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Beyond Sarasota

Mangroves, Midnight Pass & Hidden Beach Kayak Tour | Siesta Key

Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Sarasota, USA
High interest
Booked 2 times today.
  • 2 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.7
·
· Lindsey_D ·
Mar 2026
Absolutely loved this experience! Matt was super knowledgeable and fun! The places we went were so beautiful with lots of shells and shark teeth to find! Also saw a super cool sooty sea slug I think it was called. Highly recommend this place and this tour!! Had an amazing time
· Michelle_A ·
Jun 2026
Great kayak tour to an area that is only accessible by boat, SUP or kayak. Beautiful spot. Always find sharks teeth here. Very informative of the area. I've done this three times over the past 18 months. Each time the beach area changes.

Overview

Discover the calm waterways around Siesta Key, just outside of Sarasota, on this small-group excursion. Choose a kayak or stand up paddleboard, whichever you are more comfortable with, for your journey. Then, follow your guide through the Jim Neville Marine Preserve observing mangrove islands and local wildlife while you paddle towards a secret beach.
  • Learn about the local flora and fauna from your guide
  • Choose from two tour times to suit your schedule
  • A small group means more attention from your guide
  • All necessary kayak and SUP equipment is provided

What's Included

  • Use of Kayak or Paddleboard, Paddle, Life Jacket, Dry Bag
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 8701 Blind Pass Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242, USA

    We meet at the Turtle Beach Public Boat Launch. Once you enter Turtle Beach park, go straight until the stop sign. Turn left. The public boat launch will be on your left. Find parking anywhere inside Turtle Beach Park.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

1

Jim Neville Marine Preserve

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

Siesta Key

29 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 22 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Lindsey_D
Absolutely loved this experience! Matt was super knowledgeable and fun! The places we went were so beautiful with lots of shells and shark teeth to find! Also saw a super cool sooty sea slug I think it was called. Highly recommend this place and this tour!! Had an amazing time

Reviews

4.7
based on 108 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sort by: Most insightful

Great experience!

Charlotte_H, Jul 2026
Mike was great! Friendly and super knowledgeable. The outfit itself was great and easy to work with. We had some weather while in town and they proactively reached out to move our activity out.

Don't waste your money and time on this one

sspencer84, Jun 2026
Our tour guide, JJ, was excellent! Unfortunately, that didn't make up for other problems. The tour operator, Surfit, sent only one employee to the boat launch to handle boat rentals not with our group, as well as to check in and get our whole group set up on the water. As a result, our "small" group of 17 set off 30 minutes late. We went through only one small mangrove, and the "secret" beach was loaded with other folks. We did enjoy all the info that JJ shared about the area.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for the kind words about JJ — he's one of our best, and I'm glad he made the morning informative. I'm sorry the rest of the experience didn't match. A 30-minute delay at launch isn't the start we want anyone to have, and I understand how it set the tone for the whole tour. We're reviewing how we staff and time our launches so groups get on the water promptly and the route feels like the small-group experience we're known for. I'd genuinely like to make this right — please reach out to the office.

Our guide, Orien, was...

Jennifer_P, Jun 2026
Our guide, Orien, was great, He made everyone feel comfortable and was knowledgeable about the area.

Special spot

Michelle_A, Jun 2026
Great kayak tour to an area that is only accessible by boat, SUP or kayak. Beautiful spot. Always find sharks teeth here. Very informative of the area. I've done this three times over the past 18 months. Each time the beach area changes.

Kayak Trip midnight pass mangroves

Matthew_D, Jun 2026
Great trip. Very family friendly and fun. Orian our guide was great. Very experienced and well Done.

Mangrove kayaking was super fun. A definite must!

Brenda_H, Apr 2026
Instructor was very friendly, very knowledgeable, informative and everyone had a great time. We all had a great time.

Beautiful time!

Lindsey_D, Mar 2026
Absolutely loved this experience! Matt was super knowledgeable and fun! The places we went were so beautiful with lots of shells and shark teeth to find! Also saw a super cool sooty sea slug I think it was called. Highly recommend this place and this tour!! Had an amazing time

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks for letting us know. Matt is such a great guide. And, you are right, the whole tour is just stunning! Hope to see you again in the future.

A must do!

Claudia_S, Mar 2026
Great guided tour of the mangroves and. “Hidden beach” that’s only accessible by boat. We spent a good 1/2 hour at the beach. It was Sunday so it was crowded but lovely. Tons of shells! Matt was a great tour guide very knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

The beach used to be more hidden. During the hurricanes of 2024, the pass was re-opened right there, making the water clarity improve 1000% and making it very popular especially on weekends and holidays. But yes, the shells and the surrounding area are just so amazing. Glad you had fun!

