Guided Tour for Dolphin & Sea Turtle Observation in Saint Augustine, Florida
St Augustine, USA
Guided Tour for Dolphin & Sea Turtle Observation in Saint Augustine, Florida
Recommended by 96% of travelers
St Augustine, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Matanzas River is filled with awesome wildlife like dolphins, manatees, and birds, but if you're not a pro kayaker, it can be hard to navigate the area on your own. This Matanzas River Kayaking and Wildlife Tour from St. Augustine takes you on the river with a guide that knows the best ways around to see wildlife in its natural habitat.
- Kayak down the Matanzas River and through Moses Creek
- A guide teaches you about the ecology of the area as you spot wildlife
- Kayak rental and lifejacket included for a stress-free day
- Meet in St. Augustine for an easy start to your tour
What's Included
Meeting and Pickup
What To Expect
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 98 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Gay_B, Aug 2025
It was very personalized and for every level of kayaker. Gary was amazing and so knowledgeable. He was so great with everyone.
Tonya_H, Jun 2025
This was our first experience kayaking and our tour guide was very helpful by explaining everything we needed to know prior to boarding our kayak for two. Extremely knowledgeable with great conversation regarding the past and the future of Dancing Dolphins Oyster Trail. We saw sharks, turtles, fish jumping out of the water, and several species of birds.
Dawne_S, Jun 2025
Very educational about the estuary ecosystem and plants and animals involved with keeping it healthy. The importance of the ecosystem and how it affects all other facets of the environment were also detailed throughout the guided tour. Plants and animals seen along the way were identified by the guide. A better name for this excursion would’ve been “Estuary Ecosystem Educational Kayak Tour.” We were expecting to see dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles. The only things we saw were mangrove trees, oysters, birds and fish. When we asked about dolphins and manatees, our guide said he never sees them while out kayaking. Had we known that, we would not have booked the trip. That being said, our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the ecosystem and made sure we were at least knowledgeable as well before the tour ended.
Caryn_L, Jun 2025
We had the best time! You’re more likely to see animals in the morning, but we went in the afternoon and still really enjoyed the experience. Our guide was great! He taught us about the area, actually taught us how to kayak more efficiently, and overall was fun to chat with. He also had great dinner recommendations! We would absolutely book this again and recommend to friends.
Frezelia_M, Nov 2024
Super fun and very informative trip. It’s very cool to see how passionate Ben is about the environment!
Michael_H, Jul 2024
Seeing dolphins, with an excellent guide, good safety tips, learned about the water way area. Would recommend to people that ca kayak
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thanks for sharing so others can be informed. Experienced paddlers hit the water and go no matter the tidal conditions. Those wishing to learn kayaking are also welcome, we encourage beginners to check for conditions when making a reservation. Otherwise a learning curve exists on outgoing tides due to moving waters around stream beds of the oyster reef mazes.
Sarah_M, Jul 2024
We had a great time! Tim was an amazing guide! Taught us a lot about the vegetation and the benefits we get from it. We saw dolphins playing, fish jumping, many kinds of birds. It was a great trip, definitely recommend!
Haley_D, Jun 2024
Very patient with us since we never kayaked. Great conversation holder and knew knowledge and fun facts about the terrain
Hannah_W, Jun 2024
We went on this tour for our 11 year wedding anniversary. We were lucky enough for it to just be the 2 of us and our awesome guide, Ben!
He was extremely knowledgeable and we learned and saw so many amazing creatures and plant life. Sharks, dolphins, turtles, oysters, sea birds, and so much more. Watching the ecosystem hard at work beyond exceeded our expectations, and the information provided to us and all of our questions was great.
We will definitely be doing other tours. Especially with Ben as our guide.
Holly_W, May 2024
We had an absolute blast! Guide truly guided us….he was extremely knowledgeable about the ecosystem and history of where we were! We didn’t get to see any dolphins…and saw one turtle pop his head up but lots of birds and oysters!
Cherie_S, Apr 2024
We saw dolphins, beautiful birds, and sea turtles! Ben was very knowledgeable and a thoughtful, calm guide with our inexperienced crew. Thanks for a great time!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that your kayak tour was filled with sightings of dolphins, beautiful birds, and even sea turtles! Our knowledgeable guides are dedicated to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience, especially for those who are new to kayaking. We take pride in creating memorable and educational adventures on the water, and we're glad to hear that our guide's calm and thoughtful approach made your trip even better. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another exciting and wildlife-filled adventure on the water!
Diane_W, Apr 2024
Ben was an excellent guide who gave us very helpful hints on making our kayaking easy and he was very knowledgeable on the Ecco system. We didn't get to see any dolphins or turtles while out but still had a very enjoyable time.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
We’re so glad to hear that you had a great time on your kayak tour! While wildlife sightings can be unpredictable, it's fantastic to know that our guide’s expertise and helpful kayaking tips made your experience enjoyable and easy. Our tours are designed to highlight the rich ecosystem of the area, and we're pleased that you found the information shared about the environment valuable. We hope you’ll join us again for another adventure—who knows, maybe next time the dolphins and turtles will make an appearance!
