Florida Gulf Discovery LLC Axopar 29 Sun Top private boat tour in Southwest Florida with guests enjoying island and sandbar excursions on turquoise coastal waters.
Friends enjoying a private bachelorette party boat cruise in Southwest Florida with Florida Gulf Discovery
Friends celebrating together during a private boat cruise in Southwest Florida.

Your private Southwest Florida adventure begins aboard our 2024 Axopar 29 Sun Top. Designed for performance, comfort, and open views, this modern boat lets your group spend less time traveling and more time exploring islands, beaches, sandbars, wildlife, and waterfront destinations with Captain Pavel.

Your reservation is exclusively for your group of up to six passengers. Departing from Eldred’s Marina in Placida, we can explore North toward Lemon Bay, Manasota Key, Stump Pass, and Venice or South toward Boca Grande, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, and Pine Island Sound.

1Step Aboard Something Different

Hawaiian Day private boat tour aboard the Axopar 29 from Lemon Bay to Boca Grande Sandbar
Hawaiian Day aboard our Axopar 29—from Lemon Bay to Boca Grande Sandbar.

This is not a crowded sightseeing boat with a fixed route and a rushed schedule. The Axopar 29 Sun Top is a purpose-built adventure platform for one private group of up to six passengers.

Its combination of speed, stability, shade, open-air seating, and easy movement gives us the flexibility to match the day to your interests. We can cruise toward a remote island, stop at a quiet sandbar, watch dolphins, enjoy waterfront dining, or simply follow the best weather and water conditions.

One boat. One private group. One personalized day on the water.

↑ Return to Page Contents

2Built for Southwest Florida

Axopar 29 Sun Top during a private boat tour inside the Cayo Costa Lagoon in Southwest Florida
Our Axopar 29 Sun Top exploring the quiet waters of the Cayo Costa Lagoon.

At the center of every trip is our 2024 Axopar 29 Sun Top, powered by twin Mercury 200 hp V6 FourStroke engines. The efficient twin-step hull is designed to move cleanly through coastal chop while remaining stable and predictable.

For guests, that means:

  • A smooth, confident ride across bays, sounds, and coastal Gulf waters
  • Efficient travel, leaving more of your tour for exploring and relaxing
  • Twin-engine reliability and precise handling around marinas and docks
  • A stable platform when we stop to swim, paddleboard, or enjoy a sandbar

Speed is useful, but conditions always guide the trip. Captain Pavel chooses the route and operating speed according to weather, tide, water depth, passenger comfort, and safety.

↑ Return to Page Contents

3Comfort Without Compromise

Axopar 29 Sun Top cruising through Lemon Bay toward Stump Pass during a private boat tour
Our Axopar 29 Sun Top cruising through Lemon Bay on the way to Stump Pass.

The Axopar 29 is arranged around how guests actually enjoy a day on the water. The walk-around layout makes it easy to move between the bow, shaded center area, and aft seating without squeezing through a narrow passage.

  • Sun Top shade for protection from the Florida sun
  • Forward lounge for relaxing and enjoying an open view
  • Two tables, including a shaded table for snacks or dining
  • Flexible aft seating for conversation, dining, or lounging
  • Secure walk-around decks for easier movement aboard
  • Open sightlines for scenery, wildlife, and photographs

The result is a boat that feels spacious for a private group while remaining agile enough to explore the varied waterways of Southwest Florida.

↑ Return to Page Contents

4What You Can Experience

Axopar 29 Sun Top docked at the Cayo Costa State Park ranger station in Southwest Florida
Our Axopar 29 Sun Top at the Cayo Costa State Park ranger station dock.

