Immerse yourself in Sarasota's coastal mangrove forests, look out for dolphins and manatees, and practice your kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding skills on this immersive, small-group tour. After departing from Ted Sperling Nature Park, you'll paddle out on Sarasota Bay and can practice with your equipment. Then, head into the mangrove tunnels for your best chance to see local marine life.

• This small-group tour guarantees hands-on guidance and support
• Choose to rent a single or double kayak, or a stand-up paddleboard
• Discover the striking scenery of Sarasota’s coastal mangrove forests
• Enjoy an active and adventurous way to explore the scenery

What To Expect

The tour starts at the Turtle Beach Boat Launch. We start by paddling in the intercoastal waters on Sarasota Bay. This is a great place to get used to the equipment and also a great place to see manatees (during spring and summer months, mostly). Our tour takes us through a canal and into the mangrove islands of the Jim Neville Preserve. Stay alert for beautiful shore and seabirds along the way. With fishing jumping all around you, our goal is to spot dolphins and manatees that frequent the area to feed. Keep your eye open for ospreys, bald eagles and cormorants–all of which are often hunting for fish. As we wind our way around the mangrove islands and through mangrove tunnels we head toward the highlight of the tour. We pull our boats onshore and wander over the sand dunes to a quiet and isolated beach. This is a great place to stretch your legs, take a swim in the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico or look for shells.

Youth rate is for kids 10 years old and under. Youth paddlers will be in a tandem kayak with an adult.

Kayak Launch Fees are $5.00 per boat and will be collected by the vendor upon check-in.