Built for sunset days on the water.
Laguna Madre Dolphin & Bay Tours — book direct with the crew.

1 hr 30 min · aboard Island Runner

Dolphin Watch Cruise

Wild bottlenose dolphins in the Laguna Madre

Ninety minutes on the bay looking for the resident dolphins that work the Brownsville Ship Channel. The captain narrates, the crew hands out cold water, and the upper deck is shaded. We see dolphins on most trips — never all of them, which is what makes it wild.

What you'll see

  • Wild bottlenose dolphins
  • Shaded upper deck
  • Narrated by the captain
  • Good for small children

Where we meet

Pier 19, 1 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597 · Open the map

What to bring

  • Sunscreen and a hat
  • A light jacket — it is cooler on the water
  • A camera with a strap

The boat

Island Runner · Catamaran · 46 ft · carries 42

Shaded upper deck, restroom aboard, and she is steady enough that nobody spends the trip holding the rail.

If the weather turns

If the captain calls the trip off for weather, every cent comes back — fare, extras and taxes — and we email you as soon as the call is made. You never have to ask.

Changes and cancellations

  • At least 5 days before departure, 100% comes back.
  • At least 1 day before departure, 50% comes back.
  • A no-show is not refunded.

Everyone aboard signs a short release before the trip — the links are emailed with your confirmation, and anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian to sign as well.