Though you can see and interact with dolphins at the Gulf World Marine Park, locals and visitors will tell you: there’s nothing like observing them in the wild. Dolphin tours are a popular to-do in Panama City Beach, and often described by travelers as their favorite experience in PCB.
Similar to the area’s fishing charters, there are a variety of dolphin tours to choose from. If you want a more intimate wildlife-viewing experience, consider Dolphin and Snorkel Tours, which limits the number of guests on its boats to six people. The company also guarantees dolphin sightings because of its location at the Bay Point Marina (the closest marina to Shell Island, which is where dolphins are usually spotted). These tours, which typically last three hours, also include snorkel gear in case you’d like to get in the water to explore more.
Another company praised by recent visitors: Sea Screamer. These two-hour tours also cruise around St. Andrew Bay and the waters of Shell Island. Though this cruise is not as intimate in terms of the number of passengers it allows, it is cheaper: Adult tickets cost $22, compared to $65 per person on Dolphin and Snorkel Tours. Plus, Sea Screamer also offers sunset tours.