Mainland beaches
- Picked clean by 9 a.m.
- Crowds, umbrellas & footprints
- Mostly broken, common shells
- You're on your own to find & identify them
★ Our Most Popular Adventure
Shelling Tours
Step onto remote barrier islands few ever reach and comb beaches piled with whelks, conchs, sand dollars — and the prized junonia. Your captain knows exactly where the tide drops its treasures.
Check Availability & Book
From $125per adult · $90 per child
Duration
3–4 hours on the water
Departs from
San Marco Marina (Goodland) & Naples Bay
Great for
Families, couples & all ages
Included
Bags, water, life jackets & expert guidance
The Adventure
Florida's best shelling, by boat
The mainland beaches are picked over by 9am. We don't go there. Instead, your captain runs out to the untouched barrier islands of the Ten Thousand Islands — places you simply can't reach by car — and times the trip to the tide so you're walking the beach right when it's piled highest with shells.
It's relaxed, it's gorgeous, and it's perfect for every age. Little ones fill buckets while the grown-ups hunt for that once-in-a-trip junonia. Your captain points out the good spots, helps identify your finds, and grabs the photos so you don't have to. And there's no off-season here — winter brings the great morning negative tides, summer the evening lows, so we're finding fresh shells all year.
- Remote, low-traffic islands with the freshest shells
- Trips timed to the tide for the best hunting
- Captains who know every secret beach
- Bring home a bag of treasures — they're yours to keep
The Difference
Why go shelling by boat?
Anyone can walk a public beach. Here's what a Sand Dollar boat trip gets you that the mainland never will.
Sand Dollar islands
- Remote barrier islands few ever reach
- Private beaches with no crowds
- Fresh shells the tide just dropped — whelks, conchs & the rare junonia
- A local captain who finds the spots & IDs every treasure
The Treasure
What you'll find out there
These waters are famous among collectors. Here are the shells you'll be hunting — and if you're lucky, the one everyone dreams of.
Lightning Whelk
Big, dramatic spirals — and one of the few shells that coils to the left. A prize for any bucket.
Florida Fighting Conch
Glossy orange-and-brown beauties that wash up by the dozen on the outer islands.
Sand Dollars
Our namesake. Find a whole one and you've found a keepsake — we'll show you how to spot the freshest.
The Junonia
The holy grail of Gulf shelling. Spotted and gorgeous — find one and you're the legend of the boat.
Banded Tulip
Elegant cream-and-brown bands in a perfect spire — a collector's favorite.
Calico Scallops
Pocket-sized confetti — every one a different splash of orange, pink and purple.
Can't Decide?
Spin the Captain's Wheel
Let the wheel pick your next Sand Dollar adventure — then come aboard and make it real.
Your Hunting Grounds
Where the treasures wash up
Your captain picks the day's best beach based on wind, tide and what's been washing in. These are a few of our favorites.
Keewaydin Island
A pristine, roadless barrier island — miles of beach with almost no footprints but yours. A shelling and swimming favorite.
Kice Island
Remote and rarely crowded — one of the area's best-kept secrets, piled with whelks, conchs and sand dollars.
Shell Island
The name says it all. A quick run from Goodland to beaches that live up to the legend, especially after a blow.
Ten Thousand Islands
An endless maze of mangrove islands and hidden sandbars where the real treasures hide — and dolphins often join the ride.
🐬 Bonus: dolphins, manatees and wading birds love these same waters — keep your camera ready on the cruise out.
Plan Your Tide
When's the best time to shell?
Great shelling is all about low tide — and there's no off-season here. We time every trip to the day's best window.
Winter
December – April
Morning low tides
The year's biggest negative tides bare the most beach — we run early to catch them while the shells are piled high.
Summer
May – September
Evening low tides
Low water pulls back at golden hour — gorgeous, glassy evening shelling as the sun sinks into the Gulf.
🌊 No off-season — your captain checks the charts and books the perfect tide window for your trip, year-round.
The Real Thing
Moments from our shelling trips
Real guests, real beaches, real treasure. Tap any photo to take a closer look.
