Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area
5
Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area
By Get Up And Go Kayaking - Tampa Bay
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-120, max of 10 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- Equipment including tandem kayaks, paddles, seats, and dry bags
- Safety equipment including lifejackets and whistles
What's not included- Gratuities
- While we have bottles available, we HIGHLY encourage guests to bring REUSABLE water bottles!
- Start:
- Billy's Stone Crab, 1 Collany Rd, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USAWe launch from Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant. Please park towards the back of Billy's parking lot and walk towards the restaurant entrance. Follow the restaurant entrance wooden ramp to the docks behind the restaurant, where you will meet your tour guide!
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 173028P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- We require one adult per each child under age 12.
- We require two adults per each child 3 years old and under.
- For your safety, we have a weight limit of 250 lbs per guest, and a combined limit of 425 lbs for two people in a tandem kayak
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Where is the departure location for the Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area?
- We meet for this tour at Billy’s Stone Crab, 1 Collany Rd, Tierra Verde, FL 33715Answered Apr 2021
- How many people can participate in the Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area?
- Our fleet is small (5 kayaks) so expect an exclusive experience (no more than 10 people at a time).Answered Apr 2021
- What will I see during the Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area?
- The tour has several stops along the way where you will hear about local wildlife, marine life, and plant life! You will be able to get up close to Florida’s natural mangroves and to hop out on a sandy shoreline or sandbar based on the tide!Answered Apr 2021
- What should I bring with me on the Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area?
- We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle and a towel.Answered Apr 2021
The tour operator has provided the following answers to customers’ questions.- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 173028P1
From
$89.00
per adult
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Itinerary
- 1 Collany Rd, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USAWe launch from Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant. Please park towards the back of Billy's parking lot and walk towards the restaurant entrance. Follow the restaurant entrance wooden ramp to the docks behind the restaurant, where you will meet your tour guide!
- 1Your guide will welcome you and provide brief paddling and safety instructions. Then, you’ll be off on an adventure as your tour guide leads the way around the mangrove islands, through the shallows, and to the beach. If the tide is high, your guide will lead the way through a hidden mangrove tunnel. You’ll also take a break at Shell Key's beach, where you can collect shells, take in the views, and be surrounded by nature. Your guide will be happy to take photos and make sure you have fun along the way! Be on the lookout for a manatee or the beautiful pink Roseate Spoonbills in the summer months. White Pelicans call the sandbars of Shell Key Preserve their home during the winter months! Throughout the year, dolphins frolic in the crystal-clear waters and cormorants love to swim alongside your kayak. Chances are that you’ll see a variety of wildlife, but sightings are random and not guaranteed.
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Departure600468777200 contributionsFun easy kayak tourGreat for families - easy kayaking - Jess was a great guide - beautiful area to kayak - lots of great info and interesting things to see.Written March 19, 2025
- marymP3554GG0 contributionsBest 2 hours on the water kayaking on Tierra Verde!The kayak tour was awesome! The views, wildlife, information provided by our Guide Less, was incredible. A truly enjoyable and fun experience!Written March 13, 2025
- lindawO674RS0 contributionsAwesome experienceLess was an amazing guide! She did a fantastic job and found some really cool things to show us. She was super patient with the kids and answered all their questions.Written March 12, 2025
- G6646PGloris0 contributionsAlessia the amazing guideLess was an amazing guide. She took her time and explained everything we saw and answered all the questions asked by each guest.Written March 10, 2025
- Ashley P0 contributionsNight KayakingLessi was great! She was incredibly knowledgeable and kept us occupied the entire time! I would love to do this again. We got to see a pretty cool shell and snailWritten March 9, 2025
- mattrQ405PP0 contributionsGreat day kayaking in the BayBeautiful day! Less, our guide was awesome and really knew the wildlife and ecosystem. I would highly recommend this tour.Written March 9, 2025
- joshuagS13TU0 contributionsAwesome experienceThe experience was awesome our guide raven was very nice and patient with us. The kayaking was nice and smooth and the manatees were great to see. Would recommendWritten March 9, 2025
- 848lillianf0 contributionsAwesome experience!! Would definitely recommendOur amazing guide, Raven, was so patient and friendly! Loved the tour and learning about Florida wild life! Awesome time and saw 3 manatees! 10/10 would definitely recommend this activity and guide, even for beginners!Written March 9, 2025
- V7842XEsaras0 contributionsGreat tourRaven was a very fun and knowledgeable guide! Learned a lot about the wildlife and mangroves. Great scenery and even saw a couple manatees and dolphins!!!Written March 9, 2025
