Banyan Charters

Banyan Charters offers Marco Island private charters that transform any day on the water into a “Banyan Day”—an old naval term for rest and relaxation at sea. Founder and captain Austin Wheeler has lived on Marco Island since 2001 and been boating here for more than 30 years. Their 2015 Starcraft SCX 250 seats 13 but limit trips to six guests, giving everyone plenty of space; the boat also provides a cooler with bottled water, bagged ice and a fresh‑water wash down.

Every Banyan charter is private, giving you uninterrupted quality time with family and friends. Their smooth‑riding boats feature spacious seating in sun or shade, reclining lounge seats, a sun pad, wrap‑around windshield, freshwater wash and high‑end stereo. Because tours are private, they build the itinerary around what you want to do—relax on a secluded beach, watch dolphins ride the wake or explore quiet mangrove creeks.

Popular options include dolphin tours with close‑up wildlife encounters, shelling & dolphin combos that let you collect shells and see dolphins while saving money, and dedicated shelling trips to some of Florida’s best shelling beaches with a chance to spot wildlife along the way. The Great Loop shows you Marco Island and nearby communities by water with abundant wildlife. Our half‑day charter provides enough time to sample activities or simply relax, while the romantic Billion Dollar Sunset Cruise glides past luxurious bays before a sunset dolphin search. Banyan Charters also offer custom charters by the hour for up to six guests.