Sarasota Guided Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour
5
Sarasota Guided Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour
By Sea Life Kayak Adventures
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About
To enjoy an up-close look at the mangrove tunnels on Florida's Gulf Coast, don't miss this kayak adventure where you can actually paddle beneath the trees. Meet-up at Ted Sperling Nature Park to pick up your kayak, before heading out on the water. As your guide leads you through Little Sarasota Bay, you can marvel at the famous mangroves, and maybe even spot wildlife like dolphins and manatees.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 11-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Paddle to the mangrove tunnels on this Little Sarasota Bay kayak adventure
- Enjoy views of Lido Key as you paddle with a group of just 20 travelers
- You can choose to paddle solo, or enjoy a tandem kayak ride with a friend
- Easily find the departure location just a short drive from downtown Sarasota
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- Local guide
- Professional guide
- USCG Life Jacket
- Lightweight carbon fiber paddle
What's not included- Gratuities
- Start:
- 190 Taft Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236, USAWe are located in the center of the trailer parking lot (spot #5 counting from the right). Look for the white "Sea Life Kayak Check-In" sandwich board sign. Ask around if you have any trouble finding us
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 108117P1- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers
- 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: 108117P1
From
ÂŁ49.37
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:
- mhuggins20250 contributionsFun DayIan, our guide, was knowledgeable pointing out birds and sea life to observe. His comedic delivery was delightful and kept the attention of all.Written 6 January 2025
- laureneliroff0 contributionsKayaking in the tunnelsKenny was the best!! So much fun and he knew a lot about the wildlife and area! Would definitely recommend.Written 2 January 2025
- Stephanie Y0 contributionsWonderful day KayakingWe had an excellent time, and our guide Ian was terrific. They enjoyed the mangrove tunnels, We went with our three grandchildren ages 6,8 and 10.Written 2 January 2025
- jfendrich0 contributionsKayak tourIan was our guide and he was knowledgeable and made the tour fun. Definitely recommend this tour to everyone of all skill levels.Written 26 December 2024
- cagotesku0 contributionsGreat experience!We had a group of 16. A combination of parents and 13 year old soccer players. Chris was patient with the rambunctious energy of the boys and those of us learning to kayak.Written 9 December 2024
- kellystinnett60 contributionsHad a great time!My husband and I decided to do something different for our anniversary and I’m glad we did. Kenny was very knowledgeable, it was beautiful and we saw things we wouldn’t have otherwise seen. I highly recommend giving it a shot.Written 23 November 2024
- kkirtsos0 contributionsGreat timeIan was a wonderful guide and it was great time spent on the water with my kids he took us on an adventure and the stories were greatWritten 8 November 2024
- Ineides0 contributionsFun Morning Kayaking on LidoTom was terrific helping us plan. Fun morning! Ian was knowledgeable and very witty and funny. Would definitely recommend!Written 26 October 2024
- paula c0 contributionsWas a great afternoon kayaking with Ian!After an initial bad start by walking to the wrong park and then realising we should have been at the other park for the launch and worried we would miss we arrived with 10 minutes to spare!!! We were met by Ian who went over the basics of kayaking and off we went. Ian was a great guide and very knowledge about all the wildlife in the area. On the trip we saw dolphins jumping out of the water, several manatees were swimming under our kayaks, truly amazing as we had really wanted to see manatees on this trip, think it helped with Ian being on a paddle board he could see from above. Ian was just what you wanted in a guide, was very friendly and made the group laugh, at times we felt like explorers, would I do this again, without a shadow of doubt and I would encourage others to get up close and personal with wildlife and knowledgeable guides such as Ian. Awesome experience.Written 19 September 2024
- distantr20240 contributionsGood experience when visiting the area first time.Great tour all around, Kenzie was an energetic and thorough guide. We didn't see any large marine life but that beyond the tour control. Timely and 2 hours passed by quick. A very good upperbody exercise session if you're first time kayaking. We loved it.Written 25 August 2024
- Fearless7165140 contributionsMangrove tourTrip was excellent Sky was an excellent guide and provided a lot of information. Would recommend this excursion to anyone in the areaWritten 22 August 2024
