Wekiva River Guided Kayak Tour
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Orlando, USA
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience the thrill of paddling on the Wekiva River, a designated National Wild and Scenic River, safely and without having to sort out your own gear and logistics on this guided paddling excursion. As you paddle, keep a lookout for all sorts of creatures, including alligators, manatees, otters, and a whole host of birds.
- Paddle safely when you go with a guide
- Tour one of the only National Wild and Scenic rivers in Florida
- Stay fueled with included lunch and bottled water
- Small group sizes ensure personal attention from your guide
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Parking fee - $3
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 262 Wekiva Park Dr, Sanford, FL 32771, USA
Park by the restrooms then walk down to the river.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
Make your own way to the departure point in Sandford prior to 9 a.m. Remember to bring USD3.00 for a State Park parking fee, payable when you check-in for your tour. Then, meet your guide to sign a waiver and review safety procedures and kayaking basics before hitting the water.
As you paddle up the Wekiva River, your guide will help you spot native wildlife like alligators, manatees, otters, wading birds, and even the occasional black bear in their natural habitat, as well as other key points of interest in the local ecosystem. The wildlife on the protected Wekiva River is typically abundant, earning it the status of a National Wild and Scenic River.
Stay hydrated with the provided water bottles and break for a provided lunch after paddling for around 7 miles (11 kilometers). Then head back down the WeKiva River to the original starting point to end the tour.
As you paddle up the Wekiva River, your guide will help you spot native wildlife like alligators, manatees, otters, wading birds, and even the occasional black bear in their natural habitat, as well as other key points of interest in the local ecosystem. The wildlife on the protected Wekiva River is typically abundant, earning it the status of a National Wild and Scenic River.
Stay hydrated with the provided water bottles and break for a provided lunch after paddling for around 7 miles (11 kilometers). Then head back down the WeKiva River to the original starting point to end the tour.
Black Bear Wilderness Area (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- There is no minimum age, however all participants must know how to swim
- It is recommended that you bring a swimsuit, towel, waterproof camera and wear clothes that can get wet and possibly dirty
- Must be comfortable sitting in a kayak for multiple hours
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 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
Charlotte_M
It’s was a beautiful trip. Weather was wonderful and we had a great guide. Very informative with area and habitat.
Reviews
4.9
based on 196 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Robert_Y, Dec 2024
Greg was an amazing tour guide - friendly, engaging and shared so much local knowledge. We had a great day on the river despite it being a cloudy day and the homemade cookies at lunch were delicious! Highly recommended tour.
Lisa_B, Sep 2024
Tour was cancelled on me by vendor. I must wait for 7 days for my $200.00 refund while on vacation. I could have used these funds to book another event!!! I'm not happy. No one reached out to me on your end to see if I needed support with anything. It was not until I called to ask questions a out my refund. Again, not happy with customer servic Thank you and be well.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
We are sorry your vendor canceled the tour. Please note we are not paid by any vendors/ third parties until after your tour. When booking with us directly if a tour is canceled a refund is issued instantly. Your credit card company might have a policy to hold funds, usually a few days.
Please consider writing a review of the vendor you used and not the tour company.
Steven_O, Jun 2024
We loved the tranquility in the middle of nature. Especially appreciated the little river beach interlude with Picknick and swimming after the first 3 hours. Very knowledgeable guide Greg pointed out a lot of wildlife and was helpful and patient. A bit of a workout but exhilarating experience. So glad we did it.
Bob_L, May 2024
The kayak adventure was wonderful. The guides Greg & Lucas were excellent!! Greg was very experienced and knowledgeable. Kayaks were easy to manage. My only suggestion would be to put the group drinks on ice!! Very hot day and it could have made a difference.
Steven_D, Mar 2024
We were in Florida for spring break with our teenage son. The kayaking trip was a very welcome break from the crowds and parks. Our guide Sue was outstanding, and we learned a ton of area history and natural science from her. We are all seasoned paddlers and Sue adapted the trip to our skill level. We wouldn’t hesitate to take another tour with her! Thanks!!!!
Charlotte_M, Nov 2023
It’s was a beautiful trip. Weather was wonderful and we had a great guide. Very informative with area and habitat.
Yoobin_N, Jul 2023
Our tour guide Jimmi was very knowledgeable and friendly, and the kayaking alone was a fun and enlightening experience. I was a tad disappointed that our group did not see any alligators or manatees, but I know that is not under anybody's control.
However, I'm not happy that the tour did not match the description in a few ways, which made it worth much less than an experience I would expect for $85.60 per person. One key thing is that our tour only lasted 3 hours, as we started at 9AM and we were out of our boats by 12PM. I thought there must be another walking tour portion over lunch because we were way under time, but we were simply sent home at that point. Also, lunch was NOT included in our tour, which is something I had expected because it is included in the description. If we had a full 4-hour tour and didn't have lunch, I wouldn't have minded, but given that we were done in 3 hours and still weren't provided lunch, I feel a bit ripped off.
Antoine_H, Jun 2023
It was a long trip ( 4 hrs ). Jimmy was very helpful. He is very patient with our group. Me and my friend who never done the kayak before and at the end of the trip we knew for a little bit now. I hope that my group members didn't feel disappointed in us 😆. We saw 4 crocodiles and it was very interesting. A lot of different kinds of birds. You guys should try it. Recommended it
Wendy_G, Jun 2023
Jimi was a great guide -- knowledgeable and experienced. Our paddle was a bit different from the listed itinerary in that we paddled a couple hours upstream (it's not a fast current) and then had lunch before paddling back to the launch. The picnic was perfect as it wasn't too heavy but still energizing.
