Recently Viewed
Key West Sail: Explore Mangroves & Wildlife
4.9
104 Ratings
Key West
Sail, snorkel, and kayak Key West’s serene backcountry. Spot dolphins, explore mangroves, and unwind with drinks on deck. Adventure awaits!
Sail, snorkel, and kayak Key West’s serene backcountry. Spot dolphins, explore mangroves, and unwind with drinks on deck. Adventure awaits!
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Key West National Wildlife Refuge - Situated at the southernmost point of the United States in the Florida Keys, the Key West National Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary of natural splendor and biodiversity. Covering more than 200,000 acres, this refuge features a variety of habitats such as mangrove islands, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, serving as…
- Key West National Wildlife Refuge - Situated at the southernmost point of the United States in the Florida Keys, the Key West National Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary of natural splendor and biodiversity. Covering more than 200,000 acres, this refuge features a variety of habitats such as mangrove islands, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, serving as a crucial sanctuary for a wide range of wildlife.
- Key West Historic Seaport - The Key West Historic Seaport is a lively center of maritime history, culture, and activity located in the heart of Old Town Key West. Rich in tradition and charm, this historic seaport provides an intriguing look into the island’s nautical heritage while offering a vibrant atmosphere for both locals and visitors.
What's Included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Filtered Water
- Carbonated beverages
- Snacks
- Premium snorkeling equipment
- Professional Guide
- Lunch
- Alcoholic beverages
- Filtered Water
- Carbonated beverages
- Snacks
- Premium snorkeling equipment
- Professional Guide
- Lunch
What's Not Included
- Gratuity
- Gratuity
Additional Information
Setting sail from Key West’s Historic Seaport, the Appledore Star offers a genuine sailing adventure en route to Key West’s backcountry.
Spend the day discovering the uninhabited mangrove islands within the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Be on the lookout for dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, and a variety of other wildlife that inhabit the Refuge….
Setting sail from Key West’s Historic Seaport, the Appledore Star offers a genuine sailing adventure en route to Key West’s backcountry.
Spend the day discovering the uninhabited mangrove islands within the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Be on the lookout for dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, and a variety of other wildlife that inhabit the Refuge. The captain is familiar with areas where dolphins are often spotted and will inform you if any are seen.
Upon arrival at the mangrove islands, the schooner anchors, and the exploration begins. The day is split between guided kayaking and snorkeling tours. The warm, shallow waters are calm and protected by the uninhabited mangroves, making kayaking effortless.
After the tours, return to the schooner to rinse off with fresh water and unwind on deck. Enjoy a selection of complimentary cold beverages, including frosty cold beer, wine, homemade sangria, chilled sodas, and filtered water. Experience the essence of relaxed island living.
- Total trip time is 5 hours; time at each location is dependant on weather, refuge conditions and Captain’s discretion.
- To re-board the schooner after snorkeling and kayaking, you are required to climb aboard a platform secured to the boat just below the waterline, from there you climb a ladder back aboard the schooner.
Location
200 William St
William Street
Check-in is located at the far end of William Street, just to the right of the Western Union sign. From Elizabeth Street, keep the water on your left and follow Lazy Way Lane past the shops. The Marker Resort on your right, and the Schooner Wharf Bar on your left. The booth will be on your left.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(104 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
A2934cumw
Jun 4, 2026
Great experience! - My husband and I did this tour and loved it! Was probably the highlight of our trip to the Keys. The captain and first mate Christina were great and it was very informative. It is obvious Christina is very passionate about the area and was a great guide. There was no wind the day we went, so we did not get to sail, but the water was great and we did get to see a water spout. The ladder and platform system they have on the boat made it easy to get in and out (we are in our 60s and not in the best shape) when snorkeling or kayaking. Saw tons of birds, turtles, horseshoe crabs and multiple types of fish. Lunch on the return trip as very good. We would highly recommend the trip and will probably do it again the next time we are in the Keys.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fordfamilyshorthorns
Jun 2, 2026
Excellent Water Adventure - Great Experience with Luana and Kristina as the ship staff! The day I went was a very small group so it was like having a private charter!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D9985rldebbiet
May 15, 2026
Immersed in Key West nature! - What’s lovely way to spend the day in Key West! We were in skilled and knowledgable hands with Captain Morrison and first mate Christina! Crew attended to our every need, making sure we stayed hydrated etc, and I appreciated the attention to the needs of this pristine environment as well as those of us humans there just to appreciate the beauty. We had ample time to spend in and on the water. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leonard_g
Apr 11, 2026
Family Fun - Very pleasant cruising experience with a great crew. Crew is friendly and hospitable. Mangrove kayaking portion includes exploring a “hurricane hole” where sailors and pirates would weather storms in an emergency.
