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
Not recommended for guests over 275 pounds. The heavier the kayakers the less stable the kayak.
Environmental conditions will impact the required fitness level. High winds and strong tides can make this tour more difficult.
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Options
25000 Tamiami Trail East
3 Hour Port of the Islands Mangrove and Manatees Kayak Tour
Reviews
982 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An unforgettable morning with Adam — manatees, mangroves, and pure magic
angelcacere,May 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An unforgettable morning with Adam — manatees, mangroves, and pure magic We did the Manatees & Mangroves kayak tour out of Port of the Islands with Adventure Paddle Tours and it was one of the best experiences we’ve had in Naples. From the moment we arrived, everything was smooth — confirmation texts, easy check-in, and top-quality gear ready to go. Our guide Adam absolutely made the trip. He was friendly, patient, and genuinely passionate about the 10,000 Islands and the Everglades. He took the time to give us a proper paddling lesson before we launched, kept the group of 7 close-knit and comfortable, and had an incredible eye for wildlife — we spotted a variety of birds, and even glided through the most beautiful mangrove tunnels I’ve ever seen. Adam shared just the right mix of ecology, local history, and humor without it ever feeling like a lecture. You can tell he truly lives and loves this place. The small group size (way better than the crowded tours elsewhere) made it feel personal, and the free HD photos he took were a wonderful surprise to take home. Three hours flew by. If you’re in Naples and on the fence — book it. Ask for Adam if you can. Worth every penny, and I’ll absolutely be back!
Great experience
Excursion54810122359,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Adam is a great guide and we had a great time!
Excellent communication....
Kathleen L,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent communication. Adam went out of his way to have us experience as many native animals and plants as possible. Big on our list of course were manatees and alligators and we saw both! He did not rush us and gave us helpful suggestions for navigating the mangroves. I would highly recommend this tour to family, friends, and everyone else!
Adam is a great guide
X7380ZXvanessak,Apr 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Adam was such a knowledgeable guide! After a quick set of instructions, we were on our way to a beautiful adventure. The mangroves created a challenging, yet fun course. As a bonus, we came across a 6 foot alligator! And a ton of bull sharks! I highly recommend this tour! It did not disappoint!
Great tour!
ChrisFromVirginia,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was excellentThis is a great tour. My 16 year old son and I did this tour on a cloudy day in early April. It was about 72 degrees. The meeting point was clear, the organization was well done and the guide was informative and clear. Our guide was Adam and he did a fantastic job. The thing I like about kayaking is that it is accessible to more people than hiking or biking but it gets you closer to nature than a tour on a larger boat. Plus the only way to really navigate the mangroves is via a small flat bottom boat like a kayak. Only thing to keep in mind: Depending on recent rains and depending on cloud cover, you may not be able to find or see manatees. However, we were happy with the alligators, bull sharks, heron and other animals we were able to observe in their habitat. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
Great tour of a very unique place
Christopher N,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a great tour. My 16 year old son and I did this tour on a cloudy day in early April. It was about 72 degrees. The meeting point was clear, the organization was well done and the guide was informative and clear. Our guide was Adam and he did a fantastic job. The thing I like about kayaking is that it is accessible to more people than hiking or biking but it gets you closer to nature than a tour on a larger boat. Plus the only way to really navigate the mangroves is via a small flat bottom boat like a kayak. Only thing to keep in mind: Depending on recent rains and depending on cloud cover, you may not be able to find or see manatees. However, we were happy with the alligators, bull sharks, heron and other animals we were able to observe in their habitat. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
Incredible tour! You don’t want to miss this one!
JordanCFamily,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was incredible. I would give them 100 stars if I could. Jimmy, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. We saw countless bull sharks, alligators, and manatees. Jimmy did everything he could to ensure every member of our tour group got the chance to see every animal. The tour was the perfect amount of time and beautiful. You can tell the guys who run this are passionate about what they do. The entire tour was highly organized and seamless. Jimmy took so many great pictures of us too! This will be a lifetime memory for our family. I highly recommend this tour!
great time kayaking through the mangroves
jasontP3455IQ,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My family had a great time kayaking through the mangroves. Our guide was knowledgeable and kept us safe
Make sure you can actually paddle across open water
cindycM6065YA,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An authentic kayak tour through the mangroves. This tour gave you a very up close and authentic look at the mangroves. Kayaking through a very large areaof mangroves and allowing us to see several birds and fish. We did not see gators or manatees, but it was still a great kayak experience A word of caution is that this does require actual paddling through some open water with some wind.
Mangrove tour
Escape444270,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Went on the tour today with Adam. He was a great guide and I had the best time. I would highly recommend this tour, go book it.
From US$95.00
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Operated by Adventure Paddle Tours