We saw a few small alligators and one larger one up on the shore, which was quite cool. The boats were very stable so I wasn't worried and it was easy to get in and out when we started and stopped.
Angela_D, May 2023
This was a beautiful kayak trip and seeing the manatees was definitely the highlight. The only thing I didn’t expect was to paddle up river for an hour and a half in order to float back to our original location. I had expected to float down river, which is what the description said… for four hours and shuttled back.
Henk_D, Apr 2023
Very exiting but also relaxing tour where we were able to enjoy the good things from the wild life with a very knowledgeable guide.
Philippa_H, Apr 2023
Beautiful and very meditative river tour!
Sue is a great guide!
Lots of wildlife, gators, birds and Turtels.
Erica_D, Mar 2023
This was a great experience. Enjoyed the educational comments and jokes throughout the paddle. Loved seeing all the birds, too. A very nice way to spend time as a family and definitely worth the cost! Quick reminder to remember to bring cash to tip!!
Maryann_S, Mar 2023
Great experience! Jimmy is a very knowledgeable guide tour with lots of experience. We seen lots of wildlife including alligators & it was fine..! A great way to spend 4-5 hrs outside of the usual crowded typical Orlando area attractions & view the natural beauty of Florida’s environment.
Kimberly_F, Dec 2022
We saw alligators, turtles, and an assortment of birds. Wonderful! Our guide, Sue, was very knowledgeable and positive. It was a great experience!
Lucy_R, Dec 2022
Paddling by alligators and lots of beautiful birds. Our guides were very knowledgeable and friendly.
Megan_W, Oct 2022
Getting to see a manatee was a dream come true. So incredible! Gina was a great guide. It is clear she lives this place.
Mathias_M, Aug 2022
Great experience and relaxed paddling, we really enjoyed our trip with Bill. We saw a lot of animals (turtles, birds)
Nicolette_T, Jul 2022
Greg was an amazing tour guide! Very knowledgeable and helpful, you could feel his love for the nature . It was a great and adventurous exploration of Wekiva River.The wildlife were plentiful and the beautiful view was like no other!.we enjoy kayaking with other families from Texas and Colorado. Amazing experience!! Will do it again.
Lynn_R, Jun 2022
The serenity of the canals on this trip will be cherished. The rain on our day made the experience even better. We saw manatees, alligators and large birds. A highlight was stopping on the river for snacks. Greg was very knowledgeable about the history of the area as well as the facts on the plants and trees. Very enjoyable adventure.
Laura_H, Apr 2022
Great guide, lots of wildlife to see up close, right amount of exercise and beautiful location. Very fun experience.
jysjstmrh7, Mar 2022
Loads of fun, relaxing. Bill had a calming voice as he spoke about nature. Saw many birds and some large alligators.
Christina_H, Mar 2022
The guided tour was great! Gina and Guy did a great job. We had a light snack of charcuterie and homemade cookies about 1/3 of the way through. We were lucky enough to have some manatee follow us down the river and saw several alligators and native birds along along the way. If your not familiar with kayaking I suggest a tandem, 2 seater. The last leg of the trip you go down a larger river and having an extra set of arms is easier. My family had a wonderful time and would definitely do this again!! (We we’re a party of 5 with a 10 & 15 year old)
Joschka_B, Mar 2022
We had a lovely trip with our tour guide Gina. The experience was tailored to our wishes and we had the chance to see alligators, manatees, turtles and many birds. Due to low waters the trip took place in a different location (French Landing), but that probably made it an even better experience.
Charbel_S, Sep 2021
We enjoyed the kayaking down the river , Bill was an amazing guide, pleasant and informative. Lunch was great, better than expected!
Sherry_B, Aug 2021
Kayaking down the Wekiva River was such an amazing experience! Bill was awesome, he spotted out and told us about all the beautiful wildlife and plant life. The trip was calm and serene and a truly peaceful trip to remind you of the beauties of the Florida land.
Bernie_B, Jun 2021
The stop at the rope beach & the manatee were highlights! Fun easygoing trip. Enjoyed everyone on the trip.
Karen_K, May 2021
Bill our guide was extremely knowledgeable of the local wildlife and fauna. Helpful hints and assistance for inexperienced kayakers. 3 breaks were taken along the way, but be ready for a full day of physical activity.
Haodong_L, Sep 2020
We took the 4 hrs tour from wilson landing to high banks. Wild and Scenic Rivers, it was a wonderful experience. Saw lots of wildlifes: birds, turtules and aligators. The guide was very professional and knowledgeable.
Michelle_W, Mar 2020
Our guide Jimmy expertly guided us 10 miles down the Wekiva River. Being a native to the area, he is extremely knowledgeable about the flora & fauna of the river and in particular the many bird species we saw. It was an easy and relaxing paddle. The only feedback I have for Jimmy is to make the lunch a bit more creative and substantial. Crackers and cheese, processed deli meat and fruit is not really what we had expected. Lunch is part of the tour cost and this part was lacking. Also, we let the tour know in advance that we had a Celiac in our group but no gluten free alternatives were offered. With Gluten free crackers and cookies so abundant in main stream grocery stores, there really is no excuse to say "Sorry the Celiac can only have cheese and fruit." Overall, this was very good, a 4.5 - but the food was disappointing to all.
From $200.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Wekiva River Guided Kayak Tour
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