Wildlife Tour Of Indian River Lagoon With Experienced Captain

This is a great experience that family members visiting us here often ask to repeat. A river cruise to the mangroves to view avian and aquatic wild life. And we always see wildlife to justify the decision to book this lovely and relaxing cruise. Kevin narrates the history and sites of the area and is as charming and personable as can be. He and the captain have eyes peeled for dolphin, manatee and extensive water bird populations. Their new location in Oak Hill is easy to find and get to and their dock facility is new and much better than the old one on beachside. We could not keep track of how many dolphin we saw on this trip. Always a good time with family smiles all around. Thanks Kevin. Also for sending us to Chase’s on the beach. Brunch was great.

For the first voyage from a new location, everyone was pleasant, helpful, and provided a wealth of information/history about the sites of the area. Jessi was a knowledgeable and friendly captain as were the other two captains aboard.

We drove up to the area specifically to take this wildlife boat tour, and it turned out to be well worth the trip. We booked through TripAdvisor the same day without any difficulty and joined a group of six other people to make up four couples. The tour currently departs from a location behind a private house with a small parking lot available for guests, although we were told they will be moving to a new location at the beginning of August. We met our captain, Jesse, and first mate, Evan, before boarding. Our departure was delayed by a few minutes because the first mate arrived late, and for a short time it looked like the trip might even be canceled. Fortunately, everything worked out, and we were soon on our way. We hadn't been on the water very long before we spotted our first dolphins, and from that point on the trip just kept getting better. Jesse and Evan did an excellent job explaining the history of the area, pointing out the local wildlife, oyster beds, and many of the sights along the river. We traveled south and were fortunate enough to see several dolphins and even a few manatees during the tour. The boat has seating all along both sides with a large open area in the middle, so it was easy to move around whenever dolphins or other wildlife appeared. During the trip, one of the passengers began suffering from heat exhaustion, and I was impressed with how calmly and professionally Jesse handled the situation while making sure everyone remained safe. Overall, this was a very relaxing and enjoyable tour. The river wasn't crowded, the scenery was beautiful, and there was an excellent chance to see several different types of wildlife. If you're looking for a peaceful boat ride with knowledgeable guides and a great opportunity to see dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife in their natural habitat, I would definitely recommend this tour. We were glad we made the drive just to experience it. Enjoy!

Very knowledgeable Captain that explains about the wildlife and surrounding areas that we traveled to. Highly recommend this adventure

Second time , first time with the grandkids. The girls were excited when they seen the manatees. It started right at the dock before we pulled off from the pier . Plenty of encounters with the manatees but the dauphins were few and far between, might be we were in between tides during the trip if that matters. Both Captains were very informative, if you haven’t taken this trip it’s a ton of history in this stretch of the Indian River.

Everything was fine. Very easy to buy online and constant updates prior to trip

We had a wonderful time with Captains Jesse & Austin. They found great spots for Manatee and Dolphin sightings. Lively narration and smooth sailing. Note: If you are sailing with them after August 1 call them to confirm your embarkation location since they are moving.

This was our second time. It was fantastic. Well worth every penny. Very professional and informative. No two trips are a like.

It was our 2nd trip! Very fun river cruise in a covered pontoon style boat. Saw dolphins, manatees and birds! Captain was excellent at history and wildlife in area! We have booked previously when we had out of town company. A great way to spend a few hours.

Informative great trip! Worth the money. Perfect time.

It was a great sunset cruise. We were able to see dolphins that ran behind the boat almost the entire way back. Our Captain Jessie did a great job directing us to the footprints of the manatees and rounded them up nicely for us! I would give 10 stars if I could!

The captain and the boat driver was amazing. Gave excellent tour answered everyone's questions. It was a blast.

Our already paid tour was cancelled 3 times. 1 due to weather and they called to reschedule that’s understandable. 2 due to not enough people so they called to reschedule due for later in the evening. 3 we drove out and there no one was there. We called and got no answer. Then we got a email while there telling us it was canceled AGAIN!! This is after we have got up and drove all the way to the provided location. We are from out of town and had no other plans for our last night in Daytona. Also we have not been refunded. This place is very unprofessional and inconsiderate of other people’s time and money.

Wonderful day trip with Kevein and Captain Jessie. Saw dolphins and our first time ever seeing manatees in the wild! Highly recommend when you travel to Smyrna Beach.

