Top South Padre Island Outdoor Activities

Keen fishers will love the opportunity to spend half a day out on the water on a fishing tour of South Padre Island. Depending on the season and conditions you may be able to catch sand trout, whiting, shark, sheepshead, and more. Bring your own gear or use what's provided. A valid Texas Saltwater Fishing License is required.

Set sail at one of the best times of day—sunset—on a South Padre Island cruise aboard a comfortable 26-foot (8-meter) leisure catamaran. Enjoy beautiful views of the skyline as you make your way along the Texas Gulf Coast, and keep an eye out for bottle nose dolphins, seabirds, and other wildlife. With space for up to six passengers, this private yacht charter is ideal for couples or those celebrating a special occasion.

Watch for the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that thrive along the coast of South Padre Island on a 1.5-hour wildlife boat tour from Sea Ranch Marina. Cruise past the U.S. Coast Guard Station and Boca Chica Beach, with a comfortable seat on a wildlife-watching boat that’s equipped with a wildlife-safe viewing net so you can see South Padre sea life up close.

Sand sculpting on South Padre Island is an art form. Learn tips and tricks for building sandcastles like a pro during a hands-on sandcastle lesson—a great choice for families with kids. This activity takes place on the beach most convenient to your location. Plus, choose from a 1- or 2-hour lesson and multiple times to best suit your schedule. Sand sculpting tools are provided and can be used throughout your stay.

A parasailing trip over South Padre Island is a popular choice for adventurous travelers. Once in the air, take in sweeping views of the island and surrounding natural landscape rarely seen by visitors or locals alike. Your guide ensures a smooth takeoff and landing, as well as tips on what wildlife you may be able to spot, from bottlenose dolphins to osprey hawks.

San Padre Island’s small size allows golf carts to drive on the streets. Avoid the hassle of flagging down taxis with this 8-hour golf cart rental that fits up to four passengers. Ride comfortably and even get to play your own music over the Bluetooth that connects right to your iPhone or iPad. Plus, you can choose from multiple pickup times for added convenience.

Venture out into the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy a relaxing dolphin-watching tour from South Padre Island. Take a seat on the spacious vessel and keep your eyes peeled for pods of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. See the playful aquatic creatures swim alongside your boat and take in the scenery of the Texas coast while you sail.

Boat rides can be packed with people trying to see the sights from the water. Choose this alternative South Padre Island Jet Ski Experience and see the same views without being pushed around by the crowd. This Jet Ski experience allows you to ride by yourself or with just one other as you explore the waters of Laguna Madre.

Keen fishers will love the opportunity to spend half a day out on the water on a fishing tour of South Padre Island. Depending on the season and conditions you may be able to catch sand trout, whiting, shark, sheepshead, and more. Bring your own gear or use what's provided. A valid Texas Saltwater Fishing License is required.

Going to South Padre Island and not going in the water is like visiting New York City without visiting a museum. This South Padre Island Banana Boat Experience lets you take up to six people on an unpowered, inflatable recreational banana boat. Enjoy cruising the waters on the boat, taking in sights and having fun. Life jackets are provided for a safe day on the water.

Benefit from personalized attention on this private fishing charter on the Laguna Madre from South Padre Island. With your private group of up to six passengers, you'll head out aboard a catamaran to the best secret fishing spots to catch local fish such as sheepshead, drum, whiting, and sand trout. Depending on your level of experience, you'll get instruction from the captain or be left to your own devices.

Share the Gulf of Mexico waters with bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, and more on a private 90-minute boat tour from South Padre Island. The 26-foot catamaran has space for up to six passengers, which makes it an ideal experience for families or friend groups. Between wildlife encounters, learn the storied past of the area. Discover the history of the native Karankawa tribe, local shipwrecks, and more.

Explore the blue-green waters around South Padre Island with your own Jet Ski without the hassle of a group tour. Climb atop your Jet Ski and zip around the waters, stopping wherever you would like to swim or sunbathe. While you ride, keep your eyes peeled for possible wildlife sightings such as dolphins, sea turtles, and birds.

Immerse yourself in the culture and city of Texas’ South Padre Island during this South Padre Island Scavenger Hunt. A remote host will help you begin your scavenger hunt and let you in on the rules of play before you start. Once you’re up to speed, you’ll enjoy doing creative challenges, detective hunts, social experiments and dares, and learning about the city’s culture. A fun way to get acquainted with South Padre Island.

Ultimate South Padre Island Private Bay Fishing! South Padre Island Bay Fishing! Join your professional guide on the beautiful Laguna Madre for a private fishing charter for 1 to 5 passengers aboard a 22-ft Majek M2, equipped with 2 live wells, cooler, ice, bottled water, and dry storage for personal items. We specialize in catching Redfish, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, and Flounder.

Using an app on your smartphone, you'll be given nearly 120 objects to find during your scavenger hunt. You'll then wander throughout the downtown area searching for the items. Once you've found the object, you'll send a photo in to score points. Along the way, you will perform challenges for even more points. You'll have 13 categories of objects you can find in this city walk, with each object varying in points depending on the difficulty. Don't worry, you won't be alone. You'll have a remote guide that will be texting you during your game if you need help or have a question. They will also encourage you and give you hints along the way! The objective of the game is to have fun, rank #1 on the leaderboard, and try to get as many points as possible by finding all of the objects!

Combine a fun Jet Ski ride with a bit of history during this tour of South Padre Island. Join a small group and zip along the blue-green waters to several points of interest including Port Isabel, Brownsville, and even South Bay, home to the Space X Rocket Launch facility. While you ride, your guide sheds light on the history of the area.