Exclusive Kayak Expedition: Exploring the Mangroves to Shell Key
Recommended by 90% of travelers
St Petersburg, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Whether you’re a local looking for a new way to exercise or a visitor who wants to discover Florida’s waterways, this private kayaking adventure in Tierra Verde is customizable to your desires. This experience includes all of the gear you need, including ocean kayaks, paddles, a safety vest, dry bags, and more. They’ll help you put together a unique tour through the local mangrove tunnels where you can spot plenty of aquatic and aviary wildlife.
- Choose a pickup spot or have your kayaks delivered
- Explore the waterways on a customized route
- Equipment includes air horn, first aid kit, and safety bags
- Discover St. Pete's diverse aquatic areas at your own pace
What's Included
- Ocean Kayaks including: Paddles , Safety vest , stadium style seats, dry bags , safety bag w/ lights ,safety whistle and air horn, first aid kit etc. also ample storage.
- Sunglasses, Hats ,sunscreen ,water shoes (* Some items available for sale upon request )
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- NautiKayak adventure tours2822-2876 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.9:00 am
What To Expect
1
St. Pete Beach
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Not 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
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Melissa_M
This experience far exceeded our expectation. The kayaks were comfortable and so was the pacing. Our guide was engaging, informative, and took the time to be sure that we were able to keep moving forward. We recommend this tour for beginners like us.
Reviews
4.6
based on 71 reviews
Catherine_W, Mar 2026
Do not book! Our guide / service was a no-show. Other kayaking services using the same launch site said they see multiple NautiKayak guests getting no-showed every week
Karalyn_L, Dec 2025
This was a great kayaking experience! We did more paddling than we expected but loved it. Going through two different sets of mangroves was such a unique experience. Definitely a highlight of our trip! Neil was informative about the area and the mangroves and allowed us to customize the experience to our preferences. Highly recommend it!
Dean_Y, Dec 2025
Unfortunately, Mother Nature canceled the Kayak trip. However, Neil was helpful and responsive in processing my credit card refund.
Michael_S, Sep 2025
Neil is very personable and friendly. Likes to joke around and very knowledgeable on the area. After the tour even gave some food recommendations that turned out great. I would book with him again.
Britt_G, Sep 2025
Neil was very informative and super fun! Great guy! Great tour! Easy to communicate with and just a lot of fun!
Vicki_p, Sep 2025
Had a great time our guide Neil was knowledgeable and competent. Would book again for sure . Kayaking was fun and learning about the mangroves was interesting
Mark_H, Jul 2025
Was supposed to be guided tour but tour guide talked about his personal life more. Didn’t stay on track with time. Showed up late, not prepared. Ended 1.5 late and we had to track him down to say we were ready to finally leave. Positive we got a good workout in without seeing any animals, only birds.
Megan_D, Jul 2025
Super fun experience!!! Neil was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and gave us an amazing sight-seeing experience :) we even had a dolphin come right up to our kayak!!
lmsnyder85, Mar 2025
We chose the 2.5 hour option. It was perfect because it gave us time to enjoy the secluded white sand beach.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Ahoy, lmsnyder85! 🌊🚣♂️
Thank you for sharing your perfect day with us! We’re thrilled to hear that our Exclusive Kayak Expedition to Shell Key was just what you needed to unwind and soak up the sun on that secluded white sand beach. Here’s to more adventures and unforgettable moments! 🌴✨
Allyson_J, Mar 2025
We had so much fun! Can’t recommend this enough. Very knowledgeable guide and made the trip feel personal to our group.
John_D, Sep 2024
Great guide, knowledgeable, personable, with lots of local insights. I have done a number if these and this was my favorite. Loved stopping at Irma Pass for a swim and hot dog from Nautidogs.
Melissa_M, Jul 2024
This experience far exceeded our expectation. The kayaks were comfortable and so was the pacing. Our guide was engaging, informative, and took the time to be sure that we were able to keep moving forward. We recommend this tour for beginners like us.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Time well spent !!!
