Edisto eco tours take you into the creeks, rivers and sounds around the island with a captain who knows the water. Most trips leave from Big Bay Creek at the south end of Edisto Beach and head toward the South Edisto River and St. Helena Sound, the edge of the ACE Basin. Bottlenose dolphins are the main draw, but you’ll also see pelicans, ospreys, herons, salt marsh and undeveloped barrier islands.
Below you’ll find the operators running tours from Edisto, the kinds of trips available, what you’re likely to see, and how to get the most out of a few hours on the water. If you’d rather paddle, see kayaking on Edisto Island.
At a Glance
- Location: Tours leave from Docksite Road at Edisto Beach, on Big Bay Creek
- Cost: About $50 per adult for a 60–90-minute public tour with Edisto Watersports & Tackle (2026); private charters cost more
- Good for: Families, first-time visitors, photographers, birders, anyone who wants to see dolphins
- Time needed: 1–3 hours, depending on the trip
- Season: Busiest spring through fall; call operators about off-season trips
- Tips: Book ahead in summer, bring a hat and a light jacket, and leave the drone at home
Edisto Eco Tour and Dolphin Tour Operators
Edisto Watersports & Tackle
Edisto Watersports & Tackle runs scheduled river tours as well as kayak tours, rentals and fishing charters. It’s at 3731 Docksite Road; call 843-869-0663 or see the tour list at edistowatersports.net. Its tour prices as of 2026:
| Tour | Length | Adult | Age 10 and under |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACE Basin / Dolphin / History Tour | 90 min | $50 | $30 |
| Sunset Tour | 60 min | $50 | $30 |
| Island excursion to Otter Island or Pine Island | About 3 hr | $50 | $30 |
The sunset tour needs at least 5 adults; smaller groups may be combined with another party or rescheduled. Island excursions also have a minimum group size, and the destination depends on the tide: Otter Island on a falling high tide, Pine Island at low tide. Call to check dates and confirm prices.
Botany Bay Ecotours
Botany Bay Ecotours is run by a biologist who holds a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license. Trips leave from Slip D 2 at The Marina at Edisto Beach, 3702 Dock Site Road. Its menu includes public and private dolphin ecotours, ACE Basin ecotours, sunset cruises, a private history tour called “Edisto’s African American Journey,” and a beachcombing walk focused on shells and fossils. It also offers weddings on the water and private “Concierge Captain” charters.
According to its website, private boat tours run March through November, public boat tours run in spring and summer, and the beachcombing walk runs year-round. Its site doesn’t list current dates, so call or text 843-869-2998 to confirm the schedule before you plan around it. More at botanybayecotours.com.
The Marina at Edisto Beach
The Marina at Edisto Beach, 3702 Docksite Road, also advertises creek tours to look for dolphins and sunset cruises. Prices and schedules weren’t posted online when we checked, so call (843) 631-5055 or visit themarinaeb.com.
Types of Tours
Dolphin and Creek Tours
The classic Edisto tour is an hour or two on Big Bay Creek and the nearby rivers, watching for dolphins and talking about the marsh. These are the easiest trips for young kids and anyone prone to seasickness, since you stay in sheltered water most of the time.
ACE Basin Tours
The ACE Basin is the huge estuary formed where the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers meet St. Helena Sound, and Edisto sits on its northern edge. Tours head into this water to see the marsh, wading birds and wild barrier islands. For the bigger picture of the basin, including refuges and drives on land, see the ACE Basin near Edisto Island.
Sunset Cruises
Evening trips catch the low light over the marsh, which is good for photos and cooler in summer. Bring a layer: it cools off on the water once the sun drops.
Island Excursions and Beachcombing
Some trips drop you on an undeveloped island, such as Otter Island or Pine Island, to walk the beach for a while before heading back. Timing depends on the tide. Botany Bay Ecotours’ beachcombing walk is a land-based option for learning about the shells and fossils that wash up on Edisto; our guide to shark teeth and shelling on Edisto explains what you might find and where collecting isn’t allowed.
History Tours
The water was the island’s highway for most of its history, so many captains mix plantation, Gullah and Civil War history into their commentary. Botany Bay Ecotours offers a dedicated private tour on African American history on Edisto. To learn more on land, visit the Edisto Island Museum or read about Gullah culture.
What About Morgan Island (“Monkey Island”)?
Morgan Island sits in St. Helena Sound, across the water from Edisto, and is home to a free-ranging colony of rhesus monkeys kept for research. It gets a lot of attention online, but landing on the island is prohibited. Boats may only view it from the water, and the monkeys aren’t always visible from a distance.
We didn’t find an Edisto-based operator currently advertising Morgan Island trips on its own website. If seeing the island matters to you, ask the operators above whether they can include it on a private charter, and expect a longer and more expensive trip than a standard dolphin tour.
What You’ll See
- Bottlenose dolphins. They feed year-round in Edisto’s creeks and rivers. In parts of the Lowcountry, dolphins herd fish up onto mudbanks and briefly slide out of the water to catch them, a behavior called strand feeding.
- Birds. Brown pelicans, ospreys, herons, egrets and, around the inlet, American oystercatchers and black skimmers. See our Edisto birding guide.
- Salt marsh. Miles of spartina grass, oyster reefs and mudflats that serve as a nursery for shrimp, crabs and fish.
- Shrimp boats and working water. Commercial boats still work the sound and nearby waters.
- Barrier islands. Undeveloped islands with eroding beaches and bleached trees, similar to Botany Bay’s shoreline.
Tips for a Good Tour
- Book ahead in summer. Popular tours fill up, and some need a minimum number of passengers.
- Check the tide and weather. Captains plan around both. Look at the tide charts and weather so you’re not surprised by a reschedule.
- Dress for the water. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a windbreaker. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
- Bring binoculars and a zoom lens. Dolphins and birds are often farther away than you’d like.
- Never feed or chase dolphins. Feeding or harassing wild dolphins is illegal under federal law, and it teaches them to approach boats, which puts them at risk.
- Ask about kids and accessibility. Boats vary in how easy they are to board. Call ahead if anyone in your group has mobility needs.
Edisto Eco Tours FAQ
How much does a dolphin tour cost on Edisto?
As of 2026, Edisto Watersports & Tackle charges $50 per adult and $30 for children 10 and under for its 90-minute ACE Basin and dolphin tour and its 60-minute sunset tour. Private charters from other operators are priced per trip. Confirm with the operator when you book.
Are dolphins guaranteed?
No tour can guarantee wildlife, but dolphins are common in Edisto’s creeks and are frequently seen on tours.
Where do Edisto boat tours leave from?
Most leave from Docksite Road at the south end of Edisto Beach, on Big Bay Creek, near The Marina at Edisto Beach.
Can I visit Morgan Island, the monkey island?
You can’t land on Morgan Island. Boats may view it from the water only, and we didn’t find an Edisto-based operator advertising regular trips there.
Do boat tours go to Botany Bay?
Some local operators include Botany Bay’s shoreline or its history in their trips. Botany Bay itself is a state preserve with its own rules; see our Botany Bay guide.
Plan Your Trip
Combine a morning tour with a visit to Edisto Beach State Park, or try paddleboarding or fishing on another day. Most tours leave near the marina, so lunch at one of the Edisto restaurants nearby is easy. Browse the full list at Things to Do on Edisto Island.