Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Just a few minutes away from all the hustle and bustle of Sarasota is our favorite local beach, Turtle Beach. It is only a few short miles from the main Siesta Key beach to Turtle Beach and the Sarasota County trolley will drop you right there. Not only is this area such a beautiful and quiet place, it is also a great place to paddle!
We start on the intercostal and paddle down a short canal to the Bay. We paddle around the mangrove islands through a mangrove tunnel or two and alongside a bird rookery.
We paddle around the mangrove islands of Jim Neville Marine Preserve and then to a "secret" beach. This beach is only accessible by boat so we may have it to ourselves. Such a beautiful place for a quick swim or just stopping for a few moments to relax. You may want to stay here all day.
This location is home to all kinds of wildlife including manatees, dolphins, beautiful sea and shorebirds and lots of fish.
www.surfitusa.com
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Jim Neville Marine Preserve
Beautiful mangrove islands--a birders paradise. We will paddle around the mangrove islands on the way to the secret beach.
Use of Kayak or Paddleboard, Paddle, Life Jacket, Dry Bag
Gratuities
this is for one person
this is for two people
92 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Terri M,,Jan 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
You may or may not see any wildlife but we did see 1 dolphin, 2 osprey, 2 bald eagles but unfortunately no manatees (but no guarantee we would’ve) & don’t go on a windy day unless experienced, as it was hard to navigate since I’ve only done this once. Still a good day on the water on a 70 degree day with my daughter. Bring bottled water, towel & a baggie for collecting shells on the island, they had us stop at. We found several shark teeth & actually saw a small shark about a foot long, swimming in the shallows!!

Susan M,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
It was fun and relaxing at the same time. The tour took us to midnight pass where we stopped and looked for shells, which were in abundance and some shark teeth.
Lauren M,,Dec 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
We had a great time on our kayaking tour today with our tour guide Aaron! He was very knowledgeable and he took us to a private beach where there were thousands of beautiful seashells and clear water to swim in. He even walked the beach and found shark teeth for us that were washed up on the shore.
Jennifer Y,,Aug 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
Great voyage! Loved the beach we went to. Wish I had packed better. Bring water and a bag for shell collecting
Holly H,,Jul 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
Very calm and relaxing tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable of the wildlife that lived in the area.
Dianne,,Jun 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
Michael was our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the area and we saw several manatees. Perfect place to visit
Phoebe P,,May 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
I saw many beautiful mangrove tunnels when I had gone another time without a tour guide. I was expecting a learning experience of the local ecosystem as we kayaked. Tour guide only gave anecdotes of his past experiences at other jobs. Way over priced for what we experienced.
Pamela S,,May 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
This is a great experience for everyone including those that have never kayaked before. We had a great time. We really enjoyed going thru the mangrove caves and spending time on the beach. Would definitely go again.
Safari21086222491,,Mar 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Very friendly staff (shout out to Mike), explained the area and gave guidance. Also beautiful area with mangroves. This was awesome experience, recommend for every skill level.
Nicole R,,Mar 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Friendly, helpful. It was a nice day but a bit windy. They prioritized safety. I wish there were more mangroves but it’s not the spot.
Operated by SURFit USA