Janet_F, Dec 2023
Learned a lot about the environment and that there is hope. Ben is very passionate about the environment and is an excellent steward of the water.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
We're delighted to hear that your kayak tour was both educational and inspiring. Our goal is to not only provide a fun and enjoyable experience on the water but also to raise awareness about the environment and the importance of preserving our natural habitats. Ben's passion for environmental stewardship truly shines through, and we're glad it resonated with you. We're committed to sharing the message that there is hope for our waterways, and it's wonderful to know that you left the tour feeling empowered and informed. We look forward to having you join us again to explore and protect the beautiful ecosystems we cherish!
c8pvsdnhq6, Apr 2023
Informative and fun kayak! Ben did a great job explaining wetlands and oyster beds. Awesome that it was a small group experience. Plus we saw dolphins!!
Response from Host, May 2023
Dolphins! 🐬 What an incredible sighting during your kayak adventure! We're thrilled you had an informative and fun experience with Ben as your guide. His explanations about wetlands and oyster beds were top-notch. The small group setting made it even more special. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience with us! 🚣🌟 #DolphinEncounter #InformativeKayak
Mary_M, Apr 2023
We were fortunate to be on a low-tide kayak tour Sunday at 11:00 which allowed ample views of the oyster reefs and the seabirds that inhabit the area. My husband and I were so impressed with our guide's enthusiasm and knowledge of the local ecosystem and their passion for ecology. Ben is a native to St. Augustine and provided an insider's view to an area he clearly knew intimately. Seeing wildlife is obviously out of the guides hands, but they managed to navigate us to a great view of dolphins! I would highly recommend and plan on returning on our next visit to St Augustine!
Response from Host, May 2023
🐬🦪💚 Thank you for sharing your experience of the low-tide kayak tour in St. Augustine. It is amazing how people on the same tour experience them in unique ways, and this is especially true when it comes to nature. The surprise element that nature brings always makes the experience even more special.
I'm glad to hear that you and your husband had a wonderful time on the tour, and that your guide was able to provide a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the local ecosystem. It's always great to have a local guide who knows the area intimately and can provide insider's knowledge.
I agree that seeing wildlife is not always guaranteed, but it's great to hear that your guide was able to navigate you to a great view of dolphins. It must have been an incredible sight!
Thank you for recommending the tour, and I'm sure others will find your review helpful when planning their next visit to St. Augustine.
Anne_M, Apr 2023
Sunday at 11:00 am presented low tide and too much boat traffic. I did not like this location. The guide gave boring details and was 19 years old talking about the importance of wetlands to us who grew up on Cape Cod Bay and the Long Island Sound. We all are extremely knowledgeable about the importance of estuaries, etc. His audience were all in their 40’s and well educated, which our guide was not. Nice kid, needs to learn to adjust speech and facts to the audience. If we were under 20 years old, we might have been interested. Saw one dolphin in the distance. Very disappointing way to spend $195.00 will not use this company again.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you for caring enough to share your feedback with us. We are sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience. We understand that low tide and boat traffic can affect the quality of the tour, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We are also surprised to hear that you did not enjoy this time of day, as it is typically one of our favorites to be out on the water.
We are sorry to hear that our guide did not meet your expectations. We strive to provide knowledgeable and engaging guides, and we apologize if this was not your experience. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve our training and communication with our guides.
Regarding the dolphin sighting, we understand that this can be a highlight of the tour, and we apologize that you only saw one in the distance. We cannot guarantee sightings, as we are observing wildlife in their natural habitat, but we always do our best to provide our guests with a memorable experience.
Finally, we understand that spring break can bring increased boat traffic, and we apologize if this caught you by surprise. We appreciate your feedback and will take this into consideration for future tours.
Thank you again for choosing our company, and we hope that you will consider giving us another chance in the future. If you would like to discuss your experience further, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
Sharon_F, Mar 2023
Ben made this a meaningful trip with the knowledge he shared about the importance of saving our wetlands
Response from Host, Mar 2023
We're thrilled to hear that our eco tour guide helped make your trip in St Augustine meaningful and shared valuable knowledge with you 🌿🌱🌊. We hope to see you on a kayak tour again one day! 🤗 🎉 Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review!
