Come join us on St Pete's best guided kayak tour to Shell Key, launching from Tierra Verde. You'll get the finest kayaking tour around the Shell Key nature preserve, exploring Mangrove tunnels from either a Clear transparent kayak or from one of our traditional Coastal kayaks. From either Clear or Coastal kayak, you'll get a memorable experience as your professional guide gives you a fascinating narration on the background and the biology of the 1,800 acre preserve, including the fascinating Mangrove tunnels of the Shell Key preserve. At Shell Key, you get an opportunity to see dolphins, manatees, rays, horseshoe crab, and a variety of shore birds. St Pete Kayaking offers the finest Clear and Coastal kayaking tours in St Pete! All of our kayaking tours launch from beautiful island of Tierra Verde. Only we let you choose between single kayaks and double kayaks.
Clear Kayaks in the Mangrove Tunnels
Coastal Kayak in the late afternoon
Coastal Kayak greeted by a Manatee
Our guided kayak tours to Shell Key can accommodate from 2 persons to 32 people, and are approximately 3 hours long, depending on conditions, and the pace of the group. The tours launch from Tierra Verde, and paddle through the protected waters and mangroves tunnels of the Shell Key Wildlife Preserve in Pinellas County. An 1,800 acre preserve, these waters are well traveled by Dolphins, Manatees, Rays, as well as a variety of shore birds, including pelicans, egrets, herons, cormorants, osprey, and sometimes roseate spoonbills. As a guided kayak eco-tour, our tour guides will provide narration to our guests, highlighting the natural beauty of the Shell Key preserve. Just as we do from our boat tours.
OUR TOUR GUIDES
PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED, PASSIONATE
Island Ferry Tour guides have all of these traits and more. Above all else, our Tour Guides thrive on passing on their experiences to our customers, and helping create memories that will last a lifetime. They carry certifications in Wilderness First-Aid, River Rescue, and more.
Expectations
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Please be advised that kayaking is a physically strenuous activity. This tour is a 4-mile paddle, and you must at least be in moderate physical condition to complete the tour.
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Don't forget to bring water.
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This is a tour of a nature preserve, away from civilization. If you are averse to mud, ants, insects, or wild brush, this tour is NOT for you.
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Minimum age is 8+ years old. Children 14 and under must ride tandem with an adult.
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Because of limited capacity of the kayaks, there is a weight limit of 250lbs (113k) per individual.
What To Bring
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Bring plenty of bottled water.
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Wear your swimsuit, or anything that is comfortable when wet.
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Water shoes or flip-flops.
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Sunscreen, hat, and glasses.
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A towel to keep in your car for afterward.
Details
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$54+tax per person for Coastal Kayaks.
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$59+tax per person for Clear Kayaks.
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Trips run 7 days a week, 2 daytime trips, and a sunset tour late in the day. Call ahead for exact departure times.
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FREE parking at our launch site in Tierra Verde.
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We supply life jackets and dry bags
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Trip duration is approximately 3 hours.
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You can purchase tickets online or by phone!
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Cancellations: No refunds for cancellations less than 48 hours before your scheduled departure. No refunds for "no shows". We give FULL refunds if Island Ferry cancels for inclement weather.