Boat tour locations in Southwest Florida with Florida Gulf Discovery, offering private dolphin watching, island hopping, sandbar trips, sightseeing and sunset cruises.

Boat Tours Locations in Southwest Florida

Explore boat tours Southwest Florida with Florida Gulf Discovery LLC and Captain Pavel. Our private tours take you beyond the shoreline to discover islands, beaches, sandbars, passes, wildlife habitats, and historic coastal destinations.

I’m Captain Pavel, a USCG-licensed captain offering private boat tours for couples, families, friends, and small groups of up to six paying passengers.

All Florida Gulf Discovery tours depart from Eldred’s Marina in Placida, Florida.

From Placida, we can explore north toward Lemon Bay, Stump Pass, and Manasota Key, or travel south through Gasparilla Sound, Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, and Pine Island Sound.

Your private tour can include dolphin and wildlife watching, shelling, secluded beaches, sandbars, barrier islands, sightseeing, waterfront dining, or a Southwest Florida sunset.

Many of the most interesting places along this coast look completely different from the water—and some can only be reached by boat.

Discover Southwest Florida beyond the shoreline with Captain Pavel.

Popular Destinations in Southwest Florida

🏝️ Boca Grande

Located on Gasparilla Island, Boca Grande combines Old Florida history, beautiful beaches, historic landmarks, and the famous waters of Boca Grande Pass.

Explore Boca Grande Pass, Boca Grande Sandbar, Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, nearby beaches, and the surrounding waters while watching for dolphins and other marine wildlife.

Private boat tours in Boca Grande Florida with Florida Gulf Discovery

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🌴 Cayo Costa State Park

Accessible primarily by boat, Cayo Costa is one of Southwest Florida’s most natural barrier islands, with undeveloped Gulf beaches, dunes, mangroves, shelling areas, and abundant wildlife.

Visit for shelling, swimming, beach walking, wildlife watching, or simply enjoying a quieter side of Southwest Florida.

Cayo Costa State Park Southwest Florida boater and visitor guide

🧭 Explore Cayo Costa →

⚓ Cabbage Key

Located in Pine Island Sound, Cabbage Key offers a classic Old Florida island experience.

The island is known for the historic Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant, marina, nature trails, panoramic views, and famous Dollar Bill Bar.

It is an excellent destination for island hopping and waterfront dining.

Cabbage Key boat cruise in Southwest Florida

🧭 Visit Cabbage Key →

🐚 Stump Pass Beach State Park

At the southern end of Manasota Key, Stump Pass Beach State Park is where Lemon Bay meets the Gulf.

Its beaches, shallows, sandbars, and channels create a constantly changing coastal environment and an excellent setting for shelling, sightseeing, photography, swimming, and wildlife watching.

Aerial view of Stump Pass sandbar in Southwest Florida

🧭 Discover Stump Pass →

🐬 Gasparilla Sound

Gasparilla Sound is one of the first major waterways we enter after departing Eldred’s Marina in Placida.

Its islands, shallow flats, mangrove shorelines, and channels provide habitat for dolphins, manatees, rays, pelicans, ospreys, and other wildlife.

Gasparilla Sound is more than a route to Boca Grande and the barrier islands—it is part of the experience.

Boca Grande Causeway and Gasparilla Sound near Placida Florida

🧭 Explore Gasparilla Sound →

Explore Our Service Areas

Florida Gulf Discovery serves guests staying in Englewood, Placida, Cape Haze, Rotonda, Rotonda West, South Gulf Cove, Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island, Little Gasparilla Island, Port Boca Grande, and surrounding communities.

These are our service areas, not separate departure locations.

All private boat tours depart from Eldred’s Marina in Placida, Florida.

From Placida, we can travel north toward Lemon Bay, Stump Pass, and Manasota Key, or south toward Gasparilla Sound, Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, and Pine Island Sound.

Boca Grande

Guests staying in Boca Grande can meet Captain Pavel in nearby Placida and explore Boca Grande Pass, Boca Grande Sandbar, Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, Gasparilla Sound, Charlotte Harbor, Cayo Costa, and surrounding beaches and islands.

Exploring Boca Grande by boat offers a completely different perspective of this historic barrier island.

🧭 Learn More About Our Boca Grande Boat Tours →

Placida

Placida is the departure point for Florida Gulf Discovery.

All tours depart from Eldred’s Marina, providing quick access to Gasparilla Sound and the surrounding barrier islands.

From here, we can head north toward Lemon Bay and Stump Pass or south toward Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, and Pine Island Sound.

Private boat tours from Placida Florida with Florida Gulf Discovery

🧭 Learn More About Our Placida Boat Tours →

Cape Haze

Cape Haze is close to our Placida departure point and provides convenient access to Gasparilla Sound, Little Gasparilla Island, Boca Grande, Lemon Bay, Stump Pass, and surrounding coastal waters.

Mangroves, shallow flats, protected bays, and nearby barrier islands also create excellent opportunities for dolphin and wildlife watching.

