Hilton Head Sunset Cruises & Evening Boat Tours
A boat tour to enjoy the lowcountry’s beautiful sunsets is a popular and relaxing way to end your day in Hilton Head.
Tours fall into several different types. Small boat tours provide a more intimate experience, and usually the possibility to get closer up to dolphins and other wildlife you might see. Tours on 2-person, self-driven catamarans (led by a guide on another vessel) cover a lot more ground but are faster paced.
Another option is to take a tour aboard a larger vessel, with boats carrying from 12 or so passengers up to many dozen offering sunset excursions into the waters around Hilton Head. In general, the larger the boat, the more budget-friendly the tour!
For a different experience, sailing tours are also available timed to enjoy the lowcountry sunset, on traditional sailing yachts and on sailed catamarans.
Another option if you want a sunset tour is to charter a private boat for your trip, which will also allow more flexibility as to destination. If you have five or six people in your group, the price is often comparable to a public tour.
→ Hilton Head weather by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
See also:
– Sailing tours (including sunset sails)
– Bluffton tours (including sunset cruises of the May River)
– Boat rentals and charters
– Hilton Head festivals
!Tours may be changed or withdrawn without notice. Please check all details directly with the company or guide before making reservations.
2-Person Catamarans
– Sunset Creek Cat Cruise, with One HHI
2hrs. Ages 5+ only. Evenings daily. Adults $119, children $99.
Guided self-driven sunset Creek Cat tour of the waters around Hilton Head. Call 843-684-2004 or book online. More details
– Sunset Tour, with Bluewater Adventure
2hrs30. Ages 5+ only. Evenings daily. Adults $135, children (5-12) $110.
Guided self-driven sunset nature and sightseeing tour in a 2-person powered catamaran. Call 843-422-9119 or book online. More details
Small Boats (Up To 6 Passengers)
– Sunset Cruise, with Dolphin Discoveries Nature Tours (Kayak Hilton Head)
2hrs15. 6 people max. Adults $55, children (12 and under) $40.
Sunset boat tour of the waters near Hilton Head Island. 4-person minimum, smaller groups can be combined. Call 843-684-1911 or book online. More details
– Sunset Cruise, with Live Oac
1hr30. 6 people max. Available March-October. Private tour $248 per boat.
Sunset boat tour out of Skull Creek. Call 843-384-1414 or book online. More details
– Romantic Cruise, with Island Time Charters
2hrs. 6 people max. Seasonal tour. $365.
Private sunset cruise of the waters around Hilton Head, with flowers and chocolate strawberries provided. Call 816-261-2410 or contact online for reservations. More details
– Sunset Cruise, with Island Time Charters
2hrs or 3hrs. 6 people max. Available daily. 2 hours $325, 3 hours $385.
Private boat tour of the waters around Hilton Head. Call 816-261-2410 or book online. More details
Larger Boats
– Sunset Dolphin Cruise, with Sonny C Charters
1hr30. Available daily. Adults $22, children (2-11) $11, young children (0-1) free.
Sunset dolphin-watching and sightseeing boat tour of Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound. Call 843-681-2522 or book online. More details
– Sunset Dolphin Watch Cruise, with Captain Mark’s Dolphin Cruise
1hr45. April-October. Adults $25, children (3-12) $13, young children (0-2) free.
Sunset dolphin-watching boat tour out of Shelter Cove Harbor. Call 843-785-4558 or book online. More details
– Sunset Dolphin Cruise, with Vagabond Cruise
1hr30. Adults $37, children (3-12) $13.50, young children (0-2) free.
Sunset dolphin-watching and sightseeing tour of the estuary south of Hilton Head, aboard a large passenger boat. Call 843-363-9026 or book online. More details
– Sunset Cruise, with Island Explorer
2hrs. 12 people max. Adults $45, children (12 and under) $35.
Sunset dolphin-watching boat tour of Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound. Call 843-785-2100 or book online. More details
– Sunset Dolphin Tour, with H20 Sports
1hr30. 15 people max. Adults $45, children (12 and under) $35.
