Mangroves and Manatees - Guided Kayak Eco Tour
5
Mangroves and Manatees - Guided Kayak Eco Tour
By PADDLE! The Florida Keys
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About
Immerse yourself in the Florida Keys’ beautiful mangrove forests, and enjoy an active way to explore, when you book this kayaking tour of Tavernier Creek. Pick between morning and afternoon tour times, and make your own way to the departure point in the Upper Keys. Following an introduction, grab your gear and head out on the water. With your guide’s coaching, receive a first-hand passport to the spectacular scenery.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 7-80, max of 12 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Get up close and personal with the Florida Keys’ mangrove forests
- Choose to explore on a single or double kayak, per your preferences
- All training and equipment are included during this seamless experience
- Admire the wild scenery of Tavernier Creek from the water’s edge
- Local guide
- Kayak - Single or double your choice
- safety gear
- land based instruction
- on water coaching
What's not included- Gratuities
- Start:
- Islamorada, FL 33070, USAYou meet us at our shop and we launch directly from there! Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to tour start. This will give you time to get prepared for your tour. We make every effort to start on time.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 41677P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your start time.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 41677P1
From
₱3,775.87
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Mezhead20140 contributionsOther worldlyHoly moly this was incredible I went with 9 people some experienced some not and we all had a blast. You literally have to Tarzan at certain points because the mangroves are so thick. We did self guided tour and it was easy to navigate.Written March 16, 2024
- Edward E0 contributionsManatees and beautiful waterFrom walking in the front door to returning the equipment the staff was friendly and polite. Equipment was in good condition and the areas where we kayaked were beautiful! Enough other people to make it safe but not too many. I liked the mangroves and my family preferred the open water to the island. Would do again!Written March 14, 2024
- cathyl5180 contributionsFun day !!Such a fun day meandering through the mangroves! Lots of birds, secret lagoon offered a few sightings. Enjoyed every minute!Written March 5, 2024
- thersak20210 contributionsMonkeying Around in The MangrovesPick up was very easy through booking with TripAdvisor, was told since we had our reservations through this site we could have our choice of two singles or one double. Highly recommend a double if your with your spouse or partner for those channels to explore were extremely narrow with low low branches. The paddles they provide are much too long...this place needs to switch them to the paddles that can be taken apart into a two section piece. We had to use the Mangrove branches to monkey bar our way through the narrow maze. It was definitely an adventure but not for the unfit. Would not recommend to folks who have back issues, neck, shoulder, or over weight. We had to twist our bodies in various ways as the branches quickly become obstacles. Did not see a Manatee until we came back and there was one nursing on a fresh water running hose that one of the docked boat captains had on for the local ManateesWritten February 10, 2024
- T1590GCisabellel0 contributionsHelpful teamThese guys are so helpful. I was there on my own, geared and all when my paddle started leaking, I asked them for help and although they couldn’t fix my board, they were really helpful renting me a board so my paddle vacation wasn’t spoiled. Thanks guys!!!!Written January 31, 2024
- Lee C0 contributionsEasygoing tourGreat knowledge of environment from our guide Susanne. Unfortunately didn’t see any manatees but can’t control nature! The kayak through mangroves was very enjoyable. Also nice that we had photos taken of us and sent to us after tour.Written January 23, 2024
- jdm17770 contributionsDid not use but overall experience was very positiveI accidentally rented kayaks from here on the day we were in Key West. I gave them a call and they canceled and fully refunded me with no issues. Thank you! Their online reservations is super easy to use, I just apparently didn't see they weren't in the same location as others I was looking at. On our last day in the Keys (we were staying in Marathon) we called around to see if we could rent kayaks for a little bit. Most places were either sold out, you had to transport, or were hard to deal with. We thought maybe we could drive up and do a quick kayak trip on our way out. Again, they had availability, launched right from their back door, were super helpful and positive attitudes.Written January 5, 2024
