Mangrove Tunnels Kayak Tour: Biologist-Led Adventure
5.0
684 Ratings
Naples
Join SWFL's only active local biologist guides for an adventure through the Rookery Bay Reserve on the #1 Kayaking Tour in the USA. Explore mangrove tunnels, mudflats, and oyster reefs while spotting wildlife. Book your tour today!
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Rising Tide Explorers - Enjoy the Rookery Bay Reserve by kayak with hourly rentals or on a guided kayak tour with the only biologist guides in Naples & Marco Island and the exclusive ecotour partners of the Friends of Rookery Bay in support of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve!
- Marco Island - We will be paddling into the Mangrove Tunnels of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve just North of Marco Island launching from the Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park. The regions only biologist guides will help you find unique wildlife while teaching you about the ecology and history of this amazing place! Get on the water with the guides who have spent their lives studying this area and explore with a real local biologist!
- Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - After exploring the mangrove tunnels with the only biologist guides in Naples & Marco, visit our partners at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center and enjoy FREE ADMISSION with the purchase of your tour ticket to explore their exhibits, aquariums, art gallery, theater, and hiking trails!
Be sure to ask about becoming a member of the Friends of Rookery Bay to further support the Reserve, gain access to special programs, events, volunteer opportunities, and discounts on tours, rentals, and at the nature store!
What's Included
- Guided by REAL Local Biologists with Master’s Degrees
- Single-Seater Kayak with high back seats and storage space (ages 12+)
- Complimentary Admission to Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center
- FREE High-Quality Adventure Photography Download
- Equipped with Low Profile Paddling Life Vests & Dry Bags
- Exciting adventure with the most awesome science nerds
What's Not Included
- Water is not included. Please bring plenty of water to drink
- Sunscreen
- Proper Clothing & Footwear - Flip flops are okay, but not ideal
- For children under 12 or tandem kayak requests, please contact us directly
- Cash for Gratuity - Gratuity is customary and much appreciated by our hard working biologist guides
- Parking fees
Additional Information
Join the exclusive local biologist guides from SWFL for a thrilling journey through the Rookery Bay Reserve at the onset of the 10,000 islands, on the Kayaking Tour ranked #1 in the USA by USAToday! Navigate beautiful mangrove tunnels, bustling mudflats, and complex oyster reefs, all the while spotting magnificent wildlife such as sea stars, big snails, birds, dolphins and manatees! Every adventure comes with FREE HD PHOTOGRAPHY of you and your loved ones exploring this magnificent region.
We provide Single Kayaks for all participants. Children under 12 should contact us directly. This tour is perfect for both, the novice paddler as well as the seasoned kayaker. Come and traverse the tranquil backwaters of Southwest Florida with the only biologist guides from Naples and Marco Island! Secure your tour today! PLEASE BE PRESENT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO LAUNCH TIME.
Additional slots, tandem kayaks, tickets for children (under 12), boat trips, and more kayak tours incorporating sunset tours can solely be booked through phone or our website. Reach out to us to schedule your reservation!
- Tandem kayaks & Children’s tickets (under 12) are available for reservation by phone only. Call to reserve!
- The Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park requires a $10 Parking Pass per vehicle if you do not have a Collier County Beach Parking Sticker
- Must be able to paddle a kayak for 2 - 3 hours
- Weight in excess of 250lbs must call for special accommodations
- Children under 3 are not permitted
- Children under 12 must ride in a tandem kayak with an adult
- If cancelled due to weather or dangerous conditions, you will be offered to reschedule or be provided with a full refund
- Maximum group size of 12 paddlers
Location
1295 Capri Blvd
Capri Boulevard
The Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park is located at the corner of Collier Blvd (951) and Capri Blvd.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(684 Ratings)
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Marc
Mar 18, 2024
I want to go again! - My wife and I have lived in the area for several years and I am ashamed we have not done this sooner. Renee and Derek were amazing at guiding us through areas we would never have explored otherwise. Not only was it a relaxing trip, but full of information about the local wildlife and vegetation. I can’t stress enough how much you should go and enjoy this guided tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
626nitav
Mar 18, 2024
Valuable experience - It was a great tour for so ages and capabilities. Our guides Renee and Derek were very knowledgeable and personable. Definitely recommend!!
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Freedom56924406408
Mar 14, 2024
Great kayak tour of South Florida mangroves - We had an excellent tour with Rory and Alexis. The kayaking was peaceful. Rory was very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about mangroves, estuaries and the birds we saw. I highly recommend this tour and would absolutely do it again.
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Timfr947nb
Mar 13, 2024
Best Eco Tour In Naples/ Marco Island - This was probably the most fantastic group tour I have ever been on. The guides were on time, very knowledgeable went out of their way to accommodate everyone! We had many chances to get out of our kayaks and touch many of the marine life- amazing. We even saw dolphins swim within feet of us. Definitely a tour I would do again. Bit of a tip- we went at low tide which was great for seeing marine life but the mangrove tunnels were tougher to access.
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Joannecn5734kb
Mar 12, 2024
Terrific Way to Spend an Afternoon! - We own kayaks and have paddled the back bays at the Jersey Shore and on the Indian River Lagoon but this kayak tour was the best kayaking experience I have had! Paddling through the mangroves was fun and relaxing. The highlight was spotting a tidal racoon just a few yards from us on a mangrove branch. Celina went out of her way to try to find other critters for us to see as well. She made the experience informative and enjoyable.
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Makenziemoe
Mar 11, 2024
Lovely tour through the mangroves! - Our guides were very knowledgeable and gave a thorough explanation of everything we saw! If you are looking for a laid-back tour this is the one for you!
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Sophiacb223jz
Mar 11, 2024
Fun, interesting, interactive, enjoyable - We took the Mangrove Kayak tour and Ray and Syndey were absolutely amazing. So informative, entertaining, and full of amazing sights. We saw jellyfish, snails, fish, starfish, birds, and other creatures and learned so much about them. I recommend going at low tide for the best experience. Thank you to our amazing tour guides!!
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426cathyi
Mar 11, 2024
Excellent tour - Derek and Renee were excellent. We did the morning tour and saw starfish, horseshoe conch, jellyfish, crabs, oysters, osprey, dolphins, mullet fish. Excellent tour!
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Mschman
Mar 7, 2024
Great experience! - Loved the entire experience. It’s much more meaningful when you have a knowledgeable and fun guide to lead you. We all had a great experience.
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T684iubenjaminc
Mar 7, 2024
Great Kayak Tour of the Rookery Bay - We went on a Kayak Tour of the Rookery Bay Natural Estuarine Research Preserve last Saturday afternoon and had a marvelous time. There was just enough hazy sunshine to be able to see the bottom and see fish swimming around. Our excellent tour guide, Celina, took us through the mangroves and told about the 110K acre preserve and provided great information about the various marine life creatures that are common in the estuary. Amazingly, she spotted a baby racoon that was climbing around on the end of the mangrove branches. It was quite curious and was staring at us for a bit within 10 or 12 feet from us. We also saw a variety of fish and Celina hopped out and caught some tree crabs and several starfish that we got to hold. Lots of birds were around, mostly ospreys flying about or sitting at their nests. I recommend these tours to learn more about the amazing preserve of this vast marshland that came very close to being developed and ruined for these creatures.
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