Kayak & canoe · WILDLIFE KAYAK TOURS IN THE USA

The 15 Best Wildlife Kayak Tours in the USA

58 tours  ·  from $45 a head

Manatees in winter, dolphins year-round and rookeries you can only reach by paddle. The 15 below give the honest season for each animal, with prices and how long you are out.

Crystal River Three Sisters Springs and Manatee Clear Kayak Tours - April through November: Three Sisters Springs and swimming
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Crystal River Three Sisters Springs and Manatee Clear Kayak Tours

1.Crystal River Three Sisters Springs and Manatee Clear Kayak Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,830 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) Our pick

Paddle from Kings Bay Park in a stable, fully clear kayak with a small group of up to 10 people. Choose Three Sisters Springs from April 1 to November 14, with time to swim, or the manatee-season tour from November 15 to March 31. Guides such as Crosby, Dmitri, Yas, and Cami share local wildlife knowledge and help you spot manatees, turtles, fish, and birds.

“The tour is excellent. The Kayak is very easy to ride, stable, and safe. The guide was great, and we got to see the manatees up close, even passing below the glass kayak. The guide also took some fantastic pictures of us and shared them with us at the end of the tour.”

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Mangroves and Manatees - Guided Kayak Eco Tour - From the Shop to the Water
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Mangroves and Manatees – Guided Kayak Eco Tour

2.Mangroves and Manatees – Guided Kayak Eco Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,222 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $69

Paddle through Tavernier Creek near Key Largo in a single or double kayak with guides such as Jack, Tony, Sarah, Keith, and Britney. Expect shallow clear water, mangrove tunnels, wildlife facts, and a relaxed pace suited to beginners. Manatees are possible, not promised.

“Tony was an outstanding tour guide. He found some manatees for us as well as many birds. He also shared history and facts about the mangroves which was very interesting.”

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Dolphin, Manatee and SeaTurtle SUP Adventure Tour of St Augustine - Paddling toward Anastasia State Park
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Dolphin, Manatee and SeaTurtle SUP Adventure Tour of St Augustine

3.Dolphin, Manatee and SeaTurtle SUP Adventure Tour of St Augustine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,219 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddle by kayak or stand-up board from 442 Ocean Vista Ave toward Anastasia State Park and the St Augustine Lighthouse. Guides such as Ryan, Spence, Nolan, and Todd help beginners manage the equipment while pointing out dolphins, sea turtles, birds, and other wildlife. Sightings vary with weather and season.

“Noah was great. Three Brothers is a great story and was so fun paddle boarding. We sat and watched a couple of Dolphins play for 45 minutes. They swam all around us close and were amazing. Also saw Osprey catching fish, lots of jumping fish and a couple of turtles.”

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Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour - The 30-minute canal search for manatees
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Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour

4.Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 954 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Paddle a tandem kayak through the Ten Thousand Islands Wildlife Refuge and mangrove tunnels near Naples. Your ACA-certified guide, such as Justin, Tiffany, Adam, or Caroline, provides instruction and explains the local plants and wildlife. The 3-hour downwinder includes a canal search for manatees, with the best sightings in colder winter weather.

“Justin was excellent! He was very knowledgeable and managed a challenging member of our tour well. He was very friendly and provided an amazing tour. We saw manatees, a crocodile, bull sharks and a ton of birds! Well worth the trip!”

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Mangroves, Manatees, and a Hidden Beach: Kayak Tour - Searching for dolphins and manatees
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Mangroves, Manatees, and a Hidden Beach: Kayak Tour

5.Mangroves, Manatees, and a Hidden Beach: Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 926 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59

Launch near Turtle Beach with SURFit USA and paddle calm Sarasota Bay before entering the Jim Neville Preserve. Choose a single or tandem kayak, or ask about a stand-up paddleboard. Guides such as Orion, Billy, and Michael have led guests through mangrove tunnels, wildlife areas, and a beach or sandbar at Midnight Pass.

