Kayak & canoe · WILDLIFE KAYAK TOURS IN THE USA

The 15 Wildlife Kayak Tours in the USA That Earn Their Price

37 tours  ·  from $48 a head

Every trip has one free morning too few. These 15 wildlife kayak tours in the USA justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach - Under seven bridges and around the island
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Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach

1.Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,328 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $65Our pick

Paddle Daytona Beach’s calm bay under seven bridges, around an island, and through yacht-lined canals with guides such as Brock, Dallas, Fletcher, and Spencer. A ground lesson, kayaks, and all gear are included, making this a relaxed wildlife outing for beginners.

“The guide was awesome! My daughter was struggling to get through a spot with a current and he came right over to help us. After that, the pace was leisurely. We did see a pod of dolphins, which made the trip. Beautiful and fun!”

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Crystal River Three Sisters Springs and Manatee Clear Kayak Tours - April to November: paddling toward Three Sisters Springs
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Crystal River Three Sisters Springs and Manatee Clear Kayak Tours

2.Crystal River Three Sisters Springs and Manatee Clear Kayak Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,830 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Choose a scenic Three Sisters Springs trip from April 1 to November 14, with time to swim, or a manatee-season tour from November 15 to March 31. Guides such as Crosby, Dmitri, Yas, and Cami lead groups of up to 10 from Kings Bay Park in stable, clear-bottom kayaks.

“For some reason the people never did show up when we were there 15 minutes earlier as requested. When we called they said they did not know where the tour leader was. They did offer us a refund which I have not received as yet. However the kisosk next to them allowed us to rent a paddleboard and a kayak so we did have fun. Hope the tour guide is ok but do want the refund as we received no service thank you”

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Mangroves and Manatees - Guided Kayak Eco Tour - Mangrove tunnels, clear water, and the wildlife search
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Mangroves and Manatees – Guided Kayak Eco Tour

3.Mangroves and Manatees – Guided Kayak Eco Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,222 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $69

Paddle a single or double kayak through Tavernier Creek with guides such as Jack, Tony, Sarah, or Keith. You’ll get land and on-water instruction, pass shallow grass beds and mangrove tunnels, and watch for manatees, turtles, rays, dolphins, birds, and fish. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“Our guide was awesome. We paddled on a windy day and against the current going out, but she kept us in the right channels and made sure we made it no problem. I just wish we had more time in the mangrove tunnels! We all expected to be sore from paddling but nobody in our family group had any discomfort. This was our favorite activity in the Keys.”

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Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour - How the three-hour route works
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Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour

4.Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 954 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Kayak from Port of the Islands through the Ten Thousand Islands area on a three-hour, four-mile downwinder. You’ll spend about 30 minutes looking for winter manatees, then paddle mangrove tunnels and salt marshes. Tandem kayaks, instruction, and an ACA-certified guide are included.

“Our group of 8 with adults and kids really enjoyed kayaking through the mangrove trees and seeing tons of animals. Ty was great and we would highly recommend this activity!”

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Mangroves, Manatees, and a Hidden Beach: Kayak Tour - Wildlife watching without false promises
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Mangroves, Manatees, and a Hidden Beach: Kayak Tour

5.Mangroves, Manatees, and a Hidden Beach: Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 926 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59

From Turtle Beach, paddle calm Sarasota waters with a guide from SURFit USA, then wind through Jim Neville Preserve’s mangroves. Guides such as Orion and Michael share local wildlife knowledge, help beginners, and stop at a beach or sandbar for shells and shark teeth.

“My friend and I had a blast! We saw a dolphin, and stopped at a hidden beach to look for shells and shark teeth.”

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Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour w/Cocoa Kayaking - Wildlife to watch for, without chasing it
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Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour w/Cocoa Kayaking

6.Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour w/Cocoa Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 923 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $69

Spend about 2.5 hours kayaking Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands with guides such as James, Ian, or Susie. Paddle open lagoons and narrow mangrove tunnels while watching for manatees, dolphins, stingrays, tarpon, crabs, and birds. Your guide takes photos and emails them within 48 hours.

“Equipment was good. Guide was knowledgeable and set a comfortable pace. Saw plenty of critters and birds. About the right length of time on the tour.”

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Clear Kayak Manatee Ecotour of Crystal River - Other Wildlife Beneath and Around the Kayak
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Clear Kayak Manatee Ecotour of Crystal River

7.Clear Kayak Manatee Ecotour of Crystal River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 691 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $79

Spend about two hours in a stable tandem clear kayak on Crystal River with a local guide such as Jess, Kyle, or RJ. Look beneath you for manatees and fish, while learning about Kings Bay, nearby canals, and the local ecosystem. Groups are capped at 10.

“Good guide very informative really enjoyed it. Very friendly and helpful staff. Times and equipment good.”

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Bioluminescence Night Kayaking Tour of Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge - Why the water can glow
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Bioluminescence Night Kayaking Tour of Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

8.Bioluminescence Night Kayaking Tour of Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 605 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $75

Join BK Adventure for a 90-minute night paddle through Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Guides such as Faith, Brea, Seven, Leslie, and Leo help you spot glowing plankton and comb jellyfish from your kayak. Equipment is included, and groups are limited to eight.

“Was a beautiful night but the bioluminescence was disappointing Also at times can be stressful if you’re not a experienced kayaker because you are bunched up with other kayakers and you might run into them.”

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Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena) - Paddling over Makena’s shallow reefs
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Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena)

9.Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 551 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $130

Meet Ohana Ocean Adventures at Makena Landing Park for a three-hour morning tour with clear-bottom kayaks, reef viewing, and optional snorkeling. Guides such as Kyle, Curtis, Marc, and Michael share local marine knowledge while helping families spot turtles, fish, rays, and seasonal humpback whales.

