Coastal Wildlife Kayak Tour
5505054P1
5505054P1
5505054P1
5505054P1
5505054P1
5505054P1
5505054P1
5505054P1
Overview
Happy Paddler always limits tours to groups of 12 or less, allowing you to enjoy more time to explore and much better opportunities for manatee and dolphin encounters. Larger groups can be accommodated.
Our expert naturalist guides will lead you through shallow coastal waters, mangrove shorelines and islands while looking for manatees, dolphins, rays, sea turtles and coastal birds. Wildlife sightings vary, but opportunities are outstanding year-round and our guides know exactly where to look.
This excursion is perfect for families, couples, groups, and individuals with any level of paddling experience.
For visitors to Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key looking for the best wildlife adventure, this is it!
Tour at a glance
What's included
- Dry bag to store your phone and personal items
- Coast Guard approved (and comfortable!) life vest
- High-quality, comfortable kayak & paddle
Not included
- Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
- Bottled water
What you'll do
Epic wildlife viewing, pristine white sand beaches, tranquil sandbars, and lifelong memories await on the award-winning Coastal Wildlife Kayak Tour! Manatees, dolphins, birds, and abundant marine life highlight this relaxed adventure. After a quick paddling lesson and safety briefing, we’ll set out on the calm waters of Bishop’s Bayou, paddling through historic Longbeach Village and past beautiful waterfront homes while watching for wildlife. We'll make our way into Sarasota Bay and the spectacular clear waters between Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. This special area is a major wildlife gathering spot where manatees, dolphins, and other marine animals regularly move between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Along the way, we’ll have several beautiful spots to get out and stretch our legs. After soaking up the "coastal life," we'll paddle back to rinse and refresh after an awesome adventure! Solo guest or odd-numbered group? We’ll provide single kayaks as needed. Just let us know how many single vs. tandem boats your group prefers by leaving a note in the Special Requests section during booking. Please call with any questions or other special requests.
Meeting & pickup
Everyone meets at the start point.
Schedule
Good to know
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews
Our guide, Shane Catts, was excellent. He gave us so much nature education of the local environment. He actually got out of his kayak on a shallow spot and pulled out a few critters and talked to us about them. I can’t say enough good things about this adventure. He’s a native of the area which brings credibility to his valuable tours. He not only gave us great information about the ecological environment system there, he also gave us great tips to help us have a better paddling experience.
Excellent guide who had a wealth of knowledge about the area and ecosystem. Beautiful scenery .
We have rented kayaks from Happy Paddler several times, and we have explored all three of their kayak sites. The equipment has always been in excellent condition, and the operator has always been polite, helpful, and professional. We have seen manatees, many types of birds, and even a small shark this last time.
Our guide, Alan, was great! Very knowledgeable and patient. I highly recommend Happy Paddler for your next adventure. We will definitely book with them in the future.
At the end of our week on Anna Maria Island, all four of us stated that this was our favorite activity of the week. Shane was an awesome guide, showing us many different creatures in the air and in the water. He did a great job giving everyone equal attention and keeping us safe on the water. The pace was good for all members of the group. We are sad that it was cloudy, so we didn't really see the sunset for our Sunset Kayaking, but it was still a fun cruise and a wonderful experience. Highly recommended!
Saw manatees and dolphins and birds! Moderate kayak depending upon the tides. Bring water and sunscreen.
Allen was a fantastic guide! Local guy that knows all the history and the best spots. Super friendly. Encountered a couple manatee and dolphin pods that were fun to watch. Clean shop and kayaks. Highly recommend this outfitter for any guided kayak tours around Longboat Key!
I went on this kayak trip with a friend and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth our time!
Reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor from verified travellers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this experience last?
It lasts 2h 30m.
Is hotel pickup included?
Everyone meets at the start point.
Can I cancel for free?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.
Which languages is the guide available in?
Guide languages: EN
On which days does it run?
It runs Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat. Starts 09:00, 13:00
How fast is the booking confirmed?
Instantly. Your e-ticket arrives by e-mail right after booking.
Is this a private tour?
No, this is a shared group experience.
Where do I complete the booking?
On viator.com, a Tripadvisor company, with live availability and secure payment. TourViaGo is a Global Partner of Viator.
Product code 5505054P1
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