Manatee and Dolphin Kayaking Encounter
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Cocoa Beach, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
Immerse yourself in the wildlife and natural environment of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on this kayak adventure. With the provided kayak, paddle, and instruction, paddle through the waterways where the manatees float about, looking for vegetation to eat. Then search for local pods of dolphins as well as bird and other marine life. Learn about the ecosystem as you travel through your guide's in-depth commentary.
- Kayak tour with a guide through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
- See manatees and dolphins in their natural environment
- Use of kayak, paddle, and lifejacket
- Learn about the ecosystem and local fauna through guided commentary
What's Included
- 2 hour kayak tour
- Professional guide
- Kayak
- Paddle
- PFD
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Haulover Canal Kayak LaunchHaulover Canal, Mims, FL 32754, USA
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
A Day Away Kayak Tours
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- What to bring:
- Clothes you don’t mind getting a little wet. Towel (left in car)
- Water Shoes – sandals or Crocs that can be worn in the water
- Bring an extra change of clothes just in case
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Camera & Dry bag (optional) These are fairly useless to capture bioluminescence, but great for capturing people.
- Bottled water, Snacks
- Any special personal paddling gear if you like
- You may bring a flashlight, though we will provide a safety light.
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 42 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jared_H
Amazing experience! Matt was a great guide, very knowledgeable, and entertaining. Thank you for the great tour!
Reviews
4.9
based on 224 reviews
Jared_H, Sep 2025
Amazing experience! Matt was a great guide, very knowledgeable, and entertaining. Thank you for the great tour!
Eden_D, Jul 2025
We went on our journey with David and he was a great guide! We got to see all sorts of creatures, even a surprise seahorse was floating around. David was super knowledgeable on all of the creatures we saw, and the views were just stunning!
Shirley_D, Mar 2025
Excellent tour and not to strenuous. Drew was awesome guide. Great knowledge and enthusiasm! Don’t let him tell cow jokes😁. We have done a lot of outdoor activities and this is definitely a top adventure
Julie_J, Feb 2025
This was a very fun experience! Our guide was fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable! Beautiful area!
Garrett_B, Jan 2025
Our guide, Drew, was very fun and was able to share some of his knowledge on the area and wildlife. My wife and I were celebrating our honeymoon and Drew made sure to cater to what we wanted to get out of the experience. A cold front came in the night prior to our trip so the weather ended up being very unfavorable with the cold wind. Drew kept us out of the stronger currents as best he could and protected from the wind.
We did the excursion in hopes of spotting a wild manatee which is a dream of my wife’s. Drew may have spotted a manatee nose but we weren’t able to see it resurface. We did see bio-luminescent jelly fish, many species of birds, and our favorite was the dolphins.
One down side was the amount of boat traffic and fisherman in the area on the bank and in water. I would recommend planning your trip around less active times of the week. Ours was Saturday at noon and the weather was unfavorable so I can only imagine how busy it gets on a better weather day.
Elizabeth_R, Dec 2024
Our guides were right on time with all equipment needed and reviewed the tips and rules quickly. They were knowledgeable about where we could find wildlife and answering all our questions. They were fun and kind and engaged us in fun facts and let us take our time watching the animals. Zoe and David were great!
JodieAnn_L, Jul 2024
Our kayaking trip to see the manatees was the absolute highlight of our honeymoon. The serene waters and close encounters with these gentle giants were magical. A special shout out to Zoey, who made the experience even more wonderful. Her knowledge and enthusiasm was infectious, and she was such great company throughout the trip. We couldn't have asked for a better guide. Highly recommend this adventure to anyone looking for a unique and peaceful experience!
Laura_R, May 2024
We totally loved our guide Zoe ! We saw manatees, birds, and dolphins! The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of five is because we tandem kayaked which is not for us! But I would do it again , just single kayak instead!
Lynda_D, May 2024
It was amazing! A manatee actually hugged the front of my kayak!! We also saw dolphins, flamingos and pelicans. Our guides Mercy and Zoey were exceptional
Jordann_R, Apr 2024
Chas was awesome and provided so much insight on our tour. We were able to see several manatees, a gator and even dolphins playing. Highly recommend this experience!
