Shelter Cove Harbour

If you forgot your sailboat at home, kayaking around the island is the next best way to see all the beauty that H.H.I. has to offer. You can choose from tour companies that rent out kayaks or offer group trips to view the sites. If you choose to bring your own watercraft and travel solo, the tour companies can point you in the right direction to find dolphins, alligators, and other inhabitants of the island. Most rental shops work on an hourly basis, and you should not expect to pay more than $20-28 per hour per kayak. Getting a two-person kayak works out cheaper—$30 an hour—but strips away the freedom to kayak circles around your travel buddy. Did I mention you’ll see dolphins and alligators?

If you want to see wild dolphins but prefer a more stable platform than a kayak, a dolphin cruise might be just what you’re looking for. There are several tour companies on H.H.I. that offer an educational experience for kids and adults alike. Most of them last a few hours, or you can organize a personal charter boat to take you and your family out for however long you’d like. H.H.I. is known for friendly pods of dolphins (some have said that you can even swim with them) that reside near the island from the summer through November. Remember that these dolphins are wild and touching or feeding them is prohibited.