- 735marymargaretk0 contributionsWonderful paddle experienceGreat customer service, extremely stable and easy to paddle stand up paddle boards and a fabulous location. We rented in November and saw manatees (including a baby manatee), small nurse sharks and iguanas. 2 Great paddle routes- one to the mangroves and one to an island off the coast. We were able to do them both. Very reasonable dialy flat rate which is much more relaxing than renting by the hour and trying to time everything. The shop is really nice too with lots of sun shirts.Written November 20, 2023
- smolinskimdphd0 contributionsGreat paddling through the mangrove tunnel!It was fun paddling through the mangrove tunnel. No dolphins, manatees, or turtles today, but great weather. Had opportunity to dive into the water. Appreciated that fresh water shower! Steven toom good care of us.Written October 20, 2023
- 205kirstyv0 contributionsA great way to experience the amazing mangroves and get close to nature!Myself, my husband, 17 yr old son and his girlfriend did a 2 hr kayaking trip. Suzanne was our guide. We went right into the mangroves. So deep that we had to drag ourselves along by the branches at some points. It was fantastic!! We saw tree crabs, iguanas, beautiful birds, and right at the end a manatee which made our day! We got up close to some stunning houses on the water and got to jump in the beautiful water for a dip. It was a bit tricky getting back on the kayaks but we all managed fine. Suzanne was so knowledgeable about the mangroves and it’s wildlife. She was calm and patient with us and made sure we were all safe in the areas with boats and jet skis. It was a really interesting trip and a lot of fun! A must do if you are in the area!Written October 16, 2023
- Donna S0 contributionsNot to be missed!Stephen is an amazing guide. Everyone was super friendly and the fact they love what they do shows. I can’t recommend this tour enough. We will definitely book it again on our next visit.Written October 7, 2023
- Chill0400 contributionsFun and informative tour with Steven and Christy!We gad a great kayak tour with Paddle! at the mangroves of Key Largo. Steven and Christy were fantastic guides with great knowledge of the environment, the species and the eco-system. Lots of interaction with the visitors as well.Written September 29, 2023
- michelledZ2943VW0 contributionsEnjoyable and relaxingA fun experience! We went on our own and explored at our own pace. Definitely worth navigating to the large lagoon deep in the mangrove!Written August 26, 2023
- Patricia B0 contributionsGreat timeWe had a great time! Very worth it for the price. We got to use the paddles all day. Our booking was self-guided, but the tour guides seemed awesome and super nice.Written August 11, 2023
- carriew040 contributionsFun, affordable way to spend a dayPaddle boards were easy to rent and very affordable. Check in and check out were simple. We had a great time and enjoyed taking our time and looking at all of small mangrove canals.Written July 26, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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atravelerden
Parker, CO84 contributions
I am rating the guided eco tour portion of this adventure rather than the equipment. The kayak itself was great, and the paddling was straight forward. The reality about the tour is there is NOTHING to see inside a mangrove and it’s NOT fun struggling to get through the trees in a kayak. Most of our tour was using our arms to pull on tree branches to propel ourselves through a narrow creek not wide enough to paddle.
The guide may have offered a few facts about the mangrove but unless you were the kayak directly behind her, the rest of the kayakers couldn’t hear anything she said, mostly because she wore a mask the whole time she was on the tour. I understand her focus on safety but her accent and the mask impeded us understanding much of what was said.
The guide may have offered a few facts about the mangrove but unless you were the kayak directly behind her, the rest of the kayakers couldn’t hear anything she said, mostly because she wore a mask the whole time she was on the tour. I understand her focus on safety but her accent and the mask impeded us understanding much of what was said.
Written December 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sorry you didn't enjoy your tour with us. our goal is to make it a 5 star trip with everyone and since it wasn't that for you I personally apologize. Some people really enjoy the mangroves and others do not. I am sorry you had trouble hearing your guide due to her wearing a mask but we have had a lot of covid infections here in the keys (nearly every business in our little center has had it but us) and we're just trying to insure that we remain healthy so that we can continue to welcome people from all over the country as we have been lucky to be able to remain open throughout this pandemic. i really wish we would have been able to discuss this when you were here. as a small business owner, i really love when i get constructive criticism and try to rectify any dissatisfaction when it happens.
