The Original Dolphin Watch

We booked the sunset boat ride and it was absolutely magical! 🌅 The captain and crew were not only knowledgeable but also super friendly and approachable. They even let us pet a starfish they had caught earlier in the day, which made the experience extra special. Overall, such a memorable and relaxing trip — highly recommend!

We had so much fun on the Original Dolphin Watch! Aside from dolphins, we also saw Great Blue Herons and Brown Pelicans! The hosts are very knowledgeable about the area. They also showed us Butterfly Rays and Pufferfish on this day. We even got to see a baby dolphin and that was the big highlight of the trip. I highly recommend this for some great family fun🐬🐬

We got to see tons of dolphins including baby ones. The two deck crews, Carlos and John, were attentive and provided a great service and made everyone feel welcome and safe. Captain did a great job providing lots of information about the maritime life and made the trip so enjoyable. Keep it up guys!

Took a charter trip out to artifical reef for Red Snapper. Had a absolute great time. Our staff, Roy and Harley were outstanding! Great guys and definitely patient! They worked the crowd above and beyond. Can't really say enough good for these two. Boat was nice and kept clean. Great charter and a must if you're into fishing! We plan on a return trip and hopefully the same staff!

John, Sonny & Jesse were AWESOME!! Great captain & deck hands. We saw like SIX schools of dolphins right off the bat. For the first 45/hour of the tour. It was AMAZING!!! Never saw that many Then they chased the waves of the boat. SO COOL!!! Great dolphin watch, highly recommend!!!

I went with low expectation of actually seeing dolphins since no matter how knowledgeable you are of where they may be, you cant make them surface, but we not only saw 1 we saw about 7 mamas and baby dolphins. Staff were friendly, welcoming and offered to take a family/group photo for us. I got some beautiful pictures of the sunset as well.

Less than $20 per person for an hour and a half tour. The boat was big, clean, and comfortable. The crew was amazing. We did the sunset tour. Best sunset views and photo opportunities ever. What a great way to enjoy the island. I highly recommended it.

Easy check in if you prepay online. Staff was friendly. Arrive early for best seats. Byob is good and small restrooms on board. Fireworks and dolphins made it a great night. Tipping is appreciated and deserved

Awesome the whole experience was just what my group and I needed. The view of the dolphins and the sunset combination couldn't have been more enjoyable

We booked the sunset dolphin experience and it was incredible. The crew were knowledgeable, fun, respectful, professional, engaging, and friendly. They definitely helped to elevate the atmosphere. We were hoping for dolphins jumping like the photos but obviously you can't predict that and we did see quite a few swimming nearby. We enjoyed learning some history of SPI and the entire tour itself. A little surprise at the end was seeing a sea slug and puffer fish on board! Our boys (teens) loved it!

Absolutely wonderful!!! This was one of the BEST activities we did! Not only was the excursion exciting but the price was really reasonable--$19. I highly recommend this activity---fun for family and kids!

Saw lots of dolphins, one jellyfish, and several shore birds. The eco tour also provided a blue crab and butterfly ray to see up close and touch - was fun as I recommend for all ages

The tour had us engaged every minute we were on the boat from the time we left the shore to the time we returned. Perfect tour if you have kiddos or family...my 16 and 8 year old both enjoyed the entire tour. We did the 10:30 am tour so it was perfect timing as it was too too hot nor super crowded, so check-in was easy and swift. They allow you to bring your own cooler on board and they also have light snacks like chips, soda, water and juices for purchase on board as well. Great mixture of tunes during the tour. The whole experience and tour was great. Would definitely recommend!

Great experience! Very kid friendly! My boys are 4 and 8 and won't stop talking about it!

Great experience overall, friendly staff, saw many dolphins. Enjoyed the boat, plenty of shade.

The original dolphin watch is the BEST! Don't look else where, go with the guys who are all from the island! They are fun and you WILL see lots of dolphins!

10/10 Carlos was so nice! We did the 3 pm dolphin/echo tour. I would recommend doing a time with the echo tour versus only the dolphins; it won't disappoint you! The wind was blowing, and it was beautiful and relaxing; we weren't hot at all. They offer purchased drinks, chips, candy, etc. You can get snow cones when arriving, which our 7-year-old loved.

Such a wonderful boating tour company. They never disappoint, excellent service, most friendly staff. Highly recommend.

Our tour was fantastic! The crew was polite, professional, and very informative regarding the sea life around the bay. Boat was clean as well. Highly recommended!

