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Serving Anna Maria Island • Holmes Beach • Bradenton Beach • Longboat Key
Looking for the best Anna Maria Island sandbar tour? Explore crystal-clear water, white-sand beaches, hidden sandbars, and beautiful Gulf Coast islands on a private, captain-led boat tour with Manatee River Boat Rentals and Water Sports.
Our private sandbar tours are customized around your group. Depending on weather, tides, water conditions, and your interests, your USCG-licensed captain can take you to popular destinations such as Jewfish Key, Passage Key, Beer Can Island, Egmont Key, and other local sandbars.
You can spend the day swimming, floating, snorkeling, looking for dolphins, exploring islands, taking photos, or simply relaxing on the water.
No shared passengers. No fixed route. Just your group, your captain, and the best conditions available that day.
End your day on the water with our private Anna Maria Island Sunset Cruises, offering incredible Gulf Coast views.
Prefer exploring at your own pace? Our Anna Maria Island Boat Rentals provide easy access to Passage Key, Jewfish Key, and other popular sandbars throughout the day.
An Anna Maria Island sandbar tour is a private boat excursion that takes your group to shallow-water sandbars, islands, and other scenic destinations surrounding Anna Maria Island and the Gulf Coast.
Unlike a traditional sightseeing boat with a fixed itinerary, a private sandbar tour allows your captain to adjust the route based on the day's conditions.
Depending on the weather and tides, your trip may include:
Your group can decide whether you want to spend more time swimming and floating, explore several destinations, look for wildlife, or simply relax.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"We had a great day island hopping with Captain Jon! We saw dolphins, manatee and a sea turtle and we found lots of sand dollars while exploring the beaches."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"The boat was new clean and road like a dream. Plenty of space to kick back relax and enjoy the sun and water over in Passage Key."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Met us right on time at the Palmetto boat ramp amd we went out in their brand new tritoon. He took us out to Passage as well as Egmont key. Beautiful areas. We did lots of fun Watersports along the beach. Captain was very knowledgeable about the area - very accommodating. We were able to explore Egmont key, snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Best Anna Maria Island sandbar tour! Thanks so much for taking us out."
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A private boat gives your group a more flexible experience than a shared excursion.
Private boat: You do not share the boat with strangers.
Local captain: Your USCG-licensed captain handles the navigation and helps choose destinations based on current conditions.
Flexible itinerary: Spend more time at the places your group enjoys.
Multiple destinations: Depending on conditions, you may visit several sandbars or islands during one trip.
Up to 12 passengers: Bring your family, friends, or group for a private day on the water.
Our private Anna Maria Island sandbar tours visit Passage Key Sandbar, Jewfish Key Sandbar, and other local sandbars. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly sandbar trip, private sandbar excursion, or half-day sandbar boat tour, our private captained charters provide a memorable way to explore Anna Maria Island.
🏝️ Jewfish Key Sandbar (AMI)
Jewfish Key is one of the most popular sandbar destinations near Anna Maria Island.
🏝️ Passage Key Sandbar
A stunning, remote sandbar with turquoise water and incredible wildlife.
🏝️ Egmont Key Sandbars
Great for swimming, shelling, and spotting dolphins near historic Egmont Key.
🏝️ Beer Can Island (Longboat Pass)
A favorite gathering spot with calm water and scenic views.
🏝️ Hidden Local Sandbars
Your captain will take you to lesser-known spots depending on conditions.
One of the biggest advantages of a private sandbar tour is the ability to visit multiple destinations during one trip.
Depending on conditions, your captain may build an itinerary around destinations such as:
Anna Maria Island → Jewfish Key → Passage Key → Longboat Pass → Egmont Key
The exact route is never guaranteed because tides, weather, water conditions, wildlife activity, and local restrictions can change.
That's part of what makes a private sandbar-hopping experience different from a fixed-route tour.
You may spend part of the day swimming at a shallow sandbar, cruise to another island, look for dolphins along the way, and finish by relaxing on the boat with views of the Gulf Coast.
Many of our tours cruise past Bean Point, one of the most breathtaking locations on Anna Maria Island.
Located at the island’s northern tip, Bean Point is known for:
From the boat, you’ll enjoy a perspective most visitors never see. It’s also one of the best areas for Anna Maria Island dolphin sightings. You can also combine your trip with our sunset cruise in Anna Maria Island during your trip.
Your private sandbar excursion can be as relaxing or adventurous as you want.