- C9493XUelises0 contributionsClear kayakingRaven was amazing!! 10/10 experience. She was very knowledgeable and made me feel super comfortable. She felt like a friend instead of a tour guide as well.Written March 9, 2025
- E3416WDbs0 contributionsKayak at Tarpon SpringsAmazing experience! Had a great time! Our tour guide, Raven, did a wonderful job pointing out the dolphins and manatees!! Thank you!Written March 9, 2025
- wyniaf0 contributionsBeautiful sunset and amazing shell finds!!Saw a few birds and an otter. Not a lot of wild life but we weren’t exactly quiet so I assume we scare a lot off. Island was beautiful- even at the 430pm tour we found amazing shells! Ben was a great host!!! Thanks, Ben!Written March 8, 2025
- Cpauplis0 contributionsGreat fun and kayakingHighly recommend if you are in St Petersburg! Our guide Jenna was great and walked us through all the interesting stops and sights along the ride. Great experience all around!Written March 8, 2025
- repmuht0 contributionsSo fun!!!Jenna was our guide for the second year in a row and I was glad. She is so knowledgeable and eager to share that knowledge throughout the trip. We went on the sunset tour and we were able to use the kayak lights on the way back. She spotted so many things in the water that I would have missed. I learn a lot on these tours and I think it will be a permanent part of our vacation from now on.Written March 8, 2025
- coryv4830 contributionsLess’s sunset tourWe had a blast! Especially with such a knowledgeable tour guide such as Less! We will definitely be coming back to do this tour again.Written March 8, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
4,587 reviews
Excellent
4,507
Very good
55
Average
13
Poor
4
Terrible
8
cornish_frogboy
Penryn, UK92 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
We were there on time , as were get up and go Kayaking. Our host was Chris, who gave a thorough safety briefing, emphasised the need to keep hydrated and in no time, had a group of 9 of us out and paddling.Chris was both knowledgeable re local flora and fauna as well as attentive to any needs within the group, answering any questions as to what we were seeing, with great communication. We toured some Mangrove Creeks where good explanation was given as to the ecology of the area. We then paddled to Shell Key, a beautiful area, where we had an opportunity to swim in the Sea. We did see a Bottle Nosed Dolphin, Spoonbills, Ospreys, Green and Grey Herons, a Juvenile Bald Eagle, Egrets, Frigate birds, Pelicans and Crabs. We were unfortunate not to see Manatees, but that is the nature of spotting Wildlife.
Chris had sufficient knowledge that time absolutely flew by and I would highly recommend both this tour and this excellent guide to any family.
Chris had sufficient knowledge that time absolutely flew by and I would highly recommend both this tour and this excellent guide to any family.
Written June 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that Chris provided such an exceptional experience. We strive to offer memorable journeys, and your recommendation means a lot to us!
Written June 18, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marina
St. Petersburg, FL3 contributions
It was our first experience, me and my ten yo.
Alessia was great.
I wish the speed were a little slower. Being new to kayaking, we felt like we were always behind and couldn’t relax as I wanted to. It was more like a sport)))
Alessia was so sweet, and she took pictures, which she sent to us later.
If you go with the kids, ask for a lighter paddle; we got it on the way back, which made it easier for my son.
I also would recommend that guides use a microphone, which they attach to an ear; we missed everything she was sharing as we were not able to kayak near the guide.
I’d recommend it, even though it’s the most expensive kayak in town. The clearness of the kayak makes it unique, and we could see birds swimming under the boat.
Alessia was great.
I wish the speed were a little slower. Being new to kayaking, we felt like we were always behind and couldn’t relax as I wanted to. It was more like a sport)))
Alessia was so sweet, and she took pictures, which she sent to us later.
If you go with the kids, ask for a lighter paddle; we got it on the way back, which made it easier for my son.
I also would recommend that guides use a microphone, which they attach to an ear; we missed everything she was sharing as we were not able to kayak near the guide.
I’d recommend it, even though it’s the most expensive kayak in town. The clearness of the kayak makes it unique, and we could see birds swimming under the boat.
Written April 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're glad to hear you had a positive first experience kayaking with Alessia! It's great that she was able to accommodate your request for a lighter paddle. Your feedback about the speed and communication is valuable; we'll consider it for future tour improvements. We appreciate your recommendation and are pleased you enjoyed the unique perspective the clear kayak offered!
Written April 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laura D
3 contributions
Sep 2024 • Family
This tour was SO much fun. I took my 5 year old son and he had an absolute blast. Jada was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much during our tour. Her pace was perfect and allowed for us to get a solid kayaking experience without feeling exhausted afterward. A storm rolled in during the end of our trip and she made sure everyone was comfortable and safe the entire ride back. My son is already asking when we can go back and keeps spouting off facts he learned on our trip. Thanks for helpful us make memories that will last a lifetime. We will definitely be back!
