Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area
Description
Adventure through Shell Key Preserve in your 100% clear kayak! See crystal-clear water, diverse marine life, and the underwater world below your clear kayak. You’ll paddle along mangroves, enjoy white sand beaches and sandbars, and explore a secluded beach. If the tide is high, your guide will lead the way through a hidden mangrove tunnel. Shell Key Preserve is located in Tierra Verde, FL near St. Pete Beach in the Tampa Bay area. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, manatees, pelicans, crabs, and more while enjoying the preserve’s picturesque mangroves, beaches, and sandbars. Be on the lookout for a manatee or the beautiful pink Roseate Spoonbills in the summer months. White Pelicans call the sandbars of Shell Key Preserve their home during the winter months! Throughout the year, dolphins frolic in the crystal-clear waters and cormorants love to swim alongside your kayak. Chances are that you’ll see a variety of wildlife, but sightings are random and not guaranteed.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your guide will welcome you and provide brief paddling and safety instructions. Then, you’ll be off on an adventure as your tour guide leads the way around the mangrove islands, through the shallows, and to the beach. If the tide is high, your guide will lead the way through a hidden mangrove tunnel. You’ll also take a break at Shell Key's beach, where you can collect shells, take in the views, and be surrounded by nature. Your guide will be happy to take photos and make sure you have fun along the way! Be on the lookout for a manatee or the beautiful pink Roseate Spoonbills in the summer months. White Pelicans call the sandbars of Shell Key Preserve their home during the winter months! Throughout the year, dolphins frolic in the crystal-clear waters and cormorants love to swim alongside your kayak. Chances are that you’ll see a variety of wildlife, but sightings are random and not guaranteed.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- We require one adult per each child under age 12.
- We require two adults per each child 3 years old and under.
- For your safety, we have a weight limit of 250 lbs per guest, and a combined limit of 425 lbs for two people in a tandem kayak
Reviews(6,442)
Awesome experience with Less -she really explained so much of the ecosystem
Les was a great host! Very knowledgeable and fun.
Dan was a great guide! He was knowledgeable about the wildlife and the preserve. We saw a dolphin and a rare reddish egret!
We had a wonderful time learning about the area and seeing amazing wildlife. Less was an amazing leader/teacher. Thanks so much!
The tour was very interesting and so much fun! Alessia is such a good guide she explained everything and took photos and videos for us so you could just focus on that beautiful nature. I'd definitely do it again. Thank you so much!
Our tour Guide Raven was incredible!! She was really engaging, light hearted, and fun! She handled the trip well even with a wide range of ages. Me and my wife Alana couldn’t have been happier! Praise God for Raven! ☀️😎
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was hands down one of my favorite experiences in St. Pete! Alessia was an incredible guide from start to finish. She led us through the beautiful mangrove tunnels in clear kayaks on our way to Shell Key while sharing so much interesting information about the local wildlife, ecosystem, and the history of St. Petersburg. Her knowledge and passion for the area made the whole experience feel so personal and engaging. We had some amazing wildlife encounters, including a rare reddish egret and even a manatee! Seeing them in their natural habitat was unforgettable. Once we reached Shell Key, Alessia guided us through a relaxing beach yoga flow before we had time to soak in the beauty of the island. It was such a thoughtful addition that made the experience feel truly unique, blending adventure, mindfulness, and nature into one perfect morning. The paddle back through the mangroves was peaceful and beautiful, and I left feeling refreshed and grateful. If you’re looking for an experience that’s more than just a kayak tour, book with Alessia. She creates something really special, and I’d recommend this tour to anyone visiting or living in the St. Pete area.
The tour was great! Chris was our tour guide. He provided cold waters for us during the excursion which was awesome. We saw dolphins, birds, small crabs, and a manatee during our tour. The clear kayak was very cool. I would recommend this tour to others.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great experience with Chris. It's great to know you enjoyed the clear kayaks and all the incredible wildlife sightings, from dolphins and a manatee to birds and tiny crabs. We're also happy the cold water helped keep everyone comfortable during the tour! We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to Chris. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another kayaking adventure soon!
Mac was very knowledgeable about the sea life, birds, and shells. He was a great guide. He took pictures of our family on the beach and even collected shells for us to take with us. It was quite a workout and a little intimidating for first time kayakers but still a great experience overall. We even got to see 3 dolphins swimming by!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're thrilled to hear your family had such a great experience with Mac. His knowledge of the local sea life, birds, and shells, along with the extra touches like taking family photos and helping collect shells, really make the tour special. We're so glad you stuck with it as first-time kayakers and were rewarded with the unforgettable sight of three dolphins swimming by! We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to Mac. Thank you for paddling with us, and we hope to welcome your family back for another kayaking adventure soon!
Alessia was great! We saw dolphins and various birds some of which were swimming underneath our kayaks. Would recommend anytime!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience with Alessia. Seeing dolphins and watching birds swim right beneath the clear kayaks is always such a memorable experience, and we're so glad you got to enjoy it. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to Alessia. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another kayaking adventure soon!
