Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Without question, this tour route is the most unique kayak tour in the area and offers guests with the greatest opportunity to spot bucket list wildlife while visiting the Everglades area. This tour launches from a permit only launch site within the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge. This route requires proper planning and expert knowledge due to the fluctuating tides. No other company is capable or willing to take the time needed for this type of planning. Guests will start their paddle through the salt marsh, a popular feeding zone for numerous long-legged wading birds and river otters. 30 minutes in guests will notice a change in habitat, transitioning into Mangroves, indicating a change in salinity and elevation. This is where you will enter one of the best Mangrove Tunnels in the county. After numerous mangrove tunnels, creeks and ponds and hopefully tons of wildlife guests will then empty out into a manatee safe zone the Faka-union Canal. Year Round expert kayak guides included!
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
We meet all guests inside the hotel lobby at 25000 Tamiami Trail East Naples, FL 34114
Children 13 and under must ride in a two person kayak with an adult 18 or older.
At certain tide levels this tour can become more difficult
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Our tours are small by design and our Manatees and Mangroves tour is the absolute best location in Collier County for spotting manatees from your kayak. Manatees are most abundant here during the colder winter months. Guests can expect to see manatees (best during colder periods), alligators, numerous bird species all while kayaking through some of the most extensive mangrove tunnels in the area. During the Winter months with colder water temperatures, the manatees congregate in large numbers in the deeper canal. The canal's deeper water does not cool down as much as the surrounding Gulf of Mexico waters. Providing the manatees with water temps above 68 degrees. We will spend around 30 minutes in the canals looking for manatees and around 2-2.5 hours in the mangrove tunnels and salt marsh habitat. This is considered a "downwinder" type tour. Guests will hop in our passenger van (WE ARE OFFERING INDIVIDUAL SHUTTLES PER HOUSEHOLD, PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY FOR THIS SERVICE) Will shuttle you 1 mile down the road allowing us to kayak back to the marina around 4 miles.
What‘s Included
TripAdvisor's Cancelation Policy
ACA Certified Kayak Guide
Tandem Kayak (singles not available through TripAdvisor booking)
Gratuities
No Refund for going to the wrong location Meet us at 25000 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34114
Our proprietary automated communication.
NO REFUNDS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF TOUR
Options
25000 Tamiami Trail East
3 Hour Port of the Islands Mangrove and Manatees Kayak Tour
Reviews
960 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Definitely recommend!!
James P,,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Adam did a great job as our kayak tour guide for the manatees and mangroves trip. We will recommend this company to our friends.
Excellent mangrove kayaking tour!
anniesaleh,,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic time on this tour with Adam! It was the perfect blend of learning and exploring the beautiful mangroves, and seeing several manatees was such a highlight. On a previous trip to Naples, we did a different kayak tour that fell short, so this experience was an especially pleasant surprise. Thank you, Adventure Paddle Tours, for such a fun and memorable afternoon!
Mangrove Manatee Kayak
Dana C,,Feb 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a beautiful day and the kayaking was fabulous. We saw several manatees and the trip through the mangrove tunnels was magical. Adam was a great tour guide with lots of knowledge about the area
Worth it!
E1142CQlisab,,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful experience! Saw several manatees, and the mangrove tour was really cool. Our guide,Jimmy, was extremely knowledgeable and shared many interesting facts as well as answered all questions we asked. In addition, Jimmy spotted an alligator, several bull sharks, many birds of all kinds, and a blue crab. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour.
Fun and informative!
grig0p0p,,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great kayak tour this morning! Our guide, Jimmy, was very friendly and super knowledgeable. We saw lots of manatees and paddling through the mangroves was really fun. Would definitely do it again!
You won't regret it!
902ch,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a really fun tour. We saw some awesome birds and manatees. The weather made it difficult to see other animals like alligators or little sharks, but still so enjoyable. It was a great experience getting to kayak through the mangroves. The guides were skilled and knowledgeable. They were really fun to talk with. I highly recommend.
Unfortunately cancelled
jesslh2024,,Jan 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00They had to cancel the trip because of weather conditions. They were great in keeping us informed ahead of time and they refunded me the entire amount of money that I had paid.
Great, short tour due to gator-blockage
aqmesler,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Adam was a fabulous tour guide, very lighthearted and knowledgable. Unfortunately, our tour had to be cut short because an 8-foot gator wouldn’t get out of our way to pass through the mangroves, despite Adam’s best efforts to encourage the gator to move. We returned safely a couple hours early and we were full refunded. Would still recommend!!!
Great adventure
berniev652,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything was great about the adventure. Learned a lot and leaders were great. Would highly recommend. Great to see all the animals and mangroves
A great wildlife experience with a fantastic guide.
bradj42,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I were lucky enough to see several manatees and a huge alligator on our trip. Our guide, Adam, was knowledgeable, informative, and incredibly hardworking throughout the entire tour. He kept the pace comfortable, answered every question, and was very accommodating. Water levels in parts of the mangroves were low, but that’s obviously out of anyone’s control. Adam handled it flawlessly and made sure none of us got stuck or slowed down. It was a memorable, well-run experience that I’d absolutely recommend.
From US$95.00
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Operated by Adventure Paddle Tours