Written September 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's fantastic to hear that you and your son had a great time on the tour with Jada! We'll be sure to pass on your kind words to her. Thank you for paddling with us, and we look forward to hosting you again for more unforgettable experiences!
Written September 15, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Howard G
3 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
It was just OK. Apparently we went at low tide and literally we spent 80 percent of the time with our paddles hitting the sand in less than a foot of water. Literally, coming out of the mangrove in 4 inches of water I had to get out into the muck and push the kayak forward. Ben, our guide did not offer help or advice. The clear bottom kayaks are cool, but when you are paddling in shallow water stirred up by other kayakers, you can see nothing. When we got to Shell Island, the gulf is beautiful there but there were many loud party boaters - not a quiet shelling experience at all. Our guide was less than inspired and on his cell phone a lot and I really would have like him to more often gather us together and talk about what was around us (both man made and natural). All in all, I would have preferred an unguided trip.
Written February 10, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for joining us on our clear kayak tour and for sharing your honest feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t fully meet expectations. While low tide can create some shallow areas along the route, we always strive to make the journey enjoyable and informative. We’ve shared your feedback and coached with our team to ensure guides are more engaged, proactive, and providing helpful guidance throughout the tour.
We truly appreciate your insights, as they help us improve. If you’d like to discuss your experience further, please feel free to reach out—we’d love the opportunity to make things right!
Written February 19, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kai P
1 contribution
Feb 2025 • Friends
Disappointed but I don’t fault the guide, he’s doing his job and did great. You go from the dock to the beach that you can basically see from the dock. Straight there and back. Same way. You might stop and discuss a bird once or twice if you ask what they are. If you’ve ever kayaked before or want to learn a lot…do a different tour or rent your own. This is just someone making sure you get in and out of the boat, answering questions, and pointing towards the beach while you paddle in the wide open channel. I’m sorry for not posting a 5 star and I mean no offense to the company, but I wish that I didn’t spend $100 on this and did more research before.
Written February 2, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re glad to hear that you appreciated your guide’s efforts, as our team works hard to ensure every guest feels comfortable and supported on the water.
We’re sorry to hear that the tour didn’t quite meet your expectations. Our Shell Key Preserve tour is designed as a beginner-friendly experience where guests can enjoy the clear kayaks, take in the scenic views, and potentially see wildlife along the way. While the route does follow a path through the preserve to Shell Key and back, we do our best to make it engaging with local insights about the area’s ecology, history, and marine life. However, the beach is not in sight from our launch area (and is more than a mile away) nor is it accessible from land, and all of our photos on our website depict the actual tour route. Along the way, wildlife sightings can vary, and we always encourage guests to ask questions along the way!
We truly appreciate your feedback and take it seriously as we continue to improve. Our team provides ongoing training to our guides to enhance their knowledge and storytelling, ensuring that each tour is both informative and enjoyable. Guest feedback like yours helps us refine our approach, and we’ll use it to continue making our tours even better. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts!
Written February 3, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sandrax W
2 contributions
Jan 2023
The whole experience was awesome. Less was very knowledgable and friendly. I recommend that you know you most likely get wet so wear clothes that can dry quickly. Sit on the life jacket - it is more comfortable. Unless your camera can take good pictures through a plastic case/bag leave it locked in your car or the locker at the dock. Keep your eyes open there is so much to see. We saw Pelicans, multiple types of Heron, Ibis, lots of shell animals, other birds and the best - 2 Dolphins that accompanied us for quite awhile - they were entertaining!
Written January 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for joining us for a clear kayaking adventure! We're thrilled to that you had such a great time paddling with Alessia through Shell Key Preserve and encountered so much wildlife along the way! We appreciate your review and hope you can join us again in the future!
Written January 22, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carolyn R
14 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
Amazing experience!
Jenna is 10/10 and strongly encourage requesting her and her "nature facts + kayaking" tour. She was incredible at making short stops throughout the kayaking experience to point out local wildlife and hands on experience with certain species.
The tour itself was easy to access, and a relaxing speed so that a novice to expert kayaker would enjoy it equally. The stop on Shell Key Island was beautiful for photo ops and a moment to make a wish with a shell.
This was my first time kayaking in a clear kayak and I'm now addicted. A must do while in Florida!
Jenna is 10/10 and strongly encourage requesting her and her "nature facts + kayaking" tour. She was incredible at making short stops throughout the kayaking experience to point out local wildlife and hands on experience with certain species.
The tour itself was easy to access, and a relaxing speed so that a novice to expert kayaker would enjoy it equally. The stop on Shell Key Island was beautiful for photo ops and a moment to make a wish with a shell.
This was my first time kayaking in a clear kayak and I'm now addicted. A must do while in Florida!
