Mangroves and Manatees - Guided Kayak Eco Tour
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Key Largo, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Paddle through the mangrove ecosystem of Tavernier Creek in the Florida Keys on a single or double kayak on this guided tour. Ideal for first-time paddlers, glide in shallow, clear water over sponges, grass beds, and sandy patches. Marine life like turtles, stingrays, dolphins, and manatees can sometimes be spotted nearby.
- Kayak in the mangroves of Tavernier Creek
- Local guide provides instruction and leads the way
- Family friendly activity for all skill levels
- Enjoy a more personal experience with a small group
What's Included
- Local guide
- Kayak - Single or double your choice
- safety gear
- land based instruction
- on water coaching
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 90773 Old Hwy, Tavernier, FL 33070, USA
You meet us at our shop and we launch directly from there! Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to tour start. This will give you time to get prepared for your tour. We make every effort to start on time.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your start time.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Our guide, Jack, was wonderful! Very knowledgeable and we learned so much about the mangroves and the local flora and fauna! We didn’t see any manatee but lots of birds and fish and iguana. We had a wonderful time!
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,418 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Our kayak guided tour was fun and educational. 2 hours was the perfect length of time to be on the water and experience wildlife. We floated with 3 manatees! Out guide Britany was exceptional! Her knowledge and paddling experience made our experience 5 star.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Sounds like an awesome tour! Brittany is great and really knows her stuff. Happy to hear you got some quality manatee time too! Thanks for coming out with us and for the awesome review! We look forward to having you back someday!
This was a fantastic experience! We saw a multitude of manatees, nurse sharks, birds, jellyfish, etc. Of course it’s going to depend on the day and factors outside of the guides’ control what wildlife you may see on your tour. We were very lucky. The guides were exceptionally knowledgeable, friendly and able to answer all of our questions. I highly recommend this tour! It was the highlight of our trip to Key Largo.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Sounds like you guys had a great day out there! You definitely got lucky with all that wildlife. Really appreciate the review and glad the tour ended up being a highlight of your trip! Thats exactly what we strive for with every trip! Hope to see you again someday!
Great combination of a little challenging as we navigated the mangroves and easy enjoyment in other areas. Guide pointed out local wildlife, took photos of our group and kept us all safe. Fun time!!!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Sounds like a great paddle! Glad you enjoyed the mangroves, wildlife, and the adventure. Thanks for joining us and we hope to see you again in the future!
Brittany a d Michelle were amazing and we had a perfect day
Saw lots of creatures and got a nice swim too
Response from Host, Sep 2026
So glad you had such a great day with Brittany and Michelle! Sounds like you got the full experience with plenty of wildlife and even a swim. Thanks so much for coming out with us!
Excellent, Jack our guide was very informative. We seen a dolphin and a mom and baby Manatee, they were right beside our kayaks. It was a great experience back thru the Mangroves.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review, Christina!
We're so glad you had such a great experience paddling through the mangroves with Jack! Seeing a dolphin and a mom and baby manatee so up close is truly a special Florida Keys experience!
Thanks again for taking the time to leave us a review. We will be sure to share your kind words with Jack and we hope to see you back again for another paddle adventure!
We had a great experience kayaking through the mangroves. We saw several species of birds, dolphins, tree crabs and a stingray. Brittany was our guide and she was very knowledgeable on the variety of animals we encountered.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your review, Audrey!
Britney will be delighted to hear your kind words! She truly loves sharing her knowledge of our amazing eco system and finding as much wildlife as possible for each tour!
Thanks again for taking the time to leave us a review and we hope to see you back in the future for another kayak adventure!
We were in a canal that had boats and jet skis in amd out. No manatees and just paddle by the mangroves. Nothing as advertised or expected.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We respectfully disagree, as this description is simply inaccurate. The tour route and experience you described do not accurately reflect what took place or what our tour offers. While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, we stand behind the experience that was provided.
We had a great time on our eco tour with our guide, Matt. He was very knowledgeable about the local wildlife. Unfortunately we did not get to see a manatee on our tour, but it was still a nice way to see the waterways.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for joining us! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour with Matt and learning about our local wildlife. We always encourage guests to review the tour experience itself, as wildlife sightings are completely natural and unfortunately never something we can predict or guarantee. We hope to see you again!
We had a great time! The guide was fun, the weather was nice. We had manatee floating around us, that was a bonus!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review, Holly!
We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your time out on the water with us! Great weather AND manatees, what more could you ask for;-)
Thanks again for taking the time to leave us a review! We hope to see you back again in the future for another adventure!
It was an amazing experience! I have never been kayaking before, but that didn’t even matter. I highly recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thanks for your review, Holly!
We are so happy we could be a part of your first kayaking adventure! We hope to see you back for another paddle in the future!
Thanks again for your recommendation and taking the time to leave us a review!
it was amazing! our guide, keith, was very knowledgeable and made the experience a 10/10! made us feel like we were family.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! Keith will be so happy to hear your family had such an amazing time and felt so welcome!
Thanks again for your review and we hope to see you back again for another paddle adventure soon!