Review provided by Viator
Michael
Mar 26, 2026
Dolphin excursion - Cat Melanie delivered with the dolphins. Watched a mother and baby dolphin and then some more came back to the pod. Snorkeling over the coral with the fish. Great time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarah_m
Mar 23, 2026
Great adventure in Key West - Great boat, captain and 1st mate. Smaller group. Great ride, snorkeling and kayaking. Highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
Jeffrey_a
Mar 17, 2026
First mate and guide... - First mate and guide Vitaly was excellent guiding our kayaks to and through a "hurricane hole" (passageway) in the mangroves. We really enjoyed seeing numerous nurses sharks on our path. Lunch was remarkably good too. We would happily rebook with them next time.
Review provided by Viator
Mezmarketing
Mar 14, 2026
Great tour. Excellent staff! - Excellent journey with hosts who were hospitable, knowledgeable and very friendly. The weather was perfect and the boat beautiful. There were only 8 of us who took the trip so it was really nice to spread out on the deck. Food and drink were really nice. Our favorite was kayaking around Mule Key where we saw turtles, barracuda and SO many pelicans, white herons, cormorants and frigates! Great experience overall!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E647fttracyp
Feb 25, 2026
A wonderful day trip in the Florida Keys! - We have a great time on the Appledore Star with Captain Merrison and Christina. They were so friendly and welcoming. Our daughter is afraid of sailing and she was comfortable the whole time. We loved kayaking through the mangroves and even saw some turtles and a bald eagle! We will definitely come back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Txgirl2001
Mar 23, 2026
Great Smaller Alternative to the Large Party Boats - We came across this tour when looking for boat tours in the area. At first, I found the tour via another company that advertises it, but when I had a question and emailed, found out they just list it on their site and couldn't answer questions, but had me call Appledore directly. Glad I did as I was able to get up to date info on the trip (the times and length did not match on the other site) and get my questions answered. That said, this tour was great in that it was much smaller than the "party" boats we saw leaving the port. Directions to the meeting point were spot on. We had 19 people plus the captain and first mate - just enough room for all of us to sit but much nicer than the 50+ people we saw on other tours. Captain Marison and first mate Vitaly were both fantastic, knowledgeable and great hosts. There wasn't much wind the day we went out, so they motored us to Cottrell Key where half of the group first snorkeled and the other half kayaked with Vitaly, then we switched after about an hour. We had an odd number kayaking both times, so Vitaly, who lives on a boat and kayaks to work each day, offered to have us just sit back and relax while he did all the paddling - what a great, relaxing time! He is passionate about what he does and had nothing but great things to say about his team at Appledore. We saw nesting birds and nurse sharks on the kayaking. Snorkeling was decent - they provide everything you need. Once done with snorkeling, we were welcome to partake in alcoholic beverages, including a nice housemade sangria. On the way back, Vitaly went below deck and brought out lunch for everyone - pulled pork, ham and chicken salad sliders, cole slaw and pasta salad. Although it still didn't exactly match the description online, I think for the time, the cost and the uniqueness of the tour, it was definitely worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