Written December 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
stlmark
st.louis MO135 contributions
We booked this tour through the Key Largo “Visitors Center” which we later found out to be primarily a place that books tours not a true unbiased Visitors Center that you are used to seeing. The real Key Largo Visitors Center is about a half mile south on same side of the road.
Anyway we booked this 2pm tour and arrived at the shop at the suggested 1:45. We were greeted by our guide Mike who had us fill out the forms and suggested we only bring water and sunscreen as they do not provide a dry bag. All the other paddle tours we have taken provide this. We had three groups of two and and Mike gave us some preliminary instructions and asked us to introduce ourselves and then said he would not remember any of our names. Okay no big deal Mike but how about showing a little enthusiasm? It was obvious he either was not feeling well or just anti social not a good trait for a tour guide. We did enjoy the beautiful scenery and mangroves in spite of our uninterested guide. At the end of the tour one of Mike’s friends was there waiting for him and when we were getting out of our Kayaks Mike did not attempt to help anyone out of their Kayaks. He and his friend sat and talked for awhile and I didn’t know whether to interrupt and ask for my car keys? Finally Mike walked to the office and asked anyone if they needed anything. Oh well, maybe a guide who truly enjoyed what he was doing and showed it might help.
Anyway we booked this 2pm tour and arrived at the shop at the suggested 1:45. We were greeted by our guide Mike who had us fill out the forms and suggested we only bring water and sunscreen as they do not provide a dry bag. All the other paddle tours we have taken provide this. We had three groups of two and and Mike gave us some preliminary instructions and asked us to introduce ourselves and then said he would not remember any of our names. Okay no big deal Mike but how about showing a little enthusiasm? It was obvious he either was not feeling well or just anti social not a good trait for a tour guide. We did enjoy the beautiful scenery and mangroves in spite of our uninterested guide. At the end of the tour one of Mike’s friends was there waiting for him and when we were getting out of our Kayaks Mike did not attempt to help anyone out of their Kayaks. He and his friend sat and talked for awhile and I didn’t know whether to interrupt and ask for my car keys? Finally Mike walked to the office and asked anyone if they needed anything. Oh well, maybe a guide who truly enjoyed what he was doing and showed it might help.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thanks for coming to join us. while we strive to make each tour the most magnificent part of everyone's vacation, (as witnessed by many of our reviews) sometimes we just don't get it right. I'll be bringing this up with Mike and I can assure you that he is very concerned that he didn't make your day special. The person who showed up was an old employee and lifelong friend of Mike's who moved out of town about 2 years ago and showed up unannounced. They shouldn't have been talking until you had been properly handed off to the front desk for key retrieval. I want to apologize for you not getting the attention that you deserved.
the reason we don't provide dry bags, is that if we lend it to someone and they put a hole in it, then the next person will be mad at us for giving them a faulty dry bag. also we tried this and several disappeared before we had to discontinue the free use and responsibility of maintenance/inspection.
the key largo visitors center you visited is a concierge visitors center similar to many places you will find up and down the state and many other locations as well. they charge you a deposit which is then reduced from the amount you are charged at the store. the total cost is the same to the person taking the tour. they come down and take our trips and offer what they feel is the best experience for the traveler because they want you to send your friends.
the other visitors center you saw is the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce which is similar as they charge a pretty steep price to have your rack cards on hand but don't have any process of checking out whether their vendors are providing top service therefore the customer is on their own to decide which is a fit for them.