- Ringo3170 contributionsFun TripAn enjoyable kayaking tour. Andrew was a great guide. We had several Cormorants following our kayaks, diving under the boats and catching fish. Andrew was able to locate a Manatee and it made the trip seeing it in the wild. The mangrove tunnels are always fun.Written 5 May 2024
- jspawlak20240 contributionsKayaking in the MangrovesWas only in a Kayak one other time so was a bit nervous. There was no need to be. It was easy, husband and I used the two person kayak. The mangroves were so beautiful and peaceful. Our guide, Hoppy, was the best. She was funny, interacted with all of us, very knowledgeable and was so enthusiastic about Florida’s beautiful vegetation and animal life. Would definitely do this again but would want Hoppy as a guide.Written 4 May 2024
- jesifro220 contributionsGreat way to experience Florida!We had Isn’t as our guide and he was very engaging and knowledgeable. Had us laughing the whole time. It was a low key kayak and the mangroves were stunning. Very peaceful and serene.Written 25 April 2024
- floridapartsfinders0 contributionsGreatest GuideIt was weekend date for My Bride and Me and we have taking up Kayaking as one of our Hobbies to do we both really enjoyed this because it was a beautiful day and we had a EXCELLENT Guide showing us around and explaining a lot about the Gulf and Animals in it Ian was really greatWritten 24 April 2024
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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5.0
1,628 reviews
Excellent
1,591
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29
Average
7
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1
KC & Cathy W
Cincinnati, OH16 contributions
Jessica was our tour guide. She did a great job getting everyone comfortable and did an even better job sharing some history of the area and ecology of the water and mangroves. Jessica even helped my 7 year old find a starfish (which we of course returned back to the water). The tour length was perfect for my wife and three children (13, 11 and 7). My wife and I were paired in tandem kayaks with the younger children. The water was shallow enough in most areas that a life jacket was not needed. We would recommend this adventure for a beginner or experienced kayaker who isn’t familiar with the area. It was a great way to get out on the water! Almost forgot to mention, Jessica is a veteran ... thank you for your service!
Written 23 March 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.
Kerri Furey
1 contribution
Apr 2021 • Family
My mom booked this tour for our recent visit to Sarasota with our two teenaged children. Our guide, Ian, greeted us when we arrived and gave us helpful reminders sunscreen, offered us water and even an extra jacket since it was a little breezy on the open water. Ian also used a tandem kayak so my mom could actually ride with him as the rest of us had single boats. Ian was very adept at evaluating all the conditions, weather, experience of the group, and likelihood of finding dolphins and manatee. He took us straight to the best spot for possibly seeing the larger animals, but without any unnecessary paddling against the wind. He was very knowledgeable about the area, Not only about the inhabitants of the smaller keys and mangrove tunnels, but could also tell us which celebrities had homes on the larger keys. After spending some enjoyable time in the open water, we headed through the tunnels. Ian pointed out the different types of Mangrove trees, talked about how important they are to the environment, and had a keen eye for crabs and even a snake winding its way around the roots. (A small, not poisonous or aggressive snake) Ian had a great sense of humor which entertained the group, but he clearly had our safety in mind the entire trip. At one point a couple in the group bobbled their kayak and had several items fall out of their boat, and Ian kindly collected them all. He stopped to identify crabs, sponges, whelks and other sea life as well as many birds in the area. When we stopped to do some walking and wading Ian took photos of every person/group on the tour. This tour was not too long or too short and Ian never seemed to be on a schedule. Would highly recommend the mangrove guided tour with Sealife Adventures.
Written 4 April 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.
Cynthia M
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Family
A wonderful tour with Dustin. He shared his credentials and took special care to teach paddling to young and old for a successful trip. Waiting to speak until all of us within speaking range. He did a great job leading thru the caves and holding a tree branch for us to pass by
This is the third tour I have been on with this company and they do such a lovely job
I highly recommend them
Cyndy Mellgren
This is the third tour I have been on with this company and they do such a lovely job
I highly recommend them
Cyndy Mellgren
Written 26 January 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.