“Beautiful mangrove tunnels, wildlife all around. Terrific guide. We highly recommend taking a kayak tour with SURFit”

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Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour w/Cocoa Kayaking - Starting at 5000 Tom Warriner Boulevard
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Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour w/Cocoa Kayaking

6.Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour w/Cocoa Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 923 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $69

Join Cocoa Kayaking for a 2.5-hour paddle through Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands. Guides such as James, Ian, Susie, and Michael share local ecology while you search for manatees, dolphins, birds, tarpon, stingrays, and crabs. Small groups cap at 10, photos are included, and the 9:00 am departure offers the best wildlife odds.

“Our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable, great personality, and answered all our questions. Saw manatees and dolphins, loved it!”

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Clear Kayak Manatee Ecotour of Crystal River - Why tandem kayaks make this friendly for families
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Clear Kayak Manatee Ecotour of Crystal River

7.Clear Kayak Manatee Ecotour of Crystal River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 691 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $79

Paddle Crystal River for about two hours in a stable tandem clear kayak with a local guide such as Jess, Kyle, RJ, or Cypress. You may see manatees beneath the hull, along with turtles, dolphins, fish, otters, and birds. Groups are limited to 10, but water clarity and wildlife sightings vary.

“RJ did a fantastic job guiding our path to spot manatees at a close but safe distance. Knowledgeable about the area.”

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Bioluminescence Night Kayaking Tour of Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge - From Haulover Canal to the first paddle strokes
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Bioluminescence Night Kayaking Tour of Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

8.Bioluminescence Night Kayaking Tour of Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 605 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $75

Meet your guide at Haulover Canal for a 90-minute paddle through Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Your kayak, paddle, and life jacket are included. Guides such as Faith, Brea, Seven, Leslie, and Leo have helped make the glowing comb jellyfish, dolphins, manatees, and starry sky the highlights of this small-group outing.

“Brea was an excellent tour guide giving our small group plenty of opportunities to see the bioluminescent comb jellyfish. She is very knowledgeable so you will learn a lot about the area. We also saw some dolphins in the moonlight and could hear the manatees come up for air. It is a great trip!”

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Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena) - What happens at Makena Landing at 7am
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Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena)

9.Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 551 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $130

Start at Makena Landing at 7am for a three-hour small-group tour with Ohana Ocean Adventures. You’ll paddle a clear-bottom kayak over Maui’s reefs, then snorkel with turtles and tropical fish if conditions allow. Guides such as Kyle, Curtis, Marc, and Michael are praised for patient instruction, safety, and marine-life knowledge.

“It was an incredible experience. Kyle was very nice and took his time explaining everything. This was our first time Kayaking and we had a blast! Now we have awesome pics swimming with turtles. Thank you Kyle! We had a great time.”

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Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours - Cape Henry Lighthouses from the water
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Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours

10.Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 462 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $68

Launch from First Landing State Park for a two-hour sunset paddle with a small group of up to 12 people. Guides such as Matt, Tommy, Sawyer, and Jay lead beginners toward wild dolphins, seabirds, Cape Henry’s lighthouses, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Kayaks and safety equipment are included.

“The instructor did a wonderful job keeping the group together and telling us about the ocean and what’s in it. We were lucky enough to experience dolphins during our adventure. Thanks for the good time. (Make sure you bring water with you on the kayak- our one regret)”

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New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour - What the two-hour route is really like
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New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour

11.New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 457 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Meet your guide at Divito Park and spend about two hours paddling New Smyrna’s backwaters and nearby waterways. Kayaks, paddles, and life vests are included. Guides such as Michael, Spence, and Fletcher point out wildlife and local history, but sightings are never guaranteed. The route may change with weather, tides, or local conditions.

“Mike was a great guide! He took pics the whole trip and was very informative. Very relaxing experience.”

