St Augustine Boat and Walking Tour

We’ve heard great things about the St Augustine Boat and Walking Tour, and it seems like an excellent way to experience the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. The combination of a narrated boat tour and a guided walking exploration sounds like a comprehensive introduction to the area’s top attractions. With insights into landmarks like the Castillo de San Marcos and the Lightner Museum, as well as the chance to learn about the coastal ecosystem, this tour promises to be both informative and enjoyable. Now, the real question is, what else can we expect from this unique sightseeing experience?

This experience made our list of the 19 Best Cruises And Boat Tours In St Augustine.

Key Points

• The tour combines a 75-minute narrated boat tour and an hour-long walking tour, providing a comprehensive introduction to the history and highlights of historic St. Augustine.
• The boat tour offers insights into landmarks like the Castillo de San Marcos and the Cathedral Basilica, while the walking tour explores attractions such as the Lightner Museum and Flagler College.
• A certified guide leads the walking tour, sharing engaging historical anecdotes and commentary to enhance the visitor experience.
• Complimentary bottled water is provided throughout the tour, and the central meeting and end points offer convenient accessibility.
• The tour has an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, with praise for the knowledgeable guides, seamless transition between boat and walking segments, and excellent value.

Tour Description

The tour combines a 75-minute narrated boat tour aboard the Victory III with an hour-long exploration of downtown St. Augustine’s highlights, led by a professional guide.

We’ll start with the boat tour, where we’ll learn about the city’s history and landmarks from an experienced narrator.

After disembarking, we’ll have an hour to explore downtown on foot, visiting must-see attractions like the Lightner Museum and Flagler College.

Throughout the tour, we’ll be provided with bottled water to stay hydrated.

While hotel pick-up/drop-off and gratuities aren’t included, the certified guide and all necessary tickets are covered, making this an informative and convenient way to experience both the land and water sides of St. Augustine.

Inclusions

Typically, the tour includes a certified guide, a narrated boat tour ticket, and bottled water. However, hotel pick-up/drop-off and gratuities are not covered. Let’s take a closer look at the key inclusions:

Inclusion	Description
Certified Guide	A knowledgeable local guide will lead the walking tour, sharing insights and historical anecdotes.
Narrated Boat Tour	The 75-minute boat tour aboard the Victory III provides a unique perspective of St. Augustine from the water.
Bottled Water	Stay hydrated throughout the tour with complimentary bottled water.
Exclusions	Neither hotel transportation nor gratuities for the guide are included in the tour price.

This combination of boat and walking elements ensures you experience the highlights of St. Augustine in a comprehensive and enjoyable way.

Meeting and End Points

According to the information provided, we’ll meet at the corner of St George St. and Cathedral Pl on Plaza de la Constitución, across from Governor’s House, and the tour will end at the St Augustine Municipal Marina.

This meeting and end point arrangement is convenient for participants, as it allows for:

• Easy access and visibility at the starting location
• A centrally located meeting place in the heart of downtown St. Augustine
• A straightforward transition from the boat tour to the walking portion of the experience, with the marina serving as the conclusion.

Tour Details

Start time for the tour is 9:30 am, allowing ample time to experience both the boat and walking portions.

We’ll have a maximum group size of 10 travelers, ensuring an intimate and personalized experience.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, though there may be some uneven terrain on Aviles Street during the walking segment. This means guests with mobility issues can participate, but should exercise caution in certain areas.

The overall duration of the tour is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, with 75 minutes spent on the narrated boat tour and 1 hour dedicated to the guided walking portion in downtown St. Augustine.

Throughout the experience, our certified tour guide will provide insightful commentary to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the city’s rich history and landmarks.

Reviews

The St. Augustine Boat and Walking Tour has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with a 4.5 out of 5 star overall rating based on 34 reviews across Viator and Tripadvisor.

Travelers consistently praise:

• The knowledgeable and engaging certified tour guides who bring the city’s history to life
• The seamless combination of the narrated boat tour and the guided walking tour, allowing visitors to fully experience the highlights of St. Augustine
• The overall value, with the inclusions of the boat tour ticket and bottled water making for a well-rounded and affordable adventure

We’re confident this tour provides an excellent introduction to the charms of this historic Florida city.

Boat Tour Highlights

On the narrated boat tour, we’re treated to a unique perspective of St. Augustine’s centuries-old landmarks and picturesque waterways.

As we glide along the Matanzas River, we admire the grand architecture of the Castillo de San Marcos, one of the oldest masonry fortresses in the United States.

Passing the Bridge of Lions, we spot the towering steeples of the Cathedral Basilica, whose construction began in the 17th century.

Rounding the bend, we catch glimpses of the elegant Lightner Museum, once a grand 19th-century hotel.

Throughout the tour, our knowledgeable guide provides fascinating insights into the city’s rich history and coastal ecosystem, making for an immersive and memorable experience.

Walking Tour Highlights

After the immersive boat tour, we’re eager to explore the historic streets of downtown St. Augustine on foot with our knowledgeable guide.

Our walking exploration begins at the Plaza de la Constitucion, where we admire the stately Governor’s House and the impressive Flagler College campus, once the site of a grand 19th-century hotel.

As we stroll down Aviles Street, we discover:

• The charming Lightner Museum, housed in a former Gilded Age hotel
• The towering spires of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
• Historic buildings and specialty shops lining the picturesque streets

With our guide’s insights, we gain a deeper appreciation for St. Augustine’s rich heritage and vibrant present-day culture.

Additional Information

We highly recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and bringing sun protection, as the walking portion covers uneven terrain and takes place primarily outdoors.

Plus, please be mindful that the boat tour portion requires climbing steps to board and disembark the vessel.

To ensure an enjoyable experience, we suggest arriving at the meeting point a few minutes early.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, though some assistance may be required on the uneven surfaces.

Please note that hotel pick-up/drop-off and gratuities aren’t included in the tour price.

We encourage you to bring bottled water, as hydration is important, especially during the warmer months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Purchase Additional Tickets for Family/Friends?

Yes, we can purchase additional tickets for family and friends. The tour operator typically allows you to add more participants when booking, subject to availability. You’ll just need to contact them to inquire about the process and pricing.

Is There a Dress Code for the Tour?

There is generally no strict dress code for most tours, though we recommend wearing comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe walking shoes. This allows you to participate fully and enjoy the tour without any issues.

Do I Need to Bring Any Specific Items?

For any tour, we recommend bringing a few essential items. These typically include comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, a water bottle, and a small bag or purse to carry personal items. Checking the tour details can help us determine if any additional items are suggested.

Is There a Discount for Seniors or Students?

We typically offer discounts for seniors and students on our tours. However, it’s best to check the tour details or contact the provider directly to inquire about any available discounts for your specific situation.

Can I Take Photos During the Tour?

Absolutely, you can take photos during the tour! We encourage guests to capture the beautiful sights and historic landmarks along the way. Just be mindful of others and try to avoid obstructing their view or the guide’s narration.

Recap

The St. Augustine Boat and Walking Tour provides a well-rounded exploration of the city’s rich history and natural beauty.

With a guided boat tour and walking tour, we’ll uncover the Castillo de San Marcos, Cathedral Basilica, and other iconic landmarks while immersing ourselves in the coastal ecosystem.

This comprehensive experience offers an excellent introduction to the vibrant culture of historic St. Augustine.