Tours/Miami/Manatee Season Guided Paddle Tour from Virginia Key
Viator · group up to 28 pax

Manatee Season Guided Paddle Tour from Virginia Key

4.9(68)Miami1 hour
VIATOR4.9(27)TRIPADVISOR5.0(41)

Description

Lamar Lake is Miami's #1 location for manatee sightings during the region's manatee season between November and April each year. Outside of manatee season there are a number of other wildlife sightings common on our tours including dolphins, spotted eagle rays, great blue herons and a plethora of other local flora and fauna. The experience takes in Miami's unique mix of natural and urban scenes including, weather permitting, Downtown Miami's iconic skyline as seen from Biscayne Bay.

Tour Options

Stand Up Paddle Board
  • Stand Up Paddle Board: A board with leash for a single paddler.
Tandem Kayak
  • Tandem Kayak: A kayak with seats for two paddlers.
Single Kayak
  • Single Kayak: A kayak with a seat for a single paddler.

Highlights

Paddle board or kayak rental, paddles, US Coast Guard approved life jackets, and a waterproof bag for your phone/wallet/car keys
Paddle instruction and safety briefing
Licensed tour guide

What's included

Included
Paddle board or kayak rental, paddles, US Coast Guard approved life jackets, and a waterproof bag for your phone/wallet/car keys
Paddle instruction and safety briefing
Licensed tour guide

Traveller Ratings

4.9
68 reviews
5
64
4
2
3
2
2
0
1
0

Important Information

  • Service animals allowed
  • 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

Reviews(68)

J
Jack E
June 14, 2026
Great, personalized kayak tour among mangroves

Group kayak tour for two people with terrific guide, Andy

H
Holly_B
April 29, 2026
Such a great time

It was such a good time! There were 6 people total including our guide! Small enough to ask questions and have a really great time! Bring water and wear lots of sunscreen.

H
hollygooding
April 19, 2026
Dolphins, Manatees & A Swimming Iguana

Our tour with Parker was unbelievable - we haven’t stopped talking about it since! Parker was so welcoming and personable, giving us so much information about Miami, the different species and invasive species and even the process of how a mangrove is formed. We were so lucky to see dolphins, manatees and a swimming iguana on our tour. We were even luckier to be the only two people booked onto the tour making it even more special! Definitely a morning to remember and a huge thank you to Parker for making the whole experience peaceful and memorable!

O
otakemd
April 15, 2026
Unforgettable Family Experience – Up Close with Manatees!

Our family had an absolutely incredible time on the tour "Manatee Season Guided Paddle Tour from Virginia Key". If you are looking for a quiet, authentic interaction with nature, I cannot recommend this tour enough. The highlight was, without a doubt, the manatees. We were lucky enough to see them at a very close distance, including a beautiful mother and calf pair. It was a truly moving experience to see such peaceful creatures in their natural habitat, along with various local bird species. As a parent, I was a bit nervous because it was the first time my two boys (ages 8 and 11) were paddling by themselves. However, the water was perfectly calm with no waves, making it feel very safe for them. Our guide was a true gentleman and a wonderful person. He was incredibly patient and helpful with the kids, ensuring everyone felt comfortable and confident throughout the journey. His expertise and kind demeanor really made the trip special for us. A few tips for future travelers: Perfect for Beginners: Don't worry if your children haven't paddled before; the conditions here are very forgiving. Bring a Waterproof Phone Case: You’ll definitely want to capture photos of the manatees if they come close! Respect the Quiet: The best way to see the wildlife is to stay calm and quiet, which this tour facilitates perfectly. Overall, it was a 5-star experience for our family. We left with great memories and a new appreciation for Miami's local ecosystem.

R
ralphwA5345ZM
April 1, 2026
Okay but not mind-blowing

Our guide, Parker, was nice and knowledgeable. The equipment was fine. We did see two manatees, but due to the clarity of the , we didn’t see them really well. There were other animals that we also saw, like iguanas and a snook. The part that rubbed me a little wrong was that Parker took a bunch of photos. He said that we didn’t need to worry photos because he was taking them. I sort of expected to receive them in our email, but there was nothing. I wish my wife I had taken photos of our own.

V
V3821QXcarstens
March 30, 2026
Best tour guide

Our tour guide Parker gave extensive information about the fauna and flora and took a lot of time for us. Alongside the manatee, he was a highlight of the tour. Thank you very much

C
Curiosity59684119149
March 24, 2026
Find manatees in the tranquil bay

I joined because I wanted to see the manatee. The manatee is said to come up to the surface on a clear and warm day. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy and chilly, so all I could see was shadows. However, the guide asked me if I wanted to go out to sea or stay in the bay, and I was able to try manatee watching until the end. Thank you for the photo. It is recommended to remove insects when participating. There were quite a few mosquitoes.

M
Marlana M
March 20, 2026
Relaxing and Exciting

First of all I was an hour late and the tour guide caught me up like I never missed anything. The area is beautiful and tour guide was very knowable. I didn’t seem rushed at all, it was a great experience. I felt like a kid when I see the big manatee. Haha. Definitely recommend.

1 people found this helpful
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gilliangM6297SF
March 11, 2026
True nature

Amazing Tomas our guide was an true expert, he understood nature and that we just wanted to see the manatee in their own surroundings just gentle slow paced enjoying watching these magnificent creatures in their homes

A
alexandrasH7517FF
March 10, 2026
Amazing day!

Andy was an incredible guide! We were all kayak amateurs and he was super helpful, patient, friendly, and funny. Had an absolute blast, stunningly beautiful spot on earth and we got a ton of face time with manatees! Don’t miss it

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