I heard about Treasure Seekers online through shelling forums and knew I had to book a tour. It can be fascinating to find live shells on the beach, but lets remember that thats where they will stay live shelling is illegal in Florida, so the starfish and the cockles and the big horse cocks that are still alive, we will leave behind to swim another day. Its summer for crying out loud! I find myself not squinting when I am wearing both. We will have the ability to go to several locations in the Ten Thousand Islands if you so wish and you can go at your own pace. Safety is our #1 concern, thats why we offer a handheld VHF radio for your group to communicate with the captain while your on the beach. Evan is great and will take you to the shells. Our Concierge Shell Guides/Florida Master Naturalists, USCG Captains, and luxurious fleet of boats with yacht-caliber features ensure a one-of-a-kind carefully curated shelling adventure. Shelling Tour Kice Island and Cape Romano - DestiMap | Destinations On Map Posted on Aug 28, 2021. Hi Elizabeth! You can schedule your own time with a shelling tour company, unlike other tours. It is like an episode of Survivor only we won't make you eat weird stuff! Whether you are looking for one unique shell or want to fill up a 5-gallon bucket, we know where the best showing beaches are on Marco Island and the 10,000 Islands. Thank you so much for the recommendation and for writing about your 5-Star experience with Treasure Seekers Shell Tours. If you already know you want to go to Kice Island: There are several ways to get there: You can rent a kayak for the day. For the day to them means 8:30am or 9:00am-3:30pm. ii. We did this because we didnt know where all the good places were. The best time to find seashells in Florida is during the winter months. We were celebrating our FIRST anniversary and Shirlee gifted us a free souvenir shell bag, which was such a nice gesture. This is already more words than I planned on writing and I am sick of myself. Florida Adventures runs a shuttle to Kice Island and Dickman's point. The Gulf Coast of Florida has a lot to offer when it comes to hidden and not so hidden coastal treasure hunts. Seashell Kayak Tour To Kice Island See on Instagram Price: $139 Address: Kice Island, FL Why You Need To Go: On this kayaking tour, guides take you to a shell-covered island only accessible by boat or kayak for two hours where you can find some incredible and colorful shells. We also have a gorgeous brand new 24ft Bay boat equipped with a bathroom and a freshwater shower and comfortable seating. Florida Adventures runs a shuttle to Kice Island and Dickmans point. Treasure Seekers Shell Tours: Best time ever!!! Sunset Tour You can learn about marine life, history, and more on your tour. Where to go shelling: When we arrived on Marco Island, it was 11:30am on a Thursday and we had plenty of daylight left. She wanted to call the Coast Guard, lol! Thanks from the Ohio pilot & wife. This was our third trip out with them and there will definitely be more in our future. You could tell it wasnt frequented. I HIGHLY recommend Sand Dollar Shelling. Come discover the real Florida aboard our luxurious fleet of 24 ft. SeaPro Bay Boats with yacht-caliber features including flushable toilets and freshwater showers for your convenience. Your payment is encrypted and transmitted securely with an SSL protocol. Price includes snacks and refreshments, guided shelling and concierge service such as carrying bags for you if need be, bringing cold beverages to you on the island during your tour or anything else you may need. Filmed with a Phantom 3 Professional. I recommend this trip for anyone. The 4 hour shared shelling tour is one of the most popular things to do in the 10,000 Islands. He was very professional and educational. There can be up to 5 guests on a tour, so grab a few friends and make it a BFF date . They also emphasize ethical shelling which means you never keep shells with live animals inside. A strong southerly current flows down the Gulf Coast towards Marco Island, bringing shells from as far away as the Panhandle of Florida. TikTok: @treasure_seekers All Rights Reserved. A couple of companies will rent a kayak for 24 hours and they will drop it off at your condo and pick it up the next day. She talked about the red tide and the chilly weather. You do a lot of walking while you are shelling. Around here the elusive junonia shell finds you. May you always have shells in your pockets and sand between your toes! Tour Information Duration: 4 Hours Enjoy the diversity offered on each uninhabited island and relax on the spectacular soft white sand beaches as turquoise water stretches to the horizon. What a blessing it is to see our guests happy and excited to shell like we are in these beautiful islands. Duration: 1 hour www.treasureseekersshelltours.com Tel: (239) 571-2331 Four-Hour shelling tours (up to six people per boat) $125 per person, any age Private four-hour ($750) and six-hour tours ($950) Private three-hour eco-tour ($450) Rates: Accurate as of Feb. 14, 2021 Benefits of a Morning Tour: Watching the Sunrise. The tide started rising rather quickly, not the gentle rise I had imagined. We offer tours all year round, so call us or email us. I have been twice.. Once a 6 hour trip and once a 4 hour. Our guides have incredible understandings of tides, currents, weather patterns and prevalence of different species of shells to help you find the treasures you are searching for. - See 969 traveller reviews, 1,350 candid photos, and great deals for Goodland, FL, at Tripadvisor. Giant shells like lightning whelks and Florida horse conchs are found here, which can measure anywhere from 12 to 24 inches or more in length! From the moment we booked until the last minute of our tour it was incredible. It was one of the favorite parts of our Marco Island trip! Many of the high rise condos have drapes that cover each beach-side balcony at night, to keep the light in. I can hardly wait to come back and do it again. You can cast lines while other people in your group are on the shelling excursion. Because Kice Island has never been developed, camping here is like seeing the Ten Thousand Islands through the eyes of Joe Dickman or the Calusa tribe. She kept us hydrated with plenty of water & snacks. Sarah Beth guided us through the islands and educated us on the different types of shells. I only provide general information and the safety of those hiking and/or swimming in the locations I discuss is their own personal responsibility. Visitors on our shelling trips experience some of the most abundant areas for beach combing anywhere on Florida's coast. Amazing shelling trip, We had a superb captain willing to share his vast knowledge of the islands, local wildlife, and shells. Shelling in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is one of Florida's most unique excursion experiences. We look forward to seeing you again soon! It has trails, a swampy looking bay with a cool land bridge to walk across-see my highlights on instagram for more pics and videos! Shell tours provide a unique perspective of the beaches. June in Gulf Shores means you cant stir those fools with a stick. Also KICE Island! We had tons of fun looking for the best shells and observing creatures living in shallow ponds on the beach. Visitors on our shelling trips. Here are some benefits of hiring aKice Island shelling Tour Company: i. 3. Hiring a Tour Company for Kice Island shelling is the best way to find the most shells. They took us to some awesome spots with mountains of shells. Dome Home Tour Delicate shells like sand dollars, angel wings, or flat zigzag scallops are a real treasure. We caught super videos of the dolphins within a few feet of the boat surfing on the wake, well be using this wonderful captain from now on when visiting Florida. If youre a morning person this is the shelling tour for you! Come and visit us and well show you amazing sights that only a select few will ever get to experience! Shelling tours near me Treasure Seekers Shell Tours: Fun shelling tour! Its strange, uneven bill has a purpose: the bird flies low, often preferring calm water, with the long lower mandible plowing the water, Have you ever wanted to see the spectacular hot pink plumage of the Roseate Spoonbill? Captain Matt and Shell Guide Shirlee were amazing. Bird Tour To visit Kice is to return to nature. There is no need to be an early riser to get the good shells here! Hello! We had around an hour and a half to explore the island, which we had practically to ourselves the whole time (we only saw one other group there). Right after high tide, the tide starts receding, and every few minutes, more land is exposed. They are so cool! Want to catch some of the best fish in South Florida while on the island with your family? Our tours bring back more valuable Junonia shells than any other tour group in Southwest Florida. Look here! Whether its your first time combing the beach or you are an avid collector, we know where to find the best shells this area is known for. We met a local who said February was an amazing month for shelling and the storms and waves piled the island high with shells during that month. We are USCG licensed and insured and approved for infant guests. #Seashells #beachcombing #ShellGuide #MarcoIslandShelling #Shelling #Shells #ShellTour #GulfCoast #GulfofMexico #RoamFlorida #letsgoshelling #nobadshellingdays #shellsfordays #SouthWestFlorida #swfl #NaturalFlorida #FloridaSeashells #TreasureSeekersShellTours #marcoisland #exploreflorida #naplesfl #tenthousandislands #10kislands #barrierisland #thingstodoinflorida #shellinglove #loveshells #paradisecoast, Hi Judy! If you want shells, I mean shells like nowhere else (including Sanibel, Lovers Key, and Captiva then you want to do this. We depart from Goodland boating park in Goodland FL. Marco Island is as close as I could stay to the 10,000 Island Wildlife Sanctuary (where all the shells live), and I