Written January 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cheree Bilbrey
1 contribution
Nov 2020 • Solo
I cannot say enough about Suzanne and Stephen. The day I had booked a SUP tour it was incredibly windy. Taking their advice with these unfavorable conditions I kayaked the tour instead. They were very genuine in their concern that I have an enjoyable, safe experience. I appreciated them taking the time to show me what they were concerned about so that I could decide. Because I had never Paddle-boarded before and I really wanted to try it, when we got back from the tour they let me use a Paddleboard in the canal by their shop. Suzanne gave me some quick instructions and I was able to get a feel for the SUP. I spent about 30 min on the canal but I could have spent as long as I wanted. They went above and beyond to ensure I had an enjoyable and safe tour experience while also making it possible to try something I’ve wanted to for a very long time. They are true gems and I highly recommend this staff to anyone interested in getting out on the water. They will put your safety first while also making sure you get out of the trip what you wanted. Will definitely be back!
Written November 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thanks for coming to visit us and i'm glad we were able to accomodate you on an otherwise windy day. glad you also got to try paddleboarding since that is our main passion here at the shop. see you again and thanks for leaving a review.
Written December 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JacobMStuckey
Atlanta, GA42 contributions
Jun 2021
We booked this as a last minute way to explore the Florida Keys, and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to get outside! The staff was all very helpful and made sure you had a great time.
Our kayak guide was very knowledgeable and made sure to point out all of the local wildlife. At the end of our tour, she also gave us the option to continue exploring the mangroves at our own pace. We would definitely visit here again!
Our kayak guide was very knowledgeable and made sure to point out all of the local wildlife. At the end of our tour, she also gave us the option to continue exploring the mangroves at our own pace. We would definitely visit here again!
Written June 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David R
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Family
Great experience. So neat to go into the mangroves and see part of this beautiful world. I would be a bit worried about getting lost in there on my own so it was really great to have a knowledgeable guide. My suggestions would be to take this tour and also would suggest to do it with kayaks unless very experienced with paddle boards. I am convinced that we went farther into the mangroves with kayaks than we could have with paddle boards.
This was a must do trip in my opinion. Paddle the Florida keys was a great company to go with.
This was a must do trip in my opinion. Paddle the Florida keys was a great company to go with.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thanks for coming to do our mangrove ecotour. I'm glad you had a great time. our guides are all very passionate about sharing our unique ecosystem. hope to see you again someday.
Written February 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Derek S
3 contributions
Mar 2021
We spent a week in the Keys scuba diving over Spring Break, and we decided to book a kayaking tour on our off day to check out the mangroves and hear all about the local ecosystem. We had a blast on the ~2 hour tour, where our guide, Brittany, did an excellent job explaining all about the local mangroves, manatees, fish and wildlife in the area. It was a fun time out, and the team at Paddle does a really nice job. It’s great to see local businesses like this thriving, and I hope they continue to successfully build their business in the Keys!
Written April 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff F
Tavernier, FL6 contributions
Feb 2020
We were first time paddle boarders. I would rate this activity as "strenuous" due to the fact that you are traversing through a boat channel against wind (20 mph), tide, and boat wake for part of the trip. Going under the bridge the current becomes more intense. During this time we were paddling on our knees and it became painful. After a while we sat indian style which was much better. It took me 4 tries to be able to stand on the board. The board was not as stable as I expected.
Rebecca our guide was fantastic! She spent extra time with us since we were first timers. She taught us skills before we left the dock, then we practiced them near the dock. Even though we were running behind she spent extra time with us.
Also be sure to take water. You can buy a clip on container at the shop that you can secure to the board. Do not go without water!
I expected to see more fish so that was a bit of a disapointment but overall we had a great time. Rebecca explained the mangroves and she was educational. She pointed out all tings of interest along the way.
Rebecca our guide was fantastic! She spent extra time with us since we were first timers. She taught us skills before we left the dock, then we practiced them near the dock. Even though we were running behind she spent extra time with us.
Also be sure to take water. You can buy a clip on container at the shop that you can secure to the board. Do not go without water!
