Private Boat Tours in Lee County Florida with Florida Gulf Discovery LLC offer a personalized way to explore Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island Sound, Estero Bay, and Lovers Key. Every tour is private for your group of up to six passengers and is planned around your interests, weather, tides, and current water conditions.
We depart from Eldred’s Marina in Placida and travel South toward Lee County. Because these destinations require a long run in both directions, Captain Pavel recommends booking six hours or more.
Lee County brings together barrier islands, passes, mangrove shorelines, working waterfronts, beaches, and wildlife-rich estuaries. A private tour can focus on island hopping, dolphin watching, beach time, waterfront dining, photography, paddleboarding, or simply enjoying the coast from the boat.
This is a custom long-distance experience—not a fixed sightseeing loop. Captain Pavel builds a practical itinerary for the time you reserve and may adjust the route when wind, waves, tides, boat traffic, or changing conditions affect the journey.
1Why We Recommend 6+ Hours
Lee County begins well South of our departure point. A large part of the day can be spent traveling through Gasparilla Sound and Pine Island Sound before reaching Captiva, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, or Estero Bay. The farther South you want to explore, the more time the complete round trip requires.
A six-hour trip can create a strong overview with carefully selected stops. An eight-hour trip provides greater flexibility. Trying to combine too many distant destinations in a shorter booking would reduce the time available to enjoy them.
2The Route from Placida
The journey begins at Eldred’s Marina in Placida. We travel South through protected coastal waterways, passing the Boca Grande and Cayo Costa region before entering Pine Island Sound and Lee County.
Depending on your requested destination and the day’s conditions, the route may continue toward North Captiva, Captiva, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Matanzas Pass, Estero Bay, or Lovers Key. The route itself is part of the experience, with wide views, islands, passes, historic landmarks, and opportunities to encounter wildlife.
3Lee County Destinations
Your private itinerary can feature one principal destination or combine several nearby places when time allows:
- North Captiva and Captiva: island scenery, beaches, shoreline cruising, and nearby dining possibilities.
- Sanibel Island: lighthouse views, coastal wildlife, shelling areas, and the waters of San Carlos Bay.
- Fort Myers Beach: Matanzas Pass, Estero Island, waterfront restaurants, and beach views.
- Pine Island Sound: broad protected water bordered by islands, mangroves, and wildlife habitat.
- Estero Bay and Lovers Key: mangrove islands, shallow estuary water, New Pass, beaches, and sandbars.
Naples, Keewaydin Island, and Marco Island are in Collier County, not Lee County. They may be part of separate long-distance custom planning, but they should not be described as Lee County destinations.
4Dolphins, Manatees & Wildlife
Pine Island Sound, San Carlos Bay, Estero Bay, and the surrounding passes support a rich coastal ecosystem. Along the way, we may see dolphins, manatees, ospreys, pelicans, herons, rays, and other marine life.
We slow down and give animals space. Wildlife sightings vary with season, tide, weather, location, and chance, so a particular encounter can never be guaranteed. The goal is to observe responsibly while allowing wildlife to behave naturally.
5Beaches, Islands & Sandbars
A long Lee County tour may include time near an island shoreline, beach, or sandbar. Possible areas include Captiva, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Estero Island, Lovers Key, and New Pass, depending on legal access and current conditions.
Stops are selected according to tide, current, water depth, waves, crowding, and safe anchoring. Some beaches are best viewed from the water, while others may provide suitable access for swimming, walking, photography, or shelling.
Cayo Costa is in Lee County and can also be visited from Placida. However, it is much closer to our departure point and works well as its own dedicated private tour rather than being added automatically to every Lee County itinerary.
6Waterfront Dining
A restaurant stop can be included when your booked duration, route, operating hours, and dock availability allow. Possible choices vary by destination and may include restaurants around Captiva, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, and Estero Bay.
Examples can include Doc Ford’s, Dixie Fish Company, Parrot Key Caribbean Grill, Flippers on the Bay, or The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill. Restaurant businesses, hours, reservations, and dock access can change, so a specific stop is never guaranteed.
If waterfront dining is important, tell Captain Pavel before the trip. A meal requires additional time and should be included when selecting your tour length.
7Paddleboarding & E-Foil
For guests who want an active experience, a longer private tour may include stand-up paddleboarding or e-foil time. These activities are best in suitable protected water away from heavy traffic, strong current, shallow obstructions, and sensitive wildlife areas.
Equipment availability and the intended activity should be discussed before booking. Captain Pavel chooses the location based on safety, weather, water depth, and the experience level of the guests.
8Plan and Book Your Tour
Florida Gulf Discovery welcomes private groups of up to six passengers aboard a 2024 Axopar 29 Sun Top with twin Mercury 200 hp V6 FourStroke engines. The boat offers a stable, quiet, and comfortable platform for long coastal journeys.
Before booking, decide which destination matters most and whether you want beach time, dining, wildlife viewing, paddleboarding, or e-foil. Captain Pavel can then recommend a realistic itinerary.
Book Your Private Tour!
Let Captain Pavel create a personalized Lee County adventure for your group, departing from Placida and traveling South through some of Southwest Florida’s most beautiful waterways.
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