Mellisa thank you, for sharing your positive experience with us. It sounds like your guided kayak adventure was indeed time well spent. The fact that the kayaks were comfortable and the pacing was enjoyable adds to the overall satisfaction. Our goal is to
Engagement and informative nature to enhanced your over all experience even further. It is always wonderful when an activity exceeds our expectations. Your recommendation for beginners like yourselves is valuable and will surely be helpful to others seeking a similar experience.
Maya_P, Jun 2024
Neil created a great experience for my friend and I visiting. He was very patient and knowledgeable-would definitely do it again and recommend to all!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
We are overjoyed to learn that you and your friend thoroughly enjoyed your visit, and we are humbled by your recommendation. We greatly appreciate your support and would be delighted to welcome you back on another remarkable NautiKayak adventure in the future. Feel free to reach out to us anytime to plan your next excursion.
Thank you again for choosing NautiKayak, and we hope to provide you with many more unforgettable experiences in the future.
Ida_T, Jun 2024
Loved it. My family and I really enjoyed it. We will do it again and will 100% recommend. The host was the best.
Annalyse_L, Apr 2024
This was an activity I planned for my best friends bachelorette trip and 10000% worth every penny & minute! Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable & gave us information about everything we saw and asked about. He picked shells out of the shallow water for us to take pictures of & gave us plenty of photo opportunities. I will be recommending this tour to anyone who’s going to St Pete or the nearby areas!
Lynn_R, Apr 2024
Nautikayak was incredible! Neil was very knowledgeable and a great guide! He has a wealth of knowledge that he shares on his tours. The mangroves, birds, beaches, scenery and stingrays were awesome! Definitely will be going again! He does not disappoint! Fantastic!!!
Mary_F, Mar 2024
Weather didn’t cooperate but the tour guides were very responsive in communicating and refunding our booking. Thank you!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for taking the time to write such a positive review of our guided adventure experience, even though you were unable to go on the adventure due to weather safety concerns. We truly appreciate your feedback and the recognition of our tour guides' professionalism and commitment to customer satisfaction. It means a lot to us. We hope that in the future, you'll have the opportunity to embark on an adventure with us and have an amazing experience. Thank you once again for your support, And we wish you many enjoyable adventures ahead.
Sincerely,
Neil
Mike_M, Feb 2024
Our guide was very knowledgeable of the waters and mangroves. Great family fun. Would definitely book another trip.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for sharing your review of the Private Guided Kayak Adventure Exploring Tampa Bay waterways around Shell key preserve in St. Pete. It seems like you and your family had a delightful time exploring the waters around the mangroves. I'm So glad to hear that it was a great family fun experience for you , and as your guide It was a wonderful time to get know you and your amazing kids. So happy that you enjoyed it so much that you would consider booking another trip in the future. Your positive feedback certainly speaks volumes about the quality of the excursion.
Devina_D, Dec 2023
Neil was incredible and the whole experience was amazing! My whole family had so much fun and loved all the sights! Definitely recommend for a personalized experience - Neil went at our pace, he was very kind, thoroughly knowledgeable and communicative right from the beginning. A definite highlight our visit to Tampa from snowy Toronto! 5++ stars!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you ever so much for your delightful message! It brings me immense pleasure to learn that your encounter with me(Neil) was nothing short of fantastic, and that your entire family derived such immense enjoyment and cherished the sights. Recommend you shall, for the personalized experience provided by NautiKayak , which evidently accommodated your pace and exhibited kindness, comprehensive knowledge, and prompt communication right from the outset. Indeed, it appears that this experience was a definite highlight of your visit to Tampa, which undoubtedly adds to the allure of the city, especially for one hailing from snowy Toronto! With an unmistakable rating of 5++ stars, your endorsement speaks volumes. May you have many more wonderful experiences in your future travels!
Tashara_M, Nov 2023
Racing with my husband . Going through the mangroves . We saw dolphins that swam right to us . The kayak’s were swift and easy to maneuver. I had never been on a kayak before and I was able to move easily .
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for leaving us a fantastic 5-star review of your private guided kayak adventure to Shell Key in St. Pete. We're thrilled to hear that you and your husband had an incredible time racing through the mangroves and witnessing dolphins swimming right up to you.