The crew was amazing! They were extremely knowledgeable which made the trip fun and very enjoyable. We were fortunate to see several dolphins, manatees (swam right up to the boat!), various aquatic birds, and even a gator basking in the sun. A “must do” when traveling to the area!

We had the most fantastic tour! We saw loads of dolphins,manatees, and interesting birds. We even saw an alligator, which was a bonus. Kevin and his team were friendly and informative. We highly recommend this tour and would definitely do it again when we are back in new Smyrna Beach.

This is a must do experience! Our family had a great time and saw dolphins and manatees. Kevin and Jessi were amazing on the whole tour. They are laid back and there is no rush. I would definitely do this again when I visit next

Capt. Jessie and First Mate Kevin were top notch guides. Jessie’s experience behind the wheel of a boat was obvious in her skillful maneuvering around manatees, dolphins and sandbars. We got a lot of local history (and lore) which made our adventure even more enjoyable. A+!

Wonderful experience! Our captain and first mate, Jessi and Kevin did an outstanding job from the time we boarded the boat to safely arriving back to shore. It was relaxing and enjoyable to learn a bit about the area and we were forunate to see any manatees and dolphins on our trip. We would highly recommend!

The owner/operator didn’t show up! I had a 5/18/26 6pm sunset cruise that I paid for! I called the owners office a little after 6pm, a listened to his recording and left a message with him asking that he call me back, he never did! I stayed there until 6:30, but nibody showed up or called! I required a full refund! !

we did the wildlife tour of indian river lagoon with Turtle mound river tours during our 3 week holiday to florida,this was the 4th time weve done this tour and all 4 were brilliant,the captain and his mate were very friendly,helpful and informative we saw tons of wildlife much of which was close up,the scenery is beautifull the boat is very comfortable there are free cold drinks available you just help yourself,we will definatly be doing this trip again,i would strongly recomend this trip to anyone who loves wildlife and calm boat trips,thank you guys.

Wonderful experience! Our captain and first mate, Jessi and Kevin did an outstanding job from the time we boarded the boat to safely arriving back to shore. It was relaxing and enjoyable to learn a bit about the area and we were forunate to see any manatees and dolphins on our trip. We would highly recommend!

We arrived early, parked the car and met Kevin. We talked to him for a little while. He pointed out to a couple of manatees by the dock. That was exciting to see plus the cabbage moths flying everywhere. We went on the boat on time with captain Jesse, first mate Kevin and a few other people. It was a wonderful experience going on this 2 hour tour, we saw a lot of dolphins and manatees, plus heard a lot of interesting history about this area. Thanks to Kevin we got to see the Canaveral National Seashore Park down the road and did some walking and got to see the Eldora State House + plus other things.☺️ We will highly recommend your tour, very friendly and informative. We will return when we come to this area again. 😌🙏 Mitch and Judith LaCosse

Very welcoming crew! The “ Captain “ did an excellent job sharing the habits and daily life of the sea animals. We were blessed to see many dolphins and manatees on our outing. Super exciting and a very enjoyable 2hour tour! We highly recommend booking a tour! Thanking for such a wonderful experience! We will definitely go again!

Perfect day, saw lots of wildlife. The crew were the best.

We were part of a group of 14. Captain Jesse and Kevin (also a captain) were informative, enthusiastic, and delightful. Gatorade and water were provided for hydration. I learned more about oyster farms that I ever knew and… saw dolphins and manatees! It was great fun! We will go again!

What a great time! Kevin and Jimmy were so friendly and personable. We saw a ton of dolphins and manatees. Heard lots of fun stories and had a great time. I’d highly recommend this trip!

Great trip. Captain and crew were attentive and showed us all the wildlife. The manatees were amazing. Highly recommend it!

Everything about this trip was wonderful! Captain Jim and Kevin were knowledgeable about the area and wildlife we saw. They made the trip fun by stopping to see manatee and maneuvering the boat so that dolphins could play and jump in our wake. I will definitely be back for another trip when I’m in the area.

Our Turtle Mougn River Tour was on a perfect weather day -- 75 and sunny and we certainly DID NOT need the long sleeves we brought along (not a high-speed adventure -- dress for the weather on land). (Also did not need to bring water -- water and sports drinks provided!) We saw lots of dolphins and manatee, as well as jumping rays. The crew was great and our captain was willing to linger and let us get our fill of photos and oohing/ahhing. We learned a lot about the area, the animals, and even about the best places for seafood. Completely enjoyable excursion for a good price.

Great knowledgeable staff. Captains were great. The trip was wonderful. And they took their time. Saw dolphins and manatees.