Kayaking in Key Largo was a great experience. We went specifically hoping to spot manatees, but unfortunately we didn’t see any during our trip. That said, the guides were friendly, safety-focused, and explained what to look for and why conditions can affect sightings.
The paddle itself was beautiful—quiet water, great scenery, and a relaxing way to spend time out on the bay. Even without manatees, it felt like a fun, worthwhile outing. We did see some dolphins at the end of our trip.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're glad to hear you enjoyed your time out on the water and that our guides helped make the trip safe, relaxing, and informative!
We're sorry the manatees didn't make an appearance during your tour. Wildlife sightings are always a little unpredictable, but we're happy you were able to enjoy the beautiful mangroves and had some dolphins to finish the trip!
We hope to have you back out with us again for another adventure, hopefully with a manatee or two!
The tour was very informative in a very interesting manner. We learned a great deal about the mangroves and the history of the area. We also saw a lot of wildlife! Highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review, Rory!
We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed learning about the mangroves, the history of the area and all the amazing wildlife along the way! Our guides love sharing what makes the Florida Keys a special place, and it means a lot that you found your tour informative and enjoyable!
We truly appreciate your review and recommendation and hope to paddle with you again on your next visit!
Murky water is scary. Definitely would not do it solo. Especially not that good at paddle boarding. Keith was a wonderful guide, positive and supportive. We didn't see any manatees cause it's nature, they're random. But was so fun!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank your for your review! Keith is amazing with encouraging first time paddle boarders!
As far as the water clarity, most of the time it is pretty clear here! That being said, weather conditions, wind, tides, sargassum, etc. can all play a part in the clarity of the water.
Thanks again for your review and we hope to see you back in the future when he water is crystal so you can find those manatees!
The kayaking was fun and the views and mangroves were beautiful. It was a little tough to paddle back because of the current and navigating around boat traffic was tricky at times. But our guide did a great job of making sure we were all good and giving us fun facts. We did not get to see any manatees which was sad, sounds like they are mostly there in the spring.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the review! We're glad you enjoyed the paddle and the beauty of the mangroves, and we're happy to hear your guide took great care of the group.
As for the manatees, they actually live here year-round. We have around 25 resident manatees in our local waters that do not migrate, so there's never really a "manatee season." Holiday weekends do tend to bring a lot more boat traffic, which can make wildlife a little harder to spot since they're more likely to stay in quieter areas.
We know it's always disappointing to miss them, but that's also what makes every sighting so special. We hope you'll come back and give us another shot during a slower time if year.
This was a highlight of our trip! Kayaking in the mangrove tunnel was great! Loved that we could jump in and cool off under the trees. Our guide was wonderful and you could tell he really enjoys what he does and loves the wildlife. We even caught a glimpse of a manatee. Highly recommend this for families. Our teenage son and 11 yr old were in one kayak together, and my husband and I each had one of our smaller children in our two person kayaks. Was great for all levels of experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks so much for the awesome review! We're glad we could be one of the highlights of your trip. Sounds like you got the full experience with the mangrove tunnel, a swim to cool off, and even a manatee sighting. That's a pretty good day on the water! We really appreciate the kind words about your guide too. Thanks for mentioning that the tour was a good fit for your whole family. That's exactly what we aim for, no matter your age or experience level. Hope to see you all again the next time you're down in the Keys!
Bring bug spray for the mangrove tunnel!!
Matt was an amazing instructor & had tons of information about wildlife around!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad you had a great time out on the water with Matt. He loves sharing his knowledge about the local wildlife and ecosystem, so we're happy to hear it made the tour even more enjoyable. And yes, bug spray is definitely recommended, especially after a little rain and on calm days when there isn't much wind. Thanks again for paddling with us, and we hope to see you back in the Keys soon!
It was a very convenient kayak trip. Easy to do. Our guide, Brittany, was very helpful and informative. It was very interesting kayaking through the mangroves and sing the sights.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words! We're glad you had an enjoyable trip and that Brittany helped make your experience both fun and informative. We always aim to provide a 5-star experience, so if there's anything you think we could have done to make your visit even better, we'd truly appreciate the feedback. We hope to see you back on the water again soon!
Tour was great. Seen a lot of fish, crabs, birds, and more. Keith did a great job guiding the tour and explaining the wildlife we seen and pointing out a lot we would have missed without him.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad you had a great time on the tour and got to see so much wildlife along the way.
Keith does an excellent job of spotting the little things that are easy to miss and sharing his knowledge of the local ecosystem. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him.
Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to see you back out on the water the next time you're in the Keys!
This was a wonderful experience. The kayaking was not difficult, and the scenery was amazing. We didn’t get to see wildlife. We went in late June. My husband and 4 year old shared a kayak, and the little one did great. No issues. My 17 year old loved it.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad your whole family had a wonderful time on the water. It's great to hear your 4 year old did so well and that your 17 year old enjoyed the trip too.
Wildlife can be unpredictable, and while we can't guarantee sightings, every paddle is a little different. We're happy you were still able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and had a great experience overall. We hope to see your family back again on your next visit to the Keys!
