Sanibel Wildlife & Estuary Tours

NOTICE: Some information on these pages are pre-Hurricane Ian and may not be fully up-to-date.

More than half of Sanibel Island is dedicated to public wildlife refuges you and your family can explore, offering landscapes ranging from winding estuaries, marshland, mangrove bayous, and undeveloped leeward beaches. Sanibel Island’s marshlands, estuaries, mangroves and beaches are teaming with life, including many species of birds including flamingos and rosette spoonbills, the American alligator, manatees and many other animals. Native vegetation on Sanibel Island is world-class, including the sea grape, sea oats, mangroves, and a variety of palm species. All this abundance of life makes for unforgettable tours. Find the right Sanibel Island Marshland and Estuary for you to tour below.

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J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

The J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is one of Sanibel Island’s most popular attractions. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this refuge boasts more than 5,200 acres of protected land. Learn about the mangrove ecosystem and the animals who call it home, including hundreds of migratory bird species.
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Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation manages more than 1,300 acres of land on Sanibel Island. The SCCF’s many educational programs include beach and rail walks, boat tours, wading trips, kayak tours and classroom-based activities. Be sure to visit the SCCF nature center complete with four miles of trails, an observation tower, a touch tank, butterfly house and Nature Shop.
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Everglades Day Safari Ecotour

Experience the Florida Everglades! Everglades Day Safari Ecotour offers the area’s only full day guided tour of the Florida Everglades. The tour includes an airboat ride to see alligators and many species of birds, a boat cruise through the Everglades National Park to see manatee, dolphin and sea turtles, lunch and more! Make your reservation today!
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The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Grab your camera as we take a tour around beautiful south Florida. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is an amazing experience. Take a stroll down their boardwalk and see the many species of wildlife and one of the county’s last remaining stands of virgin bald cypresses.

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C.R.O.W. Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife

CROW operates a veterinary hospital, educational program and public visitor education center on a 12.5-acre campus on Sanibel Island, Florida. The organization’s primary mission is the rescue, care, rehabilitation and eventual release back to the wild of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. Inherent in this mission is the education of adults and children, encouraging them to live a peaceful coexistence with their wild neighbors.
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Visitor Reviews

Love This Place! We had visited the Island Inn a few years ago and were keen to return. It was great to see the resort is well on its way to recovery after hurricane Ian. We stayed in Matthew’s Lodge. The accommodation was top notch, with amazing views. There was still some beach restoration happening but this wasn’t really an issue. The no-see-ums were out in force so bring some bug spray! Staff were fantastic throughout. Looking forward to our next visit!

travelphobic 3/22/2024

Another memorable stay at the Island Inn! We have been to Island Inn multiple times and couldn't wait to return post Ian. The hurricane may have destroyed parts of this resort, but it certainly did not damper the spirit of the entire staff here. You'd never know Ian blew through the bottom level of Starky Lodge as the renovations are pristine and exactly how we remembered it. The beach is as beautiful as ever, and the shelling was absolutely amazing. The Wednesday morning beach walk by Annie (marine biologist from Sanibel Sea School) was so informative and enjoyable. She was a wealth of knowledge regarding all aspects of sea life and seashells. Although we opted out of housekeeping, their staff was very accommodating in replenishing towels, toiletries and coffee when we ran out. We enjoyed dining at Mudbugs (twice), Green Flash, Timbers and Doc Fords. All of the local shops and restaurants were very appreciative of the business, and it was a pleasure to support them. Thank you, Glory, Ken and Chris for another memorable stay and for your tireless efforts on behalf of this lovely storied resort. We can't wait to return again!

Joanne 3/10/2024