Isla Tours was great & friendly, although the parking lot was overloaded when we arrived, but the previous ship-full of passengers were able to make room for our sunset cruise participants! The boat was spacious & had a great upstairs for ease of viewing! Angie & the ship's crew were vocal about dolphins once spotted, and it became a game to be the first to spot a dolphin & yell it out! We had a fantastic time (especially for the price- this was the least expensive activity we did all weekend, but best bang for the buck), and we took our best vacation photos on this sunset cruise! Fantastic group & we'll definitely be back to see y'all!

Knowledgeable crew! We had so much fun, we saw a lot of dolphins and the eco tour was really awesome.

The original dolphin watch was a lot of fun! We booked online and the process was super smooth. We boarded 5 minutes before departure and got a spot on the top deck for the 7 to 830 PM time slot. Plenty of room on board for folks to move around and the staff were helpful in pointing out dolphins and other marine life! Toward the end of the tour, the captain let kids come and sit in the captains chair and the staff also had a giant sea snail for everyone to see and touch. My kids had a blast and my wife and I also really enjoyed it. It truthfully was made better by the staff on the boat going around and talking to kids and I was especially touched when one of the staff sat with someone who was vision impaired and described the dolphins and stingrays and took a picture with the person's phone so they could zoom in and see it.

We went on the dolphin tour Thursday 4-24 and it was the best experience! We were lucky and had a small group so we learned a lot and we saw so many dolphins. Thanks again!

Fantastic crew and amazing experience. Worth every penny. We will be back for another trip the next time we are down there.

Every time we come to the island, we take a Dolphin trip with these guys! Always a pleasant experience! Staff are pleasant and attentive and we always see dolphins. Worth the trip!

This was a wonderful trip. Did not expect the adventures with the pirate ship and the wonderful Eagle net where we got to see live Marina and learn things about like the blue crab. It was so wonderful. Highly recommended to anybody booking this excursion.

Very organized and entertaining! Our hosts were informative and fun. Plus, we raced some dolphins!

This Dolphin Watch was a fun experience and everyone should do this at least once in their lifetime. The waiting space was okay but could use a little expansion because of the traffic from those purchasing tickets to those preparing to board. It was very chaotic. The young lady at the kiosk was friendly but we had to tell her that we needed out tickets. It seemed as if she just started working for the company and may not have known a lot about the cruise. Smaller groups should be allowed to board before larger groups. The tour guide was good but could use some coaching and being more vocal during the trip. In other words, he needs to say more about whatever spots may be of importance. The tour itself was interesting and fun but, we ended up on the second floor which meant that we were directly under the sun. It was super hot yet beautiful and seeing the dolphins was obviously the highlight of our day.

This was the best sunset dolphin boat tour! They really know their stuff and how to get the dolphins to come out!

Captain and First Mate were awesome! Not only were they knowledgeable about anything we asked - but they made sure to find the dolphins for us and kept us safe during the entire ride. Thanks for the eco-lesson at the end of the trip. We recommend. 10/10

The captain and crew did everything they could to spot dolphins and follow the pods. Also, they captured a puffer fish and a starfish in tanks for us to touch and gave us a talk on their attributes. Very pleased with the trip and the price can't be beat.

Great experience! Booked the sunset watch. Online booking was easy. The GPS gave strange directions but the facility was located next to a restaurant so it was easy to find. Staff was friendly and very professional.

It was awesome!! Highly recommend. Kids had a blast so did my husband and I. (: They let you touch sea creatures also at the end!!

Crew extremely friendly, and informative. Price is very good for tour. Highly recommend!

Had a great time, despite some cooler and windy weather. We saw lots of dolphins and it was a nice, comfortable atmosphere where you can move throughout the boat during the trip. There are restrooms on board if needed. Would highly recommend for a family-friendly activity. We had our 2, 5, and 7 year old as well as aunts and grandparents and all had an enjoyable time! The staff is nice and personable as well.

The crew did a great job getting us close to the dolphins. Thank you for the great time and pix.

We had a great time! Very knowledgeable staff. Plenty of time on the boat and on the water. More than just a dolphin watch. We learned about other marine life and the island itself. We will be doing this again!

A must do while staying in South Padre! The eco tour is a great value and educational. Fun for the whole family. We will be going back.

The crew was fun, interactive and amazing! We had originally booked with another company that cancelled my reservation twice. I was so upset but ultimately glad it happened, otherwise I never would have found The Original Dolphin Watch! I've already told all of my friends that if they ever go to SPI...they HAVE to do the dolphin eco tour with The Original Dolphin Watch!

