Lovers Key Guided Eco Tour-Mangrove Estuary

Overview

This is a 2 hour and 15 minute tour with Lovers Key Adventures master naturalist guide, Stephen, who expertly guides our guests through the mangrove canopied estuary explaining the importance of the southwest Florida eco-system -the history of the area- from the Calusa Indians, Conquistadors, and Ponce De Leon..on. He finds wildlife and introduces our guests to the various birds, vegetation, dolphins, and manatee (if they’re around that day;) This is one of the unique experiences available in southwest Florida. No tour is ever the same there is no script and many guests return year after year to enjoy Stephen's expertise and the beauty of Lovers Key
Our guests also often take advantage of the beaches and hiking trails offered inside the state park. There are many photo opportunities available to capture the memories of this incredible experience within the natural surroundings of the untouched Florida landscape.

City: Fort Myers

Mon 23 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $66.67

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Dec

Starting at $66.67

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Single and tandem kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards. Life vests, backrests, and paddles.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Lovers Key State Park

Lovers Key State Park offers 2 1/2 miles of beach coastline with incredible shelling. There are 5 miles of hiking and biking trails with wildlife sightings daily. The tours take place in the estuary with manatee and dolphin sightings (if they choose to show up) many or most days. 4 hour Kayak rentals are also available at your leisure-unguided with single and tandem kayaks and canoes as well as stand up paddle boards rented by the hour.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (571)

Barbara G

Jan 2015

We recently participated in a kayak tour guided by Stephen Denmark. This young man has a degree in environmental studies and his knowledge and passion far exceeded our previous experience on similar tours. He departed information with accuracy and humor, which made the trip most enjoyable. He was also an avid photographer so we left with many pictures of our journey to share with family and friends. A memorable experience.

Christine K

Jan 2015

My husband and I took the guided kayak tour with Stephen Denmark on January 4th, he was a fantastic guide. It was the first time we had gone kayaking and Stephen made us feel at ease. We were very impressed with Stephen’s knowledge of the mangroves and wildlife, as well as his compassion and enthusiasm for what he does. Along with informing us about the different species of plants, birds, fish, and other wildlife in the area, and the great importance of the mangroves to the environment, he shared a few stories about his own personal experiences which we enjoyed. It was a perfect day to go kayaking, and the perfect place to do it. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and plan to do it again when we’re back in the area, and hope to have Stephen as our guide once again. David and Chris Kinney

mikeandlindaR

Jan 2015

With two friends we joined a mother and daughter in our two double kayaks and two singles and our naturalist/guide Steve on the brief car ride from the check-in desk to the launch site. Steve introduced himself and asked whether we each had experience kayaking; all said 'no'. That 'no' was probably said to avoid embarrassment, because as soon as we were all on the water, we all knew what to do with only a minimum of instruction from Steve. He saw a Manatee to our right and said paddle over there and wait for him as he parked his truck. This solitary Manatee must have seen all of us because s/he was nowhere to be seen for the rest of our 2.5 hour paddle. But, the birds we saw and the knowledge and lore we received from Steve, and the simple beauty of the waterways among the mangrove swamps made up for that lack many times over. First, was a view of a large Osprey nest close enough for good photos. Then the Little Blue Herons just standing around, apparently understanding that they were posing for us. Next came the Yellow Crowned Night Herons. Typically, in our previous experience at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge we would see one Night Heron. Here, we saw one and then another and another and another, all in the same area but each independent of the others! Furthermore, we quietly paddled up to within a kayak's length of these birds and most didn't blink an eye, literally! In between these terrific sightings, Stephen Denmark shared his extensive knowledge of the natural environment as well as the historical lore of the region. Who knew that Ponce de Leon was mortally wounded right here? We got to a low spot where Steve got off his paddle board, his dog Bowser did, too, and he found first a very long string of seed cases from a large whelk. We all got to handle and wonder about this fascinating object. Then, Steve found a very large whelk, presumably the mother of these seed cases. Who knew that this whelk was a 'left-handed' whelk? Then he found some sea squirts and demonstrated their abilities. By this time, we all agreed that going back to the launch site, after two plus hours, was a good option. We also all agreed that this morning's paddle was simply terrific. We now look forward to some other chances to paddle such interesting places, especially with nicely maneuverable kayaks and backed seats as Steve provided. Finally, we agreed that having Steve as our guide really did make the trip what it was!