St. Johns River: Manatee Refuge Kayaking

The St. Johns River boasts a variety of landscapes and a rich array of wildlife, with the spring run serving as a designated manatee sanctuary. In particularly cold weather, more than 300 manatees have been observed in this brief stretch. The river surrounding the run is marked as a “No Wake Zone,” making it an excellent spot for kayaking and canoeing.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Explore the diverse flora and fauna of the St. Johns River on a tandem kayak rental designed for two people. This adventure offers the opportunity to observe a variety of unique wildlife, which changes daily. Common sightings include wading birds, manatees, and alligators. These excursions are ideal for bird enthusiasts, sightseers, and photographers. A valid photo ID is required for booking.

What's Included
  • Boat(s)
  • Paddle(s)
  • Life jacket(s)
  • Area map
  • Whistle
What's Not Included
  • Parking fees
Location
2100 W French Ave
West French Avenue
Meet at the Kayak Launch Hut - Please note that we launch our boats from a beach. Your feet may get wet during the launch process, so please plan footwear accordingly.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.3
(3 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Cierra_l
Feb 26, 2026
Solo trip worth it - There were 679 manatees the day I explored. I saw two swim under me and one swam up and booped my kayak. I also saw two gators, one in the water and the other was sunbathing. I did the 2 hour kayak tour and wished I did the 4 hour. After kayaking I walked along the board walk and saw many hundreds of manatees chilling. The only negative experience was I got blisters from kayaking so be aware this is a possibility. Over all 10/10 my year was made.
Review provided by Viator
96glennag
Jul 20, 2025
Manatees, fish, gators, & birds! - We had a beautiful, peaceful morning on the water. In the Spring section, we saw a group of 4 manatees, lots of fish, including loads of 3 and 4 foot gar, and birds. Then we kayaked the river and saw at least 8 gators and more birds, before going back in the Spring area to see another lone manatee. The staff and kayaks we also great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F1841tgbarbarav
Feb 24, 2026
Unguided Kayak tours - We were unable to take the kayak out due to wind gusts. People should know that if wind gusts are greater than 20mph they will not rent the kayaks. There was no mention of this that we saw. I appreciated the fact they were concerned for our safety however, there should be some mention of this when making reservations. Also if you do take a kayak out and go past the buoys and they call you back in for wind they will not issue a refund. We received our refund without a problem because we never got to go out. I love the park but was very disappointed about not going out. The kayaking should probably not be something you plan months in advance as we did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $40
up to 1 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).