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Silver Springs Clear Kayak Manatee, Monkey & Wildlife Adventures - The wildlife you might see below and beside the boat
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Silver Springs Clear Kayak Manatee, Monkey & Wildlife Adventures

12.Silver Springs Clear Kayak Manatee, Monkey & Wildlife Adventures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 419 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $80

Spend about two hours on Silver Springs with guides such as Chris, Steve, Ashley, and Justin. Paddle a clear kayak, tandem kayak, or paddleboard past fish, turtles, manatees, alligators, birds, and old movie relics. The guide sets the pace, points out wildlife, and helps beginners get comfortable on the water.

“we had a really good time. We brought friends from Maine and they were very excited to see the manatees and alligators and all the beautiful birds.”

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Kayak With Dolphins in Historic Shem Creek - Starting at Coastal Expeditions on Mill Street
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Kayak With Dolphins in Historic Shem Creek

13.Kayak With Dolphins in Historic Shem Creek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 407 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $48Best value

Launch from Coastal Expeditions in Mount Pleasant for a two-hour guided kayak trip through historic Shem Creek. Your guide handles safety, gear, and local stories as you paddle past shrimp boats, oyster marshes, and Charleston Harbor. Dolphins are common, with summer manatees and occasional loggerhead turtles possible.

“We enjoyed our kayak trip down Shem Creek learning about the low country eco system. Our guide was friendly and knowledgable. I was traveling with my kids 13 & 11 and it was a great way to be active in nature while learning history at the same time!”

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Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour - Following the coast toward Cape Henry
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Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour

14.Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 351 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $68

Meet Chesapean Outdoors at North End Beach for a two-hour, family-friendly kayak tour toward Cape Henry Lighthouses. Guides such as Matt, Jack, Declan, and Tommy help beginners handle stable sit-on-top kayaks while you look for wild bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, ospreys, sea turtles, and cownose rays.

“Awesome!! Would do it again. Saw many dolphins. Tour guide was excellent and knowledgeable about the area and marine life.”

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Maui: Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour - Kayaking the 1.5-mile route to Turtle Town
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Maui: Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

15.Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 345 reviews · 3 hours · from $120

Paddle about 1.5 miles through Makena Bay with South Pacific Kayaks, then snorkel Turtle Town’s reefs with a guide such as Tyler, Jake, John, or Kyle. The small group format suits beginners and families with children age five and up. Equipment, safety instruction, snacks, drinks, and a dry bag are provided.

“Rabbit was a great tour guide. We saw lots of turtles, many fish and beautiful underwater plants. Definitely a must-see snorkeling spot 😊”

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New in Wildlife Kayak Tours in the USA

★ 4.5Tavernier, FL: Mangrove and Manatees Guided Kayak Eco TourFrom $6814 reviews
★ 4.9Anna Maria Island and Bradenton: Sunset Kayak Dolphin TourFrom $6062 reviews
★ 4.4St. Augustine: Dolphin and Manatee Paddle or Kayak TourFrom $65108 reviews
★ 4.8Premium Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel TourFrom $151113 reviews
★ 4.5Manatees and Monkeys Clear Kayak Guided TourFrom $80208 reviews
★ 4.7Glass Bottom Kayak and Wildlife TourFrom $6544 reviews
★ 5.0Silver Springs Manatee Kayaking TourFrom $659 reviews
★ 4.9Clear Kayak Wildlife TourFrom $756 reviews
★ 4.8Kayaking Tour with Manatee EncounterFrom $85219 reviews
★ 4.5Oahu Snorkeling with Turtles, Water Scooter, PaddleboardFrom $12023 reviews
★ 4.5Manchac Swamp Wildlife Kayaking TourFrom $848 reviews
★ 4.7Manatee Season Paddleboard or Kayak TourFrom $8547 reviews
★ 4.1Guided Manatee-Watching Kayaking or SUP TourFrom $6526 reviews
★ 5.0Kayak, Whale Watch And Snorkel At Turtle TownFrom $10915 reviews
★ 4.9Guided Kayak Nature Tour with Wildlife SpottingFrom $457 reviews

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