Top Charleston Water Tours

See the Charleston Harbor by boat with a leisurely sightseeing tour along the Cooper River to Fort Sumter National Monument. This fully-narrated tour focuses on Charleston, South Carolina history from Civil War sites to antebellum houses and landmarks, passes under Cooper River bridges, and explores a waterfront that’s home to bottlenose dolphins and pelicans.

Get out on the waters of Charleston Harbor during this cruise aboard an 84-foot-tall (25-meter) classic tall ship. As the crew hoists the sails of the schooner, you'll glide past some of the city's historical sights and watch for dolphins in the water. Drinks are available for purchase on board. Select a departure time when booking.

Watch the sun set above Charleston, South Carolina with a 2-hour sunset harbor cruise aboard a 45-foot motorized catamaran. Find a comfortable seat on deck, spot the landmarks of downtown Charleston and the waterfront, and watch for the dolphins and sea birds that thrive along the South Carolina shoreline. Enjoy a relaxing break from the city while spending a romantic evening on the water.

More than a welcome sight for sore eyes, the tidal marshes around Charleston are a hotbed for Lowcountry biodiversity. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of wildlife such as Loggerhead turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and more as you paddle down Folly Creek en route to the tidal creeks that wrap around the Hammock Islands. This leisurely paced kayaking tour is capped at 12 participants for a more personalized experience.

Explore Charleston by water taxi with this convenient harbor cruise. Utilize quick and scenic water-based transportation to reach several popular landmarks including Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum and the Aquarium. Check out attractions like Joe Riley Waterfront Park and the Charleston Harbor Marina at your leisure. Keep an eye out for dolphins during the cruise.

Cruise through Lowcountry tidal creeks and marshes en route to the uninhabited Morris Island on this boat cruise from the Charleston area. A private boat company launches from Bowens Island for the scenic ride through an estuary rich in biodiversity before a soft landing on Morris Island. Spend free time to taking photos of the historic Morris Island Lighthouse, combing for seashells, and looking out for birds, sea turtles, and dolphins before your return.

Take in views of some of Charleston’s top historic sights from a unique perspective with this panoramic dinner cruise through Charleston Harbor. Enjoy a three-course dinner and full-service bar as you cruise past Fort Sumter, the Battery, and Ravenel Bridge. Capture spectacular harbor views, watch the sunset (for summer cruises), and relax to live musical entertainment on board.

Ride a horse-drawn carriage through the heart of historic Charleston on a guided tour through the heart of the city. Soak up the old fashioned charm of cobblestone streets lined with antebellum houses, lush gardens, and landmark churches as you listen to stories about Charleston history, architecture, and culture.

Experience more than 300 years of history on this guided carriage tour of Charleston. See the many mansions, churches, and gardens as your horse-drawn carriage tour covers more than 2.5 miles and 30 blocks of historic Charleston. Belgian and Percheron draft horses will you lead you through the streets while you learn about this “Holy City” and its role in the Civil War.

This Charleston ghost cruise brings you to the city’s spooky sites that can’t be reached on foot. Board a 45-foot catamaran and set sail on the Charleston Harbor, passing by the sites of pirate attacks, naval battles, and more. As you sail, your guide tells haunting stories of Charleston’s past.

See Charleston from the water during a dinner cruise that includes a barbecue buffet and live entertainment. Watch the sky change color as the sun sets, and take in sweeping views of Charleston. Choose from classic dishes such as pulled pork, smoked chicken, mac and cheese, and coleslaw, and have the option to purchase drinks from the bar.

Get behind the wheel of an F13 speedboat for a guided tour of Charleston Harbor. Learn the basics of operating the speedboat from your guide, and then follow the guide boat past the Battery, under the Ravenel Bridge, to the USS Yorktown, and more, stopping for photo ops and to optionally change drivers.

See Charleston from the water, and enjoy a luxurious way to admire the sights, with this private sailing charter. This flexible experience is tailored to your preferences: pick your own departure time, bring aboard a picnic and drinks (or upgrade for gourmet catering), and request a photographer if you want to capture the moment. As you go, circle the Charleston Harbor, see landmarks like Fort Sumter, and enjoy a relaxing ambiance.

Learn more about the city of Charleston and its landmark harbor as you cruise through the waters with this sightseeing cruise. Set off on a comfortable pleasure craft and skirt the coastline to take in the skyline and top historic sites like Fort Sumter, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, The Battery, the Ravenel Bridge, and Castle Pinckney. Gain a better understanding of the city’s colorful past with live narration during the cruise.