Was nice took a paddle board and wish I would have taken a kayak. The paddle boards don’t have backs on them so I started to get sore as I can’t balance well to stand which would have been more comfortable once out of mangroves. The gentleman behind me I was worried wasn’t going to make it as he was so sore and uncomfortable and couldn’t paddle well on the paddle board . I would recommend taking a kayaking if you can sit and are ok ducking under trees a bit in the mangroves. My legs wouldn’t have cramped as much in a kayak. Our guide was very nice shared great facts with us.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for joining us and for the kind words about your guide.
We do want to point out that paddleboards and kayaks offer very different experiences, and guests are free to choose whichever they feel most comfortable with before the tour begins.
It sounds like many of the challenges you experienced were related to using a paddleboard rather than the tour itself.
We always encourage guests who prefer back support, have balance concerns, or simply want a more relaxed paddle to choose a kayak. Because that equipment choice is entirely up to each guest, we hope future readers will evaluate the tour based on the overall experience, guide, scenery, and wildlife rather than a personal equipment selection.
We're glad you enjoyed your guide and hope to see you back someday!
The trip itself was average. It’s a kayak. We saw mangroves. But not a great trip to see much. The biggest issue was there were 14 people with one guide. Way too many to enjoy the trip.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
I do want to clarify that we actually limit our tours to 12 guests per guide specifically to keep groups smaller and more enjoyable. Many other kayak tour operations run groups of 20, 30, or even 40 guests with a single guide, which is something we intentionally avoid.
As for the tour being "average because it's a kayak," that's exactly the experience advertised and why most guests book the this trip. The mangrove trails, wildlife, and natural environment are the focus of the trip. Wildlife sightings can vary from day to day, but the tour itself is designed around exploring this unique ecosystem.
We appreciate you joining us and sharing your thoughts.
This was a very fun and educational tour. I went with the whole family including my small children. The tour was fun and easy to do with all ages. Our guide was fantastic! I highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We're so glad your whole family, including the little ones, enjoyed the tour! Our goal is create fun, educational adventures that guests of all ages can enjoy!
Thank you for choosing to paddle with us, and we hope to welcome your family back for another adventure soon!
Very friendly staff. Had a great time.
You will spend your time paddling down a canal. Then up a creek overgrown with mangroves. Which is unique and fun.
I'd tell you to not get your hopes up on seeing a Manatee. Manatees aren't likely in the area very much anymore for a variety of environmental reasons. I'd say Mangroves and Manatees is more of a name for the company. Chance if seeing a Manatee, if I had to guess, less than a 5 percent chance.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for joining us and for the kind words about our staff!
I do want to correct one part of the review. The statement that there is less than a 5% chance of seeing a manatee is simply not true. We have approximately 25 resident manatees that live in our area year-round and do not migrate. While wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, we see manatees on a regular basis and a 5% chance is nowhere near accurate.
We're not sure where the information about "environmental reasons" came from, but we wanted to make sure future readers and guests have accurate information about the manatees that call this area home year-round.
Beautiful and peaceful paddling your kayak through the mangroves. We saw some birds, crabs, orbe weaver spider, no manatees though. Our tour guide Matt waa so nice and funny!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks so much! Matt will love hearing that. The mangroves are always beautiful and peaceful, and while wildlife can be unpredictable, we’re glad you still got to see birds, crabs, and even an orb-weaver spider. Hope we get you back out there for a manatee sighting next time!
Staff did a great job at prepping us and sent everything we needed to know before hand when we booked. I felt prepared
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi, Anna! We do get a lot of first timers here and want to make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible before getting out on the water!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time here in the keys:-)
Saw lots of wildlife and various plants, kayaking through the mangroves was a unique experience, Keith was an awesome tour guide!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your review! Kayaking through the mangroves is definitely a beautiful experience all on its own! We are so glad you saw LOTS of wildlife. What a bonus!!
Thanks again for taking the time to leave us a review! We hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay here in the keys!
Our guide was amazing!! So kind, patient and knowledgeable. Was the perfect 1st kayaking experience.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re glad your first kayaking experience was such a great one. Our guides work hard to make everyone feel comfortable on the water while also sharing knowledge about the unique mangrove ecosystem and wildlife around us. Hope to see you back out for another adventure soon!
This was the best snorkeling trip I’ve experienced! On top of that, the boat crew and captain were super friendly and personable. They even gave use some great recommendations for restaurants and bars to try.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi there! I think you may have accidentally posted this review to the wrong business, as we don't offer snorkeling trips or boat charters. We're a kayak and paddleboard eco-tour company here in the Florida Keys.
That said, we're really glad to hear you had such a great experience on the water during your trip to the Keys! If you happen to find the correct company, I'm sure they'd greatly appreciate the review. Hope you enjoy the rest of your time down here!
It was a really nice experience. It was my first time kayaking, so I was a little nervous, but our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. We got to learn about the mangroves and its fauna.
I highly recommend it.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks so much for the review! We're glad your first kayaking experience was a great one. Happy to hear your guide helped make you feel comfortable while getting to explore and learn about the mangroves and local wildlife! Hope to see you bqck again some day!
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