“This was absolutely amazing! Our tour guide Mark was awesome and very knowledgeable and showed us a variety of locations and we saw a lot of turtles and fishes. The weather was wonderful and we were very pleased with everything. I highly recommend them and we will do this again with our daughter. Having a clear bottom kayak was a plus too!”

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Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours - Cape Henry Lighthouses Along the Route
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Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours

10.Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 462 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $68

Launch from First Landing State Park with guides such as Matt, Tommy, or Sawyer, then paddle Chesapeake Bay waters near dolphins, seabirds, Cape Henry’s lighthouses, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The two-hour tour suits beginners, but expect sand, wet clothes, changing weather, and no guaranteed dolphin sightings.

“Sawyer, our tour guide was incredibly patient and knowledgeable. We couldn’t find where the tour was, but he called right away and told us exactly where to find him. We saw a ton of dolphins! Would definitely book again!”

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New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour - Kayak or paddleboard?
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New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour

11.New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 457 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddle New Smyrna’s calm waterways for about two hours with kayaks, SUPs, and a guide such as Michael, Spencer, or Fletcher. Look for dolphins, manatees, turtles, birds, conchs, and fish. All equipment is included, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“Very relaxing and our guide "Michael" was great. Unfortunately, did not see much wildlife only one dolphin but better than none:)”

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Silver Springs Clear Kayak Manatee, Monkey & Wildlife Adventures - What happens during the two-hour paddle
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Silver Springs Clear Kayak Manatee, Monkey & Wildlife Adventures

12.Silver Springs Clear Kayak Manatee, Monkey & Wildlife Adventures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 419 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $80

Paddle through Silver Springs State Park for about two hours in a clear kayak, solo kayak, tandem kayak, or paddleboard. Guides such as Chris, Steve, Ashley, and Justin point out manatees, turtles, alligators, birds, fish, monkeys, and sunken movie relics while sharing the spring’s history.

“It was a great experience, the clear kayaks make for an amazing experience. Our guide was great, pointed out all sorts of wildlife I would have a missed on my own.”

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Kayak With Dolphins in Historic Shem Creek - Getting ready at Coastal Expeditions on Shem Creek
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Kayak With Dolphins in Historic Shem Creek

13.Kayak With Dolphins in Historic Shem Creek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 407 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $48Best value

Paddle historic Shem Creek with a professional guide from Coastal Expeditions. You’ll learn basic sea-kayaking skills, pass shrimp boats and oyster-lined marshes, and look for bottlenose dolphins, summer manatees, and occasional loggerhead turtles. Guides may include Morgan, Logan, Gracie, Taut, Abby, or Nick.

“Beautiful landscape great wild life Logan our guide was great he is so informative of all the wildlife u see and knows all about the area”

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Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour - How the dolphin watching works
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Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour

14.Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 351 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $68

Meet your guide at North End Beach for a two-hour kayak trip toward Cape Henry Lighthouses. Stable sit-on-top kayaks, safety instruction, and a maximum of 12 people make this a friendly choice for families and beginners. Guides such as Matt, Jack, and Declan are known for wildlife facts and patient help on the water.

“It is very hard when you are traveling with teenagers. This is a great activity to do with them to get them out of the technology and have some family bonding time along with some exercise, the pricing was good and the guides were very professional and helpful. Just that when they were talking, it was hard to hear in the middle of the bay. Overall, I highly recommend to anyone who goes to Virginia Beach.”

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Maui: Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour - The 1.5-mile paddle across Makena Bay
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Maui: Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

15.Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 345 reviews · 3 hours · from $120

Paddle about 1.5 miles through Makena Bay with a small group of up to 10. Guides such as Tyler, Jake, John, and Rabbit teach beginners, lead you to turtle-rich snorkeling spots, and may point out whales from late December through mid-April.

“Tyler was an excellent expert and explained a lot. We have seen whales jumping several times”

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New in Wildlife Kayak Tours in the USA

★ 5.0Small Group Manatee Discovery Kayak Tour near OrlandoFrom $80224 reviews
★ 5.0Guided Dolphin Eco Tour by Kayak & SUP – Fort Myers Beach, FLFrom $5033 reviews
★ 5.0Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour of Cocoa BeachFrom $65194 reviews
★ 5.0Wildlife Kayak Tour in Santa Barbara Harbor (2 Hours)From $59172 reviews
★ 4.9Santa Barbara Harbor: Wildlife Kayak Tour (2 Hours)From $5543 reviews
★ 5.0Private Beginner Paddleboard Lesson with Snorkel in Turtle TownFrom $17950 reviews
★ 5.0Wildlife Refuge Sunset Dolphin, Manatee & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!From $6120 reviews
★ 5.0Wildlife Refuge Manatee, Dolphin & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!From $52210 reviews
★ 4.5Dolphin and Manatee Tour of Marco Island by Kayak or SUPFrom $65125 reviews
★ 4.9Small Group Manatee Discovery Kayak TourFrom $80184 reviews
★ 5.0Turtle Town Clear Kayak & Snorkel Tour (8am-11am)From $130100 reviews
Turtle Town Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour (7am-9:30am)From $12526 reviews
★ 4.5Clear Kayak Three Sisters Springs & Manatee Tour Of Crystal RiverFrom $89197 reviews
★ 5.0Silver Springs: Clear Kayak Wildlife Adventure247 reviews
★ 5.0Manatee and Dolphin Kayaking | Wildlife Refuge (Titusville)From $60241 reviews

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