Sit back, relax and let a motor do the work on one of our exciting boat tours. We offer a variety of private charter boat tours of Amelia Island, Cumberland Island and many surrounding areas. Where else can you see an 18th century sugar plantation, a herd of wild horses, and have a chance of seeing a submarine next to a pre-Civil War fort all in the same day? Our local USCG certified captains will show you the diversity of our southern treasure we call Amelia Island on one of our guided boat tours.
Have you heard the rumors of wild horses that can be spotted on the beach? If you choose to do the Cumberland Island Boat Tour, our captain will lead you on an adventure to our neighbors north of us in Georgia. The island is known and treasured for its wealth of history and of course the beautiful animals that roam the beaches. Our captain will help you explore the area with tales of wealthy industrialists, revolutionary war heroes, and much more. Dolphins and manatees are playful in this area and can be often seen swimming next to our tours. The majestic horses that live on Cumberland Island run freely on the coastline and can be admired by boat. As the Cumberland Island Boat Tour is our most popular boating tour it guaranteed to wow you.
Travelers will have the opportunity to see the outside of the fort.
We saw dolphins near the FB dock. Saw Ft Clinch. Also saw horses and the remnants of Dungeness mansion on Cumberland Island. Late October - windy and overcast, so it was a rough and chilly ride, but Kyle did his best to smooth it out. He was knowledgable about the wildlife, history, and current affairs of the area. Plan based on the weather. Overall 5 stars.
Kyle was like a professor with all his knowledge! Both historical and aquatic! I cannot recommend this tour enough! Took my 92 yo dad and 86 yo mom boat was very accessible and we had an amazing experience! Top notch
Captain Bill was a fantastic guide! Very knowledgeable and great with our kids! We went with our 3 toddlers, and he kept it fun and interesting for them as well! We saw lots of cool wildlife including dolphins and wild horses. Highly recommend this experience and ask for Bill!!
Captain Kyle was extremely knowledgeable and personable! He made the experience for me and my wife! He was so friendly and made sure to make us feel very welcome! His knowledge of the history of the area and the wildlife was very impressive! I would recommend Captain Kyle to anyone thinking of doing a private boat tour!
What a great boat ride! We saw so many dolphins and learned a lot about the local history! Our guide was amazing. Highly recommend this tour.
Bill was friendly, knowledgeable and a genuinely nice guy. We had a wonderful time. While we didn’t see alligators or eagles that day, but we did see manatees, dolphins and horses.
Our trip was enjoyable from start to finish. Captain Bill was waiting for us as we drove up. He was amiable, kept the instructions simple and clear, and had selected a life jacket with design and colors certain to please a 4 year old boy. Our grandson was pretty quiet during the trip but when we called his Mom after the boat ride, he described the dolphins, the other boats, and even, in detail, how the train bridge we passed worked. He had a great time, and so did we. Highly recommend!
We went with our two teenage boys and we all really enjoyed it. Boat was nice and comfortable. We all enjoyed seeing the dolphins and going around the back side of Cumberland Island.
Amazing experience for a family vacation for any occasion! Lots of history but also fun with animal sightings and a great balance of history with jokes.
Great captain knowledgeable and friendly
Captain Bill was the best. Lots of wildlife sightings, great history and trivia; overall fun, beautiful morning.
We had the best time! Kyle was the most amazing Captain teaching us so many things we didn’t know we even wanted to know. The weather was beautiful and with it being low tide we had an easier time finding the gators but also saw sharks, dolphins and wild horses. Amelia island is so beautiful and the surrounding areas, this was a wonderful way to learn all about it. I couldn’t recommend this trip more!!
Great day on the water with Jeff! We saw plenty of wild life…alligators, wild horses and dolphins! He gave us a couple great recommendations for lunch and dinner!! Make sure you ask for Jeff when you book!! Thanks for a great day!!
Parking is close to docks, Kyle greeted us right away. Clean restrooms available and are steps away from dock. Kyle was very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife. Loved our trip and highly recommend.
It was informational and adventurous a wonderful experience!! We would highly recommend!! Captain Bill was fun!
It is a very calm experience and the driver knows the waters and shoreline really well. We saw a few wild horses and a beautiful dolphin with her baby.
This was a 5 star experience in all aspects. Boat was clean and Kyle was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about the area, the history, and the wildlife. Everyone we met with Riptide Sports was friendly and helpful. We did the 9:00am tour and saw a ton of wildlife- dolphins, gators, turtles, wild horses, and plenty of birds including a bald eagle. It was a great way to explore the area by water. I highly recommend this tour and this company!
Kyle was a fantastic captain. We had a wonderful time learning about the waterways and seeing the beautiful wildlife. The dolphins were putting on a show and the wild horses showed up. I cannot recommend a better boating experience. He was knowledgeable, personable and it was a pleasure to be onboard!
Excellent trip with a knowledge guide.
Such a great experience! Captain Kyle was super knowledgeable and we got a bit of history and nature!
We had a wonderful tour. Our captain was extremely knowledgeable, considerate and capable. The water was very calm the day we went and this really gives you a unique perspective of the island. The trip up river to Cumberland Island took just about an hour, and once there got to see the horses and really enjoyed the views. What a great trip!!!
Our tour was nothing less than GREAT! Kyle, our guide, was personable, knowledgeable and energetic. He shared a wealth of information about the area; the history, the nature and the science of the natural resources of the Amelia Island vicinity and surrounds. His stories were both informative and entertaining. In his tales he shared very amusing tales of his family endeavors and growing up in the Amelia area. This is definitely THE tour to take. You'll not be disappointed!
