, feel the reef-smoothed sand underfoot, then walk the beach looking for conchs, whelks, and the odd sand-dollar.
This stretch of Southwest Florida is geologically young—sands built by longshore transport and shells from generations of mollusks. Naples and the Ten Thousand Islands have a cultural history rooted in fishing, boat-building, and seasonal tourism; boat charters became a local mainstay in the 20th century as motor and sail access opened these shores. Expect a mix of calm sailing when winds are light and authentic sailing moments when the crew trims sails and quiet motoring otherwise.
Practical guide: the trip is 2.5 hours and suits all fitness levels, but you must be able to swim and enter the water from the boat for shelling. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for rocky sand near mangroves, and a waterproof phone case for photos. Drinks including soda, water, beer and white wine are provided; gratuity is customary for larger groups. Plan morning or late-afternoon sails to avoid midday heat, and check weather—excursions cancel for rough conditions. The Cool Beans accommodates up to 20 passengers and offers onboard restrooms and floatation aids for swimmers of varying confidence.