On Your Own: Kayak in the Mangrove Lagoon
Overview
7 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore the Wildlife Sanctuary and Marine Reserve Mangrove Lagoon in St. Thomas on your own and at your own pace with our Self-Guided Kayak Tour. The Mangrove Lagoon is a lush forest that grows in salt water with shallow winding waterways and tunnels. There are many beautiful areas to explore between the Inner Mangrove Lagoon and Bird Island. Guests who want an independent experience can discover on their own the beauty and serenity of the lagoon and narrow waterways between mangrove trees. Encounter wildlife, paddle to secluded cays and islands, and even to a rare geological blow-hole. Whether you are an experience kayaker, a guest who has already enjoyed one of our tours and are familiar with the lagoon, or you just want the flexibility and freedom to explore on your own, now you can.
Single and double kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and snorkel gear are provided for those who want to tour around the lagoon on their own.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum age is 5 years
Additional sanitation measures taken on site for COVID-19
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Discover and explore the Mangrove Lagoon and surrounding cays on your own with a self-guided kayak tour through the lush waterways of the mangrove trees.
What‘s Included
Use of kayak equipment
Life jackets included
bring your own beverages and snacks.
Options
On Your Own: Kayak in the Mangrove Lagoon
Reviews
46 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Kayak Day!
Lisa G,,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We rented a two man kayak and leisurely paddled through the mangrove to Cas Cay. We saw starfish, sea urchin, jelly fish, stingray, barracudas and beware the manchineel tree. It is deadly. We took our cooler, aquapod for music and sling floats and enjoyed the sand beaches, then joined the group that walked the path to the blow hole. The hermit crabs races were a blast. Seeing Little St. James was creepy. The rock hills are beautiful to photograph. We loved this tour. We also purchased one of their cool hooded rash guard shirts! You can’t go wrong no matter which excursion you choose! The guides were informative, cheerful and helpful. Thank you!! We will be back on our next trip!
Great experience kayaking, seeing a ton of hermit crabs, and snorkeling!
gwenr718,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience, totally worth the cost. We were there about 4.5 hours. There were other people around, but it wasn't at all crowded. Shan was the one who gave us instructions and sent us off. She was great. We went on our own because we have been kayaking quite a bit. It was mellow water, so fine for beginners who already have at least the basics, as there was no kayaking instruction with the on-your-own option. Shan gave us a laminated map and clearly explained where we could go, where we could snorkel, and where to go to see the blow hole. The blow hole honestly wasn't all that impressive to us, but all the hermit crabs were! We went to snorkel at Patricia Cay but there were lots of jelly fish, so we went back to Cas Cay and snorkeled there, which was awesome.
We like to kayak so it...
Tara R,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00We like to kayak so it was good for us to be out on our own, but also would have been good with a guide to learn history and such. The guys working the office desk were very nice and helpful.
Highly recommend - amazing experience - book with a guide for a better experience if you want to learn about the lagoon!
annemariemK7223TD,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had such an amazing time on this tour! It was one of our favorite parts of our entire cruise, and we were happy to end with this one. We are fairly experienced kayakers and it was challenging at parts (unsure if it happened to be a stronger current when we were there) but would actually highly recommend booking with a tour guide! The guides are extremely knowledgeable and kind!! We had Alonzo - if you get him, you are lucky! He gave us such cool information about the mangroves, the history of this part of the island, and we did some cool stuff - held an upside down jellyfish, saw a stingray, lots of barracuda and a bunch of other great stuff. He was fun and interesting, and took great photos!
Great day exploring the authentic Virgin Islands.
RickPerrotta,,Jun 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic afternoon kayaking the mangrove lagoon, swimming on a quiet Cay, watching bird wildlife and enjoying the tranquility of the islands. Highly recommend for families of all ages or exploring on your own.
Perfect activity
Elizabeth L,,May 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00GREAT LOCATION! We had a great morning kayaking through the mangroves and hiking at cas cay. The water is calm and clear. A great activity for seasoned kayaker or first timer
Another great Kayak tour in the Mangroves!
810gregd,,Mar 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I did this tour last year with a guide, so this time when some friends were down, we did the self-guided tour. The staff was very friendly and helpful, she supplied us with a bottle of water and a map, plus pointed out some landmarks to keep us on track. We were fortunate enough to spot some jellyfish floating by, as well as plenty of sea life when we snorkled. Bring at least two bottle of water with you, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. Bring some bread or crackers to feed the horde of hermit crabs you'll see on the short hike to the barrier reef and the blowhole rock formations.
Good place to SUP
garycJ792ZF,,Mar 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I did the SUP, and had a great time. The staff was very friendly and helpful. It was our first time doing it and they took us under their wing to make sure we enjoyed the experience.
First time Kayak-er
lorirT1868XG,,Mar 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing, relaxing paddle through the lagoon with great scenes surrounding us. It was well worth the price and the staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. HIghly recommend to anyone.
Great time, though single kayaks not available
carolanns828,,Feb 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have rented kayaks over many years from Virgin Island Ecotours. Great service, equipment, and lots of sights and activities near the lagoon to make for a fun day. We were a bit disappointed that although we made reservations far in advance for 4 kayakers, we were told that single kayaks were not available and the reservation didn’t matter. We went out in double kayaks and still had a good time.
Related Experiences
Operated by Virgin Islands Ecotours