The 10,000 Islands Shelling Excursion is our most extensive shelling experience — 3.5 hours deep into the heart of the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge, visiting multiple barrier island beaches accessible only by boat.
Marco Island sits at the gateway to one of the most productive shelling ecosystems in the United States. Gulf currents, tidal patterns, and protected barrier islands create ideal conditions for lightning whelks, horse conchs, alphabet cones, junonia, sand dollars, and dozens more.
Your Florida Master Naturalist guide leads you to the most productive beaches based on that day's tides, winds, and conditions — helping you identify every species you find and explaining its biology and ecological role.
Beyond shelling, this extended tour gives you time to fully absorb the extraordinary natural environment. Wildlife sightings — dolphins, manatees, bald eagles, roseate spoonbills — are woven throughout the entire 3.5-hour experience.
The 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most biodiverse coastal ecosystems in North America. Here is what guests consistently encounter:
Tours depart from 750 Palm Point Dr, Goodland, FL 34140 — east of Marco Island. Free parking at the dock. Arrive 15 minutes early.