I expected to see more fish so that was a bit of a disapointment but overall we had a great time. Rebecca explained the mangroves and she was educational. She pointed out all tings of interest along the way.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thanks for visiting us. our winds change daily and i'm sorry it was so breezy for you on your recent visit. next time will be different (it could be even worse but likely better) also our current changes every hour so sometimes it is faster than others. it would be cool if the tide was at the same time everyday as then we would be able to time our tours better. Glad you had a fun time with Rebecca as she really loves showing off our local eco system to our visitors.
Written March 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BronteBucket
Harrogate, UK1,462 contributions
We booked the Eco Wildlife kayak through the mangrove for our first day in the Keys however we needed to move our booking and the company were extremely helpful and kindly accommodated our request. On arrival you are required to sign a waiver for your family members and are given instructions about what to take/not take on the trip. No spray sunscreen as it can hurt the wildlife in the water. Then we went out onto the back deck to meet our instructor Chris and get tooled up. We then headed out onto the water and paddles about 1km before returning to base.
We went down a mangrove channel which was good fun dodging the low hanging branches - more tricky for those in the paddle boards! On our trip we were lucky enough to see lots of pelicans and 2 manatees. Chris said that it has been windy for 3 weeks and so the water was not as clear as it could have been so we didn’t see other wildlife. It was an enjoyable paddle, not taxing at all. The teenagers really enjoyed it. Highly recommend!
We went down a mangrove channel which was good fun dodging the low hanging branches - more tricky for those in the paddle boards! On our trip we were lucky enough to see lots of pelicans and 2 manatees. Chris said that it has been windy for 3 weeks and so the water was not as clear as it could have been so we didn’t see other wildlife. It was an enjoyable paddle, not taxing at all. The teenagers really enjoyed it. Highly recommend!
Written December 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BKerr
2 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Our family of 5 kayaked through the mangroves with our awesome guide Stephen. We have never been to the Florida Keys before and my 11 year old had no experience kayaking. Stephen was patient with her and involved her in conversation so she wouldn’t feel nervous. He was extremely knowledgeable about the ecosystem around us. He had tips and suggestions on what to do while we are visiting the Keys as well. He was even thoughtful enough to capture pictures of us all together! We thoroughly enjoyed our morning, and plan on coming back during our next trip to the Keys.
Written July 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amam2001
Orlando, FL5 contributions
This was our second time doing the Kayaking Eco tour and both times it was our favorite part of our Keys vacation. The staff is always helpful and polite. We scheduled the early tour but the weather was terrible so they accommodated us on a later tour that same afternoon. Tour started promptly and our guide was fabulous!She gave us options on areas we could kayak to depending on our preferences. Truly a wonderful experience!
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have a bad shoulder from rotator cuff surgery. The other three people in our group are pretty dang fit. Is there a way I can ride with a guide in the kayak and pamper this shoulder so that the others can go on what sounds like a cool adventure? They most likely won't feel comfortable leaving me behind. Sorry to be a deadbeat but the shoulder just won't paddle. Please be honest about this. (It's okay if this is a 'no' answer.)
Sarah
Written March 18, 2022
Know the feeling as I have had both shoulders done for rotator cuff. Hope it heals up! As to your question, guides use a stand up board, so recruit someone for a two-person kayak. Also, earlier in the morning the better for a tour as in first tour of the day. More sea life and no kayaks from earlier tours on the route. Definitely a fun tour!
Written March 19, 2022
We are active seniors in our 80's and have not kayaked, would this be appropriate and safe for us. Do the kayaks tip easily?
Written May 9, 2021
I have my own kayaks, what is the cost
Written September 28, 2020
Im 72, not decrepit, but my knees won't bend enough to get into a small kayak hole. Do you have sit-on-top kayaks or those with very wide holes. I have kayaked before.
Written September 14, 2019
We rode in a double kayak and had plenty of room to stretch out, my husband is 6’4.
Written September 15, 2019
Can a kayak fit one adult and two children (ages 9 and 12)?
Written December 26, 2018
Sorry, we only did paddleboarding so I don't know about the kayaks.
Written January 2, 2019
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