Private boat tours in Cape Haze Florida with Florida Gulf Discovery

🧭 Learn More About Our Cape Haze Boat Tours →

Englewood

Englewood is one of the main visitor areas served by Florida Gulf Discovery and is conveniently located near our departure point in Placida.

From Eldred’s Marina, we can head north toward Lemon Bay, Ski Alley, Stump Pass, Stump Pass Beach State Park, and Manasota Key, or travel south through Gasparilla Sound toward Boca Grande.

These waters are ideal for dolphin and wildlife watching, shelling, beach visits, sightseeing, photography, and sunset cruises.

Private boat tours near Englewood Florida with Florida Gulf Discovery

🧭 Learn More About Our Englewood Boat Tours →

Gasparilla Island

Home to Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island combines history, beaches, wildlife, and some of Southwest Florida’s most recognizable coastal scenery.

Explore Boca Grande Pass, Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, Boca Grande Sandbar, Gasparilla Sound, and nearby beaches, or continue toward Charlotte Harbor and Cayo Costa.

Private boat tours around Gasparilla Island Florida

🧭 Learn More About Our Gasparilla Island Boat Tours →

Little Gasparilla Island

Accessible only by boat, Little Gasparilla Island is known for its quiet Gulf beaches, shelling, natural shoreline, and relaxed Old Florida atmosphere.

Its location near Placida makes it an excellent destination for beach trips, shelling, wildlife watching, sightseeing, and sunset cruises.

Private boat tours to Little Gasparilla Island Florida

🧭 Learn More About Our Little Gasparilla Island Boat Tours →

Port Boca Grande

At the southern end of Gasparilla Island, Port Boca Grande is rich in Southwest Florida maritime history.

The historic Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, constructed in 1890, stands beside Boca Grande Pass and provides one of the area’s most recognizable views from the water.

Port Boca Grande private boat tours with Florida Gulf Discovery

🧭 Learn More About Our Port Boca Grande Boat Tours →

Rotonda

Guests staying in Rotonda are conveniently located near our departure point at Eldred’s Marina in Placida.

From Placida, private tours can explore north toward Lemon Bay and Stump Pass or south toward Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor, Cayo Costa, and Pine Island Sound.

Private boat tours for guests staying in Rotonda Florida

🧭 Learn More About Our Rotonda Boat Tours →

Rotonda West

Rotonda West is conveniently located near Placida and gives visitors access to a wide variety of Southwest Florida boating experiences.

Your private tour can include dolphin and wildlife watching, beaches, shelling, sandbars, sightseeing, island hopping, waterfront dining, or sunsets.

Private boat tours for guests staying in Rotonda West Florida

🧭 Learn More About Our Rotonda West Boat Tours →

South Gulf Cove

South Gulf Cove is near Charlotte Harbor and within convenient driving distance of Eldred’s Marina in Placida.

From Placida, guests can explore Gasparilla Sound, Boca Grande, Boca Grande Pass, Charlotte Harbor, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, and Pine Island Sound.

Private boat tours for guests staying in South Gulf Cove Florida

🧭 Learn More About Our South Gulf Cove Boat Tours →

Why Choose Florida Gulf Discovery?

Florida Gulf Discovery offers private tours only. Your group has the boat and Captain Pavel to yourselves, allowing your trip to be shaped around your interests, available time, weather, tides, and conditions on the water.

✓ Private Tours Only
✓ USCG-Licensed Captain
✓ Maximum 6 Paying Passengers
✓ Modern, Comfortable Boat
✓ Dolphin & Wildlife Watching
✓ Island Hopping
✓ Shelling & Beach Trips
✓ Sandbar Excursions
✓ Sunset Cruises
✓ Sightseeing & Photography
✓ Waterfront Dining Trips
✓ Departure from Eldred’s Marina in Placida

No two days on the water are exactly the same. Tides change, wildlife moves, sandbars shift, and every trip offers something different to discover.

Book Your Private Boat Tour

Ready to explore Southwest Florida from the water?

Florida Gulf Discovery LLC offers private boat tours for up to six paying passengers, with all tours departing from Eldred’s Marina in Placida, Florida.

Whether you are staying in Englewood, Boca Grande, Cape Haze, Rotonda, Rotonda West, South Gulf Cove, or another nearby community, your private trip can be built around dolphins and wildlife, barrier islands, beaches, shelling, sandbars, sightseeing, waterfront dining, photography, or sunsets.

Book your private Southwest Florida boat tour with Captain Pavel and discover what lies beyond the shoreline.

Where We Can Explore from Placida

Our departure point at Eldred’s Marina provides access to an exceptional variety of Southwest Florida waterways and destinations:

Boca Grande Pass • Boca Grande Sandbar • Gasparilla Island • Little Gasparilla Island • Gasparilla Sound • Charlotte Harbor • Cayo Costa • Cabbage Key • Pine Island Sound • Stump Pass • Stump Pass Beach State Park • Lemon Bay • Manasota Key

From the quieter waters of Lemon Bay to the barrier islands of Pine Island Sound, every direction offers something different to discover.