Mangrove Tunnel & Manatee Kayak Eco-Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Paddle into one of Lido Key’s most unique eco-adventures: the mangrove tunnels. This guided kayak tour takes you through calm, winding waterways where mangrove branches create shaded “tunnels” overhead—quiet, beautiful, and full of life. Along the way, our friendly local guides share fun, easy-to-understand info about the mangrove ecosystem and help you spot wildlife like coastal birds, fish, rays, and—when they’re around—manatees and dolphins.
Booking is simple: reserve by the number of guests in your group, and the type of watercraft you prefer (single kayaks, tandem kayaks or stand up paddleboards). Our goal is to keep everyone comfortable and having a great time on the water.
What sets us apart: We're Hawaii transplants who brought our love for the ocean to Sarasota. We're the only outfitter offering kids' programs and maintain a 5-star TripAdvisor rating. Note: Guides may make changes to routes and equipment based on conditions and safety.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Paddle through the unique mangrove tunnel network around Lido Key in Sarasota Bay — a natural maze of winding waterways shaded by mangrove forests and rich in wildlife. Our guides lead you on an engaging and safe 2-hour experience that’s perfect for families, beginners, and nature lovers alike. Along the way, you’ll see shorebirds, fish, crabs, and in many seasons you may spot manatees or dolphins in the bay. This is a great tour for kids. However, we do not offer a youth rate. Children under 5 can ride along with two adults in a tandem kayak. We do not charge for the ride-along child. Kids under 10 should be in a tandem kayak with an adult.
What‘s Included
Paddles
Safety Equipment (Life Jackets, Leashes)
Government Fees
Single kayaks, tandem kayaks
Gratuities
Options
Single Kayak
Single Kayak : Choose this option if you want a single kayak. Kayaks and paddleboards can be combined.
Tandem-Must Select Two People
Tandem Kayak: This option can only be selected if you have two or more people for the booking.
Stand Up Paddleboard
Stand Up Paddleboard: Choose this option if you want to use a stand up paddleboard. Kayaks and paddleboards can be combined on tours.
Reviews
991 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great time! Guide was...
Bill W,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great time! Guide was awesome! We were supposed to go day prior and missed it but fortunately they had extra kayaks and paddles to accommodate us. Thank you for everything! Highly recommend
Excellent guide,...
Peter T,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent guide, informative and made the afternoon experience much better. JJ did a great job of making more than just kayaking
Fun adventure in mangrove tunnels!
TheEnglerFamily,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took my adult kids, 18 and 20, and we had an absolutely fantastic experience with SURFIT USA and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Sarasota area. From start to finish, everything was well organized, and the team made the entire outing feel safe, relaxed, and enjoyable. The tour itself was beautiful, paddling through the mangrove tunnels and along the calm coastal waters gave us the chance to truly experience the natural side of Sarasota. We saw a variety of coastal birds in their natural habitat, which made the experience even more special.  A special shoutout to our guide, Rob, who made the trip exceptional. He was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to share insights about the local bird species and the history of the area. His passion really came through, and he struck the perfect balance between being informative and giving us time to simply enjoy the scenery. Whether you’re new to kayaking or more experienced, this is a great way to explore the area at a comfortable pace. The small group size and personal attention really set this experience apart. Both kids said this was one of the highlights of our trip. We would absolutely book with SURFIT USA again!
Aaron was great! It was a...
Jorge C,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Aaron was great! It was a nice combination of open water and mangrove tunnels. There was a starfish, some crabs and fish. Be prepared for some tight turns in some tunnels!
Great time, experienced kayaking you need not be!
Aakta P,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Knowledgeable guide in Rob. Patient too. Got to see dolphins which was a treat! Going throught the mangroves was challenging and yet fun!
Kayaking no chance of dolphins or manatees
Jennifer M,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Rob was our guide and he was excellent. He was friendly, funny and highly knowledgeable. The reason my husband and I booked this was because it is advertised as an opportunity to see manatees and dolphins. While we understood that this isn’t guaranteed, we were never in water deeper than 2 feet so it was impossible to see dolphins or manatees. I know that they can swim in shallow waters, but not that shallow. Since we never took routes in deeper water than 2 feet, the company has to know that they are falsely advertising. There was never going to be a chance. The kayaking was fun and the mangroves are cool, but if you are hoping to see manatees or dolphins don’t even consider booking this .
Kayaking was wonderful but TripAdvisor listing could be improved
NJ Reviewers,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The kayaking experience itself was quite enjoyable and informative. Rob was our guide and was very informative and knowledgeable. I think the introduction session prior to launch was helpful for many. Unfortunately, I don't think this site is listed well on TripAdvisor. The company name was not readily known when signing up for this excursion. In addition, the site did not provide easy access to complete the required waivers online. We had to do that once we got to the launch. There are at least 5 kayaking companies in the same location as SURFit so when we arrived it was very confusing as to which company our tour was with. Everyone there was very helpful and once we found the right company, everything went well.
Josia was informative knowledgeable nice and funny.
E6967WXmichaels,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was nice to get out on the water with a nice guide
Relaxing tour
amandaeJ7194CS,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful tour...our guide showed us as much wild life as he could. Lots of information which I appreciated. Would do it again!
Nature at its finest!
Christopher C,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Rob and Josiah were awesome tour guides! We learned a lot about the area, had some laughs, and saw some cool wildlife on the way. Kayaking inside the mangrove tunnels was amazing. The views were great! We will definitely be back with our kids!
From US$59.00
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