Mangrove Tunnels & Mudflats Kayak Tour - Local Biologist Guides
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Join SWFL's only active local biologist guides for an adventure through the Rookery Bay Reserve at the start of the 10,000 islands on the #1 Kayaking Tour in the USA (USAToday)! Paddle to beautiful mangrove tunnels, teeming mudflats, and intricate oyster reefs while searching for amazing wildlife like sea stars, large snails, birds, dolphin and manatee! FREE HD PHOTOGRAPHY of you and your family exploring this beautiful area is provided on every adventure.
Single Kayaks are provided for all paddlers. For children under 12 contact us directly. Perfect for the first-time paddler and the pro. Get out and explore the calm backwaters of Southwest Florida with Naples and Marco Island's only biologist guides! Book your tour today! PLEASE ARRIVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE LAUNCH TIME.
Additional availabilities, tandem kayaks, children's tickets (under 12), boat tours, and additional kayak tours including sunset tours are available for reservation by phone or website only. Call to reserve!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tandem kayaks & Children's tickets (under 12) are available for reservation by phone only. Call to reserve!
The Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park requires a $10 Parking Pass per vehicle if you do not have a Collier County Beach Parking Sticker
Must be able to paddle a kayak for 2 - 3 hours
Weight in excess of 250lbs must call for special accommodations
Children under 3 are not permitted
Children under 12 must ride in a tandem kayak with an adult
If cancelled due to weather or dangerous conditions, you will be offered to reschedule or be provided with a full refund
Maximum group size of 12 paddlers
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Enjoy the Rookery Bay Reserve by kayak with hourly rentals or on a guided kayak tour with the only biologist guides in Naples & Marco Island and the exclusive ecotour partners of the Friends of Rookery Bay in support of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve!
Marco Island
We will be paddling into the Mangrove Tunnels of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve just North of Marco Island launching from the Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park. The regions only biologist guides will help you find unique wildlife while teaching you about the ecology and history of this amazing place! Get on the water with the guides who have spent their lives studying this area and explore with a real local biologist!
What‘s Included
REAL Local Biologist Guides with Master's Degrees
FREE Admission to the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center
FREE PHOTOGRAPHY - Available for free download after your adventure
Single-Seater Kayak with high back seats, cup holder, and room for storage (ages 12+)
Low Profile Paddling Life Vests, & Dry Bags
A real adventure with the most awesome science nerds in the land!
Water is not included. Please bring plenty of water to drink
Sunscreen
Proper Clothing & Footwear - Flip flops are okay, but not ideal
For children under 12 or tandem kayak requests, please contact us directly
Cash for Gratuity - Gratuity is customary and much appreciated by our hard working biologist guides
Parking Fees
Options
Single Kayak - 1 Adult
Reviews
784 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Informative, fun and interesting
jonpZ3260YX,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour and Evan was very knowledgeable and found a ton of interesting shells, sponges, bat fish and toad fish that we would never have seen had we not been on the tour/
Fantastic and informative tour
Y9812WGlaurenc,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My family had a great tour in Rookery Bay with our guides Selena and Parker. We learned so much about estuary ecosystems and saw some amazing marine life. Selena also had so many fascinating stories about the history of the area. Thank you to our guides for a great trip!
Great tour
Wander09189984997,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gerald was a great guide. We saw and learned a lot and had a dry good time. Definitely worth the time and cost. They have tandem and single kayaks available and the trip was not too strenuous.
Great family kayaking experience!
Wander217069,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing kayaking experience with the whole family! Rising Tide is a great provider that gave us a wonderful and memorable experience on the water. Celina was a knowledgeable and fun and engaging guide and we will definitely be back!
Amazing kayak adventure
denisef839,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00AMAZING!!! A must do if in the Naples/ Marco Island area. We were a group of 4 who chose 2 single kayaks and one tandem. The total group size was 9. Our guides, Sierra and Kyle, were tremendous! Their knowledge of the marine life and the mangroves was immense. Their expertise and thoroughness made us feel very safe and comfortable as we traversed the calm waters to and thru mangrove tunnels. We all had so much fun that we would do it again!
Fantastic day on the bay
Kim B,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Loved the beautiful Rookery bay. Renee was fantastic helping me navigate the narrow tunnels with my grandson. Loved her stories. Great trip
Easy, fun and educational tour.
Kim A,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a wonderful, enjoyable, and educational tour. Our guides shared such a special piece of Florida. So glad we visited!
Family Adventure in Tandem Kayaks
H7639MIkimberlyp,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Selena and Maria were great guides and very knowledgeable about the area and wildlife around us. We went as a family with an 11 year old and 8 year old and had tandem kayaks. There was room to pack water, snacks, sunscreen etc. in a bag they provided to keep things dry. We saw tiny crabs, snails, a horse conch, sea-stars, sea sponges, osprey, ibis, etc. We paddled through a mangrove tunnel and stopped at a sand bar and got out. My kids weren’t sure about going on the tour at the beginning, but at the end they said they wanted to do it again tomorrow. We went at 9 AM to avoid the heat and direct sun. It was worth waking up early for. Only thing I would do differently would be wear a longer sleeved breathable shirt to protect my arms from the sun. Thanks for a great family adventure experience!
Great instructors
robertpL3585MV,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mr.Evin was a great guide, and so was Mrs.Grace. Thank you for such a great experience. Learned quite a large amount of the environment too.
Cierra was an amazing guid
mikeaW7855CZ,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I had an amazing kayaking tour with Cierra. She showed us quite a bit of the local wildlife, we even had the opportunity to disembark and experience a close up of the environment. The education of the biodiversity and the local land history was extensive and appreciated. We will be going back again with Cierra.
From US$69.99
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Operated by Rising Tide Explorers