This trip was amazing! We had two knowledgeable captains, Jessie and Dolly who made this experience fun, enjoyable and we would it again. We saw a number of manatees and dolphins and had a gorgeous day on the boat!

This was a great day , lots of activity and fun female tour crew J and Dolly. It was beautiful and the ladies were the best, well worth the money!

AMAZING experience for our friends and even better than we remember from a cruise years back! The wildlife was abundant and putting on a show. Only thing that would have made it better was a launch from Cape Canaveral❣️

These guys were great. Highly recommend

We went on a boat ride on 4/5/26 and enjoyed it immensely. The Captain was friendly and knowledgeable and shared his knowledge on the history of Eldoro. We saw Manatee and Dolphins. The dolphins even followed us in the boat wake for awhile. It was great. Thank you.

I have been on many excursions of this type in the past however this was absolutely the best! We saw all types of wildlife, lots of manatees, dolphins and birds. The captain and the crew were excellent!

Very nice tour. Experienced captain and good knowledge of the area. Saw manatees, dolphins and many other things. A wonderful experience for all.

Had the best day on the water with Turtle Mound River Tours. I’ve done many wildlife tours in the past but this was absolutely the best. We saw so many manatees, dolphins and birds. Our Captain and crew were awesome! Way to go ladies. Will definitely return!

I have been on a lot of boat tours but this one was different. It felt more like you had gone to visit a friend at their house and they took you out on their boat. I really enjoyed the tour. It was relaxing and fun. Dolly made it extra fun! She is really a people person and her interactions with the people on the boat made it extra special. It was such a beautiful day after a lot of strange weather! I agree with Dolly, I could have stayed out there all day if we had some food :). Thank you to Dolly and Captain Jesse for a wonderful tour! I will be back with family and friends:).

Beautiful day on the water with knowledgeable guides. Provided water and Gatorade, bathroom on board

Great tour with knowledgeable Captain Jim and First Mate Kevin! We saw dolphins, 2 manatee, and a variety of birds. And learned a lot about the area. Highly recommend if you are in the Daytona area! They also do a fresh oyster boat tour once a month where you can learn all about oysters and eat them on the boat, if that is of interest!

Went on a morning tour. Weather could not have been better. Bottlenose Dolphins and Florida Manatees both got the email to show-up for our tour. We felt special. Stopped counting after 20 some sightings. Well worth the fee for admission. Don't forget to share your pleasure by leaving the Captain and his First Mate a generous tip.

Took the tour today and had a wonderful time! Would highly recommend Turtle Mound River Tours! It was a 2 hr tour and thought the price was reasonable. It was very interesting the Captain and mate were very knowledgeable. We saw a lot of dolphins and coming back they decided to follow us and play! They were jumping and catching the waves from the boat. 🐬 We had a great time! Thanks, The Mitchell’s from Ohio!

On a beautiful March afternoon, we were so lucky to spend two hours with our captains Jess & Dolly, cruising down the Intercostal Waterway. A safe and gentle ride gave us the opportunity to experience close up views of about a dozen feeding manatees, half a dozen graceful playful dolphins and two majestic blue cranes! While listening to a running commentary about the historic significance of the land we were passing and interesting facts about the wildlife we were seeing, there were numerous opportunities for both picture taking and just sitting back and taking it all in. Without any hesitation, this boat ride is recommended for families and individuals of all ages. Make a reservation and go enjoy!!

We booked a large group of 12 the day before. They were very responsive. The tour itself was awesome! The Capt and Dolly were awesome in their customer service, knowledge of the wildlife, and boating skills! We saw lots of dolphins and manatees up close. Loved the great stories, atmosphere, ability to move about, and the free drinks. Absolutely recommend!

Excellent experience. Knowledgeable and helpful crew. Great information, especially on the National seashore nearby. They accommodated parking our 24 foot long van, that is 10 feet tall.

We had it's the greatest time on this tour! There was wildlife everywhere, and we were able to see manatees and dolphins up close, as well as many beautiful water birds! Our captain had so many interesting facts to share about the history of the area and the creatures that live there. The ride was very comfortable and enjoyable. This is a boat tour we will absolutely do again! HIGHLY recommend!

Outstanding tour of the bay waters on a beautiful day in New Smyrna. We saw plenty of wildlife both in and out of the water. The crew was knowledgeable and entertaining and provided us with a memorable 2 hour relaxing day on the water. Highly recommended!!