Vanderbilt Beach & Pelican Bay
The North Naples shoreline most visitors already know — beautiful sand, but no boat dock of ours; it’s the reason for the short drive south.
Departing Southwest Florida
Boat Tours in North Naples, Florida
North Naples — Vanderbilt Beach, Pelican Bay, Naples Park and the Mercato corridor — is a short, easy drive from our dock on Naples Bay. Come down for dolphins working Gordon Pass, empty-shell hunting on roadless Keewaydin Island, or a Gulf sunset that beats anything from a hotel balcony. The backwater side of Naples is calmer, wilder and a lot less crowded than the beach out front.
Drive timeAbout 15–20 minutes to our Naples Bay dock
Departs fromNaples Bay Resort & Marina, 1500 5th Ave S
You may seeDolphins, manatees, shells & Gulf sunsets
Great forVanderbilt Beach, Pelican Bay & Naples Park visitors
Why Head South
A short drive from the beach out front to the backwater everyone’s missing
North Naples covers a lot of gorgeous coastline — Vanderbilt Beach, Pelican Bay, Naples Park, the Ritz-Carlton and Mercato corridor, all the way up toward Wiggins Pass and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. It’s beautiful Gulf-front sand, and plenty of it, but our boats don’t launch from any of those beaches. When you want dolphins, an empty-shell island beach or a proper Gulf sunset instead of the view from your balcony, the closest way onto the water is a short drive south to our dock on Naples Bay.
From Vanderbilt Beach or Pelican Bay it’s about fifteen to twenty minutes down US 41 or Goodlette-Frank Road to Naples Bay Resort & Marina at 1500 5th Avenue South — often quicker than fighting season traffic to Mercato. From there your captain idles past the waterfront mansions of Port Royal, through Gordon Pass where wild dolphins like to work the current, and on to Keewaydin Island, a roadless barrier island with shelling that puts the beach out front to shame.
That backwater side of Naples — the bay, the pass, the barrier islands — is calmer and wilder than the open Gulf beach North Naples visitors already know, and it’s where our USCG-licensed captains spend every working day. Whether you’re staying a week at a Vanderbilt Beach resort or you live up near Naples Park year-round, book a Naples dolphin, shelling or sunset tour and see the side of this coast the beach chairs miss.
- About 15–20 minutes from Vanderbilt Beach & Pelican Bay to our Naples Bay dock
- Port Royal mansions, Gordon Pass & Keewaydin Island in one trip
- Wild dolphins & empty-shell beaches (Collier County: empty shells only)
- Shared small-group trips or a fully private charter
Pick Your Adventure
Boat tours to book from Naples Bay
All depart Naples Bay Resort & Marina, a short drive south of North Naples (or run as a private charter on your schedule). Tap a tour for full details and live booking.
Shelling ToursHunt rare shells on remote barrier islands the tide just refilled.
Dolphin & WildlifeWild bottlenose dolphins, manatees, ospreys & roseate spoonbills.
Sunset CruisesGolden-hour Gulf cruising as the sky lights up over the water.
Beach & IslandCastaway on a roadless Gulf island for swimming, sandcastles & shells.
Private ChartersThe whole boat is yours — a captain and a route built around you.
Two Sides of North Naples
Where our trips go from the Naples dock
The beach out front is gorgeous — this is the water most North Naples visitors never see.
Wiggins Pass & Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
The inlet at the north end of Vanderbilt Beach, a separate pass from the one our boats use — a pretty landmark, not a departure point.
Naples Bay Resort & Marina
Our closest dock to North Naples, about 15–20 minutes south on 5th Avenue South downtown.
Port Royal & Gordon Pass
Millionaire’s Row mansions and the dolphin-rich inlet where Naples Bay spills into the Gulf.
Keewaydin Island
A roadless barrier island south of Gordon Pass with shelling that outclasses anything reachable by car.
Rookery Bay
A 110,000-acre protected estuary of mangroves and birdlife just south of downtown Naples.
🐬 Dolphins work Gordon Pass and Naples Bay year-round — the payoff for the short drive south.
Who Makes the Drive
Worth it for these kinds of North Naples days
Whoever’s in town, there’s a short drive south and the right boat waiting.
Vanderbilt Beach & hotel guests
Already steps from the sand — add a short drive south for dolphins, shelling or a sunset you can’t get from a lounge chair.
Pelican Bay & Naples Park residents
A quick trip down 5th Avenue South turns any weekend into a boat day on Naples Bay or the Gulf.
Snowbirds & seasonal visitors
Wintering in North Naples? A dolphin or sunset cruise is an easy addition — the drive is short and the water is close.
Families staying near Mercato
Trade the pool for a real Gulf beach day — shelling, swimming and dolphins on a roadless island.
On the Water
What’s waiting south of North Naples
Tap any photo to look closer.
Keep Exploring
Nearby waters & planning help
Driving in from elsewhere around Naples? These help too.
Boat Tours in Naples, FLThe full picture of every tour departing our downtown Naples dock.
Boat Tours from Vanderbilt Beach, FloridaA closer look at the beach right at North Naples’ front door.
Boat Tours from East Naples, FloridaAnother close-in feeder area on the way to our Naples dock.
Boat Tours from Golden Gate EstatesDriving in from further inland? Here’s the honest drive time.
Boat Tours for Seniors: Calm-Water CruisesSmooth, easy trips for grandparents and less mobile guests.
Good to Know
North Naples boat tour questions
What Vanderbilt Beach, Pelican Bay & Naples Park visitors ask most before booking.
Do your boat tours leave from North Naples or Vanderbilt Beach?
No — we don’t have a dock in North Naples. Our closest departure is Naples Bay Resort & Marina at 1500 5th Avenue South, about a 15–20 minute drive south of Vanderbilt Beach and Pelican Bay.
How far is North Naples from your Naples dock?
Most of North Naples — Vanderbilt Beach, Pelican Bay, Naples Park — is about 15 to 20 minutes from Naples Bay Resort & Marina via US 41 or Goodlette-Frank Road, depending on traffic.
Is the Naples dock closer than Goodland for North Naples visitors?
Yes. Naples Bay Resort & Marina downtown is the shorter drive from North Naples; our Goodland dock near Marco Island is roughly another 20–25 minutes further south.
Will we see dolphins near Vanderbilt Beach?
Wiggins Pass off Vanderbilt Beach is a different inlet from the one our boats run. On a Naples tour through Gordon Pass, wild dolphins turn up on the great majority of trips, though sightings of wild animals are never guaranteed.
Is shelling good for North Naples visitors?
Yes — our shelling trips run to Keewaydin Island, a roadless barrier island south of Gordon Pass, from the Naples dock. It’s empty shells only per Collier County rules, and the shelling is good year-round, not just one season.
Can we book a private charter from North Naples?
Absolutely. Any of our Naples-departure tours can go private — just your group and a captain, with a route built around your day, still launching from Naples Bay a short drive south.
Reserve Your Seats
Book your North Naples boat tour
Live availability and instant confirmation — pick your date and trip and check out securely through FareHarbor, or call and a local captain will help you plan the short drive south.
A short drive south
See the water North Naples doesn’t get from the beach
Port Royal mansions, Gordon Pass dolphins and shelling on a roadless island — all a short drive from Vanderbilt Beach and Pelican Bay. Book your Naples boat tour today.