Amanda_H, Mar 2023
This experience was so much more than just seeing dolphins… Which we saw plenty of. Our experience was led by a very knowledgeable person, both of kayaking, as well as environmental, preservation and implications for future action.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Wow, we're delighted to hear that you had more than just a "porpoise"-ful time on our kayaking St. Augustine ecotour! It's great to know that our knowledgeable guides were able to share their passion for the environment and its preservation with you.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us and we hope to have the pleasure of hosting you on another "fin"-tastic adventure soon!
susangstanley, Mar 2023
Ben is a fabulous guide, helpful, interesting, and friendly, we had a blast! Ben is super knowledgeable of the area, the marine life, the environment, the ecosystem, the history, the oysters!! ....everything he shared with us was fascinating, we learned a lot. We were blessed with a perfect weather day and enjoyed our time on the water, will definitely come back to Ben when we return!
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience on your kayaking adventure! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time in St Augustine and that we were able to provide you with interesting and informative insights into the area's marine life, environment, and history. We can't wait to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Erwin_R, Dec 2022
Ben is an outstanding guide in every way. He gave us completely professional support. He is an extremely knowledgeable and passionate naturalist who gave us a rich lesson about the local ecosystem.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to know that his passion and expertise shone through during your lesson on the local ecosystem. We hope to see you again soon for another memorable adventure!
Sarah_B, Nov 2022
Excellent estuary ecology oriented kayak trip. Ben was friendly and a wealth of information. Shares his passion for the protection of waterways. Blissful 2 hr plus on the water.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our estuary ecology oriented kayak trip and that our guide was able to provide you with a wealth of information about the local waterways. It's great to know that you found the experience blissful and we appreciate your support for the protection of our natural environment. We hope to see you again soon!
patricia_c, Jul 2022
this eco trip was definitely a learning experience. Our guide was quite informative when it came to knowing about the river and its estuary and the life in it. Unfortunately the tide was not with us that day and because of the shallow waters we could not move in and out of places that he usually took kayakers but none the less and enjoyable trip.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Well, it sounds like even Mother Nature couldn't rain on our guide's parade! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time on your eco trip, despite the tides being against you. Thank you for choosing us for your kayaking adventure and we hope to see you again soon for a more "tide"-turning experience!
Christine_B, Jul 2022
Ben was such an amazing guide. He gave us some good basic technique instruction and then made the paddling so interesting with his great knowledge and perspective. I’ll bring others back and request Ben!
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Thank you for your review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing time on our ecotour in St Augustine, FL and our guide was able to make your experience both informative and enjoyable. We would love to have you and your friends back for another adventure with us soon!
Darcie_H, Jun 2022
Great time! Can’t believe it was my first time kayaking - I’ll
Definitely be doing it again. My guide Ben was awesome!! Learned a lot about wet lands, oyster beds and Of course Kayaking! Thanks for a fun time!!
Response from Host, Mar 2023
May the Force be with you, and congratulations on your first kayaking adventure! We are pleased to hear that your guide was able to provide you with a wealth of knowledge about the wetlands, oyster beds, and kayaking techniques. We hope that your experience has sparked a newfound passion for exploring the great outdoors and that you will join us again for more epic adventures.
Pamela_M, Jun 2022
We took this adventure as a family- two adults, two young teens. We had two tandem kayaks. We all enjoyed it! It was a fun and informative way to spend a morning.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
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Kari_D, May 2022
We had an awesome time kayaking. Our guide, Ben, was super knowledgeable, friendly and fun. We learned about the different vegetation, oyster reefs and other wild life. Ben gave great local restaurant recommendations too. At the end of the tour we were lucky enough to see dolphins as well. I would highly recommend this activity. We are looking forward to bringing our daughter next time.
Response from Host, May 2022
Whoop whoop! It was an honor to meet you both. I'm glad you found the adventure you'd hoped for!
Jennifer_E, Apr 2022
Ben was an excellent guide he kept us safe and he was very informative would highly recommend the trip
Response from Host, Jun 2022
The best birthday present we could’ve asked for was a spend the day on the water with wonderful people like you. Thank you for coming kayaking in Saint Augustine Florida we are glad to know you enjoyed
Tim_M, Oct 2021
We had a GREAT time! Ben (our guide) was awesome! Explained about the local ecosystem and the efforts to continuing to make better. We had dolphins swimming as close as 10 ft from our kayaks! I would HIGHLY recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2021
That really was a tremendous morning. Thank you for your kind words. I look forward to seeing you again another day.
Manny_M, Aug 2021
Excellent experience, we also learned some history about st Augustine and the estuaries & eco system! both Ben & Ethan were amazing guides, highly recommended!!!
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Fun and learning! Mission accomplished. Thank you for the feed back and recommendation!!
Rachel_P, Aug 2021
This is a very peaceful time. Nothing too adventurous. We didn't see much wild life but we were ok with what we did see and we enjoyed the calmness of this adventure. The scenery was beautiful. The kayaking was easy.
Response from Host, Aug 2021
It’s nice to hear you enjoyed your your time. Much appreciated!
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