Sunset dolphin-watching boat tour from Harbour Town. Call 843-671-4386 or book online. More details
– Wine & Cheese Sunset Alligator Tour, with H20 Sports
1hr30. 12 people max. Adults only. $49 per person.
Sunset alligator-watching boat tour of Sea Pines Forest Preserve, with wine and cheese. Call 843-671-4386 or book online. More details
– Sunset Dinner Cruise, with Vagabond Cruise
2hrs. Adults $70, children (3-12) $30, young children (0-2) free.
Sightseeing sunset dinner cruise of Calibogue Sound and vicinity, aboard a large passenger boat. Indoor or on-deck seating available. Call 843-363-9026 or book online. More details
Fireworks Tours By Boat
One of Hilton Head’s most popular summer events is the weekly fireworks display at Shelter Cove each Tuesday evening. The fireworks displays run from mid June through mid August, part of the annual HarbourFest summer entertainment series.
If you want to enjoy the fireworks show from a boat, several tours are available that time an evening sunset dolphin-watching boat or kayak tour to return to Broad Creek in time to watch the display from the water.
– Fireworks Tour, with Dolphin Seafari
2hrs30. 20 people max. Seasonal tour, Tuesday evenings. Adults $45, children (0-12) $35.
Sunset dolphin tour from Shelter Cove Marina on a 30-foot pontoon boat, including fireworks viewing. Restroom available onboard. Call 843-785-2345 or book online. More details
– Sunset & Fireworks Dolphin Tour, with One HHI
2hrs15. 22 people max. Seasonal tour, Tuesday evenings. Adults $55, children (2-12) $45, young children (0-1) free.
Dolphin-watching and sightseeing tour of the waters near Hilton Head on a covered pontoon boat, from Palmetto Bay Marina, also seeing the Shelter Cove Harbor fireworks. Call 843-684-2004 or book online. More details
– Fireworks Cruise, with Sky Pirate Parasail
2hrs. 12 people max. Seasonal tour, Tuesday evenings. $50 per person.
Boat tour out of Broad Creek Marina, to coincide with the fireworks at Shelter Cove Harbor. Call 843-842-2566 or book online. More details
– Fireworks Tour, with Dolphin Discoveries Nature Tours (Kayak Hilton Head)
2hrs30. 6 people max. Seasonal tour, Tuesday evenings. Adults $55, children (12 and under) $40.
Dolphin-spotting boat tour near Hilton Head Island, then return to Broad Creek to view the fireworks at Shelter Cove Harbor. Call 843-684-1911 or book online. More details
– Fireworks Cruise, with Island Time Charters
6 people max. Seasonal tour, Tuesday evenings. $350.
Private sunset boat tour of the waters around Hilton Head, then view the fireworks at Shelter Cove Harbor. Call 816-261-2410 or contact online. More details
– Fireworks Dolphin Watch Cruise, with Captain Mark’s Dolphin Cruise
2hrs. Seasonal tour, Tuesday evenings. Adults $30, children (3-12) $20, young children (0-2) free.
Dolphin-watching boat tour out of Shelter Cove Harbor, including a viewing of the Shelter Cove Fireworks. Large boat with indoor and outdoor seating areas. Call 843-785-4558 or book online. More details
Dining & Drinking Cruises
– Dinner Cruise, with Island Time Charters
3hrs+. 6 people max. $350 for 3 hours plus $50 per additional 30 minutes.
Private boat cruise to a nearby waterfront restaurant at Daufuskie Island, Palmetto Bluff or Skull Creek. Food is not included. Call 816-261-2410 or contact online. More details
– Brunch and Lunch Cruise, with Island Time Charters
3hrs+. 6 people max. $300 for 3 hours plus $50 per additional 30 minutes.
Private boat cruise to a nearby waterfront restaurant at Daufuskie Island, Palmetto Bluff or Skull Creek. Food is not included. Call 816-261-2410 or contact online. More details
More Things To Do In & Near Hilton Head Island
– Dolphin tours
– Ecology boat tours
– Kayaking
– Paddle boarding
– Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
– Hilton Head water sports