Written December 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're delighted to hear that you had an awesome time on the tour! Jenna is indeed a fantastic guide, and we're lucky to have her on our team. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Written December 14, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
peetseritis
Cape Cod, MA3 contributions
Feb 2025 • Family
My teenage daughter and I had a lovely afternoon paddling with Jenna out to Shell Key. The weather was perfect in the bay - although it was a bit breezy, she led us on a sheltered route that made paddling safe and easy. Jenna was very knowledgeable and shared great natural history without overwhelming us with details. She was also an ambassador for a career in environmental science by giving back to the community! This was a wonderful day.
Written February 18, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had an awesome experience on the tour with Jenna as your guide. Your review is greatly appreciated, and we hope to create more wonderful memories with you in the future!
Written February 23, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
peyton g
4 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I’ve been on a handful of kayak trips and never seen as much wildlife as I did on this clear kayak tour! Carmen was so enthusiastic about the wildlife we saw and was extremely informative, she even got out of the kayak to show us wildlife like horse shoe crabs and conch shells! We even got to see dolphins and had such a cool encounter with manatees that swam right up to our boats. She took us to the beach which was beautiful and the water was the best I’ve seen in Florida. I would highly recommend this to anyone staying in the area, this was so worth the trip down from our hotel and my family (mom, and two adult kids 23 & 19) loved it.
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your detailed review and recommendation! We're thrilled that you were able to see so much wildlife out on your adventure, and it's great to hear that Carmen was able to let her passion for Shell Key shine. We hope that you'll come back and visit us again for another clear kayak adventure!
Written August 26, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jacquigjb
Saint Louis, MO96 contributions
Great time kayaking! Supposed to kayak with Jenna at 7:30 am she organized us got the kayaks all set up and she double checked in the weather (Thank goodness) it was a no go but she deserves a shout out for her hard work! Rescheduled for 4:30 and went with Ben. Appreciated all the the things he shared with us and all his help! Our family had a great time!
Written June 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you had a great time kayaking at Shell Key Preserve. Jenna and Ben are both fantastic guides, and we’re glad they could ensure you had an enjoyable experience despite the weather. We look forward to seeing your family again soon!
Written June 30, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What happens if we get there and one of our parties is ~10lbs over the weight. is it self reported or via a scale? One of our family members usually weighs 250-260 (just a solid/big guy/weight lifter/former football player) but we're trying to come over the holidays sooooo might be more like 260 with a little holiday food weight lol... is there wiggle room or a larger kayak we could pay extra for or how does that work? he's also a former lifeguard/expert swimmer so not a drowning risk or anything like that but we don't want to drive all the way down there as a family and not be able to participate because we wouldn't leave him behind. Any advice? are there other companies that could accommodate if you can't? thanks!
Written November 21, 2023
From their website's FAQs
Yes, children are welcome on our daytime tours! For our nighttime glow tours, we only allow teens ages 12 and older.
Children 6 and under are required by law to wear a life jacket at all times while on the water. We provide lifejackets for children that are above 30 pounds.
We require children 30 pounds or under to bring their own Coast Guard approved life jacket as the size is very specific and safety is of utmost importance.
We require one adult per each child under age 12.
We require two adults per each child 3 years old and under.
Written May 23, 2023
goforahike
Rockville, Maryland
Is there a better time of day to take this tour? Any recommended time of day to see more wildlife? I would be taking it in mid May.
Written April 18, 2023
Hi there, we went early in the morning, got picked up at the meeting point at 8.30am and were on the boat by 10am. This worked well as it avoided the hottest part of the day. I imagine a late afternoon tour would also be good for this reason. Not sure about the best time for activity for the birds and Alligators but we were impressed by what we saw at that time of the morning. Hope that helps.
Written April 20, 2023
I have a couple additional questions. Is there a phone number to the business that I could call?
Written May 27, 2022
Hi, At Billy's Stone Crab, how do we get into and out of the kayak...is it from a dock or ramp or...? And are there people to help pull you out, as I am an older person with legs that are not as strong now.
Written April 6, 2022
As some already mentioned, there is a dock where the kayaks are launched. It is not difficult getting out of the kayaks, and the tour guides are happy to assist. There some older folks in our tour group. Also, although the tour is 2 hrs, you stop for about a half hour at one of the islands in Shell Key Preserve to look for shells, etc., which provided a nice break before heading back. We grabbed lunch at Billy’s before the tour and the food was great! Overall, a highly recommended trip.
Written April 19, 2023
I booked a trip for 3 28 22 at 1030 and cannot find my reservations receipt sandy pietrzak
Written March 15, 2022
Our receipt was emailed to us. But even if you can't find it you will just need to show ID when you arrive for your tour. The guide has a list of all paid reservations.
Written March 16, 2022
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.