On this tour, the boat ride through Folly Beach's most pristine marshlands is a must do and an adventure in itself. Along the way, your captain will teach you about our local estuary and the wildlife that inhabit it while you get to see them up close, including bottlenose dolphins. Once at Morris Island you will be able to enjoy a quiet beach, look for the various sea shells and sand dollars that scatter the area, take in the stunning views of the lighthouse and maybe come across a shark's tooth! You will get to explore the island for approximately 1 hour before getting back on the boat. This tour can be enjoyed by the whole family and is the ultimate saltwater experience in Charleston!

Join us out on the water for sunrise, sunset, or somewhere in between in a search for our favorite saltwater mammal – the bottlenose dolphin. On this trip, we will cruise through the local tidal creeks behind Folly Beach to see how many of these amazing creatures we can spot. From a distance, you will get to experience the unique feeding techniques and socializing behaviors that our dolphins display out in the wild. Along the way, your experienced guide will teach you all about the natural wonders of our salt marsh and Estuary. You will also get to pass by the historic Morris Island Lighthouse during the trip, a great photo opportunity! At Castaway we offer smaller, more personable tours with one goal in mind - to provide all of our customers with a true Lowcountry experience while you are here in Charleston with hopes that you will see all of the natural beauty that our waters have to offer.

Although Charleston may be more famous for its bars than its beaches, visitors would be remiss to overlook the Holy City's natural charms. Join a certified naturalist for a 2-hour nature boat tour through the waterways off Charleston Harbor, including a stop to explore the historical Morris Island. Throughout the tour, take in views of the Charleston skyline and spot wildlife like dolphins and seabirds with the help of your guide.

Sail the Charleston Harbor, see dolphins, amazing sunsets or even participate in real sailing yacht regattas. Fate is not only the most demanded but also the largest and nicest sailing yacht available for Charter in Charleston, known for her beauty under sail, exquisite appointments below deck and the best customer service in the industry. Charters depart from Downtown Charleston just minutes from most hotels. Standard sails are 2 hours, sailing to Ft Sumter or the Ravenel bridge depending on wind conditions. We can narrate and give a full history tour or we can just put on some great music and let you enjoy yourselves and take in the beautiful sights of the Charleston Harbor. Its up to you We provide complimentary bottled water and soft drinks but you're welcome to BYOB or make it easy and have it catered through Caviar Bananas and enjoy charcuterie, wine, champagne, beer or brunch on board during your trip, delivered directly to the boat. #1 activity on TripAdvisor since 2010

See the sunset from the water. These views are amazing as the colors reflect off the water. You will see Charleston from the water in the comfort of our 20 foot deck boat, the Red Ski. This tour is based on weather for your safety. If it may be rescheduled or canceled for a full refund. We work with the you on the best solution.

Welcome to Mystique, the beautiful 43ft sailing yacht operated by the longest running private charter company in Charleston's history. #1 activity on Tripadvisor since 2012, our sailing yachts are the highest quality and operated by two professional crew to give you the best experience possible. Standard 2 hour charters are private, only you and the guests in your party will be on board. Additional hours can be added for $275/hour. We depart from the safe Harbor City Marina downtown Charleston and sail out towards fort Sumter or the Arthur Ravenel Jr bridge, past the battery and the historic forts on the Charleston Harbor. We always point out the bottlenose dolphins that we see and try to get as close as we can for your viewing pleasure. Great for children and adults alike, we have plenty of shade, two bathrooms and soft drinks refreshments are included. We strive to provide the best customer service giving our guests the finest sailing experience available in Charleston.

Enjoy golden hour and sunset from Charleston Harbor with live music on a tiki boat sunset cruise. With a carptain and crew onboard, you don't have to worry about navigation and can sit back and enjoy the views and tunes. It’s BYOB so bring your favorite drinks and snacks; coolers and ice are available onboard.

Take in the beauty of the Charleston coastline and even spot dolphins along the way with this exclusive sailboat charter directly from the downtown Harbor City Marina. Enjoy the luxury of an entire boat to yourself as you skirt the coast past highlights like the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge, the battery, and historic forts on the Charleston Harbor. Keep your eyes peeled for bottlenose dolphins and stay cool with drinks and shade on board.

Join us for a 90 minute sunset harbor cruise to see Charleston's historical landmarks, all while enjoying the incredible water views. We will start off at the Ripley Light Marina. We'll ride by the Battery where you will see the beautiful historic waterfront homes. We'll also ride by Fort Sumter, where the American Civil War began. The Ravenel Bridge will be in view, where you can get a sunset shot. You may even see a dolphin or two! You may bring your own drinks and snacks onboard. We will provide a large cooler with ice and waters. The captain will supply music for your charter to enjoy.