BLUFFTON BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
A private 16-passenger boat voyage to Daufuskie Island’s historic, undeveloped shore
A four‑hour, small-group boat tour from Bluffton/Hilton Head that visits Daufuskie Island’s churches, lighthouse and artist studios with an expert historian.
A private 16-passenger boat voyage to Daufuskie Island’s historic, undeveloped shore.
Tucked between Hilton Head Island and Savannah and accessible only by boat, Daufuskie Island offers an undeveloped side of the Lowcountry where layers of Native American history, European settlement, the cotton trade and Gullah culture are concentrated into a handful of memorable sites; this private, 16‑passenger tour visits those places with an interpretive naturalist/historian guide.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Churches, schools and Gullah memory
Visit the First African Baptist Church, the Praise House and the Mary Fields School—sites that anchor Daufuskie’s Gullah heritage and local narratives memorialized in Pat Conroy’s work.
Bloody Point Lighthouse and island studios
Explore the site of the Bloody Point Lighthouse and tour local studios such as The Iron Fish, home to award‑winning artisans who continue the island’s craft traditions.
Private boat cruise with an expert guide
The tour includes a boat cruise (with a USCG‑licensed captain), an interpretive naturalist/historian guide and on‑island transport by golf cart to reach dispersed sites around the island.
What the day feels like
What the tour feels like
Across four hours you’ll board from Bluffton/Hilton Head for a short crossing, disembark to ride a golf cart between the island’s dispersed landmarks, and move through layered stories—Native American origins, plantation and cotton histories, and Gullah culture—guided by an interpretive historian.
THE HISTORY
Churches, schools and Gullah memory
Visit the First African Baptist Church, the Praise House and the Mary Fields School—sites that anchor Daufuskie’s Gullah heritage and local narratives memorialized in Pat Conroy’s work.
THE LANDMARKS
Bloody Point Lighthouse and island studios
Explore the site of the Bloody Point Lighthouse and tour local studios such as The Iron Fish, home to award‑winning artisans who continue the island’s craft traditions.
THE ROUTE
Private boat cruise with an expert guide
The tour includes a boat cruise (with a USCG‑licensed captain), an interpretive naturalist/historian guide and on‑island transport by golf cart to reach dispersed sites around the island.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip is sized for and where it doesn’t fit.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The tour runs approximately four hours.
Meet at the Paddle House beneath the Canoe Club Restaurant, 41 Boat House St., Bluffton, SC 29910. For Calhoun Street Dock pickup call reservations at 843-686-6996.
The trip description does not list a specific gear requirement; plan for typical day‑boat items and weather‑appropriate clothing.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the PB Private Daufuskie Island Tour?
The tour lasts approximately four hours.
Where do we meet the boat?
This activity meets at the Paddle House beneath the Canoe Club Restaurant at 41 Boat House St., Bluffton, SC 29910.
What is included in the tour?
The tour includes a boat cruise (from the Hilton Head/Bluffton area), a USCG‑licensed captain, an interpretive naturalist/historian guide, and on‑island transport by golf cart, plus visits to historic sites and studios on Daufuskie Island.
How many people can the private tour accommodate?
The experience is a private 16‑passenger tour.
Can we be picked up at Calhoun Street Dock?
For Calhoun Street Dock pickup, call reservations at 843-686-6996 to arrange pickup details.
Will a historian be leading the tour?
Yes—the tour is guided by an interpretive naturalist/historian who covers the island’s Native American, settlement, cotton‑trade and Gullah histories.