We had a great time for an extremely reasonable price. We saw lots of dolphins, kudos to our captain, and were able to get a great view of the Space X facility. I can't say enough about Angie, our boat (Murphy's Law) First Mate. She was very attentive to the guests needs, always making sure we were in the best position to see the dolphins, and was as friendly as a person can be. We plan to take this trip again, and Angie is a big reason why.

Captain Patrick and Angie were awesome. 10/10 recommend. I look forward to going back!!

Had a lovely ride on this little cruise. Got lucky that we spotted a small little family of Dolphins and the eco tour of where they show you different marine life that they catch was very educational. Definitely a must do for South padre!

This place was amazing! We saw tons of dolphins, you can stand outside on the boat or inside where it is cooler. The workers were super friendly and full of fun facts! Dolphins were coming up to the side of the boat and catching the waves the boat made. We also went out a lot deeper in the water than we expected and ended everything with an eco tour! They showed a creepy looking fish and a star fish which was really cool to see all their little legs move! Overall a very beautiful experience (: highly recommend

Our family had a lot of fun on the Original Dolphin Watch Cruise! We got to see a number of dolphins, including a baby We went on the 6:30 pm cruise and got to watch a gorgeous sunset over the Laguna Madre Bay as well! This is a very large boat so be prepared for a large crowd!

Alway got to try the dolphin boat ride when in south padre Texas... So fun for the whole family... B.Y.O.B makes this even better...

The original dolphin watch was such a great experience. It's very affordable and an easy check in once you arrive at the marina. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. And of course we got to see some dolphins !

Arrived 30 minutes before 5 as we were asked and just sat there. Didn't leave until after 5pm and returned before our 630pm time that our tickets said. I believe they overbook there was hardly any room to sit and one of us literally sat halfway off the seat to make room. We enjoyed being on the boat and seeing the sites.

Amazing sunset dolphin watch. Crew is very informative. No issues whatsoever, but be careful if you find yourself next to a pirate ship!!!

This is the second time we did this tour. Absolutely worth every penny. The captain and his mate really care that you get to see what you can. Easy check in, leaves on time, passenger safety important. We've done sunset cruise twice. They know exactly where to go. Next time going to try the eco tour.

The Original Dolphin Watch was Fabulous! The crew was great, and the boat is really nice with good seating areas for viewing and has an upper deck. We saw pods of dolphins! There are bathrooms on the boat, snacks, and drinks. Absolutely recommend!

Super easy to book on line and the tour was awesome. You will not be disappointed. The crew was very helpful - explained about sea life and made Sure we saw plenty of dolphins

First thing I have to mention is reserve your tickets online, get that discount!!! The crew was polite and informative. We saw a few dolphin pods, some even surfed alongside the boat! The thing that separates this one from others is they do a net drag and whatever they catch they show to the entire group, no matter where you're sitting. The ride is just long enough and the captain, Capt. Jesse, does his best to follow the dolphins. The deck hands Elliott was entertaining on the mic as well as when showing the ocean animals. I'm sorry I can't remember the other deck hand's name, they were all great!!! They do have snacks and refreshments for sale, don't forget your sunblock!!!

After researching several different dolphin watch companies, I went with this one based on other reviews and they were spot on. Super friendly and knowledgeable crew, beautiful boat (much nicer than the competitor's boat docked next to it), and interesting and successful dolphin watch! The ecotour is a bonus to any cruise and is a perfect opportunity for kids (small or big!) to see abs touch some of the marine life found in the water around the boat. Highly recommend!

They are knowledgeable about the area and history. You can hear them well on speakers upstairs and they play great music! They are great with the kids and pass around starfish to hold and put in entertainment with the pirate ship. Even with a sold out boat, we still still had great views and it was nice that you can get up and walk around. Interactive, great time and so affordable. Sunset is the way to go, watching it go down was so beautiful!

What a nice sunset ride. We saw atleast 20 dolphins if not more. The rude was smooth and very enjoyable for the whole family. Suggestions- none Moose Out

Took my family & had a blast. The eco part was great. They drag a net and capture marine life then talk about what they got & release. Super informative. Saw lots of dolphins. Did not disappoint!

We had a wonderful time! Booking tickets online was very easy, the boat left right on time, and we saw SO MANY DOLPHINS! At least 10-20 and the captain did a great job staying a close yet safe distance. After watching dolphins in the bay, we boated down the jetties then turned around to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful trip, the crew was friendly and let us roam the boat (up and downstairs), and the playlist was good too. Highly recommend the sunset tour!