Marco028
Dunedin, FL54 contributions
Nov 2020
Foremost, Jessica, our tour guide, was exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable and patient. I was able to reserve 2 single kayaks- my brother and I- at the spur of the moment on a windy Saturday afternoon in early November. Payment was easily rendered via the portable card reading device. Without request, Jessica offered a dry bag for my keys and phone- excellent service! Even better, Jessica rolled our two kayaks to the water's edge. Piece of cake! There we joined just two other tandem kayaks, making it only 6 people on our tour. Few enough to hear Jessica's entertaining wisdom along the way. Jessica helped each of us in before launching herself. The mangrove tunnels were amazing, but I could see how this could be a little challenging for beginners. While in each tunnel, the force of the wind was nullified leaving only peace, tranquility and nature to be experienced. The tour included landing on a sandy beach with a few moments to enjoy the roar of the shoreline and Sarasota's city scape. Two hours was just enought time to experience the mangroves and the estuary teeming with birds and other wildlife. It was one of the best kayaking experiences we've had. Well done Sea Life, and we express our sincere gratitude to Jessica.
Written 11 November 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.
Becky D
3 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
My husband and I had never gone Kayaking before. We did the tandem boat I definitely would go in a solo boat next time, that way you have more control over the rocking, we did really good though . Ian our guide was great very knowledgeable and we got to hold star fish crabs and the tiny jelly fish were everywhere. It was awesome to go into the tunnels of the mangroves we felt very safe and never rushed it was a great experience we will definitely go again!!
Written 23 January 2022
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.
Timothy G
5 contributions
Aug 2023
My wife and I did the guided mangrove tunnel kayak tour in August 2023. Andrew, our guide, was excellent. He is very knowledgeable of the area, the history and the marine life and the birds that we saw. He even went as far as to get in the water and pick up an upside down jellyfish to show to those in our group, even though he was getting stung. We highly recommend this tour for anyone who is visiting the Sarasota area.
Written 27 August 2023
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.
ekr531
Fort Wayne, IN3 contributions
Jessica took us on a tour of the beautiful mangroves and inlets around Longboat Key. We saw manatee and osprey. The tunnels are really peaceful and fun to navigate. Working a single kayak was no problem for any of us 13-50 yrs. Teenagers 13-19 loved it. Guided tours provide interesting historical and environmental information. 4pm tour was a nice balance of sun and shade. Recommend bathing suits or a change of clothes. You will inevitably get a little damp. Plan to book again when we return the area. Also, reserved over the phone with Tom. Had a little miscommunication about number of boats reserved. Tom fixed it and refunded immediately. Flexibility is greatly appreciated when booking special events like this. Excellent customer service!!
Written 9 April 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.
Ann K
2 contributions
Mar 2021 • Solo
Jessie was a great guide. We had a larger group and she was able to keep us together. She is gifted with a voice that projects, which allowed us all to hear her. She made sure we could see manatees, too. Thank you Jessie!
Written 24 March 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.
Del H
Leesburg, FL89 contributions
Oct 2020
Jessica did an awesome job. As soon as we hit the first tunnel I was awe struck. Weather prevented us from hitting open water but that was perfect; I think the open water would have been boring. Going thru the tunnels was simply amazing. Next time in Sarasota, will do this again.
Written 21 October 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.
jshaffer2020
1 contribution
Sept 2020
This was our first time through the mangrove tunnels at Lido and absolutely loved it. So peaceful and serene. Hard to believe there are 20 tunnels to maneuver through. My husband tipped over in the mangroves, but Ian quickly came to his rescue as it's not an easy feat to get back in a kayak with no
leverage in 3-4 feet of water. Ian's dry sense of humor kept us chuckling throughout our tour.
leverage in 3-4 feet of water. Ian's dry sense of humor kept us chuckling throughout our tour.
Written 30 September 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.
Can I bring my own kayak, and if so, is the rate less? We're experienced kayakers but new to area. Thanks!
Written 18 November 2023
I would simply call and ask. I'm confident that you can bring your own kayak, but don't know if the cost would be less.
Written 20 November 2023
Scenic30281853648
Saint Charles, Missouri
What can you bring on the kayak with you? Should I bring a wet bag for my things?
Written 24 May 2022
They do supply a wet bag for some small items like a phone. The kayaks don't really have room for storage. You could bring a water bottle but there's not much room for anything else.
Written 25 May 2022
I want a kayak for my hisband and I to ride together in the same kayak. Do you have those and how much is it?
Written 12 June 2019
Hi, yes they had tandem kayaks available. Our tour was $100 + $20 tip
Written 16 June 2019
What's the difference btwn the kayak tunnel tour and the kayak eco tour?
Written 28 February 2019
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