We went out with Kyle and had an amazing time! A beautiful way to experience Amelia Island - we saw birds (eagles, egrets, oyster catchers), dolphins (played all around our boat), wild horses and took in descriptions of the place - its species, industry, history. Kids loved it. Grandma loved it. Highly recommend this experience!
This was a great trip! Kyle was an excellent guide and had so much local knowledge, he made the trip so much more interesting and enjoyable. We would recommend this tour to anyone!
Captain Zack knew the answer to every question we had. Very relaxing tour on the water. We saw dolphins, alligators, pelicans and even a raccoon.
Outstanding trip. Great way to appreciate Amelia Island and fun for all ages. Our guide, Zach, tailored the trip to our preferences too
Kyle was super friendly and funny. He knew so much history and told great stories. They also had cold beverages to offer as well. I would highly recommend him!!
Captain Kyle Rodeffer did a great job - showing my husband and I the wildlife and explaining the biology and the history along the way. He was personable, knowledgeable and professional. The river is beautiful. We saw dolphins, shark, sea turtle, aligator, manatees and the wild horses on Cumberland Island. A perfect trip! We will do it again soon!
Very enjoyable! Our captain Zach was very knowledgeable about the history of the area! Spent the day cruising the coastline and listening to the history of area. Spotted some dolphins along the way. Nice way to spend a day!!
We had the most comfortable and safe trip to see the wild horses, alligators, dolphins, Fort Clinch, the city scape of Fernandina, with Zach. What a wonderful day!
We had such a great and relaxing time. Learned a lot about the area as well! Kyle was super nice and we had a great afternoon!
The tour was informative and boat driver was very knowledgeable. We enjoyed being out on the water, seeing the sights from a diferent view. We were able to see dolphins, pelicans and the wild horses. Would highly recommend this tour.
We took a sunset cruise and it was great. Zach was a lot of fun. Very knowledgeable about the area. Saw wild horses on Cumberland Isand and lots of dolphins jumping around the boat. Sunset was beautiful
Great trip led by a great guide - Kyle. A serene look at a couple islands on the Florida and Georgia border. Dolphins, a bald eagle, and wild horses were all part of the experience. Will be bringing back the grandchildren for my next visit!
All 6 of us greatly enjoyed our excursion with Zach. We saw dolphins, wild horses and white pelicans. Scenery was beautiful and the only drawback was the weather…. It was a bit chilly!
Zac with Riptide took our family along the intercoastal waterway and Cumberland Isl river for 2 hours on boat. The trip was as described, so many cool birds and animals. The boat was comfortable and sturdy. Zac is local, knowledgeable and clearly loves the water, history and ecology. 5 stars! Thank you for a great tour.
Zach with Riptide was an excellent pilot guide and was very knowledgeable. If we could he would get 20 stars! This tour was so much fun. If in Amelia island it is a must do.
Absolutely amazing! We had so much fun as a family. Our tour guide Kyle is knowledgeable and kind! We saw lots of dolphins, several types of birds and learned some history about nearby islands and maritime stuff.
Kyle was so great! We learned a little and saw a variety of animals we hadn’t expected to see. We will definitely book this again.
Zack was fabulous. He was extremely knowledgeable and created a great experience. He knew where to go to see the best wildlife. Couldn't have been a better time.
Kyle was an excellent Captain and my family had a great time. Would definitely do again. We saw lots of wildlife and learned a lot about how the area
Kyle’s knowledge of nature kept everyone interested. We saw a shark, porpoises, a horse, birds! So beautiful!! Thank you for the day!!
The operator has not returned any of my emails. I was coming to Florida from out of state flights were being cancelled during Milton and I requested to cancel Viator confirmed that it would not be a problem because of the impending storm however since then I have heard NOTHING and have not received my payment back. VERY disappointed!
Our tour guide Zach did an excellent job navigating and explaining the wildlife, ecosystems and history of the area. Was great personal experience. We had a group of four. Drinks were provided which was appreciated. Very casual and enjoyable. Highly recommended.
We had an amazing and informative time with our guide Kyle! He took us all around and was great at explaining everything in a fun way! We saw dolphins, shrimp boats, birds, wild horses and so much cool local landscape. Highly recommend this experience! Thanks Kyle from your Miami/Florida Keys Friends
This was a wonderful boating expedition. Zack is an amazing captain and he was also with us the day prior for the SUP tour (also great fun). Riptide Watersports is a perfect one stop shopping place for all your rental needs, from beach chairs to boat rides.
We loved our boat trip. We saw lots of wildlife and heard lots of history. Absolutely recommend ! Guide was awesome
Excellent trip! Brandon was awesome! Enjoyed our boat trip and would definitely do it again! Saw the wild horses and dolphins! And, Pippi Longstocking’s house! Make sure they show it to you! Brandon gave great tips on where to eat (local style) and the historic district! It was a great day on the water!! Thank you, Brandon!!
Kyle was the most amazing captain and tour guide! ❤️ he was extremely educated on the area and was full of great information. He was very very kid friendly and was kind to all of us on the boat. Our group’s ages ranged from 3-84 years old and everyone enjoyed the ride! We will definitely book again in the future!
Our granddaughters loved seeing the dolphins and the boat was super nice and Zach our guide/pilot was amazing.
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