St. Petersburg sits where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, giving it access to an unusual range of water experiences. The downtown waterfront faces Tampa Bay, the beaches are on the barrier islands to the west, and the area between — threaded with intracoastal channels, tidal flats, and mangrove islands — is where most of the boat tour action happens.
The tours in the St. Pete area run from high-speed Tampa Bay speedboat tours to quiet kayak eco-tours into Shell Key Preserve. Here's a breakdown of what's available and what each experience is actually like.
St. Pete Beach & Tampa Bay Speedboat Tour
Tampa Speed Boat Adventures runs a speedboat tour covering St. Pete Beach and Tampa Bay — a faster, more high-energy way to see the bay than a standard boat tour. The speedboat format covers more ground and gives you views of the St. Pete skyline, the barrier islands, and the bay in a compressed timeframe.
St. Pete Beach & Tampa Bay Tour
High-speed speedboat tour covering St. Pete Beach and Tampa Bay. Covers the barrier islands, downtown St. Pete waterfront, and main bay areas. Fast and exhilarating — different from a traditional sightseeing boat. Good for people who want to see a lot of ground quickly.
Check Availability →Glass-Bottom Kayak Tours (Treasure Island / St. Pete Beach)
Sharkey's Glass Bottom Tours operates out of Treasure Island — which is just south of Madeira Beach on the barrier island chain — and runs kayak tours using clear-bottom kayaks. The tours go through mangrove tunnels and stop at a sandbar. The glass bottom gives you a continuous view of the seafloor, which in these shallow Gulf waters means sand, sea grass, small fish, and the occasional ray passing underneath.
Glass Bottom Kayak Mangrove Tunnel & Sandbar Adventure
Guided clear-bottom kayak tour through mangrove tunnels and to a local sandbar. The transparent hull lets you see the shallow seafloor below you as you paddle. Departs from Treasure Island. Good for people who want something genuinely different from a standard motorized boat tour, and for families who want a slower, more interactive experience.
**Pro tip:** Bring a [sunglasses](https://amazon.com/dp/B001234567?tag=wandertrav0c1-20) for the best experience.
Check Availability →Shell Key Preserve Tours from Gulfport
Gulfport is a small waterfront city on the south side of St. Pete, and it's the departure point for Island Boat Adventures — one of the busiest and most popular tour operators in the entire Tampa Bay area. Their tours go to Shell Key, Egmont Key, and the surrounding sandbars. The Gulfport marina is small and local, which makes the departure experience less hectic than the Madeira Beach / Johns Pass area.
Shell Key Sandbar Sunset Cruise
Evening sandbar cruise from Gulfport to the Shell Key area with a sunset return. Dolphins are frequently spotted in the channel between Gulfport and the barrier islands. The sandbar gets less traffic in the evening, making it a calmer experience than midday group tours.
Check Availability →2.5 Hour Shell Key Cruise — See Dolphins! Go Shelling!
The most popular and most affordable group tour from the Gulfport area. 2.5 hours covering the Shell Key sandbar and shelling beaches with dolphin watching en route. Consistent sightings and good value. Departs from Gulfport marina multiple times daily.
Check Availability →4 hour Egmont Key Island Tour! Snorkeling! Shelling! See Dolphins!
Full four-hour tour covering Egmont Key Island with snorkeling, shelling, and dolphin watching. Egmont Key has a lighthouse, Civil War fort, sea turtle nesting beaches, and a snorkel spot along the rock piles on the south shore. The longest and most comprehensive group tour option from Gulfport.
Check Availability →Kayak Eco Tours to Shell Key Preserve
If you're staying in St. Pete and want a quieter alternative to the motorized boat tours, kayak tours to Shell Key Preserve depart from Tierra Verde, which is about 25 minutes from downtown St. Pete. Get Up and Go Kayaking — Tampa Bay and Coastal Kayak Charters both run guided tours into the preserve. The clear-bottom kayaks that Get Up and Go uses are worth the slight premium if you want a more immersive water experience.
**Pro tip:** Bring a [waterproof bag](https://amazon.com/dp/B001234567?tag=wandertrav0c1-20) for the best experience.
Shell Key Preserve Clear Kayak Tour
Guided clear-bottom kayak tour to Shell Key Preserve from Tierra Verde. The transparent kayak hull gives you a fish-eye view of the shallow sandy bottom as you paddle through the preserve's tidal channels. Guided by a naturalist. Dolphins, manatees, and shorebirds are all common in the preserve.
Check Availability →Guided Kayak + Beach Yoga at Shell Key Preserve
Kayak tour to Shell Key Preserve combined with a beach yoga session on the preserve's sandbar. Departing from Tierra Verde — paddle in, do yoga on the beach, paddle out. Good for people who want something more active and different from a standard boat tour.
Check Availability →Anna Maria Island Parasailing (Bradenton Beach)
Anna Maria Island is about 45 minutes south of downtown St. Pete across the Sunshine Skyway area. The Sea Rocket Gulf Coast Parasail operation in Bradenton Beach offers parasailing with views of the Gulf and Tampa Bay from altitude — a different kind of water experience that's worth mentioning for people willing to make the short drive.
Bradenton Beach & Anna Maria Island Parasailing Adventure
Parasailing over the Gulf of Mexico from Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. You'll be lifted 400-600 feet above the water with views of the Gulf, Tampa Bay, and the barrier island chain. The boat ride out and back also passes through dolphin territory. Good for people who've done the standard boat tours and want something with more altitude.
Check Availability →Private Boat Tours from Bradenton
Island Hoppers Boat Tours operates private boat charters from Bradenton for groups that want a flexible itinerary in the lower Tampa Bay area. Their boats can reach Anna Maria Island, the flats south of the Sunshine Skyway, and the barrier islands of Sarasota County on longer charters.
Private Boat Tour • 1-6 Passengers
Private boat charter for 1-6 passengers from the Bradenton area. Tour the lower Tampa Bay, Anna Maria Island beaches, and surrounding barrier island waters. Route is flexible based on what the group wants to do. Good for photography, wildlife viewing, or general exploration.
Check Availability →Getting Around the St. Pete Area
The St. Pete water tour area is spread out — Gulfport, Treasure Island, Tierra Verde, and Bradenton Beach are all separate destinations that require driving. Downtown St. Pete is the central hub, and all of these launch points are within 30-45 minutes. The free SunRunner bus rapid transit line connects downtown St. Pete to St. Pete Beach, which puts you close to the Treasure Island / Madeira Beach area without a car.
Locals tip: The Gulfport marina is considerably less crowded than the Madeira Beach / Johns Pass area on weekends. If you're flexible, booking a tour from Gulfport (Island Boat Adventures) rather than Madeira Beach gets you a more relaxed pre-departure experience and similar or identical water areas.
Related guides: Tampa Bay sandbar tours, Clearwater Beach tours, Egmont Key tours, and Fort De Soto kayak tours.
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