Travel and Tourism Awards 2026 | 11 Best Sustainable Boating Experiences 2026 – Republic of Ireland & LUXlife Guest Experience Excellence Award 2026 County Kerry, on the southwest coast of Ireland, is one of the country’s most scenic locations. From mountains encompassing views of the Irish countryside to the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site Skellig Michael, the region has become synonymous with niche tourism. Capitalising on this, as well as the nearly 1,000km of Atlantic coastline surrounding Kerry, is AquaTerra Boat Tours. For more on the sustainable marine experiences the company provides, we caught up with its founders, Elizabeth and Brendan. AquaTerra Boat Tours is a luxury marine experience company owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Elizabeth McCooey and Brendan Curtin. Based on Valentia Island, which is on the edge of the Skellig Coast in County Kerry, Elizabeth and Brendan created the business with a clear goal in mind: to share this remarkable stretch of coastline in a way that is both personal and deeply connected to its history, wildlife, and character. This goal has remained central to AquaTerra since it first set sail back in 2019. Today, the company specialises in private and small-group journeys by boat along the Skellig Coast, as well as Dingle Bay and the wider Kerry coastline. All of its experience-led tours are defined by great storytelling, stunning seascapes, and a strong sense of place, making them the boat tour of choice for guests from all over the world. Whether a guest desires a custom designed private charter for a special occasion or partakes in its wider tour programme of relaxed harbour or coastal explorations, the experience is one to be truly savoured. As for how they can guarantee this, Elizabeth told us: “From the beginning, we were clear that AquaTerra would be built around the experience we wanted guests to have. We chose to design and build our own boats, including a first-of-its-kind vessel in Ireland, created specifically to support that vision and the Atlantic conditions we operate in. That decision set the direction for the company and continues to shape everything we do, from how tours are curated and delivered to how each experience unfolds on the water.” Whilst its ethos and its purpose have remained unchanged over the last seven years or so, AquaTerra has certainly evolved, shifting to a more sustainability-led, regenerative tourism experience across every tour. Beyond a separate initiative or a marketing slogan, this is a focus deeply embedded in the everyday work the couple does, shaping their tours so that the coastline and all of the wildlife who call it home are cared for. The couple does this simply because it is the right thing to do, but this area means a lot more to them. Valentia Island, where AquaTerra’s tours depart from, is more than just a departure point for Elizabeth and Brendan. It is home. Elizabeth explained: “Brendan grew up in Knightstown on Valentia Island, and I first came here from Armagh in Northern Ireland, following his stories and eventually putting down roots of my own. Much of what guests respond to is the island’s maritime history, stories, and relationship with the Atlantic, shared today through a small, local, husband-and-wife business that is deeply part of this place.” As they move through 2026 and beyond, the couple’s focus is firmly on strengthening AquaTerra’s position as the leading provider of private Skellig Coast and Valentia Island boat experiences, refining the journeys that have already set them apart. For example, Elizabeth is set to complete a sustainability management programme with the University of Limerick and training with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, reflecting the company’s ongoing aim of operating responsibly. As part of its ongoing evolution, AquaTerra continues to refine their Dark Skies Cruises, offered on select dates during October and December. With Brendan bringing the insight and precision shaped through his maritime AquaTerra Boat Tours studies to the helm, and both he and Elizabeth guiding each evening, these distinctive cruises reveal the Skellig Coast in its quietest season. Defined by calm and clarity rarely associated with coastal boating, they showcase a different side of the Atlantic while further demonstrating AquaTerra’s depth and versatility within the local marine tourism sector. Blending knowledge, storytelling and refined luxury with a deep passion for the region and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, AquaTerra Boat Tours is a boating experience provider like no other on the Wild Atlantic Way, or even Ireland more broadly. For more on the full range of tours and experiences offered by Elizabeth and Brendan, click the link below. Contact: Elizabeth McCooey Company: AquaTerra Boat Tours Web Address: https://www.kerryaquaterra.ie/
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==