. It's wonderful to know that you found the experience enjoyable and were able to move around effortlessly, despite it being your first time on a kayak.
Thank you once again for choosing our kayak business for your adventure. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future for more exciting experiences.
ABBEY_B, Sep 2023
This was such a fun experience! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about all of the wildlife and we saw. Kayaking through the mangrove islands felt so special and unique to the area.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for your kind words and for choosing our tour! I'm thrilled to hear that you had a fun and memorable experience. It was a pleasure to guide you through the mangrove islands and share my knowledge about the wildlife. Your appreciation for the unique beauty of the area means a lot to me. I hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for another adventure in the future
Tammy_L, Aug 2023
Jason was our guide. He was fantastic: patient, knowledgeable, and entertaining. We had the best day! 7 of us: 3 couples and our 22 y/o daughter. Saw a manatee, dolphins, a ton of fish, and learned so much. We’ll definitely be back when we have visitors here again. It was the perfect day.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Dear Tammy_L,
Thank you for your wonderful review and for choosing our tour. We truly appreciate your kind words and are delighted to hear that you had a perfect day with Jason as your guide. We value his patience, knowledge, and entertaining nature.
It's fantastic to know that you had the opportunity to see manatees, dolphins, and a variety of fish during your kayaking adventure. These moments make our tours special and memorable. We also appreciate your appreciation for the educational aspect of the tour.
We would love to welcome you and your visitors back in the future. and create even more memories
Warmest Regards,
Neil
Jay_G, Aug 2023
We saw 3 sets of 2 dolphins. I have become more knowledgeable of mangroves and seashells. Jason was patient and answered all our crazy questions. I myself was most interested in the knowledge part. Kids enjoyed the swimming part.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Dear Viator Reviewer,
Thank you for sharing your enjoyable and educational experience with our Private Guided tour via Mangrove to Shell Key. Witnessing three sets of two dolphins in their natural habitat was truly fantastic. We're thrilled that you gained knowledge about mangroves and seashells during the tour. Our goal is to provide a fun experience while also allowing our guests to learn and appreciate the natural environment.
We're delighted to hear that Jason, your guide, was patient and answered all your questions. We believe in encouraging curiosity and fostering a learning environment. No question is too crazy, as we believe that learning and understanding are essential parts of the experience.
It's also great to know that the kids enjoyed the swimming part of the tour. We always strive to provide activities that cater to different interests and age groups.
Thank you once again for your review. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future to create more enjoyable and educational memories
Kyle_S, Aug 2023
Neil was a great tour guide and taught us a lot about the area. We also saw dolphins which was very cool. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Dear Kyle_S,
Thank you for your generous feedback and for choosing our private kayak adventures. I'm thrilled to hear that I was able to provide you with a great experience and share my knowledge about the area. It's truly rewarding to know that you also had the chance to witness the beauty of dolphins during the tour. Your recommendation means a lot to me, and I hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future.
Best regards,
Neil
Daniel_S, Jul 2023
Great relaxing tour! Jason was very knowledgeable about the Mangroves and had great stories to share!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Daniel_S
Thank you for allowing us to share this wonderful journey of discovery and exploration. We work very hard to create such tours and are very grateful to have such positive feedback. Until next time 🤙
Nina_G, Apr 2023
YES 100% recommend! Super chill vibe, nice tour and good communication thru the whole thing. Recommend getting a kayak tour vs just doing your own thing if you don't know the area well. It's nice to let them guide you and show you the good spots.
Cory_N, Nov 2022
We had great time. Nick did an awesome job as our guide. Good coordination on where to meet to launch.
Look forward to doing this adventure again the next time we visit.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Thank you Cory ! Such a pleasure to meet you folks which made the trip even better. Looking forward to seeing the crew again soon.
Christine_P, Mar 2022
the guide was AWESOME!!! Knowledge of the flora and fauna was very good. however this visitor.com app sucks
Response from Host, Mar 2022
Thank you Christine 🙌🏼
It was such an incredible day. Such a pleasure to meet up and Nauti on.
From $65.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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