wanted to get up early and head out. Our boats are very kid friendly, with comfortable seating and a ladder for easy boarding. Pray for cloud coverage. The 4 hour shared shelling tour is one of the most popular things to do in the 10,000 Islands. Terms and Conditions We learned a ton about the history of the island too from our very knowledgeable guides. The 4 hour shared shelling tour is one of the most popular things to do in the 10,000 Islands. Our December/January trip was definitely more crowded. Sand Dollars live at the southern end of Kice Island. During the week, there were so few cars, I actually wondered if they were conducting some sort of nuclear experiment and everyone was supposed to evacuate, but we didnt get the message. We were able to do our own thing and make our way down the island. My family and I took a private tour with Treasure Seekers this past weekend. Twitter: @shelling_tours I am not making this up and it happened to me in January and again in June, so I feel like it wasnt coincidenceI dont know what genus and species they belong to, but they have wings and a mouth and they arent afraid to use either. All Rights Reserved, All Tours Depart From the Goodland Boat Park -. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Every day we could see rain off in the distance over the ocean, but it never made landfall. Change). So much much information, a great view as well as fantastic shells. I should have paid more attention to how quickly the tide chart showed the tide rising after 5pm. Come out shelling on the remote barrier islands south of Marco Island in the 10000 Islands. Captain Jim offered us water & iced tea and provided towels. Copyright 2023, Sand Dollar Shelling | All Rights Reserved, We Are Open & Operating As Normal After The Hurricane, Everything There Is To Know About Cockle Shells, Everything You Need to Know About the Sand Dollar. I came home with all the things I love. Kice Island is a famous place for shelling tours. Shelling in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is one of Florida's most unique excursion experiences. Captain Evan was so awesome! We spent an amazing day with our guide Michelle and Captain Matt. YouTube: Treasure Seekers Tours It connects us, the smell of the salty air, the sand between our toes and the anticipation of what gifts have been washed up from the Not only do we offer world class shelling trips on our tours but you can also experience a up close encounter with beautiful shore birds like the Black Skimmer ( Rynchops Niger). Sand Dollar Shelling, although located 50 minutes from Sanibel Island, enjoys nearly 40 people weekly that trek down from Sanibel Island to shell in the, Are youlooking for a way to warm the cockles of your heart while you dreamabout shellingon Marco Island in Florida? In the waters just off its southern shore are Cape Romano and the otherworldly, and often photographed, dome homes. The Junonia may be hard-to-find because its so rare, but our captains have some special knowledge, having done this for years and years, to help you find one! Shelling tours in Kice Islandallow visitors to explore Island beaches with little or no access fee. The captain and guide were excellent, super friendly (Im sorry I forgot your names). Come experience our luxurious fleet of Sea Pro 248 DLX Bay Boats with yacht-caliber features. I defiantly will be back when visiting the area. Someone was at the parking lot early to make sure we got parked in the right place and paid our parking (the machine is finicky). Weve spent many years leading Marco Island shelling and dolphins boat tours for friends, family, and kids of all ages. Seriously. Internet Marketing, Web Design, and SEO by Kelly Webmasters and Marketers, Experience the Best Both beaches are very shallow for a long way out, and you can wade around and pick up shells for days. Tours launch from the boat ramp at Caxambas Park - 909 Collier Court, Marco Island, Florida, 34145 . Our kayak rentals do sell out fast, so book early! This is where it gets really, really good. Tour makes a landing at Kice Island for shell collecting, sightseeing or to enjoy the surf and sand. This is why we find so many rare shells around Marco Island, as the Gulf currents bring in deep water species such as the coveted Junonia. We would like to introduce to you our NEW Treasure Seekers Fishing Tours It's our very own Captain Matt Dunn who has over 20 years of experience on the water .Check him out he's showing off his skills & obviously knows of a few secret honey holes For more information tile.loc.gov Our Marco Island shelling tours offer the best views and experiences in the area. 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If you want shells, I mean shells like nowhere else (including Sanibel, Lovers Key, and Captiva then you want to do this. . We even were lucky enough to find the Junonia shell!!! Whether you are an avid sheller or just looking for something unique and exciting to do, this trip is for YOU!