Discover Cornwall’s miles and miles of untouched coastline is one of the joys of visiting the region and what better way of seeing it than from the water!? Then add in the chance of seeing some of the incredible wildlife to be found around our coasts and you have the perfect combination for a truly amazing experience!
Here is our guide to some of the tours and boat trips you can take to discover the wildlife of Cornwall!
Boat Trips from Looe to Polperro
There are lots of choices for boat trips from the pretty harbour town of Looe, from shark fishing excursions to coastal cruises and wildlife watching tours. But for those in search of something a bit different a trip to Polperro in one of the glass bottomed boats is a great option.
During the 45 minute (each way) trip you can experience the amazing scenery both above and below the water before arriving in the picturesque fishing port of Polperro. Passengers then have a couple of hours to explore Cornwall’s most infamous smuggling village with its impossibly quaint harbour and narrow streets of ancient cottages before returning to Looe.
Trips are tide dependent, check website for details: Welcome to Looe & Polperro –
The Wilder Side of Padstow
The rougher seas of the north coast of Cornwall means that ferries are less common but Padstow provides some great opportunities for those feeling a little more adventurous. The ferry to Rock may only take about 10 minutes but it is well worth it for the scenic views of the River Camel and the delightful beaches it takes you to, but for a longer more memorable experience you can also book a wildlife watching safari.
These trips take you along the wild reaches of the north coast for between 1 and 4hrs in the hope of spotting seals, dolphins, porpoise, basking sharks and even whales, as well as a myriad of seabirds along the way. These safaris are both educational and exciting, introducing you to the diversity of the Cornish marine environment.
Find out more: Wildlife Boat Trips in Cornwall: Padstow Sealife Safaris
Tiger Lily Boat Trips, St Ives
This family run business has been taking visitors on trips from the stunning harbour of St Ives for the past 20 years. Their excursions include visiting the gorgeous residents of Seal Island, a sightseeing trip to Godrevy Lighthouse on its rocky island three miles along the coast and mackerel fishing adventures, which are a popular family-friendly trip, for first timers and seasoned fisherman alike.
The boats run daily from the harbour in season and all trips in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty give you the chance to see the town, beaches and coastline from a whole new perspective!
Find out more: Boat Trips St Ives, Cornwall | Tiger Lilly St Ives (stivesboatcruises.co.uk)
Sea Safari – Boaty Port Isaac
This speedboat experience combines adrenalin with a fascinating commentary about the area, its wildlife and many landmarks from your experienced skipper, Jeremy Brown.
While seeing the best that the coast around Port Isaac has to offer you will also have the chance to spot the local wildlife in their natural habitats including seals, seabirds and, if you are lucky, dolphins.
Find out more: Speedboat Trips from Port Isaac, Cornwall, with Boaty (boaty-portisaac.co.uk)