Popular activities include:
Our private Anna Maria Island sandbar tours are popular with:
Enjoy a private boat day without sharing the vessel with other passengers. Your captain can help choose destinations appropriate for your group and the day's conditions.
Spend a relaxing day on the water swimming, exploring islands, watching wildlife, and enjoying Anna Maria Island from the boat.
A private boat provides a fun way to celebrate while exploring the waterways around Anna Maria Island.
See Our Bachelorette Party Boat Options
Our pickup locations provide convenient access to the area's popular sandbars and islands without requiring you to operate the boat yourself.
Your private Anna Maria Island sandbar tour includes:
✔️ Private pontoon or tritoon boat
✔️ USCG-licensed captain
✔️ Safety equipment
✔️ Life jackets
✔️ Route planning based on current conditions
✔️ Private experience for your group
✔️ Capacity for up to 12 passengers
Depending on availability, optional upgrades may include:
Yes. Dolphins are frequently seen around Anna Maria Island, but sightings cannot be guaranteed because dolphins are wild animals.
Your captain can watch for dolphin activity while traveling between sandbars and islands. If dolphin watching is the primary goal of your trip, consider our dedicated Anna Maria Island Dolphin Tours.
Not sure whether you should book a captain or operate the boat yourself?
A private sandbar tour includes a USCG-licensed captain who operates the boat, handles navigation, and helps plan your itinerary.
An Anna Maria Island boat rental is for guests who want to operate the boat themselves and meet the applicable rental requirements.
If you'd rather relax and let someone else handle navigation, anchoring, and route planning, a private sandbar tour is the better option.
Coquina Boat Ramp North
1507 Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, FL
Coquina Boat Ramp South
1465 Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, FL
If you'd rather explore the area on your own, our Anna Maria Island boat rentals give qualified boaters the freedom to visit sandbars and nearby waterways at their own pace.
Ready to spend a day swimming, floating, island hopping, and exploring the beautiful waters around Anna Maria Island?
Manatee River Boat Rentals and Water Sports offers private Anna Maria Island sandbar tours with a USCG-licensed captain, giving your group the freedom to explore without sharing the boat with strangers.
Your captain will help plan the best possible itinerary based on the day's weather, tides, water conditions, and your group's interests.
Private boat • Local captain • Up to 12 passengers • Flexible itinerary
Jewfish Key is one of the most popular sandbar in Anna Maria Island, but Passage Key and Egmont Key often have clearer water and fewer crowds depending on the day.
Yes. All of our Anna Maria Island sandbar tours are 100% private.
Most tours are 6 hours, with longer or shorter custom options available. This provides enough time to visit sandbars, swim, relax, and potentially explore multiple destinations.
Yes. Most trips include 2–3 sandbars depending on conditions.
Dolphins are frequently seen around Anna Maria Island, but sightings are never guaranteed because they are wild animals.
Pickup options include Coquina Boat Ramp North and Coquina Boat Ramp South in Bradenton Beach. Exact meeting instructions are provided after booking.
It depends on your preference. A sandbar tour includes a USCG-licensed captain, while a boat rental is designed for guests who want to operate the boat themselves and meet the applicable rental requirements.
If you want to relax and let a local captain handle navigation, a private sandbar tour is the better option.
Our private boats can accommodate up to 12 passengers, making them suitable for families, couples, groups of friends, and celebrations.
Yes. Our private sandbar tours include a USCG-licensed captain who operates the boat and helps plan the day's route.
Yes. Families with children are welcome. Safety equipment and life jackets are provided, and children should always be supervised by a responsible adult.
Manatee River Boat Rentals and Water Sports
Phone: 941-932-3700
Email: manateeriverwatersports@gmail.com
Location: 353 Shore Dr, Ellenton, FL 34222
Private boat tours, charters, sunset cruises, sandbar adventures, and boat rentals serving Bradenton and Anna Maria Island.
Bradenton • Anna Maria Island • Palmetto • Parrish • Lakewood Ranch• Ellenton
Pickup location details provided after booking
Hours:
Monday–Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
(Seasonal hours may vary)
Why Choose Us:
Family-owned • Clean, luxury tritoons • Easy on-the-water pickup • Safe & beginner-friendly • No hidden fees
Follow Us:
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Bareboat Charter Disclaimer:
A bareboat charter (or "demise charter") is essentially a rental of the vessel only, similar to renting a car. The key elements and disclaimers are that the charterer must have full control and assume all responsibility. The person leasing the boat is responsible for operating it, including managing the crew, fuel, food, and insurance.
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