Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
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.
What‘s Included
Safety equipment including lifejackets and whistles
Equipment including tandem kayaks, paddles, seats, and dry bags
Gratuities
While we have bottles available, we HIGHLY encourage guests to bring REUSABLE water bottles!
Options
Clear Kayak Tour
Reviews
5,843 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
DDolphins, rare birds and surprises
jessiesP842HO,,Feb 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jesse was so kind, personable and knowledgeable!
Kayaking with Jesse
andreanM8695CW,,Feb 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jesse did awesome job as tour guide very acknowledged
Great trip
O5004VQameliah,,Feb 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had an amazing experience with Chris! We found dolphins and shells and it was a great trip! Would definitely recommend and be back
Relaxed and enjoyable
laurahO4774RD,,Feb 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I did the noon paddle with Jenna today. Although the weather was chilly, it was sunny and so pretty out. The tour was a perfect mix of peaceful paddling, interesting information (especially about the environment which was great), bird watching and enjoying time on Shell Island. Jenna was so laid back and easy to talk to, just a great relaxed vibe which we enjoyed!
It's not really a tour. It's mostly a rowing exercise.
GregYankees,,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00After finishing this experience, we were all surprised that this is called a 'tour'. There isn't much of a tour. It's 1.5 hours of rowing and 30 mins on a beach and under some mangrove trees. If you missed upper body day at the gym, it's for you. But otherwise it's just rowing in open water until you get to the beach, and then return back. We didn't see any wildlife through our clear kayak. Maybe it was out of season but this wasn't much to write home about. What was a bit upsetting is that not only was this not quite as described, but we were hounded by no fewer than 6 emails and text messages asking us to write them a 5-star review. They seemed to care much more about getting a review than they did if we actually enjoyed ourselves.
Fun and Educational Kayak trip!
patriceh2017,,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very enjoyable trip! Less was a great instructor of how to kayak, and taught us about biodiversity in the mangroves, the effects of the hurricanes to the area and enjoyed seeing the giant snail!!
Not meant to be
annjconroy,,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The guide Jessie was amazing- he was very knowledgeable about birds, mangroves etc. Our trip was cut short because he felt the wind was too strong to land on the key. We were disappointed but they refunded half of our cost. I'm an experienced kayaker and while I thought the clear kayaks would be cool to see sea life, we didn't see a single fish that way and the boats were not as streamlined or as comfortable as a regular kayak. Still we had a nice hour on the water and learned a lot.
Lees
DawnW511,,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Aleesia was a great guide, very knowledgeable about the environment.
Fun tour
adamwJ192RC,,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00“Less” was great. Fun tour, cool boats
Worth the time!
quantifiedc,,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience for my daughter and I.
From US$79.00
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Related Experiences
Operated by Get Up And Go Kayaking - Tampa Bay