Egmont Key Ferry: Dolphin Spotting & Island Walk from Ft. DeSoto

4.85

(348 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I almost missed the ferry because I couldn’t find the right pier at Fort De Soto—turns out it’s the Bay Pier, not the big fishing one (a local guy with a sunburned nose pointed me in the right direction). The Hubbard’s Ferry is this chunky blue boat that smells a bit like sunscreen and salt. Everyone was chatting about manatees before we even left. I’d packed way too many snacks, but honestly, you can grab something from the little galley on board if you forget.

The ride over to Egmont Key took maybe 50 minutes? Hard to say—I got caught up watching pelicans do these crash landings into the water. At one point someone yelled “dolphins!” and half of us scrambled to one side (the captain just laughed—apparently it happens every trip). The breeze was warm but not sticky, which surprised me for Florida in June. Our guide, Li, pointed out Fort Dade as we pulled up—said it’s been sitting there since the Spanish-American War. I didn’t expect to see so many gopher tortoises just wandering around; they move slower than I do after lunch.

We had three hours on Egmont Key itself. There’s no schedule once you’re off the boat—you just wander. I tried swimming but chickened out when a school of fish darted past my toes (not proud). Some families were shelling along the shore; others climbed around old brick ruins with kids pretending they were pirates. The quiet was weirdly nice—no cars or anything, just waves and distant laughter. I still think about that view back toward St Pete, all hazy blue and white.