Martin_C, Apr 2024
Trip was great! Chaz gave us a quick lesson on kayaking and then spent the rest of the time paddling a couple of areas. We saw 15+ manatees that came right up to the kayaks - amazing experience. We found 1 decent size gator and chased a pod of dolphins. Highly recommend!!!
James_C, Feb 2024
The experience was great! The guide Chaz was awesome! His knowledge and personality totally made the kayaking a great experience!
Kylie_P, Feb 2024
We had an excellent time with our guide Chaz. The trip was relaxing, yet exciting. We learned so much. Our kids 8 & 5 enjoyed it just as much as us!
Kimberly_M, Oct 2023
It was so awesome. If you a nature lover do it! I actually enjoyed it more than Mickey. Our guide was great. He was very informative. I felt safe the entire time.
Patty_B, Oct 2023
We loved the experience. The manatee were incredible. We even saw som dolphins. Our guide was great and was very knowledgeable.
Kirsy_C, Sep 2023
I love it!!! It was so amazing experience, we got to see manatees and dolphins. I highly recommend it
CIndy_R, Sep 2023
EXCELLENT GUIDE! He was calm, cool, & collected.. Even when we saw an alligator! Do Not Hesitate to Book with Him! He has a LOT of experience! Also, He is very knowledgeable about the foliage and wildlife there. Definitely Worth It!
Don't hesitate to book!😊
Mill_M, Aug 2023
Tour was a lot of fun and there were many manatees, one who gently pushed our kayak around. Saw ospreys, dolphins including a baby, and one gator who was scared of us.
Amber_C, Aug 2023
Really enjoyed our guide, very down to earth. And seriously, we saw so many manatees! And even a few dolphins in the distance! Good length of time too! Be sure to bring water and wear pants or wear lots of sunscreen. I have a sit-in so I wasn’t prepared for my legs to be out with the sit-ons. Overall really enjoyed ourselves!
Gordon_H, Jun 2023
Carey was very personable and his knowledge was extensive, and seeing groups of manatees up-close was amazing! I highly recommend!
Brian_W, Jun 2023
Chaz was a great guide and entertaining! Lots of info and great experience for our family. Highly recommend.
Jeremy_W, Jun 2023
Seeing the manatee up close! The dolphins were neat to watch but they were not as close. The guide was knowledgeable abs personable.
Marty_H, Jun 2023
Chaz was a great tour guide and the experience was amazing. Being that close to the manatee was really neat. The tour is not strenuous and was easy for everyone in our group. Bring sunscreen and bug spray. Do this tour you won't be disappointed!
Aaron_D, May 2023
Birds, Dolphins, Manatees, on a beautiful day in a beautiful place. Guide was great-we tried to watch a rocket launch ( the guide got us to a great viewing location) but the launch was postponed.
Tori_K, May 2023
Chaz was awesome! Very knowledgeable! We had the best time! Dolphins and the manatees! It was a very cool experience!
Mary_M, May 2023
Our guide was Carey. My 12-year-old son and I had the best time. Carey kept us laughing and gave great information on all the wildlife and trees. I felt very safe on tour the whole time. My son was all smiles. Those manatee are HUGE!
Anne_C, Apr 2023
This was so much fun for me, a 68 yr old grandma, and my 12 yr old grandson. We saw herons, flamingos, turkey buzzards, pelicans, jellyfish, a sting ray, dolphins and, the highlight was the manatees that swam right up to our kayak. Kudos to Carl, our guide from “ A Day Away” tours. It was a great experience.
Tara_W, Apr 2023
This was such a beautiful experience. To see the manatees up close like that almost had me in tears. Beautiful animals. Great tour guide.
Rebecca_B, Apr 2023
It was absolutely beautiful my family enjoyed this adventure the tour guides went above and beyond the wildlife was everywhere we saw manatees ,wild dolphins, cranes and a alligator the manatees were so close you could reach out and touch them what a nice back to nature experience
William_P, Apr 2023
We booked our trip with A Day Away Tours and could not be happier. It was a small group with only the 4 of us and the guide. He was very attentive and informative. Our guide took us through the mangroves where we got to see multiple manatees in their own habitat. We even tried to look for an alligator, but did not see one. It was time to leave but he waited patiently as he could tell that the kids and we were really enjoying ourselves. We have already recommended this to family and friends and are looking forward to doing the bio luminescent tour in June/July with the same company.
From $75.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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