Every tour is private and customized. Depending on your chosen tour length, interests, weather, and water conditions, your day can include:

  • Island hopping: Explore Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Useppa, North Captiva, Boca Grande, and other coastal destinations.
  • Beaches and sandbars: Swim, relax, search for shells, or enjoy shallow water away from busy public beaches.
  • Dolphins and wildlife: Watch for dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, rays, and coastal birds in their natural environment.
  • Swimming, paddleboarding, and E-Foil: Add active time on the water when the selected location and conditions are suitable.
  • Sunset cruises: Experience the changing evening light across Gasparilla Sound, the Gulf, or nearby passes.
  • Waterfront dining: Arrive by boat and include a relaxed restaurant stop in your personalized route.

↑ Return to Page Contents

5The Private-Tour Difference

Axopar 29 Sun Top during a private boat tour at Boca Grande Sandbar in Southwest Florida
Our Axopar 29 Sun Top during a private boat tour at Boca Grande Sandbar.

Your reservation is for your group only. You are not sharing the boat with strangers, and the experience does not have to follow a one-size-fits-all itinerary.

  • Private tours for couples, families, and small groups
  • Maximum of six passengers
  • Flexible routes based on your interests and the day’s conditions
  • Time to stop, explore, swim, take photographs, or simply relax
  • Access to destinations that cannot be reached by car

Wildlife sightings and exact destinations can never be guaranteed, but a private format lets Captain Pavel adapt the route when conditions or opportunities change.

↑ Return to Page Contents

6Explore with Captain Pavel

Captain Pavel aboard the Axopar 29 Sun Top at Ski Alley in Lemon Bay, Southwest Florida
Captain Pavel aboard the Axopar 29 Sun Top at Ski Alley in Lemon Bay.

Florida Gulf Discovery LLC is not built around repeating the same route every day. Captain Pavel combines local water knowledge, careful trip planning, and a lifetime of outdoor experience to create a personalized adventure for each group.

As a USCG-licensed OUPV captain, he operates every trip with close attention to weather, tides, shallow-water navigation, vessel traffic, passenger comfort, and changing coastal conditions.

“Let Captain Pavel Create a Personalized Adventure.”

The Axopar provides the platform. Captain Pavel’s judgment, preparation, and curiosity turn the route into your experience.

↑ Return to Page Contents

7Departure and Tour Directions

Florida Gulf Discovery Axopar 29 Sun Top at Eldred’s Marina in Placida, Florida
Our Axopar 29 Sun Top at Eldred’s Marina in Placida, the standard departure point for private boat tours.

Most tours depart from Eldred’s Marina in Placida, Florida. Placida is an excellent gateway to Gasparilla Sound, Boca Grande, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Useppa, and Pine Island Sound.

From Placida, we can also plan longer custom routes:

  • North: Lemon Bay, Manasota Key, Ski Alley, Stump Pass, Caspersen Beach, and Venice
  • South: Boca Grande, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Useppa, Pine Island Sound, Captiva, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, and routes toward Naples

Your practical range depends on the tour length, weather, tide, passenger priorities, and safe operating conditions. We confirm the best plan before departure and can adjust it on the water.

↑ Return to Page Contents

8What to Expect on Your Trip

Sunset private boat tour at Boca Grande Pass with Florida Gulf Discovery LLC
Sunset at Boca Grande Pass during a private boat tour with Florida Gulf Discovery LLC.

Your experience begins with a welcome aboard, a safety briefing, and a review of the route. From there, Captain Pavel manages the navigation while your group enjoys the water.

  • A clean, modern boat prepared for your private group
  • A route selected around your priorities and current conditions
  • Opportunities to cruise, stop, swim, explore, or dine
  • Time for photographs and memorable views throughout the day
  • Clear guidance about what to bring and what to expect before departure

Bring sunscreen, hats, towels, water shoes, and anything you would like to eat or drink. Final recommendations may vary with your selected experience.

↑ Return to Page Contents

Book Your Private Boat Tour

Experience Southwest Florida aboard our Axopar 29 Sun Top with the speed, comfort, flexibility, and personal attention of a tour created only for your group.

Book Your Private Tour!
Book Now