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Kayak Adventure of Shell Key Preserve & Island with a Local

Kayak Adventure of Shell Key Preserve & Island with a Local

Overview

Hi, I'm Scott. Karissa and I are the owners and only guides at Island Kayak Tours. We will guide you through the mangrove tunnels (tide permitting) and time your adventure just right to give you the best chance at seeing dolphins & manatees. There is also free time for you to explore Shell Key Island, whether that means shelling, swimming, snorkeling, or simply enjoying the view. Our tours take place in a shallow saltwater preserve. There are no alligators, and most of the water is knee to waist-deep; perfect for both beginners and experts. All the experience I have from growing up here in St. Petersburg has given me the opportunity to put together a kayak tour like no other. Kayaking has always been one of my favorite things to do around the area. This has allowed me the opportunity to find all the best kayaking spots and to accumulate the local knowledge to give you a true Florida experience. I started this kayaking company to share the natural beauty of my home with you.

City: St Petersburg

Thu 31 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $50.00

Make a reservation

Thu 31 Oct

Starting at $50.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

kayak, paddle, lifejacket (PFD), whistle or signalling device

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
This an outdoor experience with plenty of space for all guests and guides to remain at least 6 feet away from each other at all times.

What To Expect

Tierra Verde

Tours take place in Shell Key Preserve. As a native Floridian, I will guide you through the backcountry of the preserve. Through shallow grassy meadows we go, watching fish jump and birds hunt; all the while, ducking through the mangrove tunnels (tide permitting) and allowing time for pictures and explanations of the surrounding habitat. Most of the area we paddle in is typically only frequented by locals and is off-limits to motorized vessels.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (100)

AMPSFreehold_NJ

Aug 2022

Third time was an absolute charm! We tried to take this tour twice before, but weather and schedules got in the way. I’m glad we kept trying. We had been to Shell Key before by ferry, but a very different experience getting yourself there on a kayak. Scott and Karissa were great hosts – Scott has such incredible local knowledge about the history of the area and local flora and wildlife. The mangrove tunnels are something to see, and having the cormorant birds swim alongside like dolphins was incredibly cool We had kayaked before, but never in a large group where you had to keep up. The midway break on Shell Key gave us an opportunity to cool off with a swim, have a snack and explore. Even as novices, this was an easy trip to handle. We would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a local adventure.

Response from Host

Aug 2022

We had a lot of fun kayaking with you all. Thank you so much for all the kind words and taking time to leave us a wonderful review. We look forward to seeing you all again next time. Safe travels. Scott &Karissa

mike h

Jul 2022

Scott was our guide and he did an amazing job. We were supposed to go Tuesday but high winds made us reschedule, which was super easy to do. On the way to the mangroves, we were able to watch a dozen snatch fish out of the water and gulp them down. Then we went through 2 mangrove tunnels before heading to shell key. Scott parked us in a little lagoon and we had about an hour on the preserve. On the way back we passed a couple dolphins in two different locations. The whole time, Scott told stories about the area and checked to see if everyone was okay in the groups of 13-15 people. You can tell he truly loves this area. Fantastic tour and I recommend it to any one who can kayak the 2-3 miles that it takes, which actually wasn’t overly strenuous. 10/10 experience 🙂🙂🐬🐬

Response from Host

Jul 2022

Mike, we enjoyed having you both out kayaking with us today! Thank you for all the kind words and taking the time to write us a wonderful review. We look forward to seeing you all again next time. Safe travels. Scott &Karissa

kkurtyka

Jul 2022

This trip was absolutely fantastic! Scott and Karissa were excellent tour guides. Scott was super knowledgeable about the preserve, wildlife and even provided a lot of past history of the area. They are super personable and made the trip so much fun. My husband I like to support local businesses which is one of the reasons we chose this kayak adventure. Super, super trip and we highly recommend. Thanks Scott and Karissa for a great time!

Response from Host

Jul 2022

Kelly, we had a great time out kayaking you and your husband. Thank you so much for all the kind words and taking the time to leave us a wonderful review. We look forward to seeing you both again next time. Scott &Karissa