Black Water Adventure Cruise: Wilmington Wildlife Exploration

Embark on a thrilling Black Water Adventure Cruise in Wilmington, exploring the rich wildlife and history of the area. Spot osprey, alligators, sea turtles, and more on this two-hour catamaran ride.

Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Cape Fear River - The Northeast Cape Fear River remains predominantly undeveloped and retains the appearance it had during the colonization of Wilmington in the late 1600s. Our journey takes us past the Castle Hayne Aquifer and alongside the cliffs of the Rose Hill Plantation.
What's Included
  • On-board restroom facilities
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Begin your morning surrounded by nature as you embark on a hunt for local wildlife and birds while immersed in the intriguing tales of this region’s rich past. Our nearly two-hour river cruise provides a fulfilling experience combining education about Wilmington’s valuable wildlife and a tranquil journey aboard our comfortable and secure catamaran. For…

Location
212 S Water St
South Water Street
Located on the Downtown Riverwalk between Orange St and Ann St you will see our storefront where you can check in with your tickets. Please arrive 10 minutes before take off to check-in and board.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(16 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Departure22028977868
Jun 8, 2025
Black Water...trully an adventure! - We wanted to really get to know the Northeast Cape Fear River, one of the "black" rivers in Southeast North Carolina. We definitely made the right choice when we decided on Wilmington Water Tours! The captain and crew were very knowledgeable about the river and the birds we saw while cruising. They also gave us a short but informative safty talk about what to do in case of emergency while on board. The boat also had refreshments for purchase and a spacious bathroom as well. We will definitely try a couple more of their cruises on our next trip to downtown Wilmington!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
289margie
Jun 8, 2025
A great morning out on the river! - This is a great tour for nature lovers or anyone who hasn't been out on the Northeast Cape Fear River to see the history, nature and beauty of our river. Great staff, great bartender. They also do other tours for sunset and full moon, check them out. Great for friends and family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Barbaravu5372mw
Aug 18, 2024
Lovely Sunset Cruise - We had a lovely sunset cruise with family. The crew were very welcoming and we enjoyed the music! We would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nctobi
Jun 25, 2024
Beautiful - My sister and I took the 7:30 pm sunset tour with live music. It was beautiful, and the artist's singing was fantastic. He sounded just like Michael Bublé. It was a relaxing and fun cruise. The rum punch was a plus!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Freedom668319
May 5, 2024
Great trip overall. - Very informative tour of Cape Fear and Black Rivers ecosystems . Also discussions of early explorers arriving in Wilmington via the Cape Fear River.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathyja6081xu
Oct 4, 2023
Touring the Cape Fear River by water - A wonderful, informative cruise on the Cape Fear River. The captain is very knowledgeable about the area, the history and the ecology. We will definitely go again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Misterb766
Sep 3, 2023
Yes! Tour the Cape Fear River - Bar and bathroom on board made for a relaxing tour. Very friendly crew Capt. Doug shared his years of experience on the river with a great glimpse into the history of the area’s development and the changing environment. We were lucky to have a mild sunny day. Would recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarahmo8548ig
Jul 30, 2023
Perfect for a family outing! - This cruise was such a great family outing! We went as a group of 5, ages 20 months to 65 years old and everyone loved it. The history of the area is fascinating and the natural beauty was awe-inspiring. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y2788wralanb
Jul 30, 2023
Want to know about the Cape Fear, this trip is for you - Enjoyed the cruise. Staff were excellent and the informative narrative of things on the route were very interesting. Note...park for free at the battleship and take the water taxi for free, don't end up paying 30+ dollars as we did for parking. Overall A+ adventure.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wander48446196780
Oct 3, 2023
9/30/23 - Absolutely Loved the Captain and the History, but absolutely No wildlife , not his fault or anyone else’s though .Seating was sketchy 🤷‍♀️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $33
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).