This unique trip is not available elsewhere. If you are looking for a way to travel to an uninhabited barrier islands with white sand beaches, warm water and shelling galore then our ferry to Shell Key is the best choice for you and your loved ones. It departs from Fort De Soto's boat ramp. In the spring and the summer, our ferry boat is available almost every day of the year. The trip to the island takes approximately twenty minutes. There are great opportunities to spot manatees and sea turtles. The green ferry boat takes us to Shell Key and we often spot seabirds.
You can keep any shells that aren't inhabited. If you are looking for empty, unbroken shells in your area, it is worth snorkeling or wading at least knee-deep.
Shell Island is a nature preserve without any restrooms or other visitor facilities, such as trash bins, picnic tables or shade pavilions. There is no trash collection service. Island visitors are expected to take all their trash with them when they leave the Island.
For Panama City Beach residents looking for unspoiled white-sand beaches, Shell Island is a must-see spot. There is plenty of beach space on the island, as well as calm inshore waters that are ideal for snorkeling and swimming. The waters around the island are home to many colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. You can explore the Shell Island interior by foot, where you will find rare birds and other wildlife.
You may be able to see dolphins on the Ferry ride. Or, you might even spot them while snorkeling around Shell Island. These are wild dolphins and we don't offer scheduled dolphin encounters. Our Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours offer a great opportunity to see dolphins.
The Shell Island Ferry offers a discount of 20% off the price of each ticket for groups of 20 or more people when you pay as a group.
Shell Key is also home to a large nature preserve. Guests are restricted from half the island, which allows for the turtles and seabirds to enjoy a section unaffected beach. This area is home countless nesting birds and nesting tortles.
Visitors to your pitch may come on site, after paying the daily admission fee, £10.00 per car, between 8am till 8pm. During busy times when the site is full no day visitors will be admitted on to site.
You may arrive anytime between 8.00am and 8.00pm (9.00pm on Fridays) no admittance will be given outside of these times. Sites must be vacated by 3.00pm on the day of departure, if you wish to extend you stay please bring your car pass back to reception to book back in.
Once you get there it is all worth it, as it is the most beautiful water I've ever seen. It is like you are swimming in a pool it is so crystal clear. We didn't know what to expect with this so we went planning to spend a few hours on the island. Come expecting to spend all day!
Shell Island is on the west coast of Wales about 7 miles north of Barmouth. There is a road leading to there that you drive on, but at certain high tides the sea covers the road.