Board the Pellicano at Vilano Beach Pier for a calm, narrated two-hour cruise through St. Augustine’s Intracoastal — dolphins, historic landmarks, and coastal ecology in easy reach. Learn the history and spot wildlife while onboard comforts and accessibility make this tour suitable for most travelers.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step onto the Pellicano at Vilano Beach Pier and the harbor air immediately changes — salt and warm varnish, gull calls, the slow clack of rigging. The boat slips south along the Intracoastal Waterway, skimming past mangrove-edged Salt Run and the inlet that guards St. Augustine's harbor. Dolphins appear with the ease of local commuters, arcing in tight groups and making the crew laugh; pelicans hover and osprey quarter the water like patient sentries.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
2 hours
Fitness Level
Minimal fitness required; suitable for most adults and children when accompanied.
Wildlife
History
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental U.S.; its harbor and coquina stone (used on Castillo de San Marcos) shaped colonial and 19th-century development under figures like Henry Flagler.
Conservation
The Intracoastal’s marshes and mangroves are critical nursery habitats; avoid feeding or disturbing wildlife and follow guidance to minimize wake and shoreline erosion.
Reserve your spot on the Red Boat Tours - Dolphin Odyssey and Sightseeing Tour today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Bring binoculars
Compact binoculars make it easier to spot dolphins, osprey nests, and distant landmarks when you’re seated on the deck.
Dress in layers
It’s often cooler on the water; a lightweight windbreaker or fleece is useful even on warm days.
Sun protection
Use reef-safe sunscreen and a brimmed hat — reflected sunlight from the water intensifies UV exposure.
Plan for morning or evening
Wildlife is most active near sunrise and late afternoon, and light is best for photos during these windows.
Binoculars
Helps pick out dolphins, manatees and birdlife at a distance.
Sunscreen (reef-safe)
Protects against reflected UV while cruising in open sunlight.
summer
Light windbreaker or fleece
Keeps you comfortable during cooler mornings and breezy afternoons.
spring
Waterproof phone case or camera
Protects electronics from spray and lets you photograph wildlife safely.