How It Works
Your shelling day, step by step
No guesswork — here's exactly how your trip flows, from dock to treasure.
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1
Meet at the dock
Arrive about 15 minutes early in Goodland or Naples and meet your USCG-licensed captain.
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2
Cruise the islands
Idle past mangroves and sandbars out to remote barrier islands you can't reach by car.
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3
Comb the low tide
Step onto a private beach, timed to the tide and piled with fresh-washed shells.
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4
Find & ID your finds
Your captain points out the best spots, helps identify your treasures and grabs the photos.
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5
Cruise home
Relax back to the dock with a bag of Gulf treasures that are yours to keep.
What's included
- Your captain & private/small-group boat
- Shelling bags or buckets
- Bottled water aboard
- Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every guest
- Shell ID help & the best-beach know-how
- Photos of your crew & your finds
What to bring
- Sunscreen, sunglasses & a hat
- Water shoes or sandals you don't mind getting sandy
- A towel & a light cover-up
- Your phone or camera (sealed bag is smart)
- Snacks & drinks — coolers welcome
- A sense of adventure!
Reserve Your Seats
Book your shelling tour
From $125 per adult · $90 per child. Live availability and instant confirmation — pick your date, choose your trip, and check out securely through FareHarbor.
Guest Love
Shellers can't stop raving
As a shell collector I've done a lot of these. Sand Dollar took us to islands I'd never have found, and I came home with my first-ever junonia. I'm already planning next year.
We filled a whole bucket and the kids didn't touch a screen for hours. Our captain knew exactly where to go and helped the little ones find sand dollars. Magical morning.
Private beach, no crowds, and more shells than we could carry. They timed it perfectly with the tide. Worth every penny — this is the real Florida.
Keep the Magic
Bring your treasures home
A few captain's tricks to clean up your finds and keep them shining for years.
Rinse
Rinse off sand and salt under fresh water as soon as you can.
Soak
Soak in equal parts water and bleach to lift residue and odor, then rinse well. (Skip for fragile shells.)
Dry
Let them air-dry completely in the sun.
Shine & show off
A dab of mineral or baby oil deepens the colors. Then display your haul!
🐚 Please collect empty shells only — never one that's still home to a living critter.
Good to Know
Shelling tour questions
Everything you need to know before you cast off. Still curious? Give us a call.
Will we really find good shells?
Yes — that's the whole point of going by boat. We skip the picked-over mainland beaches and run to remote barrier islands, timed to the tide, where the shells wash up fresh. Whelks, conchs, scallops and sand dollars are common; junonias are the rare prize.
How long is the shelling tour?
Most shelling trips run 3–4 hours, which gives plenty of time to cruise out, beachcomb, and enjoy the ride home. Trip length and group size are flexible — see live dates, times and availability on the booking screen, or call us and a local captain will help you plan the perfect trip.
How much does a shelling tour cost?
Shared shelling trips start at $125 per adult and $90 per child. Private charters are priced by the boat. See live pricing, dates and availability on the booking screen, or call and a local captain will help you plan the perfect trip.
Is it good for kids and older guests?
Absolutely — shelling is one of our most family-friendly trips. The beaches are flat and easy to walk, kids love filling buckets, and there's no swimming required. Every guest gets a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
What should I bring and wear?
Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, water and a camera. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes you don't mind getting sandy — you'll be walking the beach. We provide shelling bags, water and life jackets; coolers with your own snacks and drinks are welcome.
Where do we leave from?
We depart from San Marco Marina in Goodland (604 E Palm Ave) and from Naples Bay Resort & Marina (1500 5th Ave S). Your exact meeting point, directions and parking details come with your booking confirmation. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early.
Can we make it private, or add dolphins?
Yes! Shelling trips can be private or small-group, and our captains love mixing in dolphin watching and sightseeing along the way. Just tell us what you're hoping for when you book, or call and we'll build the perfect day.
The tide is waiting
Ready to fill a bucket?
Shelling spots fill fast. Lock in your island adventure today and get ready to bring home a bag of Gulf treasures.