Fun day

Terri_M, Jan 2026
You may or may not see any wildlife but we did see 1 dolphin, 2 osprey, 2 bald eagles but unfortunately no manatees (but no guarantee we would’ve) & don’t go on a windy day unless experienced, as it was hard to navigate since I’ve only done this once. Still a good day on the water on a 70 degree day with my daughter. Bring bottled water, towel & a baggie for collecting shells on the island, they had us stop at. We found several shark teeth & actually saw a small shark about a foot long, swimming in the shallows!!

Fun and Serenity

Susan_M, Dec 2025
It was fun and relaxing at the same time. The tour took us to midnight pass where we stopped and looked for shells, which were in abundance and some shark teeth.

Highly recommend!

Lauren_M, Dec 2025
We had a great time on our kayaking tour today with our tour guide Aaron! He was very knowledgeable and he took us to a private beach where there were thousands of beautiful seashells and clear water to swim in. He even walked the beach and found shark teeth for us that were washed up on the shore.

Voyage through the mangroves

Jennifer_Y, Aug 2025
Great voyage! Loved the beach we went to. Wish I had packed better. Bring water and a bag for shell collecting

Stay calm, relaxing tour....

Holly_H, Jul 2025
Very calm and relaxing tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable of the wildlife that lived in the area.

Kayak Tour

Dianne, Jun 2025
Michael was our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the area and we saw several manatees. Perfect place to visit

Way over priced for what we experienced.

Phoebe_P, May 2025
I saw many beautiful mangrove tunnels when I had gone another time without a tour guide. I was expecting a learning experience of the local ecosystem as we kayaked. Tour guide only gave anecdotes of his past experiences at other jobs. Way over priced for what we experienced.

Great experience for everyone

Pamela_S, May 2025
This is a great experience for everyone including those that have never kayaked before. We had a great time. We really enjoyed going thru the mangrove caves and spending time on the beach. Would definitely go again.

Magnificent Mangroves

Leigh_C, Dec 2024
The kyyak tour was an enjoyable experience with our knowledgeable guide, Cody. I recommend Surf Fit.

Memorable

Gretchen_B, Jun 2024
Kayaking through the mangroves and shark enclosure was fun. Our tour guide Sawyer was super nice and had interesting facts about the areas.

Great fun!

Heather_H, Mar 2024
Great experience!! Went over spring break with the grandparents & kids (9,13 &16) everyone had a wonderful time. Our guide was knowledgeable & fun. I would definitely recommend this trip!

Kayak to private beach

Lauren_T, Mar 2024
The private beach was amazing! I We just went without a guide it was great! We didn’t see dolphins or manatee but I think evening or morning might be better

Fun day in Florida

Jodie_P, Mar 2024
Great tour guide, upbeat personality. small group still so fun. Updating the site to say manatees aren’t in the area in early spring would be helpful to other visitors who would like to see them.

Worth it!

Ana_B, Mar 2024
Aaron was a great tour guide! Private beach was the best but the whole tour was relaxing and so fun. Def worth the experience

A beautiful time on the water and beach

Chadd_B, Mar 2024
Really fun time seeing the sights and the wildlife. The guide was experienced and entertaining. We would gladly do it again.

Tim was awesome! Kayaking...

Christine_M, Jan 2024
Tim was awesome! Kayaking through the mangroves was so cool and the beach we stopped at was beautiful. We had a great time!

Kayak tour

Jim_P, Jan 2024
Mangrove tunnels were pretty cool, saw a dolphin too!.Tour guide was very knowledgeable ,however he was a bit late.

Great time & fun adventure…must do!

Phillip_M, Nov 2023
Tim provided an informational and humorous tour. Martha provided educational details about the ecosystem. Overall this was a great adventure, good sight-seeing and something that should be on your bucket list!

Great Time, Great Guide, Worth it!

Gabriel_V, Oct 2023
Our guide brought us out to a secluded beach where we witnessed the local wildlife. I would absolutely recommend visiting the area.

Once in a lifetime

jackie_g, Oct 2023
Tim was our guide we had a Great time! It was honestly a once in a lifetime experience! He was very knowledgeable and personable! Thanks so much for making our anniversary trip unforgettable! The kayaking also was so easy! Would recommend to everyone!

Kayaking the wilds behind in Siesta Key.

Jeanie_H, Sep 2023
Tim was great! He had a great personality, funny, was very knowledgeable about the area. We had a first time kayaker with us, he took time with her made sure she was OK throughout the trip. Was an all-around great experience.. will definitely be back. And would recommend Tim and this tour.

Island life pace

trangn, Jul 2023
We are a family of 4 adults looking to explore Siesta Key. Tim was friendly and informative. He knows a lot about the area history, the mangrove and its wildlife . This laid back SUP tour was the pace of island life that we were looking for. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend.
Likely to Sell Out

From $60.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 8 days in advance.

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